Waterfowl shotgun

[Muleyman27]

Hey I'm looking at getting a new shotgun for next season and was wondering what is your guys favorite shotgun. I'm thinking about a semi auto that is good quality and will last me a long time! Just not sure what to get?

[h2ofowlr]

My favorite is the Benelli SBEII.  Bought a Beretta Extrema 2, but sold it.  Nice on recoil, but throws up different than my other shotguns even shimmed.
Winchester SX3 is another nice shooter.

[rtspring]

Winchester SuperX3... I grew up in prosser and have hunted with every shotgun out there. The SX3 shoots and feels great , easy to clean. i have had mine two years and not one issue.. 

I'm not Benelli fan, they all suck in my mind.  They feel weird and have issues. 

[snocohunter]

I shoot a SX3 and like it a lot. I also shoot the SBEII well. Go shoulder and shoot whatever you plan on buying. I bought my SX3 after shooting some browning golds and also an SX2, and ended up liking it.

[Pnwrider]

Benelli SBE ii. I tried a lot and that one shouldered the best for me. Haven't had a single issue and I only clean it if it gets wet. the gas operated guns I've owned were easier to clean but I wouldn't trade that benelli for anything. Plus they don't come out with a new model every other year if resale is a concern.

[saltwaterhillbilly]

In my opinion depending on your budget shoulder a few guns see what you think fits you best. i started with a Remington 870 pump hunting deer and waterfowl in Indiana of course with interchangeable barrels,  then went to a benelli pump supernova, and found a sweet deal on a Browning Silver Auto loved it , then finally graduated to a  Browning A-5 so its all opinion and feel most times i shoot my silver just because i love it and its taken a beating

[JJD]

Most of the better brands hold up well and generally function well with may different loads.  Have friends who shoot Benelli Beretta, Browning, Winchester all shoot well once ya find a load that they throw well.  Don't know anyone who has tried Remingtons latest models.
As has been suggested, go to several stores and try as many as ya can on for size.  Throw them up with your eyes closed and see how things line up once you get the gun mounted solidly.  Make sure ya take your cold weather coat along so you can try them with the cloths you will wear hunting, rather than a t-shirt.

[metlhead]

Boom is all that matters.Truly it is. Shoot good shells and make sure it fits you. Trying to look cool with a $1200 gun is a suckers game and will kill exactly the same as a beat up hand-me-down shooting the same shell. Corrosion  resistance is great if you tend to be lazy on cleaning, like me. My $275, 22yo win 1300 has not failed me yet. My 3.5 shooting P350 set me back $295, plus some file work. If it feels natural in your hands, that's good. Invest in hunting partners, locations, and ability. Birds will fall.

[JJD]

Metlhead,
Really, if I own a $1200 gun I'm out to impress people?  Give it a rest.
I hunted water fowl with a mossberg 500 for probably longer than you have been alive.
Switched to a semi auto as a result of the beating my arthritic shoulder was taking from the pump shooting out of a layout blind.
I hunt with a few guys, we hunt private land 98% of the season so no one see's me but them.  They could give a rats patooty what I shoot unless I miss then I get plenty of grief. 

[CP]

Browning Maxus, best waterfowling gun that I’ve ever used.  It’s a $1600 gun but I usually hunt alone so I have no one to impress.  Besides I look cool no matter which gun I’m using.

[Duckhunter14]

Benelli SBE ii. I tried a lot and that one shouldered the best for me. Haven't had a single issue and I only clean it if it gets wet. the gas operated guns I've owned were easier to clean but I wouldn't trade that benelli for anything. Plus they don't come out with a new model every other year if resale is a concern.

  Love my SBEII...kicks high flyer in FULL on er and you wont look back. 

