Shotgun time!

I'm needing/itching for a new shotgun. This will be my go to dove gun because my Beretta does not cycle light loads. 3 inch chamber is fine but no 3.5's.

Here my list of must haves:
12ga
Semi auto
Wood stocks(satin finish or high gloss doesn't matter)
26 inch barrel
Under $1000

So far I've fondled a Benelli Montefeltro and Franchi, both felt great but the Benelli shouldered a little easier.
It's been so long since Ive bought a shotty that I don't really know what's what anymore. Are the Ithaca's any good?

May be you find this interesting
https://www.reddit.com/r/Shotguns/comments/25c4as/benelli_super_black_eagle_ii_vs_stoeger_m3500/
http://forums.benelliusa.com/archive/index.php/t-27895.html
I have Stoeger, after removing some burs and breaking in have no problems shooting skeet with light or any heavy loads.

Do they have to be auto's?

Yes. I have 6 pumps.



I'll read those today, I looked at Stoegers, seemed to fit very well, just don't know anybody that has one.

I was where you are now about a month ago. I hadn't bought a shotgun in 20yrs. I had 3 Benelli's, 2-20s & an SBE1 so I just never needed anything else. I wanted to get a gas operated gun for my daughter to duck hunt with. I looked at & handled just about everything out there and decided that I liked the feel of the Win SX3 best. I ask around and got a lot of good reviews, so I sold a 20ga Montefeltro and bought a 12ga. SX3 camo w/26"bbl. After shooting several rounds of skeet and changing out the shims I am very happy the way the gun shoots. Looking forward to trying it out on some doves soon.

Steve

SX3 is the best in that price range. I know bc I have one

Lol, so helpful

I might come pop some rounds out of yours. Your neighbors won't mind?

In that price range, Benelli Montefeltro every time.

Shot most of my dove last year out of the shop doorway. It's getting cerakoted right now but you're more than welcome once it's back

I bought a Stoeger for my Dad and he decided to go to a 20 ga so I kept it for a lend out gun and have been surprised by the performance. I have only shot crows with it but after a case of shells not one malfunction.

I have a Winchester SX3 that I love!
It is in synthetic stock though.

A buddy has one of the franchi's and it seems like a really nice semi. I've shot it a few times and it felt good and shot well for me.

The ONLY thing I didn't like was plate you push up to load new shells (not sure of the name) was a thumb grabbing mo-dinker.

Gonna agree with this.

Yildiz guns are considerably cheaper and good shooters as well.

What Beretta do you have? For an inexpensive auto, I have been very happy with my Beretta A300 Outlander.

Beretta Urika Extrema

Yes. I have 6 pumps.

If you get an auto and are use to shooting pumps you will end up ripping the fore stock of the gun trying to cycle the action. It would be fun to watch you shoot.

I shot pumps for 15 years before I got an auto. I never tried to pump it once

With at least one semi auto and 6 pumps, it sounds like you need a nice little 2-holer for the dove patch.
Yildiz in 28 guage! (Yes, I totally ignored your "Must haves")

P_102

If you like the way that fits you and handles, give the Outlander a look... not pretty, but is 12 gauge, has a wood stock available, 3" chamber, and is well under your budget. I think it is only available with a 28" barrel though.

The Benelli Montefeltro is nice too though.

I run a Stoeger M3000 as my dove gun and my duck gun. I haven't had any issue at all. It cycles light target loads just as good as the duck loads. I like the inertia system it has compared to the piston systems of the equally priced autos.

Ive considered a O/U, just never have pulled the trigger on buying one.

why is this so tough?

Ive looked at
Weatherby Deluxe
Benelli Montefeltro
Beretta A300 & A400
Older Beretta Teknys
Stoeger M3000
Franchi
Winchester SX3(used)
Browning A5(used)

I really like the SX3 and the Browning Maxus. Have you considered the latest Remington? I've not handled one but have heard good things about them.

Pickup a clean used Remington 1100 for around $450 and call it a day. Get a couple barrels with the extra dough if need be. There is a reason the 1100 holds the record of over 24,000 consecutive rounds fired with no jams lol.

I use an 870 at work everyday, and sold off all my Remingtin shottys, just not a fan of them

I've got a Stoeger M3500 and it's a great shooting gun. Mainly use it to duck hunt with, but it cycles light loads just fine as well. I mainly run a Weatherby SA-08 - it is light and a great dove gun. Never a malfunction.

Dad has a Franchi - I'd trade both of my guns for his. Never had an issue with it and I just like the overall fit and finish vs my two guns.

I just recently bought a CZ Bobwhite SxS in 20 gauge. They also make it in a 12. I've been bustin clays with it the past few weeks and I love it. Beautiful gun, points like an extension of my body. I'm really looking forward to using it this dove season.

Anybody know anything about a Winchester SXP ? Can anyone compare the SXP to a Weatherby SA 08 Field & RS barrel.

Don't need the 3 1/2" ammo my SuperNova can use. Ain't gonna pay the $400 for a Benelli Rifled Slug barrel no way no how.

