Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Most dependable semi auto 12 gauge

Look on youtube at the Beretta 1301 Blink system comparison to the Benelli M4 system.

Was one of several gun writers invited to "field test" the then-new Benelli Ethos 12-gauge in 2015 during a week-long shoot in South Africa--which if anything has better wind-shooting than Argentina. (Was in Argentina for the second time a month earlier.)

They were all 12-gauge, 3" chambered models. I shot the gun assigned me for close to 1000 rounds, on mostly hot, dry and dusty days. The only time it failed to function was when somehow a piece of gravel about 1/8" in diameter got inside the action, and when it was removed the gun kept shooting. The gun was never cleaned or lubed during the entire week, and everybody else had similar "luck."

Of course could not do without it, and have had it ever since, using it in conditions from below zero here in Montana to rainy waterfowl hunting in Alberta. Still have never cleaned or lubed it, yet it keeps working fine.

Have shot a lot of gamebirds in various places, with a wide variety of shotguns--alongside a bunch of companions with an equally large variety of guns. But sold my Beretta 390 a few years ago because of the Benelli.

The POS M1 Benelli I have has jammed... once at round 13, a reload in a brand new gun. Again at 7000 or so, no damn lube to found, dryer than a popcorn fart, operator error. And again at 13,500 or so. A corn stalk in the action.

It's going to the end with me, an unbelievable semi auto. One of the better gun choices I've made in 40 years & 300+ units.

It's getting a drop or 2 of lube & put in the truck for next Saturday along with an 870 for back up. The 870 won't likely be called on.

Interia driven Benelli’s, all the way without question, Recoil IMO is a non-factor,
I knew I was in trouble when my Son’s started grabbing my M1s,

So a search led to Benellis for all here, fromTurkey to Trap to sporting clays,

Complete takedown is in minutes

The Remingtons haven’t left the house in years,

Hatfield Semi...
👍👍👍😄😄😄😄

🤣🤣🤣

That sounds like a good review.

Thanks for the feedback. Does the Ethos have the same action as the M4?

It's simple when you look at the inertia action. A heavy coil spring in the bolt compresses when the gun recoils, causing cycling of the action.

Shot A-5 and 1100's for years. Kept clean and properly lubed they work. Same guns -10 degrees in a layout blind or goose pit they get slugish. Moved on to a 11-87 same problem. Moved on to a M1 super 90, super reliable but if it gets cold enough they will get sluggish also just not as quick. O/U shoots twice everytime..mb

Browning maxus 2 gets really good reviews!

Have friends with benelli sbe 3’s and m2 ‘s that really like them, but they had a few issues with them but to be fair the m2’s are shot daily in a work situation and I couldn’t even guess how many rds have been shot thru them!

That makes sense. I wish they had described it like that.

And Beretta bought out Benelli a few years ago. I would guess any of them with the Montefeltro action would be good.

This. Benelli are good unless they get dirty or wet. Then you have to go to Wolff Gunsprings and get a stainless bolt spring and a stainless magazine spring.

Truth.

Probably the MOST RELIABLE semi automatic ever.

Saiga 12 with high brass

I like my shotguns how I like my women....

And ugly. And heavy. And front heavy.

Love em, and shot them for years, but not even close to the reliablity of a benelli - ESPECIALLY in dirty conditions.