Best Semi Auto 12 Gauge Duck Gun
- Thread starter AR15meister
- Start date
beretta boy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Orillia, Ontario
Unless you plan to shoot a lot of geese, I'd go with a 3" chambered
Beretta 391.
For a 3-1/2" chambered gun, either the Beretta Extrema 2 or Benelli Super Black Eagle II will do nicely. The "KO" (Kick-Off) Option is worthwhile on the Beretta for the 3-1/2's. Additionally, the Beretta's (either the 391 Urika or the Extrema 2) will cycle anything from light 2-3/4" - 1 oz target loads to the heaviest 3-1/2" magnum loads... the Benellis are often not reliable in cycling anything other than heavy hunting loads. If you like to practice on clays before the season opens, this may be a factor.
Beretta 391.
For a 3-1/2" chambered gun, either the Beretta Extrema 2 or Benelli Super Black Eagle II will do nicely. The "KO" (Kick-Off) Option is worthwhile on the Beretta for the 3-1/2's. Additionally, the Beretta's (either the 391 Urika or the Extrema 2) will cycle anything from light 2-3/4" - 1 oz target loads to the heaviest 3-1/2" magnum loads... the Benellis are often not reliable in cycling anything other than heavy hunting loads. If you like to practice on clays before the season opens, this may be a factor.
- Location
- Coquitlam, BC
If money is no object, I'd probably say Extrema2 with KO. I've used a Winchester SX3 for the last two seasons and it's served me well, at about half the price of the Ex2 KO.
PS: Derek, is that you? It's me, Brian from church. I looked at your avatar (R32) and your location, and I kinda connected the dots.
PS: Derek, is that you? It's me, Brian from church. I looked at your avatar (R32) and your location, and I kinda connected the dots.
I agree with your suggesting the 391 3 inch, but I have seen far more Extrema 2 guns that would not cycle target loads than with the SBE2. Next to the 870, these two guns are very popular with newbie shooters at the aheia range.
You have found out what many have missed. The SX 2 and 3 are excellent and often overlooked on the way up to a more expensive auto.
beretta boy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Orillia, Ontario
Just the opposite eperiance 'round here. Like 'em both, but the Extrema 2 gets the nod for "shoot-everything" reliability. I have a couple of 391's that shoot everything, ( and can confirm they are far more reliable than Remington 58's, 1100's, 11-87's, Winchester SX-1's and Browning G9ld's, 'cause I've shot them all in the marsh ! ) "Buddy" has torture tested an Extrema over the past couple of seasons. Don't know anyone rougher on a shotgun than this guy. He shoots everything from 24 gram (7/8 oz.) Kents through 3-1/2" Fassteels through his.
For a 3" gun, I kinda like the Benelli Cordoba too, but am not keen on porting.
Don't think the average guy could go too far wrong with either as a waterfowl gun... most of us have target guns anyways.
Mount Sweetness
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Ontario
Not sure about Duck Hunting, but I am a big fan of the Browning Gold Hunter.
Don't think the average guy could go too far wrong with either as a waterfowl gun... most of us have target guns anyways.
Both of them do that very well. I wonder why the ports on the cordoba? The ones I have seen were not target guns.
PS I oten see the SBE2 on our local sporting circuit, but I do not ever recall seeing the BIG Beretta.
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I have the Xtrema 2 and really like it. It has yet to fail me..and I like the way that beretta incorperated loads of protective features into this gun. If I am going to shell out that much money for a shotgun I want it to withstand the the hardships of hunting that I will put it through.
I have shot the SX2 and really like it...But I like my beretta a bit more..
I have shot the SX2 and really like it...But I like my beretta a bit more..
- Location
- Coquitlam, BC
You have found out what many have missed. The SX 2 and 3 are excellent and often overlooked on the way up to a more expensive auto.
I was looking for an upgrade from my plain-Jane 870 last year, and got the SX3 at Lebaron's. With the December discount and club price, I had it in the mail within 10 days and the bill was something like $950. Pretty sweet deal if I may say so.
Interestingly, the SX3 doesn't bust clays like the Ruger RL O/U I used to have, but for ducks it does the job so I'm happy.
I was looking for an upgrade from my plain-Jane 870 last year, and got the SX3 at Lebaron's. With the December discount and club price, I had it in the mail within 10 days and the bill was something like $950. Pretty sweet deal if I may say so.
Interestingly, the SX3 doesn't bust clays like the Ruger RL O/U I used to have, but for ducks it does the job so I'm happy.
The fit and/or poi are probably just a bit different? With my SX2 I do not shoot 16 yard trap as well as I would like, but for doubles trap, skeet, sporting and overhead shots it is much better.
They are a plain finish version of the Benelli SuperSport and supposedly made for hunting high volume doves in South America hence the name Cordoba. I guess Benelli doesn't care if your Argentinian bird boy goes deaf.
My semis have to do triple duty as a back up clay gun, loaner gun and waterfowler so porting rules out the Cordoba. I was nonetheless very tempted by the gun and put a few hundred rounds through one last summer but decided to stick with my 391. I've never felt the need for 3-1/2" shells and my 391 will function on super light loads including the Winchester Low Recoil, Low Noise.
I also do not feel the need for 3 1/2" shells. Last year I tried a 391 for targets and now it is my main gun. My back up clay gun is also a 391 and my SX2 is a back up to my back up
as if I will ever need it All of my guns are guest guns. Since I switched to the autos, I doubt if I will ever go back to a double as my main gun. I had a super sport for a while and although I never had a problem with function, there was just no magic. If I was a decicated goose hunter I might be tempted by the BIG BERETTA with KO, but the gun is just too ugly too be seen with at the club.
clays
I have a 3.5 inch Ext 2 with Kick off, when it was brand new we tried a little experiment. We were going to fire it with out cleaning until it jammed. This was after the initial out of the box cleaning. We got through 2500 rounds of target ammo and it never screwed up once, that was basically a whole summer of sporting clays. Only reason I cleaned it was for hunting season. FS
I have a 3.5 inch Ext 2 with Kick off, when it was brand new we tried a little experiment. We were going to fire it with out cleaning until it jammed. This was after the initial out of the box cleaning. We got through 2500 rounds of target ammo and it never screwed up once, that was basically a whole summer of sporting clays. Only reason I cleaned it was for hunting season. FS
beretta boy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Orillia, Ontario
Claybuster has it right ... the Cordoba is intended as a high volume dove gun, typified by the kind of shooting that goes on around Codoba, Argentina. IMHO, it is also a very capable target gun ( raised/tapered rib, "comfortech" stock, extended chokes etc. & balances better than the SBE II) ... but the porting throws a lot of people off, including me.
Most who have the Extrema are, I think, dedicated waterfowlers ... and the few (or many ? ) who are target-crunchers as well, likely have an O/U or 391 as a primary target gun.
In my part of the world, waterfowling is maybe a ratio of 80:20 or higher, ducks:geese, and I've never felt the need for the 3-1/2 inch canon fodder either. BUT, I pretty much stick to Kent "Impact". If it was the reverse, primarily geese and steel shot ... I might go with the big gun if I foun d the 3-1/2's worked better than the 3's in steel .
The Beretta 391 has that effect on people. I know many target shooters who have made the switch. I'm not quite there yet but if I had to start all over again I'd buy two 391s, set them up the identically, and never look back.Last year I tried a 391 for targets and now it is my main gun. My back up clay gun is also a 391 and my SX2 is a back up to my back up
