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Troy1760

Troy1760

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hey everyone. I know this is a beaten to death topic, what shotgun is better? why, how....? Im sorta looking at a simlilar question form experienced hunters and shooters alike.

Heres the Story. I would like to buy a Semi Auto shotgun for hunting season. I do enjoy clays, shooting at my friends club, (soon to join my own), hunting ducks/Geese, maybe even some turkey this spring and afall at the inlaws farm. I own a Remi 870 18 1/2" Tac, and a Super Nova with 28", Love them both and have used them for alot. The Super Nova is my current hunt gun, and clay breaker, but i have a want to get a semi to do all from clays and fun shoots, ametur shotgun comps to hunting geese at a distance and ducks up close. Maybe even some field brids.

What i would like to know is, im looking at the following Shotys that can shoot up to and including 3 1/2" shells and wondering if anyone has had hands on with them, versus the hyp driven videos online.

Benelli and Beretta are just to much, but willing to save if its the best choice
Franchi Intensity
Stoeger 3500
Remi Versa MAx
Wincherster SX3

I would like to keep uder a $1000. I want your opinon on their cycling issues with changing loads and lighter loads.

Thanks
 
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my first gun was a semi and then i went to a super nova. i liked the semi but found i shot more less accurate shots at birds with it. personaly id stick with the nova and a good choke. i have shot geese at longer range with the nova and a poly choke set on full. if i went to a semi i would stay with a benelli as its been one of the best guns i own
 
If you have an 870 and Supernova then IMO you should be getting a used 3" Beretta AL391. It will be great for clays, field birds and fun shoots, etc. Your remi and Nova will be great for turkey and geese, get a gun better suited for clays. Just my 2 cents.
 
some people swear by the mosberg 935 due to the overbore barrel patterning better, something to think about and well within your price range
 
Sx3 of the guns you have listed, I own a Browning silver hunter which is the same girl in a different dress (same gas operating system) and it has performed flawlessly no matter the condition or what I demand of it.
 
My first choice in a semi for clays is a Winchester Super X-1. Yes, they quit making them many years ago, but there are still lots of parts and accessories available. I have two and found a 30" barrel with Briley choke tubes in it. I know a fellow that has been hunting waterfowl for, probably, 40 years with them.

If you don't want to go with the best, then look at the 1100. There are tons and tons of stuff available for them. My third choice would be the Beretta 391, which is the semi I see the most shooting clays these days.
 
From the options you listed, I'd be choosing between the Winchester SX3 (one of the most popular waterfowl guns at the moment), and the Versamax. Both are great guns, and I've shot both in the blind and in the layout boat for divers. The Versamax Sportsman and the SX3 Shadow will both keep you in that $1000 price range. My regular duck gun is a Browning Silver as well, in 3.5", again the identical action as the SX3, and it hasn't missed a beat. I've killed hundreds and hundreds of birds with that gun, including 10 or 12 turkeys!

-Nick
 
I have basically the same question down the page from you so feel free to drop by and view the responses I've gotten so far. A dealer did tell me from his experience that the Stoeger didn't cycle the 2.75" well if your shooting clays. Another dealer told me good things on his SX3. I like my 1187. It's a 3". Bought it used about 10 yrs ago and have only changed O ring twice(inexpensive fix). I'm actually quite impressed with the response I've recieved so far. I'm also kind of shocked with some of it to.Not in a bad way though. Its all good feed back. If you hear anything you think i might want to hear shoot a line back to me. Good luck.
 
Thanks for the replys, all great info. I am seeing a pattern for my price to be the SX3, and the versa. Sx3 i have seen the you tube vids of guys making world record hits with clays with these, they do worry me as all seem to say same thing( meaning you guys speeking) that the 3 1/2 shell geese turkey guns dont like light target loads. on the other hand, no body saying anything about stoeger m3500 and Franchi Intensity, should i be concered? Im parcial to these for the reliablity of the inercia drive, like benelli, but prove me wrong. Diff in price, stoeger, 700, everything else is just around +/- 100 from my $1000 Buget.

As for Versa, i love the 870 pump i have, works flawless, but got it years ago. i have been told by local gun shots and a few others that remi has cheaped out on a few things in recent years and made cuts... to their quality, which makes me think, if i buy, am i going to get a higher percentage problem.

I appreciat the info, doing reaserch as you guys reply, thanks and keep it coming, if anyone knows info about versa let me know, hands on, real deal different load shooting info, as thats my plan to fire different for all the types of shooting i like to do.

thanks
 
Troy1760 said:
Thanks for the replys, all great info. I am seeing a pattern for my price to be the SX3, and the versa. Sx3 i have seen the you tube vids of guys making world record hits with clays with these, they do worry me as all seem to say same thing( meaning you guys speeking) that the 3 1/2 shell geese turkey guns dont like light target loads. on the other hand, no body saying anything about stoeger m3500 and Franchi Intensity, should i be concered? Im parcial to these for the reliablity of the inercia drive, like benelli, but prove me wrong. Diff in price, stoeger, 700, everything else is just around +/- 100 from my $1000 Buget.

As for Versa, i love the 870 pump i have, works flawless, but got it years ago. i have been told by local gun shots and a few others that remi has cheaped out on a few things in recent years and made cuts... to their quality, which makes me think, if i buy, am i going to get a higher percentage problem.

I appreciat the info, doing reaserch as you guys reply, thanks and keep it coming, if anyone knows info about versa let me know, hands on, real deal different load shooting info, as thats my plan to fire different for all the types of shooting i like to do.

thanks
Click to expand...

All the 3.5" chambered SX3s I own and have shot will cycle 1oz light target loads with absolute boring reliability! They eject the fired hulls 10-15' which indicates the action is operating at normal speed. They all cycle fine with my 7/8oz 1150fps reloads and 2 of them will even cycle 3/4oz 1200fps reloads without any problems as well. The 3.5" SX3 is quite possibly the most versatile of the super magnum semi-autos when it comes to light/heavy load use and they are affordable too!

BTW...the Inertia operated semi-autos need heavier loads to function reliably. My Benelli Super Black Eagle will not cycle any load, reliably, that is lighter than 1 1/8oz @ 1250fps or a 1oz. reload @ 1325fps. In that gun's defense, it only has about 1500rds thru it, so it may still be too new...but the SX3 would gobble up the light 1oz factory target loads right out of the box!
 
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My advice is go to the gun club ,ask guys what they shoot, I met a young guy last week at our club let him try both pump o/u and a semi ,he loved the over /under because there was no distraction when he was shooting, clanging of ,bolts trying to pump etc. I shoot a semi but both my partners shoot pumps. Try them see what you like...
 
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