Shotgun Choices

I am trying to decide on a shotgun for 3-gun. For just pure fun factor I had always intended to get a Saiga-12, well I waited too long and this year I got priced out of one of those.

Most popular choices I have seen are the Benelli M2 and M4, but I'm not ready to buy that level (price) of gun yet.

I want an auto loader for sure.

The gun I'm looking at the most seriously would be the CZ 712 Utility.

It's cheap (around $450) but it would require a little work to get a mag tube extension fitted (hear Benelli Nova tubes fit), but with an 18" barrel id be limited to 7+1 at best.

The next step up would be the Remington 1100 Tac-4. But I can't find this gun anywhere. The 1100 line seems to be getting replaced by the 11-87 line, but they really don't seem to have a Tac-4 equivlent.

Am I missing looking at better options?

Well first, what division are you going to be shooting in? A saiga will put you in open, and the Benelli/ other auto loaders put you in tactical division...

At academy sports there is a sweet savage pump. It is a bottom eject, browning coppy. It has robust adjustable rifle sights, and only costs $199. I plan on picking one up. That said I have a trick 1100 that I run in 3 gun.

1100 line is not getting replaced its actually the other way around the 1100 Tactical 18inch/20inch barrel versons are replacing the 1187 police. 1187 needs Hi brass birdshot to run so its at a disavantage to the 1100 series.
12 year old 1187 Police on top

I just went through the same decision process and chose building a Mossberg 930 that's legal for tactical class in 3 gun.

Mossberg 28" Waterfowl 930 $450

Having the barrel cut to 22" ( many people do 24" ) and re threaded for the 3 included chokes $90 ( GunCat )

Nordic +4 extension ( 8 + 1 capacity ) $75

Total of around $615

I also had the forcing cone lengthened and polished, added a Nordic bolt handle and a 3 gun gear 8rd side saddle which raised my total price but you can do a basic 930 build for around $615.

The 930 that DeltaBravo555 mentions is a very good buy. After the Mossburg is a FN SLP they run around $920 or so but are pretty much ready to go.

I went the 930 route also except I had mine cut to 24 and put a +5 extension on. I've shot 2 local matches and the LaRue match with it and I'm extremely satisfied with the gun so far. I've only got about $600 total in the gun.

+1 for the Mossberg 930.

I had an old Rem 1100. It was just fine for home D or 3 gun beginner. There were 2 big negatives for me. It needed a lot of maintenance and it was slow or difficult to reload. Otherwise it was fine. Really, it was just old and i started not to trust it.

Last month i bought a Mossberg 930 Home security with the 18.5" barrel, cyl bore - $500. I ordered a 24" non ported barrel from Mossberg - $170. I added Nordic +4 extension, Nordic charging handle and choate barrel clamp - $130. No action or loading port work done. I have about $800 in it. I will recoop some money once i sale my 18.5" barrel.

It is accurate, fast shooting, fast reloading, low maintenance and recoil is similar to the 1100. I am happy with it. I could have spent a couple hundred more and got a FN SLP, but it pushed me out of my budget and with the 930 i have the exact set up i want.

Is it as good as the FN or Benelli, probably not, but it is a very nice shotgun and has worked great for the couple of hundred rounds i have thru it.

Wow, thanks guys. Before diving into I thought getting the shotgun was going to be the easy part. I could not have been more wrong. I'm waiting to stay in the limited / tactical classes so most of those suggestions seem great. I need to do more research :)

For you Mossberg 930 guys, did you do any modifications to the bolt release or elevator?

I have not done anything to either one.

Not yet. I am happy with the bolt release. The lifter is still a question. It bit me for the first time yesterday. Not bad, but i can see why people have them welded. I will leave it as is for the time being.

I haven't had the desire to mod my lifter or bolt release either. Might have the lifter welded if it bites me, but so far so good.

Ok, must be something specific to the Remington models with the bolt release in the bottom.



Man I wish I knew more about shotguns. So what is so different about the Waterfoul and Turkey models. Is it just barrel length?

Am looking at the Mossberg 930TK 24" with a Choate +4 tube as a possible option.

Ah I just found out all Mossberg barrels (except the 18"s) are ported. So that kinda kills the 930TK. I now see why you went with the waterfowl version and cut it down.

Wonder if I can find someone local to do this.

You nailed it, the ports. Ports bump you into the open / modified classes. If you are set on a 24" barrel, the 28" is pretty much the way to go.
If you want to cut it to 22", you MAY be able to cut the 24" Turkey to 22", you would have to ask a gunsmith about that.

I can recommend Steve Rose " GunCat", he is a member on this site, he did all my barrel work.

Great communication, FAST turn around and great workmanship.

Here is his website / info: Rose Action Sports

Cool, thanks!

I was on Brian Enos forums and found a big thread by Benny Hill from Triangle Shooting Sports. I need to give him a call first. Seems he's not only cranking out custom 930's but he and Jerry Miculek are evaluating a pre-production gun from Mossberg that may be coming from the factory with most of his modifications.

If all of that is too high they had a Mossberg contact on that page that was selling non-ported 24" barrels.

