Which 20 gauge semiauto?

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  • jimbobborg

    Oddball caliber fan
    Aug 2, 2010
    17,108
    Northern Virginia
    Looking at 20 gauge semiautos. I found an unused "used" Remington 1100 G3 for $950. Really nice, tag is still on it. Or I could spend $450 less for a Stoeger 3020, or $200 more for a Benelli M2. The shotgun I'm choosing may have the stock shortened at a later date. Which would be the best candidate for this?
     

    Cochise

    Ultimate Member
    Sep 5, 2008
    1,383
    Rockville
    I have an 1100 G3 in 12 gauge, it is a beautiful gun and came with a really nice Remington luggage case. It isn't really an 1100, mechanically it is an 11-87 with most of the parts being teflon coated and fitted. Basically a high end 11-87. When they were introduced they were too expensive and sold poorly as a result, now it is a pretty rare gun.
    I bought mine as a duck gun and decided it is too nice, I use a Beretta 391 for salt and mud now
     

    eightshot627

    Active Member
    Apr 10, 2008
    239
    Thurmont
    I have 2 3020s. A first run blued gun that needed all the work the 3000s did for 3 gun to make it reliable.(see the Brian Enos Forum) Polish the magazine tube and debur the extractor grove. The blued gun rusts easley and requires frequent oiling. The camo one is much better. It's newer and has a better tube and the extractor grove is better too. But I haven't shot the camo on as it it for my son. They are light at 5.6lbs and swing quicky. I love how quick it is. Lighter than my friend's 28ga 1100.The safety is small so I replaced it with a MOA Precision single sided safety for the 3000 and is almost to big.

    The M2 is nice with no work. But 3 times the price.

    Walt
     

    t84a

    Fished In!
    MDS Supporter
    Jan 15, 2013
    7,717
    Ocean City, MD
    I have a Benelli Legacy Sport 12 gauge semi (never fired) that I'd sell. I don't remember what I paid. It's a beautiful rifle.
     

    SVD686

    Member
    Jan 25, 2016
    37
    Annapolis
    Just bought an Remington 11-87 Sportsman. Great little relatively inexpensive shotgun to start with. A friend of mine bought the Stoeger and had nothing but trouble with it.
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,642
    Socialist State of Maryland
    You want a nice gun for the money? Buy a Tristar G2 and you won't regret it. They action is a cross between a Remington 1100 and a Beretta. It is easier to clean than a Beretta and doesn't blow o rings like an 1100. Here is alink. https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog...5+viper+semi-automatic+20ga+26"+3"+silver+ste

    I shot a G2 Viper Sporting for about 5 years and was very happy with it. At my club, we have half a dozen people who own them with 2 being regular ATA shooters.
     

    CSHS

    Active Member
    Apr 21, 2015
    197
    I bought a 20 gauge 11-87 Sportsman (synthetic stock), new from Bass Pro 2 yrs ago for $700 plus tax. Shoots great. I also have an 11-87 in 12 gauge which I've run 5000+ rounds through (lots of skeet). Obviously I'm a fan of the gun.

    Wood vs synthetic? What are you going to use it for? It's a great gun, but no collector's item.
     
    Last edited:

    Occam

    Not Even ONE Indictment
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 24, 2018
    20,157
    Montgomery County
    Benelli FTW. Light, handle well, ultra easy to live with. My wife got one of their Legacy line in 20ga, and loves if. She’s 5’2” and the stock was just right out of the box.
     

    Pinecone

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 4, 2013
    28,175
    I have a Franchi, my Dad gave me for Christmas a long time ago. Nice shotgun.

    I have shot a Browning Gold Hunter in 20 ga. I liked it so much, I almost bought one.
     

    jimbobborg

    Oddball caliber fan
    Aug 2, 2010
    17,108
    Northern Virginia
    Wood vs synthetic? What are you going to use it for? It's a great gun, but no collector's item.

    I want a stock that I can get shortened for someone much shorter than I am, but can be restored to the original length later as they grow into it. Use is clays to birds,
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,642
    Socialist State of Maryland
    You can do that with wood stocks, I don't know if you can do it with the plastic versions as the ones I have seen are hollow. It is easy to do with wood stocks. Any gunsmith worth his salt can make dowel holes and then three to four cuts to be glued together as the person grows.

    Since you want this for a young person, I suggest that you look for a gas operated action and not a inertia or short recoil operated action. The gas operated, Remington, Tristar, some Charles Daly, will have less recoil than the others.
     

    jimbobborg

    Oddball caliber fan
    Aug 2, 2010
    17,108
    Northern Virginia
    I could do this with my 28 gauge 1100. Someone was nice enough to give me a smoking deal on 28 gauge reloading equipment :innocent0. But it's nice to have a warranty. I'll be shooting it until he gets big enough to handle it.
     

    Cochise

    Ultimate Member
    Sep 5, 2008
    1,383
    Rockville
    anyone complaining about the O Rings in 1100's or 11-87's has been trying to use some kind of aftermarket O Ring. I have replaced one O-ring in about 25 years and have owned about 10 1100's and 2 11-87's in that time.
     

    El_flasko

    Ultimate Member
    Industry Partner
    Nov 16, 2008
    7,278
    Abingdon, MD
    You want a nice gun for the money? Buy a Tristar G2 and you won't regret it. They action is a cross between a Remington 1100 and a Beretta. It is easier to clean than a Beretta and doesn't blow o rings like an 1100. Here is alink. https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog...5+viper+semi-automatic+20ga+26"+3"+silver+ste

    I shot a G2 Viper Sporting for about 5 years and was very happy with it. At my club, we have half a dozen people who own them with 2 being regular ATA shooters.



    I have to agree. I bought one in 20g for my son and have two stocks for it so he could grow into it. It hasn’t hiccuped once.
     

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