Field shoots. What semi auto to buy??

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Don K

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So I was in WSS and Canelas yesterday looking at shotguns. Have gotten back into field shooting and my pump is in need of an upgrade.

I looked at the Brownings, Benellis and Berretas and wondered what opinions some field shooters have on quality, function and reliability. The ones I was looking at ranged from $1500-$2200.

Thoughts and opinions are greatly appreciated!!

Don
 
If at all possible try and shoulder as many of them as possible and see what fit and feels best for you. I prefer the Benelli SBE 2 however I don't ever shoot 3.5" shells so I could've just got the M2 and saved a few bucks as 2.75" and 3" is all I ever run. Best of luck shopping! :)
 
Pick the gun that fits you the best. Dont get too concerned about the name thats stamped on it. A good fitting gun will serve you way better then a poorly fitted gun with a fancy name on it
 
1963beretta said:
Pick the gun that fits you the best. Dont get too concerned about the name thats stamped on it. A good fitting gun will serve you way better then a poorly fitted gun with a fancy name on it
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Pay attention to that advise, fit is very important with a shotgun. As far as reliability goes, Browning, Winchester, Benelli and Beretta are all well made shotguns.
 
I love my Beretta A-400 Xtreme...adjustable stock, rust proof metal, easy takedown to clean, gas action, mine has the Unico camo finish which hides well in the goose blind. Shoots everything from trap loads to heavy 3 1/2 inch and the Kick Off recoil reduction system makes it the softest shooting shotgun I have ever used....That's my vote.

Jim
 
First I would decide which action I want: Inertia vs. Gas.... In my opinion, inertia is king. Soft, smooth recoil, will cycle anything you put in it, and so clean that you'll only have to clean it once at the end of the season. I also see them as being more reliable since they have a lot less parts. I just have a low end Turkish inertia driven shotgun, but its functioned absolutely flawless. Not a single hiccup with hundreds of rounds through it.
 
Browning maxus has run flawless for me. I have the sporting clays as well as camo stalker, no function issues with either one. They also fit me perfectly which is most important as mentioned.
 
stubblejumper said:
How are you determining which shotgun fits you better?
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For me, most important is how close is the rib to disappearing when I shoulder the gun quick and naturally? If it seems pretty close, like within what the next shim increment could correct, I would feel that's a good start. Does it feel too long or short for length of pull? Is there an option to adjust it? Other preference items like where the safety is located etc. I find Remington and Beretta fit me well, whereas Browning and Winchester I'd have to have at least one vertebrae removed from my neck to feel like the rib is planar with my line of sight. Everyone's different which is why it's best to try before you buy. It's amazing how different the various guns feel. I don't know if any of that is "correct" according to gun fit gurus, but it works for me... clays disappear like magic in front of a gun that fits me, not so much with one that doesn't come on point easily..
 
stromrider said:
For me, most important is how close is the rib to disappearing when I shoulder the gun quick and naturally? If it seems pretty close, like within what the next shim increment could correct, I would feel that's a good start. Does it feel too long or short for length of pull? Is there an option to adjust it? Other preference items like where the safety is located etc. I find Remington and Beretta fit me well, whereas Browning and Winchester I'd have to have at least one vertebrae removed from my neck to feel like the rib is planar with my line of sight. Everyone's different which is why it's best to try before you buy. It's amazing how different the various guns feel. I don't know if any of that is "correct" according to gun fit gurus, but it works for me... clays disappear like magic in front of a gun that fits me, not so much with one that doesn't come on point easily..
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So do you shoulder the gun with your eyes open or closed? If your eyes are open, you will likely compensate for some misalignment as you shoulder the gun, even though you don't realize it. I shoulder the gun eyes closed, and then open my eyes while holding my position as much as possible. If I see almost no rib, and the left to right alignment is good, I have found a starting point. Brownings tend to have more drop at comb than Beretta, with these two brands being pretty much opposite fit wise. If a Browning fits well, then the Berettas usually won't have enough drop at comb, if Beretta fits , then you likely won't see any rib and likely only part of the front bead on a browning.
 
stubblejumper said:
So do you shoulder the gun with your eyes open or closed? If your eyes are open, you will likely compensate for some misalignment as you shoulder the gun, even though you don't realize it. I shoulder the gun eyes closed, and then open my eyes while holding my position as much as possible. If I see almost no rib, and the left to right alignment is good, I have found a starting point. Brownings tend to have more drop at comb than Beretta, with these two brands being pretty much opposite fit wise. If a Browning fits well, then the Berettas usually won't have enough drop at comb, if Beretta fits , then you likely won't see any rib and likely only part of the front bead on a browning.
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Good point...I don't typically close my eyes when mounting a shotgun for evaluation although I use that technique when practicing with a pistol from a holster. No doubt I am cheating a bit, but I'm after a comfortable feel when finding a nice flat rib in my view and a moderate cheek weld for lack of a better term. And whether the cast is close for you is also a good thing to be mindful of. When I shoulder a Browning comfortably/naturally, my face floats in space and I see the rib like a plane coming into a runway. When I get down on the stock enough to have a reference for my cheek and just a peek at the rib on the way to the bead it's a pretty uncomfortable contortion, so I'd support your drop at comb statement without having looked at specs.


And more on point with the OP's question I think the 'B' guns are top notch quality wise, inertia guns are said to kick a bit harder compared to gas but are generally a bit simpler to maintain and not as quick to foul. You're coming from a pump gun so either should be softer shooting than what you're used to. For lots of walking, light weight would be high on my list. If you're pretty much in one place not a big concern. FWIW I'm a Beretta fan personally...
 
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