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Started By
Message
New shotgun suggestion
Posted on 3/29/25 at 1:57 pm
Posted on 3/29/25 at 1:57 pm
Looking for a new shotgun (semi) to do a little bit of everything (duck, turkey, skeets). Prefer a 20 gauge but open to get another 12. Barrel, prefer 26” but would take another 28”. So far, I came up with a list budget and a couple higher end shotguns that I am going to look at.
Winchester SX4
Franchi Affinity
Beretta A300
Benelli M2
Browning A5
Beretta A400 Extreme
Maybe Benelli SBE III
Budget is roughly $1800-$2,000
I know there is a difference in comparing something like $1,000 shotgun to a 2,000 shotgun. Just wanted to see what the OB’s opinion and experience are with some of these shotguns.
Winchester SX4
Franchi Affinity
Beretta A300
Benelli M2
Browning A5
Beretta A400 Extreme
Maybe Benelli SBE III
Budget is roughly $1800-$2,000
I know there is a difference in comparing something like $1,000 shotgun to a 2,000 shotgun. Just wanted to see what the OB’s opinion and experience are with some of these shotguns.
20
Posted on 3/29/25 at 2:06 pm to CobraCommander83
Posted on 3/29/25 at 2:54 pm to CobraCommander83
quote:
I know there is a difference in comparing something like $1,000 shotgun to a 2,000 shotgun.
Yes, the difference is $1,000
Seriously though, a $1,000 gun is going to kill birds just as dead as a $2,000 gun.
Everything you’ve mentioned are great guns. Somebody has also had a problem in some shape or form in all the the guns you’ve mentioned. The most important thing would be to find which one fits you and “feels” the best. It’s that simple. I prefer gas over inertia but it’s not that big of a deal with 20 gauge.
The only reason I’d choose the 26 over a 28 though, is if it was going to be used for turkey. It’s not a huge deal, but there’s nothing superior about a 26 vs 28 except when it comes to maneuverability in the turkey woods.(26 is still too long for me there too)
One thing you didn’t mention that you should look at for 20 is Browning silver.
This post was edited on 3/29/25 at 2:57 pm
Posted on 3/29/25 at 3:23 pm to CobraCommander83
Beretta A400.
Posted on 3/29/25 at 4:04 pm to CobraCommander83
I have an SX4 with less than 100 rounds thru it.
12 gauge 26 inch barrel woodland camo.
12 gauge 26 inch barrel woodland camo.
This post was edited on 3/29/25 at 4:06 pm
Posted on 3/29/25 at 4:16 pm to CobraCommander83
You’d be happy with any SBE. Great guns.
Posted on 3/29/25 at 4:46 pm to CobraCommander83
quote:
Benelli M2
My personal favorite
Posted on 3/29/25 at 5:14 pm to CobraCommander83
Was always a big benelli guy. My sbe 3 went back to benelli because the barrel broke off of it when I was shooting at a duck. Took benelli a year to fix it and get back to me. While it was gone, I borrowed a beretta A400 Xtreme plus that my dad no longer needed. Liked the gun so much I never went back to benelli. I like the way the beretta shoulders better and they are the most reliable shotguns in the world.
Posted on 3/29/25 at 5:30 pm to CobraCommander83
Everything on your list is great. Get the one that stands out to you.
I'm a benelli fan boy. Benelli montefeltro has been the best deal going in shotguns for quite a while IMO. Less so now than when they were $900, but still the best thing going to be.
That said, I know dove hunt outfits in south America rent berettas because they outlast everything else by a wide margin.
I'm a benelli fan boy. Benelli montefeltro has been the best deal going in shotguns for quite a while IMO. Less so now than when they were $900, but still the best thing going to be.
That said, I know dove hunt outfits in south America rent berettas because they outlast everything else by a wide margin.
Posted on 3/29/25 at 6:14 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
My SBE3 has been great but I did have a similar situation with my 828 over under. Had to send it back to Benelli and took 6 months to come back.
Posted on 3/29/25 at 8:33 pm to CobraCommander83
So I’ve had a few of those guns, kinda. I had a SX3 with roughly 2k rounds of duck loads and skeet/dove through it. It got dirty towards the end of its life and I pretty much had to have to shoot high velocity rounds to get anything to cycle. I did pay for it to be professionally cleaned once and that helped but was back at it approx. 200 rounds after said cleaning. On the SX3/4, you really need to focus on the “gas block” and the tiny vent hole in the barrel where that block sits. Overall 7/10, great gun. Mine was a 28” 12ga.
