Best Semi auto shotgun for waterfowling with a budget of $2000 CAD? EDIT-Purchased an A400 Xtreme Plus. Thank you to everyone who gave me their 2cents

[ianwlkr72]

I love my versamax, it's been great.
Most importantly it fits me well, and I find I can get on target naturally with it. I shouldered a whole bunch of different models several times over the course of a few weeks and kept coming back to liking the way it felt.

 

[BigNorth]

Thousands of rounds in a lifetime or a season?
It aint about killing, its more than that, much more than that.
Buying a shotgun is like buying a car, Ford, Chevy Dodge, Toyota or Subaru, Tesla they all are ice (save for the tesla) have tires and will eventually give you trouble.
There is No easy answer.. so I'll bite with Remington 1100 or to learn the finer points of self control an 870.

I appreciate your insight !

 

[Intedserve]

Franchi Affinity 3 12 gauge. Light weight gun 6.9 lbs. Takes all shells. 100 percent reliable - never jams. They sell new around $1350 Light and reliable out of the box is what I require for any gun I own.

 

[Black Cloud]

After years of guiding I've seen a lot of shotguns jamming up in dirty conditions. I can only reccomend Benelli, not even close.

 

[Redsoilreaper]

Fit is key, POI is key & the price is what it is.

 

[saugeen steel]

I've had great luck with a Mossberg 940 pro waterfowl edition. Been using it for 4 years now. Killed hundreds of birds and smashed thousands of clays since I bought it. 3" chamber perfect for waterfowl. Gas gun is light on the recoil and it cycles everything. I prefer the thumb/tang safety and it comes with shims for fitting. Also comes with LOP extensions. It's taken a few swims in the swamp mid-hunt. Just poured out the water best I could and kept on hunting. It's seen nearly every hunting condition possible and has never skipped a beat.

 

[SJAR]

You need to handle them and see what fits.

 

[eurovw]

If it fits, don’t rule out an A300. Takes 3” shells and super reliable. Less money than an A400. I have both and very happy with them. No need for 3-1/2” shells in my view.

 

[hobophobe]

Baikal MP153. I’ve treated mine to all sorts of misfortune over the past 10+ years and it’s only ever had two FTE’s on weak/cheap 2-3/4” trap loads.

I was going to suggest the very same. I have one and it will pretty much eat anything but winchester target load. Got a steel rated choke for it now.

 

[Smis Five Creedmoor]

My Stoeger M3000 has served me shockingly well in spite of the fact that most would pooh-pooh it as "Turknelli Crap".

 

[armybuck041]

Another A400 guy here. Found a lightly used one for couple under your budget. Just plain runs. Great shotgun.

 

[stubblejumper]

I'm also in the Beretta/Benelli/Browning camp. I know there are other solid choices out there but it's always these guys for me. The inertia-driven guns are a bit slimmer and simpler than the gas guns, but I find the gas guns cycle light loads a bit better and kick a bit less, all things considered. Fit will be of paramount importance so I would at least try them all out in-store and go from there to see which one lines up easiest out of the box. Some are highly adjustable so a shim here and a spacer there could get one of them from 80% -> 100% with just a screwdriver.

I have a Supernova and I think I've fired like 5 3½" shells out of it, and that's it. I simply see no need for anything more than 3" after having my brain rattled like that (patterning 3½" off a bench in a pump is BRUTAL). Any 3" 12 gauge autoloading B-gun would be my first choice, I'm running a Browning Silver on the autoloader side and have for about 17 years now. Outside of those, I'd probably consider a Winchester or Franchi due to provenance (Winchesters relation to Browning and Franchis to the Beretta group) or a Weatherby due to support (and price, let's face it).

The Winchester SX -3/4 series is pretty mich the same shotgun as the Browning Silver, sharing the same action, but varying cosmetically. As for chamber length, I have zero use for 3-1/2" shotshellls, as they just add cost and recoil, and are not required for hunting waterfowl.

 

[maynard]

Look at a Beretta 391, they have been out of production for a few years but are a solid reliable hunting gun. I have a12 ga. A400 that I used for busting clays and a 391 in 20ga. for the same thing. But for hunting the 391 is my go to, ducks, geese and deer.