You guys that have one, know someone that does, or have seen them used. What do you think about them? How they holding up? How well are they performing with the 3 1/2 inch loads? I am looking hard at this one, but will open to suggestions of a comparable gun if you think there is something better out there. I do wish to stick with a gas gun.

When lead was banned and steel became required; 12GA steel load options were limited and ammo manufactures were putting as much effort into 10GA steel loads as 12. So I picked up a used Ithaca Mag 10. I even ended up with a custom barrel made with a choke designed for shooting steel over decoys. Even as 12GA options progressed, I stayed faithful to the 10. It has been a great gun for me. I had been quite happy with the #3 Steel loads. Plus, the gun has been a Turkey killing machine with lead shot, and hogs drop when using the deerslayer barrel and slugs.

Most 12GA guns are now overbored to 10GA dimensions. And most 3 1/2 inch guns have recoil systems that don't require the gun to be heavy. The newer hi density 10GA loads have broken the $4 a shell mark! The #3 Steel 10GA loads are no longer made by any manufacture and the Federal #2s I like always seem to be sold out. Ammo manufactures that still make 10GA loads often offer better performing 12GA 3 1/2 inch loads. I once was in a blind with a guy who ragged on me for being overkill on the ducks. Well I asked to see his box of shells. His load turned out to be a 12GA 3 1/2, was faster, and had a heavier payload than what I was shooting.

I am one of those nuts that enjoys being different and have a different gun for every occasion. But I think it may be time to move on from the 10. I will stick with it this year because I have more than enough ammo to get me through this season, even have a few hi density loads that were meant for special occasions. Sure I have other 12GA guns that can get the job done just as well, but I want something different and new. An Extrema2 or comparable gun would be expensive, but I should be able to come up with 2/3 or more of the cost by selling my Ithaca, extra barrels, spart parts, and leftover ammo on Auctionarms before the next season. Probably for more than I paid. Hopefully I covered the bases enough that this won't get hijacked into a 10 vs 12, 2.75/3.00 vs 3 1/2, or cheap vs expensive, shotgun debate. But I do value y'alls opinions even though they don't always agree with mine. So what do you think?

Wasnt it Zack that had one. I've heard nothing but good things and hear it's the softest shooting 12ga out there. Personally it doesnt have the nice feel that the SBE did...with the big gas system it just felt top heavy to me it that makes sense...but that's just me. I'd say pick on up and swing it yourself.

As for the 10ga...yeah I think the 3.5" 12ga loads are close to what a 10ga...but with good loads a 10 would obviously be able to spit out more shot at faster speeds. I'm guessing the high speed loads they have for 12ga now just havent caught up with 10ga loads.

One thing you could thing about is reloading your own 10ga loads but there is an upfront investment there obviously.

Thanks Marcstar,

Keeping what I have and the reloading option is definately on the table. I shoot well with the gun (provided I stop forgetting to put the right choke back in ) and to reload I could work up a load to my tastes that would blow away current commercial offerings. Back when Delta waterfowl did testing of over 500 mallard loads in all guages taking into account effective range, pattern density, and energy, there were 9 10GA loads that passed the test. Most of those commerial 10GA loads no longer exist but they could be duplicated.

But for factory loads, companies have pretty much abandoned the last of us Big 10 shooters for anything other than Turkey and Geese. Take Federal.

Using Federal's Ballistics calculator currently the only listed #2 load in 10GA:
1450 fps at the muzzle and a 1 1/2oz payload.
But for 12GA 3 1/2, not including Black Cloud the current offerings are listed as:
1450 1 3/8
1500 1 1/2
1550 1 3/8

As for the bore size, I am sure I still get a shorter shot string than the new backbored 12GA guns because I had my my 10GA barrel backbored. Or maybe that would be offset considering new guns today probably have better designed barrels with longer forcing cones and more gradual chokes.

I have shot the SBE and just did not feel right for me. Have always been partial to the gas guns, so wanting to stick with that.

I love my X2. I have a good friend with one and a brother in law with one and they both love it. I hunt mine very hard and usually it only gets wiped down and I have never had a jam.

Some people have complained about the POA with the X2 but I dont have an issue with mine. It took me awhile to get a good feel for the gun but once I did if felt just right.

Thanks Zack.

Man they sure make it look awesome.
http://easylink.playstream.com/beretta/progressive/BerettaXtrema2Video.wvx?dl=true
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isBZTwLh79M
But then I already shoot like that with my 10GA.

