First semi auto shotgun?
 

I am looking at buying a semi-auto shotgun. I need a little info. First, would the recoil of a 12 guage be softer? Second, what brand would you suggest? I would like to keep it fairly cheap. Thanks

Felt recoil will be less in a semi compared to a pump or o/u. What is fairly cheap? How much are you gonna shoot this gun? What is it's intended use?

I just picked up a Franchi I-12. This was my first shotgun purchase and so far I love it. Included:

STANDARD FEATURES
CHOKE TUBES: C, IC, M, IM, F, wrench
FINISHES: Advantage® Max-4 HD™, Realtree® APG HD™, black synthetic, or satin walnut
TSA RECOIL PAD: Twin Shock Absorber™ gel-insert recoil pad
SHIM KIT: For adjustment of drop and cast

http://www.franchiusa.com/firearms/images/i12_black_12ga_lg.jpg

The intended use for this gun will be shooting ducks, geese. Fairly cheap would be 700 to 800 dollars. It would be fired a fair bit.

I purchased mine for Deer and Turkey hunting. I paid around $730. As I understood it Franchi is owned by Benelli and the inner workings are the same. There may be better options out there, but this is what I settled on.

Good Luck

If you are o.k. with a used gun, I highly recommend a Benelli. They are the ak47 of the shotgun world. I own 2. I know guys who have dropped them out of a blind/boat. They went to the bottom of the river. The just retrieve them, dump the water out of em, and keep shooting. I use mine mostly for clays. I have about 25000 rounds through one of em. The only problem was ammo related. My other only has 5000. Same reliability. The bad news, I doubt you'll be able to get a new one at that price. I've had numerous autos. None match the Benelli.

Have you tried an auto 5 dang good gun. Got to admit it's my 1st semi-auto shotgun but it's my last I love it, it won't take 3.5" shells but that's why I've got other shotguns and I didn't buy it because of the size shell it'd shoot I bought it because it's a GREAT SHOOTER.

I have a Stoeger 2000 and it's inertia operated exactly like the Benellis. It came with 5 choke tubes and features a fiber optic bead-all for 400$. You'd be hard pressed to find a shotgun in that price range that shoots as good as that.

I have shot them on the clays course. I have never owned one. It's great that you found a gun you really love. Are they still in production?

Semi-auto 12g
 

I would have to go with a Benelli (which I did) the enertia system is very clean in operation since it doesn't use part of the combustion gases to recycle the mechanism. All 12g's kick a tad but the tad increases to a TAD if you start using magnum shells, however I've used 50g goose shells in mine and it really is fine.
Here it is:

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1.../BenelliM2.jpg

photopro