Best inexpensive semi-auto

[Vo2max]

Opinions needed: looking at 12GA semi-autos... Have a pump already so would like something different. Don't want to spend a ton on a gun which will be in the salt and potentially submerged. Thoughts?

[Pnwrider]

Budget? I'm assuming primary use will be waterfowl?

[Vo2max]

Without being a smartass (waterfowl forum) yes, gun is for waterfowl. Can't see spending more than $600.

[Duckhunter14]

Buy nice not twice. If you pay 600$ for a semi you will be cussing it all season with jams and misfires and you'll end up just wishing you would have paid a little more and bought a quality gun. I hunt hard, really hard; and did just that. I went through two Mossberg's before I finally nutted up and bought a Benelli Black Eagle II. I have not looked back. I hunt the salt, I hunt in the rain, I hunt in ground blinds where it gets filthy, and every time I pull the trigger it goes boom. Yeah they're expensive. But if you keep you eye open you can find one at a decent price. I promise you wont regret it. The only issue I've had was one (1!) jam. After closer inspection I had loaded a rusty shell. My own fault. Whatever you decide I hope you find what you're looking for and good luck this fall! Let us know what you end up with and how you like it. 

[HUNTNORTHWEST]

buddy just bought the semi auto stoeger and he likes it i think its the m3500

[Jellymon]

Stoeger 3500. Ours are tough as nails, never jam and have had plenty of use in saltwater. Very reliable guns that run very clean. They have the same inertia system as the benellis just in a slightly different configuration. Mine has never jammed with
2 3/4-3 1/2" shells and I rarely clean it. They're around $600.

[Colin]

I think the Stoeger m3000 or m3500 are close to your price range. Only other I can think of is the Mossberg 935.

For myself I think am going to upgrade next season and am looking at it like DuckHunter14 said. Buy nice not twice. My current gun is a cheap pump and kills birds but has its issues. I think if I can afford to upgrade I'll just wait till I can. Maybe sell some of my other guns... if a certain law doesn't try and make it impossible. lol.

[EWUeagles]

If  you have 2k buy a Beretta. If you were like me and only had 600 dollars look at the Stoeger series of shotguns. I just got a M3000 and love it so far. I have had it out on five hunts so far and I hunt "hard" too. It gets dunked in the muck and thrown around. It only had one problem and it was my fault. So far I love the shotgun. Cabelas has the M3000 in camo for $550 right now and stoeger is having a 50 buck rebate. I went with the M3000 because I have never shot a 3.5 inch shell and don't think I will ever need to. My buddy just got the M3500 so far and loves his too. If your around Spokane I would have no problem letting you shoot it sometime. Good luck, buying a new gun is always exciting.

[cipryan]

I would consider the Franchi Affinity.  It's the little sister the SBE II, Franchi is owned by Benneli. 

I got a Benneli Ultra Light last year and could not believe the quality and what a difference it makes and now I want a Benneli/Franchi for waterfowl.

[dustysags]

I just bought my second Franchi affinity. The first one was stolen after a week so you know it's good! But really the gun is awesome, used it for opening goose and it's so nice to handle. Super light gun and recoil wasn't bad at all for 3' BB. You can get a black one for right around 600$

[rtspring]

Spend a little more and buy a Winchester SuperX3, best shotgun I have ever owned!!! I have bird hunted since I was 13 and have shot the most expensive to the cheapest. 

Got mine on sale on veterans day for 900.00

[coachcw]

one for stoeger for the money .

[cipryan]

the beretta a300 is in that price window also.  know nothing about that one though.

[Waldo84]

I have the M3500 and it hasn't failed me yet. Just put a patternmaster on it and it is shooting lights out.

[cipryan]

http://www.chuckhawks.com/autoloading_shotguns_up_down.htm