Clint

[Jonathan_S]

Just get an 12 ga Remington 870 and never wonder if it'll do the job 

[Buck Rub Jr]

The first gun I ever bought on my own was a $250 wetland camo Verona 12 ga when I was in elementary school. I am torn ever time I go bird hunting whether I should take it or my 870. They both are incredible guns, the only problem I have with either of them is when it gets real cold out my 870's firing pin likes to act up. But it's a bit older so she just needs some TLC. My buddy has a supernova and I just flat out don't like them but others swear by those, so it's all personal preference. Go play around with a variety of some and find one that you can't live without!

[270Shooter]

I like my benelli because everyone at the refuge that sees me with it talks about how cool I am... that and it flat out kills ducks, I like my m2 but a left handed Vinci would be nice.

[C-Money]

Browning Maxus. 

[Commando]

I like the sbe2. I will be getting one in probably may gotta save up for it. I looked at all the guns I could at the local gun store and this one felt best for me when I shouldered it.I also like the inertia over the gas, just me being picky I guess. Ive been thinking I will get a after market choke for it as well and that will either be the rob Roberts triple threat set or the drake killer. Most likely the triple threat since you can put any load through it and still shoots like a champ. Like stated above though go and shoot as many different ones as you can or if that's not possible try shouldering different ones at the store and see which one feels the best.

[sakoshooter]

Metlhead,
Really, if I own a $1200 gun I'm out to impress people?  Give it a rest.
I hunted water fowl with a mossberg 500 for probably longer than you have been alive.
Switched to a semi auto as a result of the beating my arthritic shoulder was taking from the pump shooting out of a layout blind.
I hunt with a few guys, we hunt private land 98% of the season so no one see's me but them.  They could give a rats patooty what I shoot unless I miss then I get plenty of grief.

JJD, LOL, Metlhead gotcha on that one. I know him too well.

[JJB11B]

Winchester SuperX3... I grew up in prosser and have hunted with every shotgun out there. The SX3 shoots and feels great , easy to clean. i have had mine two years and not one issue.. 

I'm not Benelli fan, they all suck in my mind.  They feel weird and have issues. 

I grew up in prosser too, Edited to add the fact that I LOVE my Winchester SX3

[fowl smacker]

Go to a gun shop and pull up every shotgun there.  Get the one that feels the best.  Nearly every manufacturer makes a great semi auto.  My buddy has had an aweful experience with his Remington Versa max however.  I shoot a Beretta extrema2.  I have approximately 7,000 rounds through it and the only problem I've ever had was this year when I broke the ejector retainer pin.  It was a $4 fix and functions as new.  Shoots the lightest loads along with the heavy 3 1/2" shells.  I've also owned the Winchester SX3, and really liked it, just not as much as my Beretta so I traded it for a marsh rat.  I was handling some guns the other day and the Browning A5 felt so good I almost walked out with a $1,600 backup gun.  I shot a Benelli nova for years, great gun, the SBE2 feels big/heavy/bulky to me. You'll be happy with whatever feels comfortable to you.

[C-Money]

Cool? Hey, Pick up a Perazzi MX3. Now that is cool. Heck...run down to Yakima and stop by Ljutic. Order a custom O/U. Not many hunters could say, " ya, I use my Ljutic for waterfowl" LOL!  

[Muleyman27]

I have a old mossberg new haven pump. I love that gun and see what u guys mean when u say to go throw it up to ur shoulder as that gun throws up the best for me but it's getting too old and starting to have too many problems and it won't throw 3" shells without getting hung up so I'm stuck with 2 3/4. My dad has a Remington 870 and has had it since he was my age but its not my favorite. Thanks for all the suggestions. Maybe I should just go back to my 107$ New England single shot break action 20 ga. Haha

[sakoshooter]

I have a old mossberg new haven pump. I love that gun and see what u guys mean when u say to go throw it up to ur shoulder as that gun throws up the best for me but it's getting too old and starting to have too many problems and it won't throw 3" shells without getting hung up so I'm stuck with 2 3/4. My dad has a Remington 870 and has had it since he was my age but its not my favorite. Thanks for all the suggestions. Maybe I should just go back to my 107$ New England single shot break action 20 ga. Haha

It's hard to beat a Rem 870. I'd say it's the best pump gun ever made. That being said, no gun is without it's problems after a lot of use.
Money is what usually decides what we buy so start there. There's no rule that says you can't upgrade down the road when you find something else or can afford a different gun.

