With all the recent hype with "black guns", I'm looking to get into recreational shotguns until everything gets back to normal.

Primary use - Range (sporting clays etc...)

Looking for a nice semi-auto 12ga at an even nice price

Any suggestions?

So so many to choose from Bob. What's your budget? My hubby has the Browning Maxus and he'd trade me off before he'd give up that shotgun.

Beretta 390 is going to be the lowest cost high quality gun; best bang-for-your-buck if you will. Anything less you take a risk with lower quality control, anything better and your spending an extra $300+.

If you are patient and look everywhere you can find a used one for $450-$550.

Remington 870..

Franchi 620

Solid advice!!!! There is a reason you see Beretta's 10-1 of any other semi in the sporting clay courses. They can handle the volume those guys run though them and they can be fit to you via the shim kit that comes with many of them. Good luck, it can be expensive and addictive!

Definitely budget, personally I would try your best to gather around $1k to get the kind of semi that will take the abuse if you plan to shoot quite a bit.

Secondly, I highly suggests getting something that can chamber 3" and something more like a hunting semi. I shoot a ton of clays and hunt with my Urika II. I have other shotguns but I absolutely love my Beretta and don't really shoot anything else. ALso you can get a Urika II band new for less thatn $900 if you look around.

Good luck.

How is 1k a budget

Budget is relative to the item. My budget for lunch is different than dinner.

Just a suggestion. I'm not even saying you have to go there, but saving up that much definitely opens up alot of options. Unfortunately good shotguns cost good moneys.

Being realistic, I'd prefer not to spend more than $600. But, I would be willing to wait and spend a little more if that's what I have to do.

Beretta 390/3901/391

Beretta 303 is nice too

Lots of good autoloading shotguns available.

In my opinion, its not as easy as buying the best value. You have to choose a shotgun that fits you, that you can point intuitively.

Dove hunting, I could never hit anything with my Remington 870 Express Magnum, so, eventhough it was a good gun, I never liked taking it to shoot birds or clays. Did fine rabbit hunting. I bought an Remington 11-87 Premier Light Contour, and I could point that thing like a dream. It has been my clay/bird gun ever since. When I first bought it, I oiled it too much, and it wouldn't work. Once someone told me what the problem was, I stripped it down, cleaned it, and only added a few drops of oil. It has never misfed a shell since using both light dove shot or heavy 3" duck shells.

I can shoot my brothers Beretta Silver Mallard really well, but I can't hit a thing with his Browning Auto Gold.

I had the oppurtunity to shoot a friends old Ithaca Model 37 w/ vent rib barrel at a clay shoot one time, and I couldn't miss with that guy. I have been looking for one exactly like his ever since.

I have a browning silver and I love it. Found it on sale for $600 before christmas

Browning makes a helluva shotgun!

Haven't fired the Beretta models suggested above but the Weatherby SA-08 I borrow from a friend when we go shoot skeet or sporting clays has always functioned flawlessly and it is very light weight.

Pretty sure you can find it in your desired price range as well.

X3!!!

I have a Beretta 390 Silver Mallard that I got used and hunted and shot skeet & trap competition all throughout college - they are the best built Autos out there BY FAR!

If your getting an auto and want a gun that can take LOTS of rounds....get a 390 or a 391 Beretta and clean it regularly and it should go 5-10,000 rounds without needing any help.

If you want an inexpensive semi-automatic for range use, you may want to take a look at the Weatherby SA-08. You may like it, you may not. It's a copy of the Berretta A301.

Properly maintained I understand 50,000 rounds is not uncommon.

Franchi, Benelli, Beretta, older Remingtons, ect will all do you well.

If you want to get into low buck O/U's and SxS's CZ/Huglu are nice (ive owned 4 and have liked all of them), and S&W/Dickinson are very nice.

The most important thing is the fit. Get one that points naturally and shoulders perfectly for you.

I have an SA-08 and daughter has the Beretta AL391. Definitely the Beretta is a much better quality build. However, I've put about 2,000 rounds through the SA-08 and have no complaints. Always a good idea as well to do the proper maintenance for good performance and longevity.

I managed to find an SA-08 new in box from a member for $420. Have other shotguns but wanted a gas gun to shoot clays and dove. Would like to have a Beretta but cannot see spending $1,400ish right now.

What about a Rem 1187? Where would y'all rate the quality against Beretta?

I'm a real fan of Beretta Shotguns. I had a AL391 Ulrika II Gold 12ga about 2 years ago, but I sold it off (wish I hadn't )

I had the same gun and did the same thing. Also wish I hadn't.

I owned an 1187 for a few years, and sold it much cheaper than I paid for it. It was a huge piece of crap. Mine was the 3 1/2 supermag cause I was hunting giant candadas in michigan.

I bought my wife a berretta 390 this duck season and we both love it. Its the best gun if you are trying to stick to a $600 budget.

If you have nothing but time, you may be able to find a used Browning Gold at the price, but I doubt it.

My wife bought me the SA-08. It's really light and has functioned great.

Decide if you want gas or inertia on the cycling of the gun.
I prefer gas in my Beretta's.

Browning Gold are nice guns, they just don't fit me. Beretta does in autos.

Browning O/U fit me and that is what I owned. Beretta O/U's don't.

Had a Rem 1100 20ga. Didn't fit, could not hit with it. I love my Beretta 391 Sporting 20ga 28" barrel. Fits and swings like it was custom made for me.