I’ve been shooting a Remington 11-87 Premier for a few years. I do some informal clay shooting a bit of upland and would like to try waterfowl. Would I be really gaining anything upgrading to a more modern Beretta like an A300 Ultima, Benelli or a Browning? The Remington fits me ok. I shoot it ok but not great. My biggest complaint is loading and the bolt release.I also have an Auto Five light 12 that fits me and I shoot best but it’s not really versatile with fixed full choke.
12ga Semi Auto
- Thread starter fwm
- Start date
Nothing wrong with the a300 but as posted above the a400 is a step up. May or may not be worth the added expense to you but the blink system is great and I don't think anyone who owns an a400 wishes they'd have bought the a300 instead
Another choice is a used Beretta a391 but for their asking price I'd buy a new a300 ultima. The enlarged controls are nice. I don't have an a300 ultima but have handled them enough to know I like them. I shoot an a400 xplor and a 1301 comp and an older a303 Beretta
What you gain is a better regulated gas system. A cleaner system. A faster cycling action. I believe a softer shooting gun. Plus new berettas come with shim kits to adjust the stock
Another choice is a used Beretta a391 but for their asking price I'd buy a new a300 ultima. The enlarged controls are nice. I don't have an a300 ultima but have handled them enough to know I like them. I shoot an a400 xplor and a 1301 comp and an older a303 Beretta
What you gain is a better regulated gas system. A cleaner system. A faster cycling action. I believe a softer shooting gun. Plus new berettas come with shim kits to adjust the stock
If the Auto 5 fits you well, the Berettas won't fit you out of the box, the Auto 5 has much more drop at comb. You might be able to use the shims to adjust the fit to suit you, but I would also consider the Browning Silver or Maxus, and the Winchester SX-4, as they may fit you much better.
leveractionjunkie
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Kamloops, BC
Not to be a stick in the mud, but I’d do some waterfowling with your 11/87 and see how much you actually do.
If you’re looking for a do everything auto the A400 is likely not the gun for you. But if you want a waterfowl specific auto there’s not many better. However as mentioned it will fit much different than an auto 5 which you mentioned shooting well.
If you’re looking for a do everything auto the A400 is likely not the gun for you. But if you want a waterfowl specific auto there’s not many better. However as mentioned it will fit much different than an auto 5 which you mentioned shooting well.
This kind of feedback I was hoping for. I was worried a Beretta won’t fit although from specs I thought they had more drop than my Auto 5. I know a friend of a friend has a Maxus 2 maybe I can get my hands on it. A Maxus is considerably more money though. Would a Silver or SX4 be similar fit? As far as waterfowl it would likely be a couple times a year type of thing so I don’t think a dedicated waterfowl gun is what I’m after.
leveractionjunkie
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Kamloops, BC
I see. Yes that’s a valid concern the. For sure.
There was a person selling a Versamax waterfowl pro on the EE for under $1K. That gun would fit similar to your 11-87 and be at home in the duck blind. I use a Versamax for waterfowling and really like it. Feels just like the 870 I used before, but no recoil and I’ve even run 7/8oz handloads for clays and it cycles everything
There was a person selling a Versamax waterfowl pro on the EE for under $1K. That gun would fit similar to your 11-87 and be at home in the duck blind. I use a Versamax for waterfowling and really like it. Feels just like the 870 I used before, but no recoil and I’ve even run 7/8oz handloads for clays and it cycles everything
- Location
- West Central Alberta
Love my Beretta A400 Extreme plus and the kick off system makes shooting 3.5 inch ammo a breeze.
While I don't have an 1187 any more and my 1100 is not with me I can compare an auto5 and an a400 xplor. Pics aren't the greatest in the shop
The Beretta handles much better to me. The balance is more even and without weighing them I'm betting my a400 is lighter. It feels much lighter. I do not have the kick off system either
The Beretta handles much better to me. The balance is more even and without weighing them I'm betting my a400 is lighter. It feels much lighter. I do not have the kick off system either
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I bought a couple of demo A400s, because the price was so good, but I sold them both, because even after using the shims, my SX-3 still fit me better. I now have a Maxus as well ,they fit me pretty much identical. I still cinsider the SX-3/SX-4 two of the best bargains for shotguns, but I bought the Maxus Wicked Wings Bronze Edition for $1299, because the sale price was just too good to pass up. I bought my two SX-3 shotguns for $1000 each.
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I heard about the sale, and hoped to buy an SX-3 or Silver for a friend, but all they had left was the Maxus, an A5, abd a 10 gauge. My friend didn't want to spend more than $1000, so I sold him one of my SX-3s, and bought the Maxus for myself. The Maxus was priced at $2299 ,before the sale, but a new manager had taken over, and was blowing out all Browning firearms at greatly reduced prices.
