View Full Version : All around shotgun***updated with pics***
I'm looking for a 12 gauge gun in the $800-1200 range.
It'll be primarily for clays. Just casual. Not to compete. I plan on finally busting my hunting cherry this Fall as well. Ducks and geese.
I handled a Winchester Sx3 and Browning A5 today which I loved the feel of. Shop is way too expensive as well.
I've owned a Beretta A400 toof and loved it.
I hear the A5 and inertia guns are a little harsh for clays but I never thought the 870 was bad over 100rds of clays. I do like the idea of a fast soft recoiling gun though.
Guns I've been pondering I'll list here and see if anyone has advice. $1200-1250 is my max so some of these are over or pushing it.
Stoeger M3500
Winchester SX3
Browning Maxus
Browning A5
Beretta A400
Benelli Montefeltro
Benelli SBE2
Chose the SX3
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt134/rslamiroult/20160502_174813.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/rslamiroult/media/20160502_174813.jpg.html)
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt134/rslamiroult/20160502_175147.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/rslamiroult/media/20160502_175147.jpg.html)
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt134/rslamiroult/20160502_175122.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/rslamiroult/media/20160502_175122.jpg.html)
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt134/rslamiroult/20160502_175059.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/rslamiroult/media/20160502_175059.jpg.html)
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt134/rslamiroult/20160502_175037.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/rslamiroult/media/20160502_175037.jpg.html)
Second on the Beretta gas gun. They're reasonable on cost, and just work. Mine is an Outlander and it's been great. Boy scouts uses them locally and at national jamboree. A friend helped run their range and the guns shot several hours each day very reliably
Local shop had an Outlander. It was $829 which seemed high. The gun seemed a little blah but I could be wrong.
Want to say mine was closer to $600, black plastic, etc. For me, it's an appliance. It works, it hits, and I can shoot boxes (plural) and not get sore. Unlike my beautiful Citori.
To me it's like a modern, more reliable, better pointing 1100.
My only complaint is that when doing speed reloads on dove, the loading gate catches and tears my thumb cuticle. I can deal with that.
Sent from my PRC-104 using phonetics
If you like pumps, look at a Browning BPS, which is a fine shotgun. They are still made with excellent quality control. You can't buy a better shotgun in your price range.
Forgot to mention the outlander was Wood. Still over priced but by much less. It sure didn't point or feel as good as the other 2 I handled but it is a beretta and uses the 391 action.
My boys have BPS's, and they have been great as well.
Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk
anatolian B
04-16-16, 21:28
I'm a Beretta guy, in have three 390s, been shootings clays with then since 2001.
The A400 is an amazing clays gun. If you are going auto, it's the one.
They are sweet. Mine was a light model with kickoff. They are above my current budget.
NCGREENSWAMP13
04-17-16, 05:23
I would consider the benelli m2 with a 24" barrel. It's the same gun as the sbe2 but it doesn't shoot 3.5" and it's cheaper.
24" should still be ok for clays?
I'm a Beretta shotgun guy too. A400 for the win. I'd go at least 26" better to have 28" for clays. The longer barrels swing more smoothly and point more naturally. I've shot the snot out of my 391 and Xtrema2 and they just keep on trucking. I use mine for hunting as well as trap, skeet, 5-Stand and SC's.
I thought 26 and 28 would be the way to go. I'm leaning Winchester for its price paired with its stellar reputation for soft recoil and reliability. It also pointed well for me. The sole reason I'm not leaning Beretta A400 is price. $1400 and up street price. Otherwise I'd grab one of those .
The Browning A5 pointed and balanced best but I've heard of it having stout recoil (although very reliable, similar to Benelli characteristics)
Don't know much about the modern winchesters, but did quite a bit of research on the 3901 vs A300 vs A400.
Net net: my heart wanted the A400... It's prettier, more nicely finished, has a couple of extra features, etc.
But from multiple groups and individuals who shoot all three quite a bit, it became clear the A300 combined the best aspects of the A390/3901 and the A400. At almost half the price. With maybe some subjective handling advantages. (But subjective for sure) multiple instances of individuals with all three who say their preference is the A300.
I have mixed feelings, I don't marvel at its polished metal, blueing, etc. I don't consider it an heirloom class piece. I don't smile and imagine swinging on quail when I heft it.
But for me, it was exactly what I needed. Functional, reliable, affordable, and most importantly, I can hit ducks to dove, plus skeet and clays, and *never* have to dink or fiddle with it. Or worry it won't work. Its like a hammer, it's not sexy, it just works.
And I don't worry about that drop of sweat falling on it in a dove field, etc.
Excellent points. I really don't NEED to pay for fancy Wood and finish if the performance and reliability are the same.
I'd love if someone had an outlander and an sx3. I've read countless sx3 positive feedbacks.
Well, if you have had a Beretta with a KickOff you know the answer!
Humble brag - When I bought my 26" Beretta 391 they offered a free KickOff by rebate, absolutely incredible deal.
Sent via telegraph with the same fingers I use to sip whiskey.
