As the title suggest, looking for a 12 gauge, 3.5”

It will go through brush and get scratched up most likely. IE: not needing or wanting anything fancy!

Camo preferred

Interesting in a new one, between $400-700 preferably, but maybe up to $1k, tops.

Open to pump or semiauto

What do y’all suggest?

Thanks!

You need to check out each shotgun recommend for fit.

Given your budget my first thought would be the Winchester SX4.

If you go with a pump shotgun, Benelli in camo.

George, one of the older Remy's in semi auto or pump, the new ones are crap, Wingmaster pump or 1100 semi auto

If a pump gun will work, I would look at a super Nova

If you are going to shoot 3.5” out of it, I would recommend a semi-auto (preferably a gas gun, not a recoil operated gun). Winchester SX4 would be my #1 in that category.

Mossberg 835. It is low end, not fancy, made in USA and mine is a killing machine. Handles 3.5” shells. Great all around gun and the first gun I grab for almost everything. Shoots a great pattern with factory chokes, I use factory full for everything. Tried a kicks high flyer, nice pattern but way off center. Factory tubes are already very long. Falls in the low end of your price range and available in wood and blue steel or black synth or camo. These days seems camo is the most common.

As for fit, I picked up shins for my 835 on Amazon. Put in one shim to can the stock left, put one single strip of two sided 35 pound gorilla tape and some of the self adhesive wrap on my stock, and a limbsaver both for length and recoil absorption. It is point click dead. I used to snap them off before it touched my shoulder but now it fits me perfectly.

Benelli Super Nova is hard to beat for what you described.

I own one Mossberg shotgun, a camo 835 in 12 gauge. Bought it 23 or 24 years ago.

The extra full turkey choke lives in this gun most of the time. Shooting 3 1/2" 00 Buck from an extra full choke does kick a little bit, but what it does on the other end is more important...and it's impressive.

I sold my 835 when I bought a Benelli Super black eagle, I still miss that old Mossberg as it patterned better than the Benelli with any load I tried.

It was also heavier, that and being back bored barrel it kicked less than the SBE as it is a good gun but just some things I miss about the old 835. Not that I would shoot them much now if at all as I do more of my hunting with a 20 or 28 these days.

3.5” is going to suck


Semi auto Beretta 1301

Pump - Benelli tac

It's gonna suck to shoot 3.5's with a pump...been there done that. Not fun if you shoot a lot.

I'm a huge fan of Beretta's, but don't think you can get a 3.5" semi in that price range. Also, unless you do a lot of goose and turkey hunting a 3.5" is way overrated, IMO.

Are you absolutely certain you need a 3.5"?

I got one because I just had to have it...Got into a group of pigs with 3.5" 00 buck, and swore to the man upstairs that I would never do that again.

3" is plenty for ducks, pigs, etc. Only way I could using 3.5" would be for geese, which is something I will probably never do.

I’ve never hunted with a 3.5” shell but nothing vaporizes 3 liter sodas like a 3.5” waterfowl load. A ton of fun.

Someone like me has it now. I picked mine up 4-5 years ago at a pawn shop for $185 plus tax. Little bit of rust, cleaned right up with 0000 steel wool and ATF. I took the mid bead off, kind of improvised fitting to me, and it is my favorite gun and 2nd to last gun I would sell- because it’s not a family heirloom.

I am thinking about getting some work done to it, some bling or some cerakote, walnut stock etc.

love my sx4. That gets my vote for your budget.

Stoeger 3500 semiauto. Good inertia gun for the money. I don't need 3.5 shells. 3 inch is plenty for everything I hunt; Pheasant and Sandhills. I have the M3000 Stoeger and am completely happy with it. I don't care if it gets scratched at all. I use it for dove hunting too. 2 3/4 shells for that. Never failed me yet.

A used extrema.

Got a Super Nova. Thanks for all the feedback!

Great choice. For a high end semi auto, I'd personally do a Browning A5. But hands down the best pump gun avaliable is a Super Nova

Nothing I know shoulders as nicely as a Benelli, but I can't afford one.

The only thing I use a shotgun for is hunting Geese. We don't see many ducks in the fall and the other birds can be hunted with a .22, which is my preferred gun for upland birds.

I own a old Cooey break action 12 gauge, a Savage 12 gauge pump, a 16 gauge Mossberg bolt action, a 20 gauge Mossberg bolt action and a double barrel 20.

Most of the time I hunt with the 16 gauge. I've hunted alongside friends packing 3 1/2" 12 gauge autos and such. I knock down as many geese as they do, and at the same ranges. I have to, If I don't shoot when they do I don't shoot at all.

My old shoulder likes the 16 gauge. Two shots with one of their guns and I'm done for three days. Can't even hold a cup of coffee with that arm.

But if you don't mind the kick, why not? I like pumps but a Benelli OU double would be sweet.

If I wanted to shoot 3.5” shells I’d get a Browning Gold 10 gauge.

OK - a little feedback - I absolutely love the Super Nova - and want to suggest that y'all check it out if you are looking for a good 3.5" pump.




Super comfortable to shoot in every way! Having the first two shots drop 2 bobwhites may make me a bit biased, it did exactly what I wanted it to do, and I was super pleased with it.

Shot 2.75, 3, and 3.5" shells from various manufacturers and various loads. Nothing got hung up. All shot as well as I could have hoped for.

My buddy ran his Nova next to mine, and that seemed to also be a nice one! It also shot all various loads, sizes and ammo manufacturers with ease. No issues with that one easier.


PS - I also highly recommend the buttstock shell holder - it is right around $20. I've tried a few and I'm the most pleased with this one. Plus, you have a zippered area if you need to store anything in it. I did fit (3) 3.5" shells inside it....and maybe could have kept 4 there. Plus you have 5 spots on the outside of the holder.

(EXCELLENT ELITE SPANKER Tactical Buttstock Shotgun Rifle Shell Holder for Cheek Rest Ammo Holder Pouch - amazon)

Stoeger M3500 or M3000. Best gun for thr money.

I have hunted over 30 years with a Beretta A303 12ga 3" and have killed more ducks and geese than I can count. Several of my friends around the beginning of that time had to have a Benelli SBE 12ga in 3.5". I opted for a Browning BPS 10ga. If we were duck hunting and we called in a group of geese they would quickly change out their shells for 3.5" and I would just swap guns. When shooting steel shot (which was our only choice back then) at waterfowl they quickly found my 10ga would dominate their guns. The 12ga in a 3.5" ended up blowing out their patterns. Adding more shot while retaining the same diameter is what caused this. In a 10ga you not only get more shot but it is in a larger diameter shot column. This is why they had problems with their patterns. Now it might be hard to justify a 10ga for these rare occasions I don't think I would consider a 12ga 3.5" because of tis reason. I have found that a 12ga 3" has and will continue to kill anything you want it to. They only thing you gain in the 3.5" is the added $$$. My 10ga now sits in the safe while I still use my 12ga 3" for everything. Even with it I don't recall the last time I shot a 3" shell through it. A 2-3/4" fits the bill even when hunting wild Pheasants in Kansas.