[beninchelan]

I suggest you shoulder & shoot all the options & buy which ever one fits they all claim to be the fastest, lightest and most reliable
I have shot/ or hunt with guys that own almost all if em .
They all will jam if you don't take care of em & they all shoot fast enough, & they all are heavy if you are packing a ton of stuff out of a field
 if the gun does not fit you well their may be quite a learning curve

Try em all out, buy the one that feels best, I shoot a original SBE it looks horrible but it fits me just like the benelli M-1 I had did.  also don't get too hung up on the 3.5" shell thing,  you don't want to buy em anywase spend your money on gas scouting...

[DAMdoug]

One thing to consider is what type of shotgun do you want to hunt with? Even if you hunt by yourself there is a certain "style" of hunting. Each gun whether it is a pump, semi or double brings a certain "style". Its not good or bad or right or wrong, its just style. For example when I first started pheasant hunting with a pointer (GSP), I decided that I wanted to hunt with a 20 ga O/U instead of a pump or auto. The older I get the more I want to hunt ducks over really nice decoys, a good dog and with a "classic" shotgun. You will have to define "classic"!

[Firedogg]

Remington has a new semi-auto that made an appearance at the shot show.  It's the V3...

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2014/12/31/review-new-2015-remington-v3-shotgun/

[hdshot]

I have tried 10ga and 12ga semi's over the years and found myself back with the rem 870 since going back to the bad conditions of the duck blind.  My semi's would get wet and freeze up or collect all the mud and weeds.  If I did all my hunting out of a coffin blind I would use my sbe11.  But my 870 with a PM choke has been the best all round gun for me and with it's very basic shape works great once I put on waders, hunting coat, and face mask.  Also semi's rob energy from the velocity of the load which IMO is a big deal when cold.

No matter what a hunter choses always take the time to make the first shot count.  Once you get confidence the speed comes on its own.  Always keep both eyes open when shotgun shooting.     

[JJD]

I have a old mossberg new haven pump. I love that gun and see what u guys mean when u say to go throw it up to ur shoulder as that gun throws up the best for me but it's getting too old and starting to have too many problems and it won't throw 3" shells without getting hung up so I'm stuck with 2 3/4. My dad has a Remington 870 and has had it since he was my age but its not my favorite. Thanks for all the suggestions. Maybe I should just go back to my 107$ New England single shot break action 20 ga. Haha

It's hard to beat a Rem 870. I'd say it's the best pump gun ever made. That being said, no gun is without it's problems after a lot of use.
Money is what usually decides what we buy so start there. There's no rule that says you can't upgrade down the road when you find something else or can afford a different gun.

Back when I was hunting with the my Mooseburg (as a friend called it) 500, the friend was shooting a Rem 870 Wingmaster.  At least once a season, we would have to knock the pin out that held the trigger mechanism in place as an empty shell would stick while the magazine would release a new round below.  We actually kept a 6 penny nail in the blind to knock the pin out so when it happened, it would be a quick fix.  I think if a guy had the right screw driver, he could have pushed the shell back into the magazine and all would have been ok.
In defense of Remington;
The gun was rarely cleaned.
I have never talked to anyone else who had a similar problem.
We were shooting his reloads, (however, the Mooseburg cycled them just fine).
year, mid 70's

[D-Rock425]

Ill be looking for a new semi auto during the off season going to ssel my 1187 probably and buy a new gun.

[sakoshooter]

Ill be looking for a new semi auto during the off season going to ssel my 1187 probably and buy a new gun.