Honestly, I can't afford one with kickoff.
From memory the A400 differences are:
- cutoff button
- rotating bolt (a300 is a hybrid of the 391 and 400 design)
- two rod action rather than one
The engineer in me wants these. But I've never heard or read of anyone who had a problem due to lack of the above. Zillions of 390/3901/A300s get by well without them.
The other issue was most of the 400s I found were optioned up, where I was able to find the basic syn A300 on sale just the way I wanted it.
Same for the kickoff, I think I would love to have it. But if I can comfortable shoot 5 boxes without it, I'm not sure it's worth 40% of the cost of an A300 to me.
I started out wanting an M2, but the cost has doubled since I first shot one. And by all accounts it's harder on the shoulder. As a young man I shot even clays with a Citori and recoil did not bother me. But as I've aged it became not fun. So I wanted a reliable gas gun.
Rather than analysis paralysis, I decided to try the basic A300. If I did not like it, I'd pony up and get an M2 or nicer Beretta. I'm still banging with the ugly, non sexy stick! You won't win any admiration chats about pretty wood from the geezers while waiting. But you won't be at a disadvantage shooting, either. (My experience, anyway)
NCGREENSWAMP13
04-17-16, 12:07
24" should still be ok for clays?
I thought you meant "all around" shotgun as in need it to do a little of everything. If you're primarily using it for clay and birds then yes the longer barrel would be better for that. But don't think you can't hit clays with a 24" barrel. I have a benelli m4 with a 18.5" barrel and it will destroy clay/ducks just gotta practice.
Yes the KickOff is a very nice, all be it an expensive upgrade.
Shooting clays with low brass 2 3/4 shells you won't notice so much but if you duck/goose hunt day in - day out its worth it's weight in gold.
Sent via telegraph with the same fingers I use to sip whiskey.
I only lightly skimmed the thread, Newyork, but I'm curious if you're considering the original or the new A5?
I suspect new is the answer, but the old A5s are so popular I felt the question worth asking.
I have the KO on my Xtrema2 and concur. It makes 3.5" goose loads feel like target loads.
For sporting clays it is a waste of money.
I only lightly skimmed the thread, Newyork, but I'm curious if you're considering the original or the new A5?
I suspect new is the answer, but the old A5s are so popular I felt the question worth asking.
New A5.
I have several Brownings, favorite among them is a Gold Sporting Clay that I've had over a decade, it is a soft shooting, natural pointing shotgun. They don't make it any longer but, they do make a Silver Sporting which, if you can get by with 23/4in, is a fully adjustable nice shooting shotgun - right at your 1200.00 limit - msrp is 1300.00ish.
23/4 sure dropped a lot of duck and pheasant before the advent of 3 inch shells, and it sounds as if you are going to do more clay shooting than anything.
JMO
Nice looking gun. The Silver Hunter is another one and it's a little cheaper with 26" bbl and 3" vs the Silver Sporting with 28" and 2 3/4".
Silver Lightning as well.
Seems the Silver Hunter is basically a Winchester SX3, which is where I've been looking hardest
Ordered a Winchester SX3 in Real tree max-5 with fiber optic front and 3" chamber with 26" bbl.
You can get a used A400 and stay in your budget. Sounds like you really liked the Beretta. You might as well get it....anything else, you will look in your rear view mirror. My daughter has both the A300 and a400. She shoots clay and the big difference is the weight. The A400 is heavier. I am a big benelli fan. If you do plan on geese, you might want the sbe for the 3.5 capability. If this is just a knock around all general gun, the A300 will be plenty gun for you.
Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk
Have had good experience with a buddy's Beretta A300 - good bang for your buck.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I went with the Winchester gentlemen. If I don't like it I'll go after a Beretta again.
crusader377
04-22-16, 11:43
I went with the Winchester gentlemen. If I don't like it I'll go after a Beretta again.
The Winchester is a great choice. Basically it uses the same gas system as the Browning Silver/Gold and it is produced in the same factory. Dollar per dollar IMO, it is one of the best semi automatic shotguns available.
That's great to hear. Now if they will actually ship tell damn thing I can enjoy it.
Another big plus is that you'll have Browning's service dept doing warranty work or repairs if needed. Instruction manual with the shotgun will list the same address as Browning's but the heading will be Winchester. I've used everybody's service dept over he years. None is finer than Browning's.
I went with the Winchester gentlemen. If I don't like it I'll go after a Beretta again.
If you don't like the Win, you might also consider a Franchi.
I have a Winchester SX3...if you decide you don't like yours...just let me know...I could always use two :)
Believe it or not this damn gun hasn't shipped yet. Pulling out my hair over here. Supposed to ship today. Ordered last Monday.
brickboy240
04-27-16, 15:13
My brother has an SX3 and really likes it.
I shoot an older A-300 Beretta that I bought second hand, and swore I would upgrade when it gave out. That was 12 years ago and the thing is still singing along! LOL
Enjoy the Winchester...I think that is a solid choice.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.5 Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.