Beretta or Mossberg Semi Auto for light target loads

IrvJr

New member
Hi All,

I have been shooting a lot of skeet lately with my Browning Cynergy O/U 12 ga shotgun. It's a 26" barrel gun that's relatively light (I think 7.5 pounds) and if I shoot high volumes of shells (125 to 150 rounds per session, a few times a week) I can start to feel it in my shoulder, even if I use the light target loads (Fed or Win 2-3/4", 7/8oz, #8).

I'm considering getting a gas gun that I can use to shoot the low cost bulk 7/8oz #8 shot loads that I can get from a store locally.

I've done some searching online, and have also read some forum posts about sem-auto gas guns. The Beretta A400 Xcel's user manual says it can handle light 2-3/4" 7/8oz (24g) shells and I've read a few forum posts indicating that this is true and not just marketing hype. However, the A400 is very expensive.

I've read online that some folks have had success running a 28" barreled Mossberg 930 with light target loads, but it's unclear to me if that includes 7/8 oz #8 shot light clay loads (1145 fps rating on the box).

I really like the idea of buying the Mossberg 930 (28" field) - I own a Mossberg 500 in 20 gauge and it's an awesome, light pump action. Plus I like that the 930 is made in the US, etc..

However, I would strongly prefer a gun that could shoot the light 7/8 oz loads reliably. My local store sells the 7/8oz #8 loads in bulk (winchester target). They also sell 1-1/8 oz #7.5 loads in bulk, but i prefer the #8 shot light loads for clay shooting.

What's your experience with using very light #8 target loads in your 930? Does it cycle the shells reliably?

Should I go with the 930 or go with the A400 Xcel, which looks like an amazing gun, but sells for nearly 3x the price?

Thanks in advance!
 

jmr40

New member
Myself, family, and several friends have owned Mossberg 9200's over the years. About 1/2 were reliable, about 1/2 were not. Mossberg makes a very serviceable working pump gun, but they've not figured out semi's.

My brother now has this Beretta and it has been flawless, I'd highly recommend one.

https://www.cabelas.com/product/Ber...rd-Semiautomatic-Shotgun/2352385.uts?slotId=9

Pretty much all of these guns are going to be around 7.5 lbs. I don't see where anything you're looking at will make a significant difference in recoil.
 

IrvJr

New member
Thanks all for the feedback. My original choice was the Remington V3, but some folks reported mixed results with light loads and the user manual specifies a 1oz minimum load.

I'll check with the folks at Mossberg and see what they recommend.
 

Blindstitch

New member
The Mossberg manual says 930 Models: are designed to fire 12 gauge 2 3/4” factory loaded cartridges and 3” factory loaded magnum cartridges.

935 Models: are designed to fire 12 gauge 2 3/4 (1 1/4 oz Heavy Field minimum) 3” or 3 1/2” factory loaded cartridges only.

Sense it mentions minimum load in the 935 I think that means the 930 should eat everything factory.

https://www.mossberg.com/service//owners-manuals/
 

IrvJr

New member
Update: I reached out to Mossberg. The technician I spoke with personally has run light 1oz loads in a 930 without issue, but thought that 7/8oz was pretty light and might not work reliably.

I still might get a 930 or V3 if I can find a good local source for 1oz #8 target loads.

Thanks all for your posts.
 

Don Fischer

New member
The only auto loader shotgun I've ever had was a Browning Double Auto. Something about the old A5 was there was some kind of ring in it that needed turned over to fire target loads. As I recall it was not gas operated. The gun's your talking about I think are gas operated and I just suspect that either will work. The older A5's were recoil operated and required a certain amount of recoil to operate. I find the easiest way around this might be another Browning O/U in 28ga.
 

Rob228

New member
I've got about 5k rounds, almost entirely light target loads through my A400 (I left for Japan six months after I bought it..... that round count would be far higher by now). Never had a single issue.
 

JERRYS.

New member
my 930 tactical hasn't missed a beat even with the crappy win super X low brass bird shot which sticks in the chamber of my 870.
 
Top