Need a New 12ga 3.5" