I need help picking a "do it all" semi auto.

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Max-4

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Hello there, I am in the market for a "do it all" 12g semi auto shotgun in the near future. I am looking for this shotgun to be able to shoot clays as well as hunt pheasants, waterfowl, turkeys and whatever else you can hunt with a 12g.

Now I have owned several 12g shotguns so I do have a very good idea of what works for me. I want a 12g, 3" chamber and 26" to 28" barrel. I also know that anything from Browning or Winchester tends to not fit me very well. Not enough drop in their stocks and basically flat from drop at comb to drop at heel. This has me looking down at the rib and when the shims are used to drop the comb is too low for my cheek.

I have recently owned a Benelli Super Vinci which was a bit heavy and almost 50" long with the 3.5" chamber and 28" barrel. I swapped it for a Beretta A300 Ultima with a 28" barrel and while it was almost perfect I found it too heavy for carrying upland for Pheasants all day.

This has me thinking that I need a inertia driven shotgun but the 28" barrel models tend to be 49.5" long on most M2's or Affinity Shotguns. Is this too long for upland pheasants or rabbits? I could look at a 26" barrel and those models are about 47.5" long, seems to be a sweet spot around 48" which most 870's and Beretta gas guns are with 28" barrels.

What do you guys think, i'd like to find something under 7 pounds. I can trade off a little recoil for the ability to carry it all day for upland birds which I do most of my hunting for. What do you guys think? Thanks!
 
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Fit wise, you have things backwards, the Winchester and Browning shotguns have more drop at comb , with the Beretta shotguns having much less, and Benelli in between. I shot Browning/Winchester shotguns for many years, for that reason. For light target loads, quality gas operated guns are more tolerant, but the higher end recoil operated shotguns also do quite well.
 
Yes, I find with the Winchester/Browning there is 0.25" or less from the drop at comb to the drop at heel total.

I find that a shotgun that comes standard with about 1.5" drop at comb and 2.5" drop at heel to fit me very well.

The Winchester/Browning 1.75" drop at comb and 2" drop at heel is just weird for me. When I add a drop shim it brings the comb down too far.
 
Max-4 said:
Hello there, I am in the market for a "do it all" 12g semi auto shotgun in the near future. I am looking for this shotgun to be able to shoot clays as well as hunt pheasants, waterfowl, turkeys and whatever else you can hunt with a 12g.

Now I have owned several 12g shotguns so I do have a very good idea of what works for me. I want a 12g, 3" chamber and 26" to 28" barrel. I also know that anything from Browning or Winchester tends to not fit me very well. Not enough drop in their stocks and basically flat from drop at comb to drop at heel. This has me looking down at the rib and when the shims are used to drop the comb is too low for my cheek.

I have recently owned a Benelli Super Vinci which was a bit heavy and almost 50" long with the 3.5" chamber and 28" barrel. I swapped it for a Beretta A300 Ultima with a 28" barrel and while it was almost perfect I found it too heavy for carrying upland for Pheasants all day.

This has me thinking that I need a inertia driven shotgun but the 28" barrel models tend to be 49.5" long on most M2's or Affinity Shotguns. Is this too long for upland pheasants or rabbits? I could look at a 26" barrel and those models are about 47.5" long, seems to be a sweet spot around 48" which most 870's and Beretta gas guns are with 28" barrels.

What do you guys think, i'd like to find something under 7 pounds. I can trade off a little recoil for the ability to carry it all day for upland birds which I do most of my hunting for. What do you guys think? Thanks!
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Franchi Affinity 3. I own a Affinity Sporting and absolutely love it. Easy to clean, easy to shoot, have about 1000 shells thru it and not a single issue
 
Of the 11-12 guys that come to hunt waterfowl here, all now have Benelli’s. You are correct to hunt fit, most important.
 
Max-4 said:
Yes, I find with the Winchester/Browning there is 0.25" or less from the drop at comb to the drop at heel total.

I find that a shotgun that comes standard with about 1.5" drop at comb and 2.5" drop at heel to fit me very well.

The Winchester/Browning 1.75" drop at comb and 2" drop at heel is just weird for me. When I add a drop shim it brings the comb down too far.
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And I prefer a shotgun with a comb that is closer to parallel . I find too much drop from comb to heel, makes cheek position too critical, which is a factor, when shooting at steep angles.
 
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