If ya wanna try my SBEII out, holler at me.

[ATM green head machine]

vinci or any benelli cant go wrong   

[Bullkllr]

I have a old mossberg new haven pump. I love that gun and see what u guys mean when u say to go throw it up to ur shoulder as that gun throws up the best for me but it's getting too old and starting to have too many problems and it won't throw 3" shells without getting hung up so I'm stuck with 2 3/4. My dad has a Remington 870 and has had it since he was my age but its not my favorite. Thanks for all the suggestions. Maybe I should just go back to my 107$ New England single shot break action 20 ga. Haha

It's hard to beat a Rem 870. I'd say it's the best pump gun ever made. That being said, no gun is without it's problems after a lot of use.
Money is what usually decides what we buy so start there. There's no rule that says you can't upgrade down the road when you find something else or can afford a different gun.

Back when I was hunting with the my Mooseburg (as a friend called it) 500, the friend was shooting a Rem 870 Wingmaster.  At least once a season, we would have to knock the pin out that held the trigger mechanism in place as an empty shell would stick while the magazine would release a new round below.  We actually kept a 6 penny nail in the blind to knock the pin out so when it happened, it would be a quick fix.  I think if a guy had the right screw driver, he could have pushed the shell back into the magazine and all would have been ok.
In defense of Remington;
The gun was rarely cleaned.
I have never talked to anyone else who had a similar problem.
We were shooting his reloads, (however, the Mooseburg cycled them just fine).
year, mid 70's

Scrubbing the heck out of the chamber with a good chamber brush once in awhile might prevent this from happening. Worked on my 870. I'd get a hangup from time to time. Plastic buildup.

[AWS]

DAMdoug, I know how you feel.

CLASSIC ENOUGH?



Plastic on a shotgun gives me hives, including plastic varnish.

[chuckster]

I have been bird hunting with my super black eagle I for over ten years now thousands of rounds thew it. It has really taken a beating in the very worst of wet and freezing conditions and have never once had a misfire or jam. There is something to say about that. Am benelli all the way.   

[BigGoonTuna]

i had enough trouble with my 870 over the years that i traded it in for an older 1100 that had been set up with a 3" remchoke barrel.  the 870 would give me stovepipe jams, or other weird issues like randomly not unlocking the action after firing.  mine was a newer(bought around 2009) wingmaster.

currently my go to waterfowl guns are my 1100 and A5 magnum, both perform flawlessly.

[singleshot12]

vinci or any benelli cant go wrong   

Really is the only good choice these days. Most guns are junk and made to fall apart. Why spend 500 for a headache when you can spend 1500 for something that produces and will last a lifetime. It pays to pay the extra and own an Italian gun. Italy still has true craftsmen that take pride in their work

[steelnducks]

I love my browning maxus. But as long as you practice any gun will knock the birds down for you.

[280ackley]

Go to a gun shop and pull up every shotgun there.  Get the one that feels the best.  Nearly every manufacturer makes a great semi auto.  My buddy has had an aweful experience with his Remington Versa max however.  I shoot a Beretta extrema2.  I have approximately 7,000 rounds through it and the only problem I've ever had was this year when I broke the ejector retainer pin.  It was a $4 fix and functions as new.  Shoots the lightest loads along with the heavy 3 1/2" shells.  I've also owned the Winchester SX3, and really liked it, just not as much as my Beretta so I traded it for a marsh rat.  I was handling some guns the other day and the Browning A5 felt so good I almost walked out with a $1,600 backup gun.  I shot a Benelli nova for years, great gun, the SBE2 feels big/heavy/bulky to me. You'll be happy with whatever feels comfortable to you.

What has been the awful experience your buddy has had with his Versa Max?  I love mine, haven't had any issues. 

[Savage.06Shot]

Just got a benelli supernova magnum will see how she does.

[JJD]

Know several guys with Novas, the things are darned near indestructibly.