“inertia-operated”

The features include a kinematic action that is inertia operated, unlike your papa's recoil-operated A5.

The new Weatherby 18i semi-auto shotguns are built on an inertia-operated action that provides reliable cycling in an evenly-weighted gun. The Italian-made line consists of three models; the elegant Weatherby 18i Deluxe, the 18i Synthetic and the 18i Waterfowler.

The M3500 Predator/Turkey (P/T) is an inertia-operated, 7.5-pound, semi-auto shotgun with a 3½-inch chamber, 24-inch barrel and a pistol grip/hybrid buttstock. It’s dipped in Mossy Oak’s Overwatch camo, the official camo pattern of the NRA.

Weatherby has been in the shotgun game for a longtime, but it changed its approach last winter when it rolled out the new Element, an inertia-operated semi-auto designed with upland hunters across the nation in mind. For 2016 the folks in Paso Robles have plans to put their new shotgun in the hands of even more scattergun aficionados, with the impending introduction of the Element Synthetic and Element Waterfowler.

Browning's revived A5 Sweet Sixteen captures every bit of the famous design, but in a gauge that has brought back more than a few sweet memories for hunters across the country.

Built on the inertia-driven system that harnesses recoil to operate the action, the new Franchi Affinity 3 and 3.5 Elite shotguns are fast, slim and reliable. Stocks are adjustable for drop and cast, and barrels feature a Cerakote finish, lengthened forcing cone for better pattern density and a TrueGlo fiber-optic front sight.

Get a closer look at the EAA Girsan MC312, the latest addition to our #SundayGunday series.

Weatherby's new 18i Waterfowler is a very well-made shotgun in the Italian semi-auto tradition and should be trouble-free for many years of hard use.

Meet American Hunter's 2016 Shotgun of the Year, the Weatherby Element.