just what a general consensus of what everyone is using in 12 gauge semi-auto, I'm a benelli nut but browning and retay have my attention, so just wanna know what problems if any yall have been having. TIA!!

I just bought a Benelli M2, which I like. only hunted with it once but seems to be a good gun. Before that I shot a Beretta A300 Outlander that I had great luck with, handed it down to my son.


For Dove and Upland hunts, I shoot a Weatherby Athena or a Browning Citori

S&W 1000 circa 1983.

Remi 1100, 2 3/4", old school standard and still good shooting school.

S&W 1000 also and a Belgian Browning Auto 5. The original one. Only two semi auto 12s I own and both have done me well for most of my adult lifetime so I have seen no good reason to upgrade anytime soon.
But I know your asking about current new shotguns. Because most of my upland is with 20ga side by sides, I would be buying a 12GA mostly for waterfowl. Based on what I have seen others around me use and like, I would be buying the Beretta A400 for the gas gun and a Benelli Black Eagle for the inertia gun. If I were wanting a 12GA semi auto upland gun, it would be one of the lighter Benelli models. If those Italian guns are working for you now, why change? There is a reason why they have a cult following.

Beretta A303 12ga, Beretta A303 upland in 20ga, Winchester Model 12 in 16ga, Ithaca model 500 O/U 20 ga, Rem 870 12&20 ga and Rem 1100 both in 12&20 ga.
I guess you could say I'm a shotgun guy and old school. I like them all.

Winchester Super X 2

First edition of the Benellli SBE if I were going to shoot a 12ga. Mostly shoot a Montefeltro 20ga

Remington 1100 and a Beretta A300 (old one)

Browning Gold Hunter 3.5" in Mossy Oak Shadow Grass I bought in 2000. I've shot everything through it from the lightest skeet/target shells to the heaviest goose and turkey loads and it just keeps singing. Not the perfect gun for every situation, but it works and is the best utility player in my safe.

I'll eventually fill the stable with more appropriate upland game shotguns, but until then, the Browning will get the job done.

2011-ish Benelli Super Vinci.

Browning Maxus 3.5, it's very soft shooting even with 3.5" shells but light enough to carry around all down for upland/woodland type hunting too. It cycles everything except every now and then a 1 oz low recoil type load won't have enough juice.

Only 12 I own is a Rem. 3200 that I shoot skeet and clays with, 3/4 oz. loads. Pheasant and ducks with a Model 12, 16 ga. and dove/quail with a Yildiz 28 ga. The 3200 also has tubes for 20, 28 and .410.

Need a like button for that Model 12 in 16 gauge ...

Beretta a400 xtreme all black

Vinci and A300. The rub I have with some of the Benelli's is the butt pad wears out after about 2 seasons of moderate hunting. They are sometimes challenging to find replacements for.

I'd like to hear from anyone shooting a Retay. Haven't seen one with my own eyes, so I am curious.

Franchi I-12 (for clays)
Rem 1100
Rem 870

12ga. Beretta 390, works so good I bought one in 20 gauge.

Benelli Montifeltro

I shoot a pump.

1980 New............. Remington Wingmaster 870 12 ga. w/vent rib

Remington VersaMax - shooting 3in 4 shot boss shot shell, with a kick high flyer full choke, and carson MR/LR extended chokes.

looking at getting a new shotgun for next season, the old versamax is about to need to retire.

Old pump, stevens model 62 series E. 28” barrel, has 3 changeable choke tubes. Mostly use the modified. Have had it about 35 years, and still going. Have a Yeldiz 20, over and under, but don’t shoot it much.

Feather weight browning citori 20ga except at coast. Coast I use a Browning Maximus

Benelli m1 super 90. Best semi auto I’ve ever had