This is a good article on back boring of shotguns.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/shotgun_mysteries.htm

I have owned two and have SOLD both-
Beretta has cheapened them up WAY tooo much- In fact, they have had numerous problems with the welds on the slide ejection bars breaking- Apparently, Luigi WAS DOING STOCKS THAT MONTH.... Anyway, one slide breaks and ONE STAY IN TACT, but the gun keeps on functioning...and that twists the receiver/barrel areas- In fact, Beretta is BACKLOGGED RIGHT NOW for EXTREMA2 BARRELS!!! Never ever had a problem with the old AL2's....
GO WITH AN SBE2 !!

Sniper another 3.5" chamber waterfowl gun option would be the Baikal MP153/Remington SPR 453....this would be the value option. Do your research...these guns have a big following and are very reliable. It's a gas gun...probably no where near the soft kicker as the EXtrema2 but then again it would run you close to $700-1000 less.

Posts like ElVenado's scare me. I have not really researched extremas too much but it might be good to do a little more before you make this big purchase.

I do wonder why a guy that's used to shooting a 10ga all the time becomes all that recoil concerned though?? Honestly SBE would be a great choice...if we ever going hunting together I'd be happy to let you shoot as many 3.5" rounds in mine as you'd like. I think you'll find in the heat of the moment the recoil isnt really that bad at all...just as long as you mount it to your shoulder well.

But I'm not trying to turn this into a SBE vs Extrema thread...because as far as I know they are both great and it seems you could not go wrong with either...although based on the last post Iwould do some more homework.

I kinda kick myself in the rear for not buying one of those MP153 back when CDNN had them for $260 something just before Remington took over. I am sure I could have got my moneys worth out of it even if I just used it as a backup gun.

Yea, because of the $ involved is why I am doing the research now. It will be a year or maybe longer. I have a lot of 10GA ammo hoarded, so going to wait until that runs low. But I will want something nice that will last me several years like the Ithaca has. First I have been told of the ejection bars breaking. How was the response from Beretta when passed onto them?

The SBE, it is not really a hard kicking recoil issue. It is more how the recoil feels that I don't like. Hard to explain. I own and shoot sometimes an auto 5. Had it since I was a kid. Neat gun, but I would not want it for an everyday shooter because the recoil on it feels funny to me too. Also the SBE I shot seemed to have a short stock for me, but then that could be fixed. BTW, the 10 being a gas gun at 11 pounds really does not have that much felt recoil compared to most 12s. Though I think mine is actually less than 10 pounds due to a synthetic forend and 4 inches off the barrel.

AS I get older, how heavy a gun is to carry around, and having less recoil has been something I now consider, when before I did not.

Just weighed it. My Ithaca is 10 pounds exactly. Googled, SBE is 7.3 and the Extrema is 7.8.

That Ithaca only weighs 8 lbs. The other 2 lbs is that fake gold inlay that says "Duckmaster". I think you should just use the guns you have. In fact, I think you're getting an Extrema2 KO with the kung fu grip just to get some attention. But on the other hand, I sure get tired of the "woo hoos" and "did you see that" when you make those long shots with that eardrum busting 10ga.
So I'd have to say yes to the Extrema2 KO. You may want to get 2, so I can shoot one too. Oh, by the way, the teal are in. Daughter's boyfriend said they limited in 30 minutes yesterday morning. Later Extrema boy.

It was that trick shooting video what got him SteveTexas. I think the video with Scott Robertson was shot at Elm Fork. I bet we could do that with our I-12's...or the 870's and save about $900.

Yeah, he's always been attracted to "flash". Shiny belt buckles, fast shiny dogs, fast cars. He just can't get enough of that flashy stuff.

Not anymore Marcstar. Things just aren't like they were back in the day. It's just too dangerous now days. You see, Sniper John follows the "if I can't eat it, I don't hunt it" rule. So that pretty much rules out fast women.

I ate a Beaver once.

My wife of 15 years is too good a shot for me to chase women of any kind.

BTW, I am leaning on keeping the 10 for heavy work and still eventually get another waterfowl dedicated gun in 12GA. Going to reload for sure. Already set up for most of my rifles, might as well reload for the shotguns too.

John, I watched that video. You ought to just go down to Elm Fork and talk to Scott Robertson directly, or Jeanie his mom. I'm sure the'd let you test drive one for a day;.... the probably rent them (they have several others). I know he's a paid endorser, but, hey, shoot 100-200 rounds with it on sporting clays and see what you think. But if it was me, I'd still get a Benelli. I love my older Montefeltro with the long barrell. It did me right in Argentina (and many other places) and is a true "go to" gun for any occasion/game.

Tell me about that Ithaca you want to sell?