All-round choice for backpacking/hunting/predator defense

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Rohann

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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Location
Van Island, B.C
Hey all,

Need some help choosing. Looking for something potentially suitable for sporting (waterfowl, skeet) but also easy enough to carry for bear defense. If combining the two isn't really ideal, then the latter takes priority. I prefer rifles but you can take shotguns to many more places than you can rifles.

Must haves (happy to be persuaded otherwise)
-Interchangeable chokes
-Durability/reliability (obviously)
-3-1/2" down to 2-3/4" capability
-Rifled barrel?

Preferables:
-Pistol grip or folding stock
-Sling attachments
-Rail/sight options
-Easily changeable barrels

Also: Reliability and maintenance being roughly equal, I would prefer a semi but I'm also nervous about some room-temperature-IQ politician slapping down asinine legislation within the next few years. I'm also not sure how essential a longer barrel is for a watefowl/trap gun, but that's a relatively infrequent occurrence for me so it's not highest priority.

Random Cabela's and other options:
-Benelli Supernova Tactical (modifiable, but no changeable choke option?)
-Benelli Supernova (interchangeable chokes but the barrel is long, adding another barrel will likely get expensive)
-Winchester SXP Extreme Defender FDE (I know little about this other than it being featured at Cabela's)
-Turknelli M4 (again, don't know much about this and the reliability but the M4 is cool and too expensive)

Lots of experience with older Wingmasters but Remington's reputation doesn't seem to be what it was when I got into the 700P series.


Thanks in advance.
-
 
Beretta 1301 Tactical

Super Reliable
Super compact
Really nice controls
Interchangeable chokes
3" compatibility

It's like 2 pounds lighter than the M4/Turknelli, means you can carry more slugs with you in the bush

You don't reeally need a folding stock or a rifled barrel. :p
 
Theron said:
Beretta 1301 Tactical

Super Reliable
Super compact
Really nice controls
Interchangeable chokes
3" compatibility

It's like 2 pounds lighter than the M4/Turknelli, means you can carry more slugs with you in the bush

You don't reeally need a folding stock or a rifled barrel. :p
Click to expand...

what he said the 1301 is an amazing shotgun very light i never had a malfunction with mine,you install a + 1 mag ext,the aridus industrie 1301 Stock Adapter Magpul SGA and your all good
 
With the Benelli supernova models, you can also buy rifled slug barrels, although the cost is almost the same as another firearm, can probably find different length barrels sold individually too.

Edit- I see you mentioned this already lol, been a long day…
 
aboynamedsuita said:
With the Benelli supernova models, you can also buy rifled slug barrels, although the cost is almost the same as another firearm, can probably find different length barrels sold individually too.

Edit- I see you mentioned this already lol, been a long day…
Click to expand...

Are Benelli smoothbore barrels also super expensive? Might skip the Benelli in that case.
 
Theron said:
Beretta 1301 Tactical

Super Reliable
Super compact
Really nice controls
Interchangeable chokes
3" compatibility

It's like 2 pounds lighter than the M4/Turknelli, means you can carry more slugs with you in the bush

You don't reeally need a folding stock or a rifled barrel. :p
Click to expand...

I would love one of these but they're expensive. Could be persuaded. Also nervous about potential bans or reclassifications on semis but I suppose if it doesn't look scary it'll likely be safe for a while.
 
Rohann said:
I'm occasionally in grizzly territory so I just want to cover my bases.
Click to expand...

You must really like recoil. And some quick research on the net reveals there are reliability issues semi auto 3.5 inch magnum shell.
Jumping down to a pump action in this round only increases felt recoil.

Have you ever even discharged a 3.5 inch waterfowl shotshell ?
Myself I have never even heard of a full rifled barrel in 3.5 inch 12 gauge.
Three inch magnum reflects more reality here.
You are more apt to find a very reliable shotgun with decades of use by various user groups.
 
Rohann said:
Are Benelli smoothbore barrels also super expensive? Might skip the Benelli in that case.
Click to expand...

I’m not sure, but I’d be interested in one if there was. I’ve never seen an official Benelli smooth barrel sold separately (perhaps a 3rd party makes some?). The rifled slug barrel for nova/supernova seems to cost >$550 usually, and a supernova approx. $650-800.
 
Brutus said:
You must really like recoil. And some quick research on the net reveals there are reliability issues semi auto 3.5 inch magnum shell.
Jumping down to a pump action in this round only increases felt recoil.

Have you ever even discharged a 3.5 inch waterfowl shotshell ?
Myself I have never even heard of a full rifled barrel in 3.5 inch 12 gauge.
Three inch magnum reflects more reality here.
You are more apt to find a very reliable shotgun with decades of use by various user groups.
Click to expand...
Sorry, I should clarify -- rifled barrel isn't really necessary since I'm concerned with shots <50y. Is 3" mag considered sufficient for the 0.0001% chance of running into a grizzly?
 
Rohann said:
Sorry, I should clarify -- rifled barrel isn't really necessary since I'm concerned with shots <50y. Is 3" mag considered sufficient for the 0.0001% chance of running into a grizzly?
Click to expand...

I just was merely trying to point out that a reliable 3.5 inch magnum semi auto shotgun is the newest kid on the block.
Hence there's not a long track record years of wilderness use in a scenario you yourself describe.

Example the newest Remington semi auto shotgun 3.5 inch has a record of deforming the remaining shells in the long magazine tube from recoil energy. This issue is compounded with an extended tubular magazine.
Did u know this?
 
For decades and decades North American police forces urban and rural, kept a pump action shotgun handy for immediate use. Despite semi auto shotguns invented about year 1902ish. God forbid you have a frozen shotgun. But a pump action shotgun, just by square footage exposed working parts could be cleared easier than a semi auto shotgun in my estimation.
You could brace it in a hard corner maybe stand on the forearm? If needed.
However a semi auto shotgun, that little cocking handle would be the recipient of much pressure and use/abuse in a clear jam forthwith situation at minus 30 degrees you are frozen shut.
 
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