Looking at getting a SXP combo field barrel w/3 Invector chokes & a rifled slug barrel. Both barrels & the chamber are chrome lined. The RS barrel comes with fiber optic sights and the receiver is D&T'ed, instead of the barrel mounted cantilever arm as on some other brands. Comes either with a choice of matte low gloss wood or black synthetic grippy coarse finished stock. Priced in the $400+'s on line.

Just looking for something better built and feeling than a Mossberg 500 combo. Have had mebbe a dozen or more 870's since 1967, and not gonna go there either. BTDT

FWIW the best feeling shotgun I have shouldered recently is a new Ohio Made Ithaca 20guage Feather Weight, that comes with Briley chokes.
Ron

Ron, is the new Ithaca still 'bottom eject'? First shotgun I ever owned 50+ years ago, Mod. choke since screw ins hadn't been invented yet.....wish I had it back! P_102

Try the New Remington V3. They go for 799.00 It is a really nice gun. Any gun will work for "just a dove gun" but if put a lot of rounds down the pipe guns like a Stoeger & Franchi just do not hold up. I see them break a lot at the range.

I hunted (ducks/dove) with a Stoeger M2000 for many years never a problem. Last year I bought a SBE 2 with my Cabelas points and love'em both.

The SBE balanced and shoulders better for me than the Stoeger but for the price the Stoeger is an excellent value.

102...Yup they are built off the original design down to the last screw by hand, but off all new machinery I'm told.
I've a number of Model 37's over the year and always favored them fit and feel wise. But with the increasing sales strength and reliability of self loaders pump guns have fallen out of favor. Witness remmy's dropping the polished blue/ good wood 870's for the butt ugly guns they sell today...and more than one Gunsmith ahs told me the gutds of the trigger group & bolt are no where close to be as well made as the Wingmasters were.

I grew up on pumps, mostly 870's, and as has been mentioned have tried to rip the forearm off of a self loader many times and gotten flustered eoungh to stop shooting and looked at the gun to see what was wrong...when I was was the problem.

With my screwed up vision having been greatly affected with the now 98% vision loss in my left eye that's TMI for here to get into, I've become a "spot shooter", instead using of a "pass shooter" type swing and pull through the target, I use the mechanical function of a pump to establish a new swing with a partial dismount and pulled the trigger when my eye sez I'm GTG as the butt hits my shoulder ...all in one motion.

The M37 Ithaca's trigger will go Bang when the pump stroke hits Battery when you keep the trigger depressed...IE so you can "Trombone " the gun PDQ without dismounting the gun off your shoulder. But it is the craftsmanship thet gives the old house shoe comfortable "fit and feel" of the little all steel 20 guage Featherlight that has captured my desire, and the smooth way this new M37 mounts and swings exactly the sam way the '37's I owned in the late '60's & '70'. Ducks, especially early season Teal, over decoys or jump shooting them off stock tank sneaks, a covey rise of quail, jumping rabbits in a briar patch ,those kind of shots that I had the most fun with 30-40 years ago is what the little Ithaca brings to mind.

What's caught my attention recently is that Winchester's SXP series claim to be able to get off 3 rounds in a super short time frame, like the old M37's could. Ck the homepage for their super quick 2nd shot claims that I've never seen from any other gunmaker. AND They also offer the Combo Pkg of a field gun and a Rifled Barrel's as an option package for about half the aftermarket cost of the slug barrel...and my Benelli's rifled slug barrel is over $400's ...or by itself, about the cost of a SXP Winnie 2 barrel combo....plus I ain't wearing guns out anymore from use the older I get. The days of shooting a case of shotgun ammo every weekend all fall are long gone.
Ron

Never knew that about the 37, (keeping trigger pulled), the Model 12 does the same. Still use my 12 (16 ga.) from time to time, it just fits. P_102

Based upon your specifications, I think you would be a candidate for the new Remington V3 auto. I have not seen one yet in the gun shops but they should be on the shelves soon.

http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/the-gun-nuts/remington-v3-update-it%E2%80%99s-finally-here

If you look at prices the SXP, PA-08, 870 Express and 500 are real close. They are all about the same quality.
IMO you would need to step up to a BPS, Wingmaster or Ithaca to get a better pump than an 870 or 500.

BigPig, if you are like most of us then fit is everything when shooting birds. If you currently have a pump you shoot well than I would try to find a semi that has the same DAC and DAH as the pump.

Most semi-auto shotguns made today are reliable and good quality. I don't care who makes the shotgun anymore, all I care about is fit. The SX3 is a great shotgun, mine are a discontinued model that have different stock dimensions than current models. So I won't be buying any new SX3's because they don't fit. The Maxus has the same stock dimensions as current SX3's and are made in the same factory. I have one and had to get a fairly expensive comb riser for it before I could shoot it.

The SA-08 and Affinity are great shotguns IMO and have the same stock dimensions so if you shoot one well you should be able to do so with the other.

The Beretta Outlander has a lower comb than any of the above mentioned guns so will fit quite a bit different. If it fits you well then the Browning/Winchesters probably won't. The Montefeltro comb is the same as the Weatherby and Franchi. The felt recoil will be about the same as the Affinity and more than the SA-08.

If the V3 fit it would probably be the shotgun I'd purchase do to its operating system. I'm not an expert but own or have owned most of the semi's mentioned.