# Are magazine fed, semi-auto shotguns any good **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 17, 2022, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-magazine-fed-semi-auto-shotguns-any-good/969843 "2022-08-17T19:26:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-magazine-fed-semi-auto-shotguns-any-good/969843/21 "2022-08-18T13:04:53Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > So yeah you probably don’t want to be the guy’s neighbor, but probably not for the reasons you think. Didn’t even have the sound on that video. I did see the Russion tee-shirt. I wouldn’t want to be his neighbor because of his spray and pray attitude towards weapons. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-magazine-fed-semi-auto-shotguns-any-good/969843/22 "2022-08-18T13:11:35Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > I would have thought that keeping the springs tight like that could weaken them [These folks](https://concealednation.org/2019/05/will-your-magazine-spring-weaken-if-kept-loaded-for-long-periods-of-time/) say no. There are others as well, but that’s the first search result. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-magazine-fed-semi-auto-shotguns-any-good/969843/23 "2022-08-18T13:29:04Z")
Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-magazine-fed-semi-auto-shotguns-any-good/969843/24 "2022-08-18T15:38:47Z")
I had a Bakail (Russian) 12 gauge I used to shoot in practical competitions like 3 gun matches. It was a lot of fun but very sensitive as to how you inserted the mags. If it didn’t fully seat the bolt would close but not chamber a round. The other thing I could see in a defense situation is the huge mag might catch on something. I went to a high end semiautomatic, the FN Self Loading Police. and absolutely love it. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-magazine-fed-semi-auto-shotguns-any-good/969843/25 "2022-08-18T16:07:30Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > FN Self Loading Police FN? Did you have to take out a second mortgage on your house? 😁 ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-magazine-fed-semi-auto-shotguns-any-good/969843/26 "2022-08-18T16:44:24Z")
> [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](#): > > This is a silly argument. Every U.S. “gun ban” to date has been a prohibition on the sale or transfer of guns, and usually just new guns. The assault weapons ban led to a massive increase in the value of “pre-ban” guns. If sales of new box-fed magazine semi-auto shotguns are banned, the value of used ones will go through the roof because morons - excuse me, “gun enthusiasts” - will slaver over them. Your advice seems to be “Make sure you don’t buy any cheap guns that will almost surely increase in value!” I hope you invest better than that. You’re oversimplifying and your own post proves it. You said ‘usually’. Now, to be clear, you also aren’t _wrong_, but my advice (and I suspect @DrDeth’s) is about things to consider, not absolutes. Is legislation often aimed at ‘scary black guns’ without looking at the underlying usage or mechanics? Yes. Is it always successful? No, of course not, and I’ll even grant that with the current SCOTUS, even less likely to be so, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a consideration. As for the box-fed mag issue, it’s much more of an issue in my personal experience. So, let’s say you live in a state that embraces a 5 round magazine limit, which has been discussed above and beyond the currently popular 10 round limit in many states. All of a sudden, your current mags may be grandfathered in, but you can’t replace them anymore (legally). You have to get new (manf. or otherwise) replacements if your current group wear out, or you want spares. This happened to me when Colorado put in a 15 round cap on box mags, and I ended up selling my M&P 9 because it became difficult in the short run to replace it (and I had wanted a 9c anyway). Again, I’ll repeat, because this isn’t to slam on @Tired_and_Cranky - they are right, it isn’t a _major_ issue, but it is something to consider, and it leaves out the issue of if the OP eventually moves to a more restrictive state as well. And for the record, I do have a semi-auto (not box fed though) 12g, an old Browning Auto-5, and I find it perfectly reliable. But it’s one of my (many) semi-inherited guns that I don’t have a deep attachment too, and therefor don’t shoot all that much. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-magazine-fed-semi-auto-shotguns-any-good/969843/27 "2022-08-18T16:44:39Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > > [@pkbites](#): > > > > Keep new magazines stored fully loaded. > > This is interesting. I would have thought that keeping the springs tight like that could weaken them (my assumption is that there’s a spring mechanism that keeps the pressure on the shells?). Actually, no. It’s been found that keeping them compressed helps with feeding. Do your own research on the web. One way to break in mags is to do a lot of shooting on the range. Kahr is one of the honest manufacturers that backs this up. There is a break in period for both guns and mags. It helps the parts “set”. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-magazine-fed-semi-auto-shotguns-any-good/969843/28 "2022-08-18T18:18:11Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > FN? Did you have to take out a second mortgage on your house? I just couldn’t resist the fastest firing shotgun in the world. 5 shots in under 2 seconds. I tried it and about knocked myself over. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-magazine-fed-semi-auto-shotguns-any-good/969843/29 "2022-08-18T20:56:19Z")
> [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](#): > > Every U.S. “gun ban” to date has been a prohibition on the sale or transfer of guns, and usually just new guns.The assault weapons ban led to a massive increase in the value of “pre-ban” guns. That is mostly true, but here in CA, you had to register such weapons, and there were hurdles, like Sheriffs running out of the forms, etc. In one CA county they ran out but the Sheriff said they would gives some grace until they got new forms, but the State overruled him, so many never got registered. While I think a door to door confiscation is _highly_ unlikely, some shit show as in CA is not unlikely at all. > [@ParallelLines](#): > > You’re oversimplifying and your own post proves it. You said ‘usually’. Now, to be clear, you also aren’t _wrong_, but my advice (and I suspect @DrDeth’s) is about things to consider, not absolutes. Is legislation often aimed at ‘scary black guns’ without looking at the underlying usage or mechanics? Yes. Is it always successful? No, of course not, and I’ll even grant that with the current SCOTUS, even less likely to be so, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a consideration. Right. It is just a factor to consider, and trust me, if you go to the skeet range with such a gun, they will likely not be welcoming. ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-magazine-fed-semi-auto-shotguns-any-good/969843/30 "2022-08-18T21:05:53Z")
I just want a close in gopher semi-auto, probably 20g. Any suggestions? A Taurus Judge (.410/45) would probably be perfect, but they’re sold out and kinda expensive. Can’t have .22LR ricocheting around the neighborhood. How’s the recoil on the 12g SA? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-magazine-fed-semi-auto-shotguns-any-good/969843/31 "2022-08-18T21:11:32Z")
Gophers? Why not a .410? a .410 single shot is damn cheap. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-magazine-fed-semi-auto-shotguns-any-good/969843/32 "2022-08-18T21:59:35Z")
They make revolver style .410 long shotguns which are semi-auto but reload like a revolver. They’re imported under a bunch of different brands but are about $600 new. I’ve found them made by LAZER ARMS or Rossi as the Circuit Judge. If you’re looking for semi-auto shotgun but with a ton more reliability look at those. ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-magazine-fed-semi-auto-shotguns-any-good/969843/33 "2022-08-18T23:31:44Z")
I was thinking about low recoil with the gas-operated semi-autos–it’s so easy shooting the .22 or .22 mag, but then I step up to the 7mm Rem mag and that’s kind of intense. Not a gopher gun, to say the least! ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-magazine-fed-semi-auto-shotguns-any-good/969843/34 "2022-08-18T23:33:02Z")
Would be fine, but we’ve got a LOT of gophers! I didn’t see one .410 in Sportsmans the other day. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2022, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-magazine-fed-semi-auto-shotguns-any-good/969843/35 "2022-08-19T00:19:02Z")
Saiga did make a .410 AK style semi auto shotgun. Yep, here they are: [https://modernfirearms.net/en/shotguns/russia-shotguns/sajga-410-eng/](https://modernfirearms.net/en/shotguns/russia-shotguns/sajga-410-eng/) ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2022, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-magazine-fed-semi-auto-shotguns-any-good/969843/36 "2022-08-19T00:36:36Z")
Definitely (!!!) not Russian. I don’t need AK or AR styled, either. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2022, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-magazine-fed-semi-auto-shotguns-any-good/969843/37 "2022-08-19T16:17:06Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > Barrel length depending on what the OP wants of course. 20" is a good compromise for a range gun that might be a backup home defense weapon. I certainly see it as a fine, multipurpose option. I already own a mossberg pump shotgun with a 28" barrel, so any kind of semi auto shotgun would be a secondary shotgun. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2022, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-magazine-fed-semi-auto-shotguns-any-good/969843/38 "2022-08-19T16:28:05Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > My best selling long gun right now is the Rock Island VR60. It’s a semi-auto shotgun in an AR15 configuration. It retails for $389. > > It comes with 3 five round mags but 9 and 19 round magazines are available after market. It’s 12 gauge and will accept 3 inch magnums. > > I own one myself of course and it is an absolute blast to shoot. When I’m at the range or in the woods shooting people beg me to let them try it. Do you know if jamming is less likely with the VR60 model? ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2022, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-magazine-fed-semi-auto-shotguns-any-good/969843/39 "2022-08-19T16:31:27Z")
I looked up the current offerings from FN. The Self Loading Police is much faster cycing then I thought. They claim 8 shots in less than 1 second. That has to be machine operated. I don’t think anyone can pull the trigger that fast. Jerry Miculek did it that fast but with a revolver that didn’t recoil. ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2022, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-magazine-fed-semi-auto-shotguns-any-good/969843/40 "2022-08-19T16:43:34Z")
I have the Beretta 1301 tactical with a magazine extension. By far the best shotgun I’ve ever owned. I’m selling it now but not because I want to. If it were up to me I’d keep it forever. I’ll take that over any magazine fed style. I’ve used them and I hate the balance, the feed is unreliable and frankly unnecessary. With just a bit of practice, double and quad loading is a breeze. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-magazine-fed-semi-auto-shotguns-any-good/969843.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-magazine-fed-semi-auto-shotguns-any-good/969843.md?page=3)