I also have owned the Franchi Affinity. This gun was hella reliable but I was a young buck and did not care for it like I should have and it started to fall apart on me towards the end of its life. Still give it a 6.5-7/10. 26” 12ga
Right now I have a Rob Robert’s M2 20 ga 26”. This gun is freaking nice. 10/10 but understand that it’s custom. Would recommend the M2 as it point fantastic and is as light as a feather. Can shoot a turkey 50 yards all day with TSS.
Lastly, I have a SBE3 12ga 26”. I mainly duck hunt with it and honestly it doesn’t get used much. It’s a great gun but even it will struggle to cycle without some good cleaning after shooting dirtier loads. 7/10.
If your top dollar is $2k, I’d buy an M2 and send it to Rob Robert’s for trigger work or forcing cone at a minimum.
Also remember that American made guns point on and European guns you aim low because they shoot high. It’s all about “shot window”. Maybe that’s something to consider for you.
I also have owned the Franchi Affinity. This gun was hella reliable but I was a young buck and did not care for it like I should have and it started to fall apart on me towards the end of its life. Still give it a 6.5-7/10. 26” 12ga
Right now I have a Rob Robert’s M2 20 ga 26”. This gun is freaking nice. 10/10 but understand that it’s custom. Would recommend the M2 as it point fantastic and is as light as a feather. Can shoot a turkey 50 yards all day with TSS.
Lastly, I have a SBE3 12ga 26”. I mainly duck hunt with it and honestly it doesn’t get used much. It’s a great gun but even it will struggle to cycle without some good cleaning after shooting dirtier loads. 7/10.
If your top dollar is $2k, I’d buy an M2 and send it to Rob Robert’s for trigger work or forcing cone at a minimum.
Also remember that American made guns point on and European guns you aim low because they shoot high. It’s all about “shot window”. Maybe that’s something to consider for you.
Posted on 3/29/25 at 8:37 pm to CobraCommander83
Beretta A400
I have shot a Beretta Xtrema 2 for 10 years duck hunting shooting about 2 cases a year. Only issue I ever had was a broken extractor pin which cost $5 to fix, and that was after 9 seasons. No cycling issues whatsoever. It sits as a backup now or I'll let friends use it if they come with me and don't have one.
Won a Benelli SBE3 on a raffle, brought it hunting once and didn't like the way it pulled up for me. Perhaps I didn't have it shimmed right for me. Not to say it's not a great shotgun, but more of a "feel" preference for me. I was already used to Berettas. There are plenty of people who swear by Benelli's.
I bought the A400 Extreme 2 years ago, love the feel, zero cycling issues.
Best thing to do is go to an outfitter that has all of the shotguns you mentioned and pick them up and shoulder them. The Benelli's/Beretta's are pretty spendy but worth it in my opinion. I've heard great things about the Winchester SX4's if you want to save some dough.
I have shot a Beretta Xtrema 2 for 10 years duck hunting shooting about 2 cases a year. Only issue I ever had was a broken extractor pin which cost $5 to fix, and that was after 9 seasons. No cycling issues whatsoever. It sits as a backup now or I'll let friends use it if they come with me and don't have one.
Won a Benelli SBE3 on a raffle, brought it hunting once and didn't like the way it pulled up for me. Perhaps I didn't have it shimmed right for me. Not to say it's not a great shotgun, but more of a "feel" preference for me. I was already used to Berettas. There are plenty of people who swear by Benelli's.
I bought the A400 Extreme 2 years ago, love the feel, zero cycling issues.
Best thing to do is go to an outfitter that has all of the shotguns you mentioned and pick them up and shoulder them. The Benelli's/Beretta's are pretty spendy but worth it in my opinion. I've heard great things about the Winchester SX4's if you want to save some dough.
This post was edited on 3/29/25 at 8:50 pm
Posted on 3/29/25 at 9:58 pm to GeauxHead337
I went to my local hunting store late this afternoon and held most of the shotguns I listed.
The A400 was hands down the best feeling shotgun out of the group. The store only had the 12 gauge with 26” and 28” barrel. They didn’t have any in 20 gauge in stock. To me, it looks chunky but it feels great and comfortable. Price tags was $1899.00.
The A5 also felt nice and it is very light for a 12 gauge. I went ahead and picked up a Maxus II that was beside the A5 and I liked it a little better than the A5. They had the A5 for around $1,550 and the Maxus II listed somewhere around $1,700-1,800.
