Sold my Ithaca 37 and now I am looking for a semi auto for next fall. I have handled a few Benelli's such as the Vinci and Super Vinci, but never a Beretta. Would like 3.5" capable gun, right now the Benelli SBE2 is on my radar, what are some other good guns that you use for waterfowl? Want to keeps it around $2000 and under for budget and no camo coatings please.
Looking for a water fowl shotgun
- Thread starter FLYBYU44
- Start date
Remington Wingmaster...3 inch.
Killing Geese Dead for many , many years.
Not into the Remington Wingmaster, then there is the Remington 1100 again in 3 inch.
28 inch choked barrel and you will be busting caps and geese will be falling from the sky cause you will be in Remington Country.
All kidding and jokes aside 3 inch will suffice , but your sounding like a Berretta or Benelli is in your future.
Rob
Killing Geese Dead for many , many years.
Not into the Remington Wingmaster, then there is the Remington 1100 again in 3 inch.
28 inch choked barrel and you will be busting caps and geese will be falling from the sky cause you will be in Remington Country.
All kidding and jokes aside 3 inch will suffice , but your sounding like a Berretta or Benelli is in your future.
Rob
If you like the feel of the benelli then look at the franchi intensity. Honestly it feels like a gun whereas the benelli feels like a piece of plastic crap.
After handling both side by side at the gun store the franchi has a way better feel and handling characteristics, has the same inertia system as the M2 I belieive. Oh and you save a $1000 too.
After handling both side by side at the gun store the franchi has a way better feel and handling characteristics, has the same inertia system as the M2 I belieive. Oh and you save a $1000 too.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
Hi, I bought an SBE2 this early fall, and absolutely love it.. I researched for a few years which way to go, grew up and spent most of my time shooting 870 pumps, from wingmaster 2 3/4" to the 3 1/2" super mag.. let me tell ya.. I stopped shooting the 3 1/2"ers due to constant black n blue checks lol..
I bought a couple of boxes of 3.5" BB's for breaking in, and for my 3rd shot on geese.. man.. it's no worse than shooting a hypersonic 3".. swear to god!
It's great!
Happy to say I have no problem shooting 3.5" in my SBE2.. absolutely love it, and am impressed.
I bought it as a lifetime shotgun, so I didn't ever have to buy another one if don't want too.
Now I'm interested in an A-400 also, and possibly a Browning semi or double, or an 828u for clays.
Best of luck in whatever you choose!
I bought a couple of boxes of 3.5" BB's for breaking in, and for my 3rd shot on geese.. man.. it's no worse than shooting a hypersonic 3".. swear to god!
It's great!
Happy to say I have no problem shooting 3.5" in my SBE2.. absolutely love it, and am impressed.
I bought it as a lifetime shotgun, so I didn't ever have to buy another one if don't want too.
Now I'm interested in an A-400 also, and possibly a Browning semi or double, or an 828u for clays.
Best of luck in whatever you choose!
My recommendation is a Winchester SX3. Low recoil (unlike the top end Benelli's), shoots everything from light 2 3/4 bird shot to heavy 3 1/2 goose loads, very reliable, and has excellent weight and handling. Around $1500 and most closely compares to shotguns in the $2000-$2500 range. Don't take my word for it though, look up other reviews and go hold one and try find one to shoot. I was planning on getting a Beretta but my brother who had an SX3 convinced me to go try that instead. One cold, wet, and muddy waterfowl season later and many, many boxes of shells shot in the field and I wouldn't trade it for anything else.
Shoulder several shotguns and see which ones fit you, a shotgun that doesn't fit the shooter will result in the shooter never shooting to his potential. Some possibilities to consider are the SX-3, A-400, Maxus, and SBE2.
Try a Remington VersaMax. Have had mine for 5 years and never a FTF or jam. Softest shooting gun I have ever had, and that includes some "B" guns. Whatever you buy, make sure it fits good and feels right. If you can, try out a few before you purchase, I was lucky and had several friends that let me try their guns. The VersaMax won and have never regretted the purchase.
I had a beretta extrema 2 that I really liked but in a moment of poor thinking I traded it
I currently shoot a SX3 and am very happy with it. It cycles the cheap low brass rounds with ease and has been with me on many hunts. I can not say for sure how many rounds I have put through my SX3 but it would be in the thousands for sure.
the SX3 has worked just as well as any of the "B" guns I have owned and is priced very well for what you get.
I currently shoot a SX3 and am very happy with it. It cycles the cheap low brass rounds with ease and has been with me on many hunts. I can not say for sure how many rounds I have put through my SX3 but it would be in the thousands for sure.
the SX3 has worked just as well as any of the "B" guns I have owned and is priced very well for what you get.
If you want the SBE2 I would be surprised if it would disappoint you. It has shortcoming, as any man made device does, but they are well known so you shouldn't be blindsided or left scrambling for a solution. I'd still want to handle one before I bought.
How ever if I was in the hunt for 3.5" shotgun my short list would include an SX3 due to price and the fact it is easy to get with my must have features.
How ever if I was in the hunt for 3.5" shotgun my short list would include an SX3 due to price and the fact it is easy to get with my must have features.
I went through this same thinking last year, and in the end seriously considered the SBEII and the Super Vinci. Eventually, I went with the Super Vinci, and am really pleased with my choice. I prefer the inertia based recoil system of the Super Vinci than the gas based system of Berettas.
All the "shoulder it" and "try it" threads are helpful, but I know for some of us it is not practical to shoulder and try each gun that we consider. So try the ones you can, but know that when you go with these reputed brands, there really isn't a wrong choice.
All the "shoulder it" and "try it" threads are helpful, but I know for some of us it is not practical to shoulder and try each gun that we consider. So try the ones you can, but know that when you go with these reputed brands, there really isn't a wrong choice.
If you buy a gun that doesn't fit you, it's a wrong choice. The reputation won't make you shoot the gun any better.
You're in Saskatoon? Go to Cabela's and handle them to see what feels best. I own a Maxus and an SBE 2 and enjoy them both. Both have their pros and cons as well and I personally don't feel one recoils any different than the next. The sx3 is a nice choice as well and has proven itself to be the workhorse of the gas operated semis like the sbe2 has proven itself to be the workhorse of the inertia guns. Keep an eye out for sx3 deals soon though, there's been sx4 pictures leaked this fall and will probably be released at this year's shot show.
I live outside the city, I have been to Wholesale a while back and shouldered a bunch of guns. I like how some of the Benelli's fit, but the Ethos that I really wanted to like didn't fit me at all. I unfortunately did not try the Winchester, may have to go check that out.
