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Gravey

Gravey

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So I only duck hunt once a year and will go twice this year. I only have one shotgun that can shoot 3" shells but its my turkey gun setup with a scope so I've always borrowed one. Thinking about looking for a decent one to use duck hunting once a year and maybe doves although I have one I use for it. So if you were in the market for an automatic 12 gauge that shoots 3" shells (don't need 3 1/2" ) what would you consider? Thinking weatherby SA08, Remington 1187, and Stoeger M3000. Opinions on those or recommendations on others appreciated.
 
Browning A5 or Remington Versamax.

If you can get by without it being a semi-auto, the Remington 870 is one of the most reliable duck guns ever made. They will take a bunch of abuse and keep on ticking.
 
scn":3gyf5jpv said:
Browning A5 or Remington Versamax.

If you can get by without it being a semi-auto, the Remington 870 is one of the most reliable duck guns ever made. They will take a bunch of abuse and keep on ticking.
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My pick was a Winchester SX3. Personally, I'd get one that can handle 3.5 inch shells. Its nice to have the option sometimes.

Go to a store where you can take a good look and see how they feel to you. They all fit and feel a little different, and you may take to a particular one better than any other. I like the Versamax and the A5, but the SX3 felt better to me(Its basically the same gun as the Browning Silver).
 
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I really liked the 3" A5 I had. It just shouldered and pointed better than anything else. However, I wasn't sure how the duratouch finish would hold up over time. When I bought it, it was at the top of my budget, so I didn't consider the SBE II.

You know I'm like you - only getting to duck hunt a couple times per year. I'm hoping to change that after this year and wanted a gun I knew would hold up without any problems. I also wanted the 3.5 ability even though I really don't figure I'll use it much.

I kind of got my mind set on an SBE II so I saved some more and sold the A5 to get one.

With that being said, I would like to have a wood/blue A5 for dove, but I don't hunt those enough to justify a gun just for that.

I liked the SBE II so much that I grabbed up another Benelli... an M2 20g for the occasional ducks, dove, and turkey.

Kind of followed the same path REN took. He ain't too bright, but we have similar tastes in guns. :)

If you aren't going to use it a lot, I don't think you can go wrong with any of the main brands out there today. Looking for guns is part of the fun to me. Go with what shoulders best and feels best in your hands and I doubt you'll be disappointed.
 
Cache":s5lytiev said:
Go ahead and spend the coin and get a benelli.
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This^^^. I've got several multi-purpose shotguns but wish I had saved money and only got two. 870 for turkey and Benelli SBE2 for everything else. If you can hold out, Dunns will usually clear their shelves Feb 1 and you can usually buy a new camo one for $1300 no tax. Just watch gunbroker as they go fast at that price.
 
I will add just be sure to go pick them all up and get the one that feels the best to you. That's why I went with the A5. I pick up the benelli and beretta and they both felt like crap to me. Not saying there not good guns, they just didn't fit me well.
 
Beretta, browning Maxus or SX3 are in a league of their own. Your splitting hairs to find the best functioning. Fit should be your determining factor.
After owning benelli's that lacked the quality and the performance I expect in a $1500 shotgun, I wouldn't own one if you gave it to me. But they do have a strong following. Maybe I just got lemon(S)......

After being n the sporting clays and comp skeet game for years, regarding light loads (target loads), I'm yet to see an inertia gun that can hang with a quality gas gun. You may say, "well I'm gonna duck hunt with it so I won't be shooting light loads"....that's fine but to me, if I pay that kinda cash for a semi auto, it dam sure better shoot/cycle everything I feed it. To clarify, I'm speaking mainly of the SBE and SBEII. The M2 a better gun but I had one and the gun cycled light loads somewhat more reliably but the dam thing fell apart twice.
There's a reason your semi auto competition shooters only shoot berettas...........
 
I rotate between my SX3 and my xtreama2, have owned an SBE2 and have shot the new A5 the A5 seems to have a good kick to it and the Sbe2 just didn't fit me well. I duck hunt a whole lot and put my guns to the test. the xtreama can go all season long never needing a cleaning maybe a squirt or two of wd40 but when i hunt with my sx3 after a nasty day out it needs to be cleaned. I love my sx3 in the dove field its the fastest smoothest shooting gun ive owned
 
If your wanting a quality shotgun semi auto that won't break the bank especially if your only using it once or three times a year you won't go wrong with a stoeger . I have duck hunted with one for years as well as many people I know and they do great. I've had a sbe2 , franchi, 11-87, Benelli nova pump and all are good guns but the stoeger seems to be a good all purpose gun . Mine is the 3500 and cycles dove rounds and all just fine . If money isn't the issue then you can't go wrong with the 3 b's
Benelli browning beretta
 