I liked the Affinity 3 and A300 more than the SX4 and M2. Both was tagged around $875-$925.
The A400 was hands down the best feeling shotgun out of the group. The store only had the 12 gauge with 26” and 28” barrel. They didn’t have any in 20 gauge in stock. To me, it looks chunky but it feels great and comfortable. Price tags was $1899.00.
The A5 also felt nice and it is very light for a 12 gauge. I went ahead and picked up a Maxus II that was beside the A5 and I liked it a little better than the A5. They had the A5 for around $1,550 and the Maxus II listed somewhere around $1,700-1,800.
I liked the Affinity 3 and A300 more than the SX4 and M2. Both was tagged around $875-$925.
Posted on 3/29/25 at 10:10 pm to CobraCommander83
Just get a beretta a300 and be done with it.
You cannot beat it for the money.
I have a a400 and an a300, the 400 is awesome, but I don’t see where it’s worth the extra money.
I have a m2, it’s a great gun as well, but the beretta is better. I had an sbe3, sold it, I did not like it all and I was a benelli purist for years and years.
I have a “new” a5 I bought when they came back out for nostalgia, I use it strictly for snow goose season. It’s a great gun as well, I’ve probably put close to 100,000 rounds through it with minor issues just from using it, but again, I’m not sure it’s worth almost double as an a300.
Franchi affinity is a piece of shite, I had one to test during snow season 4 or 5 seasons ago, it could not take the punishment of snow goose hunting everyday.
You cannot beat it for the money.
I have a a400 and an a300, the 400 is awesome, but I don’t see where it’s worth the extra money.
I have a m2, it’s a great gun as well, but the beretta is better. I had an sbe3, sold it, I did not like it all and I was a benelli purist for years and years.
I have a “new” a5 I bought when they came back out for nostalgia, I use it strictly for snow goose season. It’s a great gun as well, I’ve probably put close to 100,000 rounds through it with minor issues just from using it, but again, I’m not sure it’s worth almost double as an a300.
Franchi affinity is a piece of shite, I had one to test during snow season 4 or 5 seasons ago, it could not take the punishment of snow goose hunting everyday.
This post was edited on 3/29/25 at 10:15 pm
Posted on 3/29/25 at 10:50 pm to CobraCommander83
Take a look at Fabarms. They make some excellent shotguns.
Posted on 3/30/25 at 7:19 am to CobraCommander83
I have a SBE2 love that dang thing and I have a Benelli Super sport in their 20 ga amazing for dove hunting love shooting that thing, and the Franchi version of the SBE2 but only 3 in its my loaner friend gun to take duck hunting. Plus a few OU and for some reason a buddy unladed a BPS 10 ga to me for 350.00 no idea why I bought that thing pain to find 10 ga stuff.I dont think you can go wrong with any of the brands you picked all excellent, BUT for 1 gun I like the Benelli Montefeltro or gas gun look at the Beretta A series I have turned many friends on to them and they have absolutely loved them. I like the mechanical inertia system vs gas hell with the benelli blast the thing with carb cleaner then blast it with a quality synthetic oil, you can clean it faster than reading this. Fit is the most important thing. Good luck with your shopping.
Growing up replacing o rings in a 1100 I swore off gas guns lack of proper maintenance on my part.
Growing up replacing o rings in a 1100 I swore off gas guns lack of proper maintenance on my part.
Posted on 3/30/25 at 9:21 am to CobraCommander83
quote:I've had this one since 2017 or 2018 and it's been a good gun.
Winchester SX4
Posted on 3/30/25 at 11:08 am to CobraCommander83
Beretta A 400 extreme
Posted on 3/30/25 at 3:15 pm to CobraCommander83
If your local sportsman store has a consignment rack, keep an eye on it. It's not that unusual for somebody to sell an older gun. I've found some solid berettas, brownings and Remingtons on that rack for great prices. Those older guns are heavier but they're great quality too. Just sayin. Picked up a 20 gauge a301 not too long ago in great shape and I love that gun. They don't make them like that anymore.
Posted on 3/30/25 at 4:27 pm to Marciano1
quote:
Winchester SX4
I've had this one since 2017 or 2018 and it's been a good gun.
I don't speak from direct experience, as the only semi auto I've owned is an A400 (which is flawless btw) but I did have my hands on a 20ga SX4 compact and Affinity Compact. Good lord the SX4 was significantly heavier and clunkier. SX4 felt like an old 870, whereas the affinity felt very Benelli like, simple, sleek, light.
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