Semi Auto Shotgun Help

[1888andybhoy 7]

Hi there, I'm looking to buy a cheap semi auto for throwing on the back of the quad bike for when I'm out checking my pheasants and snares. I was looking at ether the armsan or the escort. What do you guys think ? I've got £500 max to spend. Was hoping to buy new if possible so there's nothing to worry about. Any advice ? I will be going to scone palace gamefair next sunday for a look round about. Will be used for pigeons and foxes mostly and the odd rabbit also so need something to handle loads from 28g to 42g. Thanks Andrew

[quagmire 6]

Hi

 

I bought a hatsan escort magnum 12g a few weeks. I have had it out on a clay shoot and in the field and am very pleased with the gun. I have put about 200 shots through it and it has never failed as of yet. However I was advised to use loads no lighter than 32gms as lighter shot are prone to jamming. I paid £450 and would recommend them all day long.

 

Hope this helps

 

Regards Joe

[Froudy 40]

Hi

 

I brought a escort 12 bore auto yesterday, already shot 13 pigeons with 14 shots with it today. seems spot on, I fired 50 game bore white gold 28 grams in it yesterday and it didn't get jammed once. I managed to get mine for £190 and its mint condition well worth the money I think

 

Atb

 

Froudy

[TwoSmokingBarrels 11]

Can also vouch for the Escort 12G! Never failed or had a jam, put everything through!

[charlie caller 3,654]

Don't buy a Hatstand you will regret it £500 will get you a very nice second hand Berreta, Benelli (the best) Franchi, Winchester, that will do all you want, I repeat, DO NOT BUY A HATSTAND IT WILL JAM, they are cheap nasty crap, buy one of the above and enjoy.

[TwoSmokingBarrels 11]

Don't buy a Hatstand you will regret it £500 will get you a very nice second hand Berreta, Benelli (the best) Franchi, Winchester, that will do all you want, I repeat, DO NOT BUY A HATSTAND IT WILL JAM, they are cheap nasty crap, buy one of the above and enjoy.

I always see people comment bad about them but ive not had a problem with it. Yes of course you can get better, but for the price its nothing to complain about, never had a jam, and its had all sorts through it. Have you ever owned a "Hatsan"? I know people get jams with 21g carts, but who uses them anyway, thats a clay load, not a game load etc.

[Red-Grouse 1]

Bought a hatsan 3" a few months ago and never had a problem with it! Never jams, shot about 1000 rounds through it and its spot on, paid £400 for it new and for the money it's a great gun!

[Hydropotesinermis 724]

Have you thought about a pump action? There is a lot of choice for £500 and you don't have quite so much trouble with jamming. You can put any cartridge through, mix them up if you like because you work the action ,If you got something like a second hand Mossberg 500 you'd probably have a fair bit of change for £500 which is a lot to spend for something that's going on the back of a quad.

[brucemyster 75]

I've always wanted a semi auto and for fathers day the kids clubbed together and bought me a used Remington 1100. I love it, used it once on clays and hit more than normal, mind you as I can't hit sweet FA normally so that's not difficult!! Gun safety is a bit different and has to be thought about a little more, it's all to easy to forget to turn the safety on whilst pushing a couple of shells in. Only thing that could improve it would be a multi choked barrel, other than that can't fault it, had no trouble with jams or cycling and have stuck all sorts of cartridges though it, was a bit surprised when using it in half light as there was a bit of flash from the receiver, don't know if this is normal but the gun all seems to be working ok? Have looked at a few Hatsans myself and wouldn't mind a multi choked version.

[charlie caller 3,654]

In answer to your question, no I have never owned a Hatstand, and would not have one given to me, however a pal bought one a couple of years ago, and to be fair he shot very well with it,however it constantly jammed on the second shot,he had it from brand new and had it back in the shop numerous times and it never got sorted he got so pissed off with it he got a refund and bought a nice second hand Franchi, which has never let him down, clay shooting I have seen people struggling with their jammed Hatstand enough times to realise that his gun was not a bad apple,the above mentioned shop will now not have a Hatstand on the shelves as (in his own words)he has had so many back, I have a mate with a gunshop in Derbyshire who says the same thing about them, just look on guntrader to see how many are up for sale I wonder why??? For the life of me I cannot understand why anyone would spend £400 on one when for that you can pick up a proper quality, used semi like a Beretta 301, 302, Winchester, Franchi, Fabarm, ect or for a little more a used Benelli (the cream of semi autos) you pays your money and takes your chance, but I would not advise anyone to spend their hard earned cash on a substandard, piece of rubbish, when so much better can be had for a similar amount.

[COMPO 54]

baikal mp153's are nice guns, wish i had never parted with mine, but i needed the money at the time...................that never let me down, shot all sorts of cartridges (some really heavy ones in 3.5 inch) i killed all sorts of stuff with that gun

[samboy 304]

I think its luck of the draw with Hatsans, you either get a good one or a bad one.

I had one for a while but then it started jamming so i part exchanged it for a Beretta.

I would not have another Hatson.

[Qbgrey 4,070]

ive had a luigi franchi for many years will out problems.its a spring reload type.i bought it second hand 26 yrs ago for 150 .its been great,just been out with it,2bunrabs,2 pigeon,1 crow.its light as a feather like a airgun. winchester are good to got an older model and it shoots great.

[srspower 20]

For £500 your are dangerously close to second hand SX3 money.

[The Seeker 3,048]

In answer to your question, no I have never owned a Hatstand, and would not have one given to me, however a pal bought one a couple of years ago, and to be fair he shot very well with it,however it constantly jammed on the second shot,he had it from brand new and had it back in the shop numerous times and it never got sorted he got so pissed off with it he got a refund and bought a nice second hand Franchi, which has never let him down, clay shooting I have seen people struggling with their jammed Hatstand enough times to realise that his gun was not a bad apple,the above mentioned shop will now not have a Hatstand on the shelves as (in his own words)he has had so many back, I have a mate with a gunshop in Derbyshire who says the same thing about them, just look on guntrader to see how many are up for sale I wonder why??? For the life of me I cannot understand why anyone would spend £400 on one when for that you can pick up a proper quality, used semi like a Beretta 301, 302, Winchester, Franchi, Fabarm, ect or for a little more a used Benelli (the cream of semi autos) you pays your money and takes your chance, but I would not advise anyone to spend their hard earned cash on a substandard, piece of rubbish, when so much better can be had for a similar amount.