New Waterfowl Gun

[Slugz]

So I've been looking for a new one. I saw Bds post about the SBE and M2 so here it goes.

-Mainly hunt goose 80% of the time, ducks the other 20%
-Been using the old reliable.......eh..... 1100/1187 and kids 20gauge Franchi ( not sure the model)
-Reliability of the above wains when dirty and cold in the pit.
-Always been a 3" guy but considering 3.5"

Been looking at the SBE, Versamax, A5 and Stoeger offerings.


So that said what's everyone's recommendation on a new shotgun? Open to all options in all price ranges with reliability being the number one factor.

Thanks in advance

 

[sneakypete]

Beretta A400 3.5" you be amazed!

 

[ElkTrout]

For what it?s worth I really like my SBE3! Have hunted with it last season and so far this season! Have not had a issue yet! But take this with a grain of salt! I shot a 870 up to this point! Haha!


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[Fink]

I'm just really not impressed with my M2. It shoots great, but I hated that I had to get it Cerakoted before it rusted into nothing, and I really don't love how you load/unload the gun.
If I had to do it over, I would have never bought that gun, and would have bought the new A5 instead. Just my opinion, but I think Browning makes the most reliable duck gun out there. I have a BPS, Citori, Silver, and an A5, and I'd put them all up against my Benelli any day.
I've never owned a 3.5" gun, probably never will. I've mostly been shooting 2.75"shells this year. Seems to kill the birds pretty dead. Although I will bump up to 3" when we start shooting geese.

**Edit - Just say no to the Versamax. Bunch of my friends shoot them, not impressed. After about a season of use, those things seem to want to rattle apart.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

Stoeger would be the choice for me. I’ve had 2 and they both have worked flawlessly

 

[dustin ray]

Buy a Beretta and keep it for a lifetime also benelli super black eagle 3 would be a great choice

 

[mallardsx2]

Winchester SuperX2 (Original model with the higher rib if you can find it).

Its the real deal and I owned most everything over the years. Spray it down with break free CLP.

I fired 15,000 shells through my first one and sold it to "upgrade" to a SBE II. That was a poor decision.

I liked this gun so much I bought another one and have it in my safe brand new as a backup.

If you look hard you can find one of these for 500-600$ in 3.5"

I would buy used if I couldn't find a new one.

Ultimately, buy whatever fits you.

 

[DUCKSLAPPER]

I've shot the browning Maxus for six years now without fail. From low brass to 3.5", below zero to laying in muddy silage fields it hasn't let me down yet. I've also shot the A5 a few times and it shouldered like a dream; just can't get over the looks.

 

[raspy]

I run the m2 and love it. Guys will disagree and say you should go with the sbe just because you can shoot 3.5 inch and with the m2 only being a 3 inch. But with the right choke and shell you can knock down a lot of geese with just about anything

 

[mallardsx2]

If I was going to go with an SBE I would skip the 3.5" version. The recoil is too severe with those guns with the big boomers.

If you are leaning towards a 3.5" go with a gas operated gun. Trust me on that one.

I shoot the cheap Winchester Expert 3.5" HV #3's because I find them to be a good value for what you get and are good out to the 40 yards line. These HV Shells are tolerable out of the gas operated gun but in the inertia driven guns they are just too extreme in my opinion.

Lots of factors come into play when you purchase a waterfowl gun.

 

[Daubs]

I shot a Remington 1100 3" mag for years. Reliability sucked at first -- I damn near threw it in the river one day. Gave it to my best buddy who worked for Cabela's...said, "If you can't get this thing shooting right, I never want to see it again." He took to Cabela's product specialists (this was back in early 1990's) and they said hose down the rings and mechanisms with synthetic lubricant, like Rem Oil. That gun never missed a shot after that! Loved it!

I'm lefty, and finally got the $$$ for a lefty gun in 2001. Benelli SBE. It has been great and never failed me in the river, marsh or field. I hunt waterfowl in the Platte River here in Nebraska late in to the season. Sand, water, dirt, vegetation, freezing temps, it just shoots.

Hunted with my college buddies a few weeks back...of the 8 guys sitting in the blind, all but one shot Benelli. The other was shooting a Franchi, which is made by Benelli. We are all in our 50's and have been hunting ducks for 30+ years.

Benelli sells a mercury recoil reducer, but it adds weight to your stock. Yes, the inertia shotguns kick a little harder than the gas operated guns, but for reliability, it's hard to beat an old SBE.

 

[Fink]

I think it’s worth noting, whatever gun you choose, swap out the spring with a Wolff Extra power spring. My guns cycle awesome with those springs

 

[arwaterfowler]

I think it?s worth noting, whatever gun you choose, swap out the spring with a Wolff Extra power spring. My guns cycle awesome with those springs

I did the same. My SBE II did just fine with the Wolff X sting spring, however, the spring improved cycling and shock if I shoot 3.5? loads. The extra light spring helps on the sleet range too.


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[Slugz]

Thanks all for the inputs. Went the Stoeger route. First shot out of it produced a goose this weekend. Really solid gun.

 

[billdoe708]

How's the stoeger treating you?

 

[Slugz]

Dang thing is a built like a tank. Only issue was the factory grease in it. Just too thick when it was cold. Got that out of her and zero issues since then. We went with the turkey model. Dont know the number but we put a fair number of shots through it during our 3.5 month goose season last year. Cant beat the price either IMO.

 

[Slugz]

 

[Slugz]

My son with a few.

 

[archeranthony]

Very Nice!