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Posted on 11/28/16 at 6:47 pm to reds on reds on reds
I shoot the versamax. It's a fine gun but no better/worse than those listed. Try them all, buy the one that fits you best.
Posted on 11/28/16 at 7:33 pm to reds on reds on reds
The one that fits you best and you're most comfortable shooting.
Posted on 11/28/16 at 7:39 pm to reds on reds on reds
870. Hands down the toughest and most reliable gun to ever be taken duck hunting. All of the high end "B" guns will fail within a couple years if they are not meticulously taken care of. An 870 will go boom every time you pull the trigger no matter the conditions. The newer 870's are not nearly as good as the older ones. You can pick up an older one at a pawn shop for under $300 almost anywhere. They are worth every penny.
Posted on 11/28/16 at 9:41 pm to reds on reds on reds
I have a Beretta A300 Outlander and love it. Great auto for the price.
I've literally never heard a bad word about the SBE II's from people I know who own them.
My dream gym is a synthetic camo Browning Cynergy or Citori.
I've literally never heard a bad word about the SBE II's from people I know who own them.
My dream gym is a synthetic camo Browning Cynergy or Citori.
This post was edited on 11/30/16 at 9:48 pm
Posted on 11/28/16 at 10:14 pm to tigah headache
quote:I must have the only 2 in the world that hang up and don't always fire.
An 870 will go boom every time you pull the trigger no matter the conditions
Another vote for the SX3. I shoot it well, it's priced right, and have had no major issues.
Posted on 11/28/16 at 10:32 pm to bayoudude
Browning Gold Hunter 3-1/2", 30" Barrel. Black composite. Never has failed, even as a walking stick
Posted on 11/28/16 at 10:49 pm to tigah headache
quote:
870. Hands down the toughest and most reliable gun to ever be taken duck hunting. All of the high end "B" guns will fail within a couple years if they are not meticulously taken care of. An 870 will go boom every time you pull the trigger no matter the conditions. The newer 870's are not nearly as good as the older ones. You can pick up an older one at a pawn shop for under $300 almost anywhere. They are worth every penny.
Come on dude. I own an old 870 and while it is a great pump the newer "B's" are still better than the 870. You don't need to handle them "meticulously". Just normal cleaning and they will last you several years. Have had my brownie maxus for about 5 years through pretty harsh duck hunting
Posted on 11/28/16 at 11:43 pm to reds on reds on reds
Here it goes:
Two types of semiauto shotguns: Gas-driven and Inertia-driven.
Gas guns (Beretta A300/A400, Remington Versamax, Winchester SX3, etc) use a small amount of the remaining gas from shell ignition to cycle the bolt. They are generally more front-heavy than their inertia-driven counterparts, but offer a decrease in felt recoil and have very little pickiness as as to what shells you shoot.
Inertia guns (Benelli SBE2/Super Vinci, Browning A5, Franchi Intensity/Affinity, Stoeger 3500/3000, etc) use the energy from recoil to cycle the bolt. Since there is no gas system, they are typically lighter on the front end than their gas coutnerparts, but result in increased felt recoil. Since all of the residue from the shot is expelled from the barrel rather than going back into the body, inertia guns shoot much cleaner and can run for longer periods without a basic clean. It's a common myth that all inertia guns struggle with light loads, but this is only true for 3.5" inertia guns. These typically require a break-in period with heavy loads, but some come from the factory with the ability to shoot 1oz. Luck of the draw.
Basic rundown on each
Gas
Beretta A400 - The gold standard for 3.5in gas-driven guns right now, the A400 has the easiest takedown method, the lightest recoil due to the Kick-Off system, an excellent AquaTech coating for corrosion resistance, and great presentation (hard case, 3 chokes, etc). A tad heavy on the front end, but it's worth it for the recoil savings. These are very popular in Argentina. Only knock is the bullshite 1 year warranty. Retail - $1649 (camo) $1549 (black/wood)
Beretta A300 - The 3" version of the A400, it boasts similar benefits but without a 3.5" chamber. Best buy for a 3" gas gun IMO. Same bullshite warranty. Retail - $750 (camo) $650 (black/wood)
Remington Versamax - Struggled at first with a recall, but they are back up to spec and run well. They ripped off the gas system from the Benelli M4 (Benelli's only gas gun) and the recoil is minimal, making it very popular with 3-gun shooters and high-volume waterfowl hunters. Well-balanced, comes with 5 chokes. Dont have an exact retail figure because Remington is a shitty fricking company and treats non-big-box stores like dogshit, but they seem to go online for 1200 or so.
Winchester SX3 - Has the fastest-cycling action on the market (technically the fastest; nobody can perceive the difference) and good recoil distribution. Only thing I hate about it is the coating they put on the synthetic parts. It feels rough and sand paper-y. Great value buy—can be had for around $1000 locally.