Again... and here I thought buying the shotgun would be the easy part.

You're welcome. Nice bike by the way, I just got home from a ride myself. If you decide on a 930 build and need any help let me know.

+1 for Guncat/RAS. I have a 18.5 930 barrel he threaded last month. I decided to go 24", so i am selling the 18.5". Guncat did a great job.

I got the 24" non ported from Mossberg for jsut over $170.

You can find Benelli M1's for $600. Sometimes you can find them race ready for around $750. Just dont count those out..... look around.

Nothing wrong with the 930, but I wouldnt trade my Benelli for anything.

Another vote for the M1S90:



http://www.youtube.com/spikesshootingteam
http://www.facebook.com/spikesshootingteam

The FN SLP is almost ready to go as is. Just get the shell lifter welded up and polished by C-rums and you are good to go. I have a Salient Benelli M2 that is wicked but they are hard to get right now. I have several buddies waiting to get one after using mine.

I had considered the SNP, but it is rifled. A lot of what I read on using rifled barrels for 3-gun spoke to the influence it has on shot resulting in an oddly distributed shot pattern.

The FN SLP does not come with a rifled barrel. They come with Iron sights.

The FN SLP MK1 is an out of the box, ready to compete shotgun:

http://www.fnhusa.com/le/products/firearms/model.asp?fid=FNF005&gid=FNG002&cid=FNC01&mid=FNM0019

Never mind, I think you meant the 3088929022, which is the SLP Mark I. It's on my radar but it crossed my magical $1000 price limit. That's what tilted me toward the CZ 712 and the Mossberg 930.

I'm not planning on competing in any major matches yet, I'm just getting started. I figured if I outgrew a 930 or CZ 712 I could always sell it and move up to a $1000+ Benelli or FN.

Let me summarize the most common choices (that I see) for a competition autoloading shotgun (tactical class):

Benelli M2
Benelli M1
FN SLP MK1
Remington 1100
Mossberg 930

There are pros and cons to each model, and there are other models that you see, but the above is by far the most commonly used in 3-gun competition. The Benelli M2 and M1 I would say are the most commonly used. The FN SLP is really starting to be used more and more. The Remington 1100 customized tactical rigs are still quite popular, but diminishing. The Mossberg 930 is becoming a popular budget build and is holding its own.

Dont write ANY of these off. Compare, contrast, budget, and shoot each one if you can, and find out what works best for you.

The FN SLP's are commonly found used for under $1000. New they are $1001 with free shipping. Less if you look around. http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/51795

My Benelli M1 I bought used, race ready, tuned by Benny Hill with modified bolt, nordic extensions installed, fiber front sight, loading port opened up, with a BUNCH of accessories for open class for $1000 shipped. Selling the extra stuff nets the shotgun at $750. So a benelli is VERY doable. A base level M1S90 tactical or field can be found for $650-$750.

The 930 is a good cheap option. There are more and more accessories coming out for it every day. I used to have one of these and used it as my 3-gun shotgun. It was a great cheap starter shotgun. I never had any trouble with mine, but I have seen several have issues at matches. I think Mossy is working the kinks out.

The Remingtons have been around forever and you can pick them up race ready for pretty cheap.

Great info, thanks!

Let's go shoot shotguns sometime soon

My 11-87 works just fine with low brass cheap bulk ammo birdshot. I even use the cheap independance stuff. All you have to do is adjust the gas ports. Still shoots slugs and buck also.

Got a link to that gun?

Mossberg is about to release the Miculek 930... just waiting on a price to make my decision :)

How much did you drill out? what size bit?

I wanna know the same.

$1300 was the rumor I heard. That's the reason I went with the waterfowl 930 and had it cut down. Mine is everything I need a 3-gun shotgun to be and I came in right at $600. I can't imagine what else they do to them that costs $700.

At that price they had better have crammed a Benelli in it

damn right on that.

Tagging, this is good info

The basic 930SPX is around $600.

They are doing custom metal work to the loading area, special finish, 3 chokes, special front sight, a magazine extension, a barrel to mag extension clamp, a 3rd part Nordic bolt release installed.

That costs money.

Now - $1300 sounds a little high for a mossberg.... especially since their competition is less.... but this in now way compares to a benelli... Show me where you can get a race ready new Benelli with nordic components for $1300 please?

I added the parts in red. At least two of us in this thread have completed a waterfowl build for about $600. That extra $700 must be Mossbergs convenience charge. $800-$900 might be understandable for someone who doesn't want to build one themselves but if they slap a $1300 price tag on it I am going to laugh all the way to the bank everytime I shoot my build.

I also built up a 930 (Field model, not Waterfowl) into a 3 gun rig for right at $600. I did all the work myself except for cutting & threading the barrel. The whole appeal of the 930 for 3 gun is that it's way more affordable than anything else. If Mossberg charges that kind of money I doubt if they'll have much success.

Benny Hills custom 930s are $1300. He built the prototype for Mossberg. I doubt the Mossberg factory 3 gun shottie will be anything near that.

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