So I went by a couple of stores today looking to handle some of the guns mentioned and found the Beretta A300, Winchester SX3, and Stoeger 3500. Honestly they all felt fine to me and none blew me away over the other. I will say the SX3 is considerably lighter. What I did find odd is the Stoeger had fiber optic sites on it while the Beretta and Winchester only had a bead. You'd think for the money they'd put fiber optics on there. Anyway I think I'm down to those 3. I like the gas driven Beretta and SX3 but the price of the Stoeger and it handles the 3 1/2" shells if I ever needed them. Decisions, decisions, decisions...
 
Gravey,
all of the guns mentioned are good guns (I have a Browning Maxus and love it) but come with a hefty price. If you are looking only for a 3 inch chambered gun, look at the Franchi models. Franchi is made by Benelli and is a great gun at a great price.
 
Don't let that sight be a determining factor. In regards to wingshooting only, The fiber optik sights are more of an eye catcher to the the buyer instead of the shooter. I shot a 870 super magnum very well for no telling how long that had lost the bead and only reason I discovered it missing was I let a buddy shoulder it and he said "you ain't got no bead on this gun". Lol.
 
rukiddin":1ly757wc said:
Don't let that sight be a determining factor. In regards to wingshooting only, The fiber optik sights are more of an eye catcher to the the buyer instead of the shooter. I shot a 870 super magnum very well for no telling how long that had lost the bead and only reason I discovered it missing was I let a buddy shoulder it and he said "you ain't got no bead on this gun". Lol.
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Oh it won't be the deciding factor. I borrowed my nephew's 1187 the other week and it only has the bead. The Brownings I dove hunt with only have the bead as well. It's easy to add if I want it but you're right it won't determine what gun I buy.
 
A benelli nova or supernova is an affordable gun that is nearly indestructible. I've had a Nova for 16 years, used it as my primary duck gun for the first 13 years. I duck hunt 25 days or more a year, too. I have an A5 and a Maxus, but I always have the Nova in the truck.

I use the A5 most all the time now.
 
Gravey":2tw2ag2u said:
So I went by a couple of stores today looking to handle some of the guns mentioned and found the Beretta A300, Winchester SX3, and Stoeger 3500. Honestly they all felt fine to me and none blew me away over the other. I will say the SX3 is considerably lighter. What I did find odd is the Stoeger had fiber optic sites on it while the Beretta and Winchester only had a bead. You'd think for the money they'd put fiber optics on there. Anyway I think I'm down to those 3. I like the gas driven Beretta and SX3 but the price of the Stoeger and it handles the 3 1/2" shells if I ever needed them. Decisions, decisions, decisions...
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You can not go wrong with the 3500 stoeger in my opinion. Between my son, me, my dad, and several friends I hunt around 6 - 10 stoeger during any given duck season and NONE of us have had any issues with ours.
I was quail hunting yesterday evening with my $500 Stoeger and the other guy had a $1200 A5. We had about the same amount of shooting opportunity and I had 10 quail to his 2 when we finished.
We was both shooting low brass dove loads.
He will admit it doesn't shoulder the best for him but it's an "A5 so I'm going to shoot it no matter what". My Stoeger is like an extension to my body.
Try to shoot a friend gun if at all possible to decide what you like best.
 
Benenlli browning a5 stoegers. I had a versamax and sold it within a week I personally hated it. And not a fan of Berettas seen a lot of problems in blinds and in doves fields out of them.
 
TNReb":2jmxln1j said:
Well.. whatchu getting? :)
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Not sure yet. I'm down to the Winchester SX3, Beretta A300, and Stoeger 3500. Obviously like the price best on the Stoeger but do like how light the Winchester is. I'm sure I'd be happy with any of them.
deerhunter10":2jmxln1j said:
Benenlli browning a5 stoegers. I had a versamax and sold it within a week I personally hated it. And not a fan of Berettas seen a lot of problems in blinds and in doves fields out of them.
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My buddy had a versamax and hated it too. Traded it in on a Beretta A400.
 
TNReb":3e3l7len said:
Ping REN and get his 2 cents on the Stoeger. I'm pretty sure he's had a couple of them in the past.
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I remember him having the 3000 and 3500 if I remember correctly and liking both. I'll get ahold of him. Only hangup I keep wondering about is its inertia driven vs gas. Probably not a big deal.
 

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