Inertia
Benelli Super Black Eagle II - The gold standard of inertia guns, it has the best fit and finish of any mainstream waterfowl gun and can run forever. The best ergonomics (why I got it), awesome crio barrels and chokes, but the takedown has a bit of a learning curve. Mine was able to shoot 1oz loads from day 1, but some people complained about pickiness with light loads. Comes with hard case, 5 chokes, grease, choke wrench, and other goodies. 10 year warranty is the best in the biz. Retail - $1699 (camo), $1599 (black/wood)
Browning A5 - Basically ripped off the SBEII inertia system, but it still kicks arse. The duratouch coating has the best texture out of all the popular waterfowl guns, but it can tarnish and get sticky after ~7 years (you should be buying a new gun by then anyway). 3.5", good trigger, excellent weight distribution and feel (prob best-shouldering gun IMO), simple takedown, excellent sight picture. Like all 3.5" guns, it can be picky about light loads and may require a break-in. 5 year warranty is pretty good. Retail $1469 (camo) $1359 (black/wood)
Franchi Intensity - Benelli's subsidiary, Franchis are Italian-made and offer great value. The Intensity is a 3.5" gun with excellent ergos and a simple takedown method. Like all 3.5" inertia guns, it can be picky. 7 year warranty, which is great, regular box, 3 chokes. Awesome value at $999 (camo) and $899 (black/wood)
Franchi Affinity - The 3" version of the Intensity, see above. Retails at $749 and $649
Stoeger 3500 - Another Benelli subsidiary, Stoegers are made in Turkey and dont offer the same level of refinement and QA that Italian manufacturing offers. That being said, they are cheap and make for awesome "first guns" for a teenager or something. The 3500 is a 3.5" gun and comes with a cardboard box and 3 chokes. It's not too balanced, but it's very reliable out of the box and is also easy to take down. They commonly come caked with cosmoline, so I advise you to strip it after purchasing and clean all that shite off. These sell very well for us because of their great value and performance. These are workhorse guns without all the bells and whistles. Decent 5 year warranty. $649 (camo) $549 (black)
Stoeger 3000 - 3" version of the 3500, see above. $549 (camo) $499 (black)
Two types of semiauto shotguns: Gas-driven and Inertia-driven.
Gas guns (Beretta A300/A400, Remington Versamax, Winchester SX3, etc) use a small amount of the remaining gas from shell ignition to cycle the bolt. They are generally more front-heavy than their inertia-driven counterparts, but offer a decrease in felt recoil and have very little pickiness as as to what shells you shoot.
Inertia guns (Benelli SBE2/Super Vinci, Browning A5, Franchi Intensity/Affinity, Stoeger 3500/3000, etc) use the energy from recoil to cycle the bolt. Since there is no gas system, they are typically lighter on the front end than their gas coutnerparts, but result in increased felt recoil. Since all of the residue from the shot is expelled from the barrel rather than going back into the body, inertia guns shoot much cleaner and can run for longer periods without a basic clean. It's a common myth that all inertia guns struggle with light loads, but this is only true for 3.5" inertia guns. These typically require a break-in period with heavy loads, but some come from the factory with the ability to shoot 1oz. Luck of the draw.
Basic rundown on each
Gas
Beretta A400 - The gold standard for 3.5in gas-driven guns right now, the A400 has the easiest takedown method, the lightest recoil due to the Kick-Off system, an excellent AquaTech coating for corrosion resistance, and great presentation (hard case, 3 chokes, etc). A tad heavy on the front end, but it's worth it for the recoil savings. These are very popular in Argentina. Only knock is the bullshite 1 year warranty. Retail - $1649 (camo) $1549 (black/wood)
Beretta A300 - The 3" version of the A400, it boasts similar benefits but without a 3.5" chamber. Best buy for a 3" gas gun IMO. Same bullshite warranty. Retail - $750 (camo) $650 (black/wood)
Remington Versamax - Struggled at first with a recall, but they are back up to spec and run well. They ripped off the gas system from the Benelli M4 (Benelli's only gas gun) and the recoil is minimal, making it very popular with 3-gun shooters and high-volume waterfowl hunters. Well-balanced, comes with 5 chokes. Dont have an exact retail figure because Remington is a shitty fricking company and treats non-big-box stores like dogshit, but they seem to go online for 1200 or so.
Winchester SX3 - Has the fastest-cycling action on the market (technically the fastest; nobody can perceive the difference) and good recoil distribution. Only thing I hate about it is the coating they put on the synthetic parts. It feels rough and sand paper-y. Great value buy—can be had for around $1000 locally.
