Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns auto loader comparsions...

I have an interest in buying an autoloader.

So many claims of "fastest cycle time" and "best recoil reduction"

Any real tests out there?

There might be but the only tests I've seen are the manufacturer "testing" their own gun, for what that's worth.

You didn't ask but if you want less recoil get a gas semiauto. As far as cycle time I've owned my share of semiautos and never had one that didn't cycle fast enough for hunting or clay target sports.

Fastest cycle time? Guessing they're all faster than it takes to come out of recoil and get back on target.

I just saw a Beretta Extrema2 infomercial and it promised low to no kick and extreme fast cycling, don't know if you can get it in camo but it looked like a great shotgun.

I own a Maxus and Super Vinci and used a SBE2, SX3, and an Extrema 2. Between these $1,000+ semi's I honestly can not tell the difference as far as cycle time. As far as recoil goes the newer gas guns do recoil a tiny bit less compared to the inertia guns but the gas gets dirty more.

I've got a Maxus that I use for some upland, and the recoil's no problem with std. low base upland hunting loads. One of the reasons I got it was because it's light, a little under 7 lbs. When you start using the heavier loads though you'll feel it with a light gun, even the gas guns.

I really like the lower recoil of my beretta gas auto. I have judged a few multi-state skeet tournaments over the years and only know of a few individuals that said the auto didnt cycle quick enough for them. FWIW, the two I remember were top tier shooters using O\U guns. Maybe THEY could realize the difference in cycle time. I dont know that I could.
I have time behind gas auto's and inertia driven systems. Both work well and reduce recoil considerably. I favor the gas auto, but could easily get accustomed to the inertia without problem. Little different, but not necessarily negatively.

Give the Beretta 390 a look. You can still find them new in many places. Recoil is mild and cycles fast. My Beretta tends to make me look better than I deserve in the flooded timber.

I've owned 2 Benellis, a SBE and a M1. All I can say is that they were the most expensive single shots I've ever owned. I have been shooting a Franchi AL 48 20 ga. since the 70's and highly recommend one if you are getting it for upland hunting. It weighs around 5.5 pounds. The AL 48 is recoil operated so it might have a little more kick which is no issue in the 20 ga. Benelli now owns Franchi now. As far as cycle time, it may not be the fastest, but it will shoot faster than you can keep it on target. IMHO cycle time is a sales pitch.

I own a Benelli M-2, a Winchester Super-X M-1, a Browning A-5, and used to own a Remington Sportsman 58 and an American Browning A-5 - every single one has been reliable as hell. I keep my guns clean, properly adjusted, and am obviously lucky too! I think all this hype about softest shooting comparing one semi-auto to another is pure BS - there are differences, but they are marginal. I have shot everything from light 1 oz. loads to 3" magnum loads in mine; the light loads kick less, the magnum loads kick more (the most being 2 ounce turkey loads fired through XXF tubes). None kick as hard as the pumps I have owned and fired with similar loads, but they are not all that different. Buy the shotgun that fits you and that appeals to you most - a shotgun will kick, just like a rifle (one of Newton's laws).

Fast cycle time dosent mean much IMO unless you are trick shooting. Like all other shotguns its all about fit. The softest shooting gun will kick like a mule if it does not fit.

So start with fit and go from there, even the slowest cycling gun is fast enough for any clay target/hunting shooting you will do. Dont buy into the hype....