I haven't been bird hunting in way too long and just want to know what is your favorite Shotgun and size and what do you mostly hunt ? I have a Remington 870 Express but have not shot it yet but thinking of getting a little better S/G .

870 will do it all. Anything more is all about preferance.

I've been a little spoiled on semi auto 12 's shotguns. I shoot a beretta a300 right now and love it. Mostly used for dove and a lot of sporting clays.

The 870 or Mossy 500 are the industry standards for pump guns, it's all about what you want. My first shotgun which I still own is an 870 that I had put on layaway at a K-Mart in VA Beach back in 1989. I've done most of the hunting in my life with it and I'm just used to it, it just works each and every time. There is a rhythm you get into when using it and I like having the option of not loading another into the chamber if I don't want to unlike the auto. I bought a Mossy 930, but it just didn't feel right not having the pump so I sold it.

870 for me.
I have my eye on a Weatherby SA 08 for a semi.
Not that the 870 isn't great, I just want another shotgun and the weatherby for around 500 is doable. I have a couple friends who swear by them.

To make this thread the most fruitful for you, I suggest you list a budget that is the most reasonable for you. Otherwise it can go in either direction and this not be of too much use to you.

For me though, I highly suggest what I have, a Beretta Urika 2. It only shoots up to 3.0" shells. Personally, I don't have need for a 3.5" in shogun so this works out perfectly. Then again I don't do anything more than shoot a bunch of clay and only like dive and duck hunting. The only issue I've ever had is totally my fault because I neglected to clean it for over 3 years and thousands of rounds. The end cap got stuck, but once it was removed and cleaned for the first time, it's worked flawlessly since then. FYI, I've had a Benelli Nova and a Weatherby OU before getting my Beretta and this is literally the only shotgun i shoot for both hunting and sporting clays. The other ones only get shot by friends/family and other users.

Thanks for your response and suggestion . Being my first time to post I had no idea what to expect . Price range for me is max at $700.00 . But I know there is a lot of very nice and great S/Gs' for all around hunting and occasional trap or skeet if it comes up . What I'm not looking for is one for HD . I have that taken care of . One I have been interested in is a Browning BPS 12-ga , but if a good Rem 1100 or 11-87 got in my hands and was cheap enough I would consider that also . I prefer wooden stock and blued barrel but a camo isn't out of the question .

Can't go wrong with a Winchester 21.

Yeah if only I had 4k-7k $$$ .

Rem 870 or win 1300.

I hunt with a BPS, classy reliable gun. You can't go wrong with one of those.

I switched to Baretta auto 12 several years ago and have been pleased, I now own a Urika2 and an A300 and both are excellent shooters. Just make sure whatever you choose fits you!

A300- great gun, great price for semi

Beretta 390/391 is probably best bet. New one is called A300 (A350 for 3.5", but you only need that for turkey and geese/crane).

Or, one of its several "clones". Weatherby's semi auto, Yildiz's semi auto, Tristar's semi auto.

I have the Yildiz A71. Great gun, did well on a pheasant hunt and duck hunt. It's literally the same system as my uncle's A390/1(don't remember which he has).

"Best" is relative to price range. The Benelli Vinci or SBE II or Beretta A400 or Browning Maxus or etc. could be better, if you have the $1500+ to get one.

Benelli M2

870 nuff said

I shoot a Browning BPB super mag shoots anything you can fit into the tube. Then I have a SKB IS300 for clays or dove it needed. I plan on selling the spare skb is300 target I have

Cabelas in Lubbock Texas is a new store and they have a Browning BPS Hunter for $599.99 and a Remington WingMaster for $699.99 both in 12-ga . I'm planning to make a trip up there this coming Saturday if nothing gets' in my way . Hopefully to come home with one of them but I'm leaning more towards the BPS cause it has a slightly higher rating than the WingMaster . Both have 3" chambers , blued barrels , woodstocks and available in 28" ribbed barrels with 3 chokes . Just hope all goes my way .

I'll second the Beretta A300 Outlander for a shotgun in your price range. While not as pretty as a Wingmaster or BPS, it is a reliable semi auto for the price you are looking at for a pump. I bought one for my son and I liked it so much, I went and bought one for myself. We've hunted dove, turkey, and duck with ours, as well as weekends shooting skeet and sporting clays.

Since you already have an 870, why buy another pump?

I've been a pump person all my life. That's what I been use to . Also I've had some friends in the past that have had autos and half had trouble with the ejecting and I didn't want to have that problem if ever in the future.I'm sure not all autos have problems , but like I said I always have liked pumps.c

Well, if you don't like your Express find a Wingmaster...

I shot pumps my whole life 870 wingmaster and Winchester model 12's. Then I got hit by a drunk tore up my shoulder and had to switch to semi-auto. Been real happy with the Stoeger M3000. Comes with a shim kit to adjust the stock to fit. They are built just like a Benelli but half the price.

I do like the M3500 in the Realtree camo . Price is in range and I do like the 3.5" chamber . I will probably never in my life to go duck hunting but if ever I did that sounds like a gun I could use . Mainly if if ever get back into it will be dove and quail but I have no idea how long that could be . Is the camo less maintenance than a blued or matte finish barrel ? Otherwords do you still oil the barrel same as matte or blued ?

Sometimes the 3.5" guns will have trouble cycling 2.75" loads. I would recommend buying the 3" gun if you're not planning to shoot big loads out of it much.

Sound like good advice , thanks for the input and it does make sense since I have no idea if ever i'll go duck hunting .

I only shoot 3" at ducks. Geese and crane you'll want 3.5".