Gun Digest
 

Tactical Shotguns: Autoloader Advantages

Scott Wagner

At GunDigest, we independently review products. However, we may earn a commission when you purchase through links on our site. Learn More

The Remington 1100 also makes an excellent tactical platform. Author’s tactical team has a customized short barrel model as part of its SRT team equipment. This 1100 Tactical features a fixed pistol grip synthetic stock, 6-round extended mag tube, bead sights, an enlarged tactical charging handle and sling swivel mounts.
The Remington 1100 also makes an excellent tactical platform. Author’s tactical team has a customized short barrel model as part of its SRT team equipment. This 1100 Tactical features a fixed pistol grip synthetic stock, 6-round extended mag tube, bead sights, an enlarged tactical charging handle and sling swivel mounts.

Semi-automatic tactical shotguns give you one big advantage over pumps: the ability for double-tap, rapid fire shots. But that's not all.

The 8-shot SPX version of the Mossberg 930 Tactical, in addition to the extended magazine tube, features a standard style stock, tall AR-15-style sights with a red light gathering front sight tube, fully adjustable rear sight and a section of picatinny rail on top of the receiver for mounting optical sights.

While I played around with my 870 pump while shooting clays for a period of time, I later switched to the M2 tactical.

I could run the pump pretty good, but not like I could the auto. For serious clays competitors, there is no question; they use a semi-auto or, even faster, an over/under double barrel.

A two shot limit for the double gun doesn’t matter here, since in sporting clays there are only two birds thrown at any given time.

Combine this capability with an extended magazine tube in a tactical shotgun and you can send a lot of lead (in California, copper) down range in a short amount of time, and in the case of a gas gun, keep reasonable control of the recoil generated by those rounds to boot.

Here’s what may be the biggest advantage of a semi-auto shotgun. For those who have trouble remembering to work the action of a pump each time they want to fire it, there is no such issue with the semi-auto shotgun.

Even if  under stress, all that needs to be done is cycle the bolt of the semi-auto to chamber a round and cock the firing system. Then, make sure the safety is off and begin launching rounds downrange. Nothing much else to worry about.

What do you think? Do you prefer a pump-action, double-barrel or autoloader for a tactical shotgun and why? Leave your comments below.

Next Step: Get your FREE Printable Target Pack

Enhance your shooting precision with our 62 MOA Targets, perfect for rifles and handguns. Crafted in collaboration with Storm Tactical for accuracy and versatility.

Subscribe to the Gun Digest email newsletter and get your downloadable target pack sent straight to your inbox. Stay updated with the latest firearms info in the industry.

Get Free Targets



Exit mobile version