Semi-Automatic Musings

Gratuitous Gun Pics, The Gun Thing

For some time now, I’ve been thinking about getting a shotgun as an accompaniment to my bedside revolver.  Now the advice is going to be predictable:  “12ga pump-action, Kim!”  followed by a host of brand recommendations/warnings.

I don’t want to do that.

I don’t want a 12ga, because my aging shoulder is going to hate me for the recoil, and I’d rather have a semi-auto bedside shotgun for the same reason I carry a semi-auto 1911:  one up the spout, cocked and locked — a flick of the finger and away we go.

I have fond memories of a semi-auto shotgun I once owned (and sold because Poverty, with lasting regret).  It was one of these:

Browning Gold Hunter (20ga)

…and it was an absolute joy to shoot, reliable as hell and featuring minuscule  recoil, so one might think that I should just get a new one.

Silly rabbit:  Browning no longer makes them (#Idiots) which means that because they are such good guns, the second-hand market thereof is priced at Ferrari levels, i.e. unattainable to one of Humble Means such as myself.

Oh well.  So off I hie to the various Merchants Of Death to see what’s on offer in the same chambering.

Franchi Fenice ~$2,500

Lovely, but way too spendy.  I’d have to sell at least two guns out of Ye Old Gunne Sayffe to be able to afford one of these, and I don’t want to do that.  Next?

CZ 1020 ~$750

Not bad, and I do like CZ guns as a rule, but these are Turkish-made pieces, and I’d rather buy Murkin.

The problem with both the above is those 28″ barrels.  That’s kinda long and ungainly for use inside a home, and one thing I liked about pump-action guns is that they have shorter (18″) barrels, which to my way of thinking is much better for close-quarters work of the anti-social persuasion.  So what else can I look at?

Remington 1100 Lt-20 ~$900
Okay, that’s much better, with its 21″ barrel.  But it’s listed as “New Production”, which means… “new” Remington quality?  I’m not so sure, and given the price of nearly a grand, I don’t really want to take the risk.

And would I really want to get, say, a CZ 1020, only to have to pay for my Friendly Local Gunsmith to give it a 9″-10″ circumcision?  (If the proposition gives you a bad taste in the mouth, it does that to me, too.)

All comments and suggestions are welcome.

Afterthought:  another reason why I’m set on something in 20ga is that during a recent inventory of Ye Olde Ammoe Locquere, I discovered two cases of sundry 20ga ammo:  buckshot, birdshot and slugs, all a legacy of the late-lamented Gold Hunter which I (fortunately) did not include in the sale of said gun.  So there’s no ammo cost involved, just the gun itself.

10 comments

  1. Are the barrels on those autoloaders as easy to swap out as with, say, the Mossy 500 pump? You might be able to get a second barrel of appropriate home defense length and swap it our rather than cutting up a standard one. I have a couple of barrels for my 500 for skeet and the stock one it came with as well as the 18.5″ one.

  2. I have a Mossberg 500 and a Remington 1100. I picked up a security (18″) barrel for the mossberg for like $80. My recollection is that when I looked into it for the 1100, they had them but they were expensive.

    You may want to reconsider a pump for this application. If you need to use it (in your bedroom) your shoulder will probably be the least of your worries.

  3. Your thoughts on semiauto 20ga shotties makes sense to me so on a lark I went to Mossberg’s site for a look-see. Unfortunately if you’re focused on a semi under 22″ your options are limited to 3 and you have to put up with a camo and/or pistol grip stock. Yuck. Broadening the search to include pump adds 14 more options, of which the 510 Mini Super Bantam looks delectable at just $545. The problem with the Bantam series (especially the mini) is the length of pull might be too short for an adult male.

  4. I’m kind of on the outs with the CZ. I bought a new CZ 870 clone police style shotgun. The damn thing double feeds all the time, and its impossible to get parts for it.

    YMMV, but I won’t buy a CZ anymore because they’re too inconsistent. I know there’s 50 people out there who’ll respond that they haven’t had any issues ever. I have, and once-bitten…..

  5. Went through more or less this same drill back in the 90’s, being inspired by Massad Ayoob’s write up of the 1986 FBI Miami shootout. Specifically, agent Mireles who took a .223 round to his left arm, and wound up running a pump shotgun with one arm, seated, with his back against a vehicle. Place the shotgun between his knees, rack the slide, bring it to his shoulder, fire, repeat. Said inspiration leading to the purchase of my Benelli Super 90 M1, which I can see as I type this.

    For anything Mossberg, keep in mind their thumb safety on the receiver. With a pistol grip, they are a bit awkward.

    Here are a couple of options to consider–

    Cadillac–
    https://www.beretta.com/en-us/product/a300-ultima-patrol-20-ga-grey-FA0272

    Benelli on a budget–
    https://shoot-on.com/quick-hit-stoeger-20-gauge-defensive-shotgun/

  6. Aw crap, I did it again. Submitted a comment that included more than one link, so now it is awaiting review. Apologies to our host for adding another chore.

  9. I have a Remington LT-20 the one pictured has the Deer Slayer barrel. While having sights it is smooth bore so slugs are kinda approximate. I did take a deer with that combo but over all I did not like the accuracy of the combination.

    But the gun was gifted to me as part of my late daddy in laws estate. They are good guns though mine is 25 years old now.

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