New shotgun blues. Question about autoloaders?

[Questor]

My son just outgrew the youth shotgun and we're looking for a replacement. He's keen on a semi auto. Judging by the ergonomics of the semi auto vs. over unders I have to agree with him. I like the feel of the 12 gauge autos too even though my shotgun is a 20 gauge O/U. The recoil reduction of the gas system is attactive too.

I'd like it to be a 12 gauge of reasonable weight and good quality. We went to Gander Mountain, which lets you wander the showroom picking up guns to try and we both agreed that the Benelli Black Eagle felt fabulous in the hands and when shouldering. Really superb ergonomics and fit. Of course there's a couple of little problems with that model:
1) It's really expensive.
2) From the candid reviews I've read, it has too much felt recoil.

What we really want is a gas gun that the boy/man can enjoy shooting. I'm thinking Remington 11-87. Nice gun. More palatable price. Available in left hand models (which we need.)

Can you recommend any others?  The Browning auto felt pretty good too.

We're not looking for a bargain gun. We're looking for a gun that I can give him that will serve him for many years. It's a case where it's worth it to cave in and spend a the money. But I really don't want to spend more than $1000.

Do you know if the Browning is a good gun?

[454Puma]

Questor
  Good luck in finding any new Semi-auto shoot gun under $1000. I was in the same boat a year ago. Wanted to upgrade from my old Mossberg 500 pump. Got to looking at a the new auto's and coouldn't find one under $1000 which is way more then I wanted to spend on a shotgun.  Well as luck would have it I was in my local shop just about ready to put a down payment on a New Remington auto and I spied a A5 Browning 12 ga in the rack!  Always wanted one of these as my father/brother had one and they shot like a dream!  So I looked at the price tag $575 slapped the cash down and I haven't looked back since. Guess what a week later my Dad gave me his A5 sweet sixteen!! Now I have two A5's and I/m set for the rest of my hunting career! So look into a good used auto-new isn't always better! Good luck!

[Val]

If skeet or sporting clays are in his future, I would consider an O/U. Picking up empty hulls if you shoot a lot gets to be a pain.

[Graybeard]

The Benelli like the old Browning A5 is a recoil NOT gas operated shotgun so it gains no more advantage in recoil management than does an O/U. Only gas operated guns gain you that advantage.

Many like the Berretta guns tho I'm NOT one of them. They can be set up to give about as soft a recoil sensation as any on the market.

But to me there will NEVER EVER be a replacement for the Remington 1100/1187 which is basically the same gun really as there are only the most minor of differences. You can still get either NIB for under $1000 and there are a ton of like new but used models of both out there. The beauty is you can try them at one store and know that the one you get from anywhere is gonna be the same. So you can buy from an auction site or from a person and have it shipped to you knowing it will fit as well as the one you shouldered at Gander Mtn. It truly is to me the ultimate semiauto and the ONLY one I'll ever own. I don't even particularly have a preference between them and would buy an 1100 just as readily as an 11-87 or vice versa.

[Questor]

Bill:

Thanks for answering this one. I appreciate it. It looks like the 11-87 is probably the answer. Reason is we need a lefthander and one that's got the advantage of a gas recoil system. One more question for you: Do you see a lot of 1100/11-87 guns being used for clays by people who are good shots?

By the way, I decided against the elephant trip. Decided I didn't want to kill something I couldn't put in my own freezer. Just label me a meat hunter. I had also considered an Argentine bird shoot, but decided against it for the same reason. My thoughts on Africa are that I just don't want to hunt there. I do want to take a trip there with Mrs. Questor after the kids graduate high school. I'd rather do a sightseeing trip with her than a hunt.

Instead, we'll be hunting and fishing domestically, possibly traveling down through your neck of the woods circa June 2008. Just got back from some fine Florida fishing.

[Graybeard]

Yup Rudy I've thought of Africa many times but guess I just really don't have the desire for it. I don't expect to ever go there.

These days the VAST majority of skeet shooters seem to have gone to tubed O/Us for all their shooting and darn few at least around where I shoot still use auto loaders at all. But back in the day when I was shooting competitively the Remington 1100 was THE go to gun in 12 gauge for most of the top shooters. For a year or two I used them in all four gauges of skeet competition. They are as dependable as it gets on the skeet range. My first ever 100 straight was shot with an 1100 and my first gun killed buck was taken with that same gun.

At the skeet range where I shoot these days most of us are old retired farts who also long ago retired from competition. There are a few guys who still are active in competition but those who are to a man use O/Us with Briley or Kolar tube sets. One of our better shooters who consistently shoots mid to high 90s when practicing is still using an old 1100 that by now may have had a million rounds thru it. The thing is beat and banged with nicks and scratches all over and much missing bluing but it still goes bang every time he pulls the trigger and still smokes those targets like it did when new. The Remington 1100/11-87 is NEVER a mistake.

If you get down my way be sure to stop by for a visit.

[Questor]

Thanks Bill !

Our goal is not to use it as a skeet gun per se, it's really a gift of a good general purpose shotgun that he'll like and enjoy using. This is all I need to know. Now it's just a matter of looking through the catalog and finding a good configuration. Gander has the Premiers. Nice guns. But I want to see what else they have.

No firm plans yet for the trip, but it's shaping up to be a drive to the gulf with fishing and maybe some hog hunting. I'll definitely want to stop by and meet you.  I'll probably have Neal with me unless he gets too interested in girls between now and then, which at his age is a real possibility.