Shotgun for skeet and hunting

[newyork]

I want a buy once cry once shotgun for mostly skeet and Winter hunting of bird and occasional deer. Mostly skeet and bird. I will spend $1200-$1500 at most. Looking at Benelli Montefeltro, Beretta Extrema 2, Urika 2, Super Black Eagle 2 and what ever Browning etc you guys suggest.

[sjc3081]

I use a Benneli M4 for turkey, skeet and deer/bear. I use H1 as my optic. Im sure you can find a M4 used for under $1200.

[zb39]

Browning, over under with screw in chokes.....Love mine.

[superr.stu]

Easy answer: Rem 870 wingmaster with 26in barrel, pick up a slug barrel. You can party all day with that, and have a pocket full of cash left.

If that doesn't suit you, next suggestion would be a 24-26inch Benelli m2, maybe consider getting a 10/22 sight installed on the rib...

[Gutshot John]

Benelli M4 is a tactical gun. Not a good clays/bird gun. Lack of longer barrels and chokes is a problem. Some clubs won't let you shoot with a short barrel anyways. 26" is kind of a standard minimum with 28-30" being the most common.

Pump guns put you at a distinct disadvantage for skeet/clays. You want semi-auto or over-under.

Beretta or Benelli semi-auto if really the way to go if you've got the coin.

Remington 11-87 if you want to save some cash.

Decent O/Us are a lot of money but cheaper ones can be had in the same ball park as a really good semi.

[newyork]

I got to hold a Winchester Super X3 and it felt great. Thoughts?

[platoonDaddy]

Without a doubt 870, I have multiple barrels:

1. 28" for trap|skeet and bird hunting

2. Turkey Barrel

3. Rifled Barrel barrel with cantilever for deer, hogs

[Gutshot John]

I've not shot the Winchester but I've heard very good things. They did a record breaking shoot in Argentina recently.

[59Bassman]

I got to hold a Winchester Super X3 and it felt great. Thoughts?

I am currently using a 26" SX3 for 3 gun. However, as part of the break-in, I took it out for skeet (used to be a high volume skeet/sporting shooter). I ran 24 of 25 on my first round with it. Nothing wrong with the SX3 as a general-purpose clays/field gun. A 28" barrel is a nice compromise for both.

In full disclosure, I have had two failures to eject with my super-light 1 oz clays reloads, but it has cycled everything factory - shells from 1 oz target loads up through heavy 00 Buck. The MOD choke in my will put slugs about 6" left at 100 yards but it's repeatable.

I have a whole lot of experience with the Beretta 390/391 shotguns in competition settings, and have spent some time hunting with the 390. Overall I think the old 390 is best gas-operated autoloader made, but I think the SX3 has it beat in versatility - you can't add a mag tube to a Beretta 39X.

[loupav]

I love my Benelli Montefeltro Silver. I boguht it so I could just shoot sporting clays and skeet. It does very well for me. Probably close to 2k rounds and no a single problem, except one or two heavy primers which were not the gun's fault.