Inertia
Benelli Super Black Eagle II - The gold standard of inertia guns, it has the best fit and finish of any mainstream waterfowl gun and can run forever. The best ergonomics (why I got it), awesome crio barrels and chokes, but the takedown has a bit of a learning curve. Mine was able to shoot 1oz loads from day 1, but some people complained about pickiness with light loads. Comes with hard case, 5 chokes, grease, choke wrench, and other goodies. 10 year warranty is the best in the biz. Retail - $1699 (camo), $1599 (black/wood)
Browning A5 - Basically ripped off the SBEII inertia system, but it still kicks arse. The duratouch coating has the best texture out of all the popular waterfowl guns, but it can tarnish and get sticky after ~7 years (you should be buying a new gun by then anyway). 3.5", good trigger, excellent weight distribution and feel (prob best-shouldering gun IMO), simple takedown, excellent sight picture. Like all 3.5" guns, it can be picky about light loads and may require a break-in. 5 year warranty is pretty good. Retail $1469 (camo) $1359 (black/wood)
Franchi Intensity - Benelli's subsidiary, Franchis are Italian-made and offer great value. The Intensity is a 3.5" gun with excellent ergos and a simple takedown method. Like all 3.5" inertia guns, it can be picky. 7 year warranty, which is great, regular box, 3 chokes. Awesome value at $999 (camo) and $899 (black/wood)
Franchi Affinity - The 3" version of the Intensity, see above. Retails at $749 and $649
Stoeger 3500 - Another Benelli subsidiary, Stoegers are made in Turkey and dont offer the same level of refinement and QA that Italian manufacturing offers. That being said, they are cheap and make for awesome "first guns" for a teenager or something. The 3500 is a 3.5" gun and comes with a cardboard box and 3 chokes. It's not too balanced, but it's very reliable out of the box and is also easy to take down. They commonly come caked with cosmoline, so I advise you to strip it after purchasing and clean all that shite off. These sell very well for us because of their great value and performance. These are workhorse guns without all the bells and whistles. Decent 5 year warranty. $649 (camo) $549 (black)
Stoeger 3000 - 3" version of the 3500, see above. $549 (camo) $499 (black)
This post was edited on 11/28/16 at 11:45 pm
Posted on 11/28/16 at 11:46 pm to reds on reds on reds
Remington 870 Express pump
Posted on 11/29/16 at 4:18 am to gumbeaux
My take, shotguns are like toilet paper. All will get the job done, but some just are a little rough on one's arse.
Best to find one that you are comfortable with. This is from someone that has been hunting more then 50 years.
Best to find one that you are comfortable with. This is from someone that has been hunting more then 50 years.
Posted on 11/29/16 at 5:58 am to reds on reds on reds
I was dead set on the super Vinci until I held the A400. Been shooting the A400 for 2 years now and love it. It's all about how it feels. They all kill
Posted on 11/29/16 at 6:57 am to Carson123987
Carson, nice summary. I will point out, if you shoot a Mag 12, you will not need to buy a new gun in 7 years. Visit Gunbroker, pawn shops, and gun stores. Clean Mag 12s can be found. If you want new, your summary is spot-on.
Posted on 11/29/16 at 7:27 am to MarshMan
A400 is what I have and no issues two seasons along with sporting clays.
I was a benelli guy for number of years. I wanted something softer shooting and a little heavier. I shoot the A400 much better than my SBE.
I was a benelli guy for number of years. I wanted something softer shooting and a little heavier. I shoot the A400 much better than my SBE.
Posted on 11/29/16 at 7:29 am to TulaneUVA
My old man actually shot out an early 80's 870 wingmaster. Many many many ducks fell to it. Now it will only feed shells if you point it up, one of the little spring bars in the side of the receiver is worn slap out and won't let the shells come out the tube. I'm sure if you replaced those bars it would work like new again.
Wingmasters, BPS, nova, etc are all fine duck guns for a guy like me. I only shoot 2 3/4" shells and I don't shoot a whole lot. Those guys shooting 3.5's boxes at a time really need an auto for soaking up some recoil and if you don't mind spending the money, they're great.
Wingmasters, BPS, nova, etc are all fine duck guns for a guy like me. I only shoot 2 3/4" shells and I don't shoot a whole lot. Those guys shooting 3.5's boxes at a time really need an auto for soaking up some recoil and if you don't mind spending the money, they're great.
Posted on 11/29/16 at 7:46 am to DownshiftAndFloorIt
Those old Wingmaster's are damn fine shotguns. Wearing one out is a testament to how much your dad hunted and how loyal he was to that Wingmaster. Takes years of killing critters to wear one of those out
Posted on 11/29/16 at 7:53 am to lv2bowhntAU
Years of killing critters with a receiver full of duck seed and shuck grass 
Posted on 11/29/16 at 7:53 am to dwr353
quote:
I will point out, if you shoot a Mag 12, you will not need to buy a new gun in 7 years
Why is that?
Posted on 11/29/16 at 8:14 am to reds on reds on reds
It's not the gun it's the shooter....
In college, I only had a 20 gauge, my buddies would laugh at me every time we hunted... Guess who killed the most ducks...?
I've been hunting with my 1187 for years.. not one problem... just have to keep it clean as with most autos..
In college, I only had a 20 gauge, my buddies would laugh at me every time we hunted... Guess who killed the most ducks...?
I've been hunting with my 1187 for years.. not one problem... just have to keep it clean as with most autos..
This post was edited on 11/29/16 at 8:17 am
Posted on 11/29/16 at 8:39 am to lv2bowhntAU
quote:
Those old Wingmaster's are damn fine shotguns. Wearing one out is a testament to how much your dad hunted and how loyal he was to that Wingmaster. Takes years of killing critters to wear one of those out
I finally retired my Wingmaster for duck hunting a few years ago because of the steel shot thing. I've had it since 1977 and it never failed. I now shoot a Benelli Nova and love it, but it took a while to get used to the gun.
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