First semi Auto Shotgun question.

M

madshawn

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North Saanich BC
Hey everyone.

Thank you in advance for your help.

I have 900 dollars in cabela's gift cards that I'm ready to use on a semi automatic shotgun. I love in northern bc where we get a lot of rain. Primary uses for the shotgun will be waterfowl and range use.

Because I'm limited to cabela's I am looking at the Stoeger 3500, Winchester sx4, Franchi affinity 3, or the mossberg 935. There is a weatherby sa-08 for a few hundred bucks cheaper as well.

Has anyone had any experience with these shotguns or have a preference between brand.

I really appreciate the help. Finding reviews online is a bit of a mess and I definitely don't trust cabela's reviews.

Cheers

Shawn
 
Three of us have the Affinity and I just bought one in 20 gauge, I think they are the best bang for the buck, you are essentially getting a Benelli for half the price.
 
From your listed choices no brainer to go with the SX4 in synthetic. Proven reliability following on the SX2 and SX3.

As for the others you've listed not my brands of choice for a lasting relationship.
 
You can convert your Cabela's gift cards to Bass Pro gift cards if that opens other options for you. BP prices generally rivals Cabela's prices for some reason.

M
 
My advice would be to go and shoulder all the guns and buy the one that fits you the best. The best fitting gun will be the one you shoot best. With that said, of the guns you mentioned I really like the Mossberg 935. Its my go to waterfowl gun. But if the Franchi fits you well, you cant go wrong with it. The Franchi is a hell of a gun.

BUT....if I had $900 in gift cards and was looking to buy a great all round semi, I would throw in a few more bucks and I would buy a Browning Silver all day long. Its nothing short of amazing!
 
Go with what fits best. If they all fit then go with the Franchi. I had a Franchi Affinity in 20 gauge. Great gun, easy to thoroughly clean, relatively light.
 
Go and shoulder them all. Whichever fits you best is the shotgun for you. All things being equal with fit, the Stoeger and Mossberg are the lower end of the quality scale from your choices. The SX4, if anything like the SX3 is a very nice and reliable semi. The Franchi affinity, although nice, well made and easy to clean has a cheap hollow buttstock, it puts the balance of the gun way forward and does you no favours for trap or for quick shouldering while waterfowling. I know some guys are all about light weight, but if it's not balanced, what's the point?
 
i have tried the new SX4, and they are not even close to the same quality as the older SX3, the balance is funky, the trigger is worse, the forearm is poorly fit, it just feels like something made in one of the worst of turkish factories. if they have an SX3, get that.

Or
The Franchi is also very nice, 2 of my cousins shoot them and won't trade them for anything else.
 
jewman22 said:
i have tried the new SX4, and they are not even close to the same quality as the older SX3, the balance is funky, the trigger is worse, the forearm is poorly fit, it just feels like something made in one of the worst of turkish factories. if they have an SX3, get that.

Or
The Franchi is also very nice, 2 of my cousins shoot them and won't trade them for anything else.
Click to expand...

I'm really disappointed to hear that about the x4
All the rest were such work horses from the x1 to the x3
Too bad
Cheers
 
3macs1 said:
I'm really disappointed to hear that about the x4
All the rest were such work horses from the x1 to the x3
Too bad
Cheers
Click to expand...

A dealer had a great deal on the SX-4, so I though I would pick one up for a spare, but after visiting a local store to look at the SX-4, I was very disappointed to see the plastic trigger guard. I did find a dealer that still has a few SX-3s in stock at a good price, so I will pick one of them up instead.
 
Go with what fits. I use my SX3 as my waterfowl workhorse and know 2 other's that both love theirs. I know someone who is very happy with their Franchi as well.

Something to keep in mind, a gas driven gun like the SX3 will have significantly less recoil than an inertia drive like the Franchi, but arguably higher maintenance.

I'd recommend going with a gas gun that takes 3.5' shells.
 
Pariegh said:
Go with what fits. I use my SX3 as my waterfowl workhorse and know 2 other's that both love theirs. I know someone who is very happy with their Franchi as well.

Something to keep in mind, a gas driven gun like the SX3 will have significantly less recoil than an inertia drive like the Franchi, but arguably higher maintenance.

I'd recommend going with a gas gun that takes 3.5' shells.
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Just a heads up, having owned two SX-3s, a 3" gun, and a 3-1/2" gun, the 3" gun was flawless with every target load I tried, including 1 ounce loads, whereas the 3-1/2" gun is not flawless with some target loads. It's not terrible, but the 3-1/2" gun will usually produce three or four issues out of 100 shots with some target loads. I have noticed the same thing with other SX-3 shotguns, that people brought out to shoot trap or skeet with. For hunting use only, both work equally well, but if you intend to shoot clays as well, the 3" guns are not as fussy. I loaned my 3" gun to a friend for his son to learn trap with, and he liked it so much, I sold it to him, or I would still have both. Now I would actually prefer another 3" SX-3, but the ones that I found are all 3-1/2" guns. I never use 3-1/2" loads for waterfowl, so that isn't a requirement for me.
 
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