Semi auto Upland/waterfowl gun

scott_r

scott_r

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Im looking for a nice semi auto for upland and water fowl hunting this fall and was wondering who makes the best bang for your buck autoloader? Im looking to spend around 1400 tops on a new or used gun. Im really not brand loyal and have looked at Beretta, Benelli, Winchesters, Remingtons but am not sure who makes the most reliable/best priced shotgun????

Cheers!!
 
From shear ease of maintenance and reliability in the duck blind I'm partial to the Benelli in either the Super 90 or the SBE. The Super 90 is in your budget and there is a new SBE DU gun in the EE ( believe it's still there ) around $1400.00
 
Bang for you buck?

Mossberg 935
or the Weatherby SAS

I have owned about 10 different semi auto shotguns, and have found these to be the best bang.

STAY AWAY FROM STOEGER 2000's !

Benelli's are fine, but not my cup of tea.
I would by a Beretta, SX3 win or New Remington if I were thinking about spending over a grand.

My beretta has never given me issue. But neither has my 935 or my SAS and I tortured those two so harsh and use them as loaners
now. They hang out in the back of my safe like the tough kids at school. Sometimes I'm afraid to put other guns in there with them : )
 
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http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=203143

i wanted an all-round semi that could take some abuse and i wouldnt feel bad dragging around in the nasty stuff. i generally read a lot of reviews before i buy anything these days and the gun had overwhelmingly good ones - the main downside seemed to be the lack of barrel interchangeability which i dont care about because i have two dedicated slug guns.

i havent received it yet (placed the order yesterday) so im not actually advocating it, but just thought id throw it in there since you mentioned 'best bang for your buck'. its $477 at LeBaron with their club card discount, $530 without.

watch the video at the end of that thread. better yet here it is again (its 18 megs so dial-up users beware):
http://www.svmag.com/test_baikal.wmv
 
I just worked a deal on a 391 gold sporting that will be my primary upland, and pheasant gun when it comes... with the odd goose hunt thrown in. I've been told that the 3 1/2 magnum may not cycle lighter upland loads reliably.... you can get a 391 urika 12 or 20, 3 inch magnum new from ellwood epps for 1275.00. soft shooting, extremley reliable, and if you want, avail. in composite stock.
 
I think you're better served with two guns personally. You shoot a waterfowl gun with heavy loads but you mostly carry an upland gun. If you had to have one, you can't go wrong with a Beretta 391. Mine cycles 1 oz target loads all day long and can also shoot the big 3" loads.
 
Gas operated ,in my opinion, like nicer weather and require routine cleaning. Lots of little holes and parts to keep free from debris. But they shoot soft and are easy to shoot all day long, carrying around or hiking you might feel the weight of a gas gun though:benelli m4 or beretta extrema 2 are sweet. Inertia driven will cycle in a blizzard maybe even under water! Hardly ever needs to be cleaned(but you should anyway). The simplest action with the least parts(kiss method). Remember they need to be broken in to. But they kick a little more then a gas but less then a pump!:benelli m2,sbe,beretta pintail. I think beretta owns everything now so any franchi, or stoeger inertia gun is using the patented benelli design. Either way choose the one that fits you best and then steady it. You wont go wrong either way.
 
I like my old A5, but folks I know LOVE their Winchester X2 and 3 guns and Browning Gold and Beretta, so there's lots of recommendations.
 
My hunting 20g semi auto is a Beretta 391 Gold which I absolutely love, especially since I got the extended chokes for it.

My 12g semi auto is a Browning Gold, which I absolutely love to look at.... ;)
 
i dont know what they cost over your ways.. but the Fabarm H38 or H68 hunter models with the 87mm chokes are the way to go,.. Steel shot capable full choke .. what more do you want ? .. also. they are lighter than a beretta and look a bit more classy, with wood clothing .
easy to clean. smooth bolt . easy to operate, and come in 28, 26 or 24" interchoked tribore barrell

as far as a waterfowl shotgun goes i wont have anything else
 
You can't go wrong with a Beretta if it fits you, I can't shoot one.
I have owned:
Remingtons (ok but needed lots of cleaning and some minor maintenance)
Brownings (no issues just clean it after every serious waterfowl hunt or 150 rounds)
Winchesters (same gun as the Browning)

BUT BEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK???

Baikal MP-153 Synthetic
For $1400 you can buy two but you won't need two, they are indestructible. Mine rarely gets a cleaning except in cold weather (or if shooting lots of light loads) Apparently they are similar construction to a Beretta, so I have been told, but less plastic and more steel.

Try one and you will be impressed, they do however need a break in period before you can shoot target loads. The gas system is adjustable, BUT leave it alone until after the break in period, you will likely not need any adjustment.
 
bill c68 said:
BUT BEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK???

Baikal MP-153 Synthetic
For $1400 you can buy two but you won't need two, they are indestructible. Mine rarely gets a cleaning except in cold weather (or if shooting lots of light loads) Apparently they are similar construction to a Beretta, so I have been told, but less plastic and more steel.

Try one and you will be impressed, they do however need a break in period before you can shoot target loads. The gas system is adjustable, BUT leave it alone until after the break in period, you will likely not need any adjustment.
Click to expand...

the 'Remington' SPR 453 i recommended is just a rebranded Baikal MP-153. strangely, the Remington is cheaper: $477 if you have a LeBaron club card, otherwise $530.
 
I bought a used AL391 last year that was practically brand new when I got it. I beat the living snot out of that poor gun last fall while waterfowling and it kept coming back for more, and its still in great shape. I was out anywhere from 1-4 days a week and could only clean the gun 2 or 3 times a month at best due to my schedule. Couldn't ask for a better semi hands down!!! That gun has seen every nasty weather condition possible. Gets used all summer too for skeet shooting, the high heat hasn't bothered it at all.
 
AFAIK out of their newer lineup its just the R-15 VTR that cant be, since its an AR variant.
lgsil_r15predator.jpg
 
I use a Beneli SBE2.. cant go wrong.. might be able to find one used in your price range too! I wouldn't trade mine for any other autoloader. Beretta also makes some great autoloaders... but I have only shot them, never owned one so its hard to comment.
 
sealhunter said:
STAY AWAY FROM STOEGER 2000's !
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with the Stoeger 2000.Not expensive,and Stoeger customer sevice is great if you ever require it.(buddy had an ejector problem a week before duck opener.The gunshop where he bought it called a rep explained the situation,and he walked out of the shop with a NIB Stoeger).

Check out the reviews on the Benelli forums about the Stoeger 2000.There are alot less problems with these than alot of the Benelli,and Franchi models.
 
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