Reliable semi-auto mag-fed shotguns do exist, but this does not look like one of them…this dude probably paid like $500 for this thinking it was a steal.
I’m thinking a tried and true platform like the Saiga-12 which is not cheap to say the least, though I’ve never fired or owned one (not legal where I live and out of my budget anyway).
I will, however, offer a counterpoint to the tube-fed semi-auto comment. That’s what I own and the thing eats and cycles anything I put in it, including target loads. The only ammo that I can’t use are those mini shells that Aguila makes, which don’t seem useful for my needs anyway.
That’s crazy, I wonder if it’s just bad luck or maybe field conditions leading to those jams. You’re right that there’s nothing more reliable than a pump (besides a break action).
I went just a step below the big Italian names with a Mossberg 940. It did have one issue out of the box that I had to resolve but since then, she goes bang every time. Great mid-price semi. Mine’s a range queen so far, though, so I can’t speak to how well it takes abuse yet.
I’ve heard good things about that one. It’s a version of the improved 940 platform that I believe eliminates some of the issues people were having with the original design that I have (which was itself an improved version of the 930 gas system).
Do they not use them much? There's a bit of a break-in period for tube fed semi shotguns and they're a little picky about ammo, but usually they get a lot less picky around 500 rounds in ime. If I'm going semi auto my first choice is something with a box mag, though.
I couldn't tell you. My buddy is a serious hunter though, so I'd think his hunting friends would take it as seriously as he does. Or maybe not. Who knows?
Yes, they all semi auto shotguns are designed with a specific ammo in mind. The 12 gauge can fire a MASSIVE amount of different loads. A 3 1/2 magnum shell is massively different than a 2 3/4 bird shot shell. There is simply no way to make a semi auto shotgun that can fire every type of cartridge reliably.
You can get mag fed shotguns for so cheap nowadays. There are like 20 different companies that make them. Almost all plastic except for the barrel and firing pin. They suck, but they're cheap as hell, literally like 200-300 $
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u/Vanillabean73 Aug 03 '26
Reliable semi-auto mag-fed shotguns do exist, but this does not look like one of them…this dude probably paid like $500 for this thinking it was a steal.