It’s been a while since I have done a top 5, so to bring it back with a bang, pun intended, I decided to talk about some of my favorite semi-auto shotguns. When I was deciding which shotguns to feature on this list, I wanted to focus on guns that could have a dual purpose. Meaning they can be used for turkey duck or trap. Guns that are focused on trapshooting exclusively are excluded and most of these will fall under the hunting category.
So, to get it started and in no particular order, I’m going to start with….
1. The Benelli Vinci, this gun is the one I have to most familiarity with. With a 28” barrel and weight of just under 7 pounds, it’s a great gun for both waterfowl and turkey hunting. I know my dad has made some long shots on turkey with this gun and put them down. Its draw is super smooth and consistent and shoots like a dream. Coming in at $1449 it is pricy but if you have the money and are looking for a high-quality shotgun this is the one
Benelli Vinci
2. Winchester Super x4, one of the newer shotguns on the list only a couple years old it grabs my attention for two reasons. One, the name Winchester always carries weight and is one of the most recognizable names in gun manufacturing. The second is that it is newer, they have revamped their autoloader by making it lighter and improving the ergonomics. They advertise its load diversity, “from light factory field shells to heavy magnum waterfowl and turkey loads” making it perfect for this list. Its price is set at $1,069.99
Winchester Super x4
3. The whole Weatherby autoloader lineup. From the 18i to the element and the SA-08. What I like about this lineup is its diversity, with two Inertia based semi-auto, 18i and element, and a gas semi-auto, SA-08, they give the consumer options on what to pick. The difference, for those who don’t know, is inertia-based semi-auto uses the energy created from a gunshot to cycle the bolt and load in another round. Whereas, a gas-operated semi-auto recycles the gas released in the reaction, by traveling through some parts dispersed throughout the gun, to cycle the bolt and load another round. The inertia is much easier to clean, fewer parts and less residue, but since all the energy is being sent back towards you to move the bolt the recoil is a lot more intense when compared to the gas. The main difference in the gas-based semi-auto is the price the 18i at just under $1100 and the element coming in at $549 the inertia-based gun coming in at $499.
Weatherby SA-08
4. Next, Remington 1100, one of the first gas-operated shotgun to come out more than 40 years ago. Remington 1100 makes the list because it’s a classic. It might not offer the versatility of the other shotguns on the list but for most people, it is a staple. Remington has several reliable shotguns, the 870 comes to mind, but for autoloaders, this is the go-to. Coming in at $1245 for the sporting series or if you want to the limited ed 200th anniversary just under $2000
Remington 1100
5. The last one on the list, the Beretta A400 Xtreme, started with an Italian gun might as well end with one. The A400 gets this list back to where it should be, able to be used for a multitude of hunting situations and available in multiple lengths from 26” to 30” this gun can be used for turkey, waterfowl or just fun on the clay range. Beretta has a strong history with reliable shotguns and this is one of them for sure, coming in at just under $2000 making it the most expensive shotgun on my list.
Beretta A400 Xtreme
So, there it is my favorite auto-loading shotguns if you like this please follow us on our social media and subscribe to our newsletters. I have a weekly podcast every week that you can find anywhere podcasts are found. If I missed your favorite let me know in the comments.