If you had to buy a shotgun that would last 20 plus years of foul weather, mud, rain and snow...what would it be? What is the most reliable shotgun out there IYHO that hold at least 3 shells?

For me, I would say 870..

Beretta 390

Remington 870 or 1100.

Original Browning A5

870 wingmaster or my Vinci

870 for a pump and super black eagle for semi.

I love my Benelli nova. I don't shoot autos but my buddy has a super black eagle and swears by it too. Big price difference in pumps vs autos though

I don't know about 20 years, but I love my Beretta 390 for the price

The reason I shoot an 870 is you all but can't kill it.

Everyone who says an 870 means a "Wingmaster" I hope, not the more recent vintage "Express".

That would be my choice also.

I have a new 870 express super mag I love the gun but no way it will last as long as my buddy's 870 that his dad handed down to him old one period that are already 20 years old are the only way to go with a pump for long time use.

It's hard to say. Many guns have their positives and negatives. I would say for reliability you can't go wrong with the guns that start with "B", Browning, Berettta, Benelli. Then it's a matter of choosing an operating system and what fits you. I am in the market for the new A5. I like the 100,000 rd guarantee and while I know it is completely different from the original. I am nostalgic about the original and the look. I grew up shooting the original. Have the one my grandad gave me when I was a teenager. It still shoots great and is in immaculate condition. I don't hunt ducks with it anymore. Don't want it getting beat up on hard wet hunts. It has a lot of sentimental value to me.

I currently shoot a Beretta 3901. Great gun, never had a misfire and shoots true. I am considering trading it on the A5 if it is worth it to do so. They are reasonably priced brand new so not sure if the offset of cost will be worth giving it up. Hopefully because it is in great condition and I have the box, paperwork and chokes they'll make me a fair offer.

So I guess that was a long rambling way of saying the Browning A5. If I get one I sure hope it lasts 20 years.

I would have to say A5, or another browning auto. BPS is hard to beat also.

The new browning Maxus, and the Beretta 390/3901 and 400 are all pretty solid as well.

I would never shoot another Remington expect my ultra vintage "870 Wingmaster" the 870 express is laughable.

I own a Browning Maxus, Benelli SBE II, and the classic 870 wingmaster. My personal next duck gun will be a Beretta 400 or another Browning.

I would say this also, the Winchester SX II, and SX III are both real solid for sub $1k as well. If I could pick up an SX III in camo for $7-800ish I'd jump on it to have another backup gun.

-Matt

M2000. Ok, it's only on it's 6th season

Browning A5 - original. (Mine is on it's third finish and has only had one internal part replaced. 1962 model)

Pre 70s model 37 or one of brand new manufacture.
Model 12
870 wingmaster (not express)
Browning BPS
Beretta 3901
Beretta 391
Browning Gold
Browning Silver

Lots of new designs may be good too, but the above have repeatedly shown themselves nearly indestructible.

This is the 1996 Express 870 that replaced my 70's model Wingmaster. I bought 2 870 Express's in late 90's for $300 for the pair. I have never shot a shotgun that was not an 870 so I cannot compare of give an opinion on other shotguns. I can tell you that there is zero difference in the performance of the Express and the Wingmaster. The only differences I have seen are ascetic only. Outside of the blued finish and the stock there is no difference between the 2 Express's and the 1 Wingmaster I own. Most opinions of the Express are simply folks "parroting" what they have heard. 17 year old $150 shotgun is "time tested and proven". I choose to shoot a pump for the "sporting aspect" of it, if it were not for having to use steel shot I would shoot a break barrel H&R.

My 870 express mag is a bit newer (6-7 yrs old), I'll admit I haven't shot it a ton as since I moved to Texas I haven't had anywhere to hunt and I'm not sure on where to go shoot skeet. I have probably put about 5 cases through it and as I stated before I USE it when I hunt as stated before. The only person I ever met that claimed he owned one and didn't like it said he didn't like how his ejector wouldn't spit shells out (so he could say he lost them instead of picking them up). He then went back to his autos and soon bought a SBE.

My SBE II was bought in 06...so that's what 7 years old. It will last my life...during the season I hunt once or twice a week most weekends. Plus dove hunts and a turkey hunt or two...not to mention clay shoots. I like Benelli but all the B guns are good. It's more about what feels good to you.

I'm a semi auto guy...not a pump guy. Pump guys don't like hearing this but I'd say 95% of the guys that shoot pumps shoot them because they just started hunting (or are not really all that into it meaning maybe they only hunt a handful of times a year) and did not want to pop for a more expensive shotgun or they are young and just can't afford that semi yet. In fact of the dozens of guys I've hunted with over the years only one that I would call an experienced waterfowler shot a pump because he wanted to shoot a pump. So that 95% figure is probably low.

By the way...the experienced hunter guy in my post also shoot an 870. He also owned about 20 shotguns...including some very fine O/Us that he shot clays with. Dude is the best shot of anyone I know.

True for the most part, its a great gun to start with. I just got back into duck hunting but have hunted heavily since the age of six. Although I have the means to shoot just about any gun under $2k very easily, its a style choice for me. I will never own an auto-loader, ever.

BTW, my papa wouldn't hunt with a pump, always hunted with either a .410 and 20ga side by side. He said "it was a much faster gun than those junky pump action guns", lol.

I have used a SBII since 08 and would not take for it. Several friends and guides I know got me started on it and it never fails

I have an 1100 from the 70's that was left to me by my granddad. It'll probably belong to my grandkids and get sees the field every season. But I only take it dove hunting.

Duck gun? Probably an 870 or an SBE

I have an 1100 from the 70's that was left to me by my granddad. It'll probably belong to my grandkids and get sees the field every season. But I only take it dove hunting.

Duck gun? Probably an 870 or an SBE

My grandad left me his 1100 from the early 70s. He duck hunted religiously in lower Arkansas every season and the few 1100s he used still work great today. Key is that he took great care of them, kept them very clean.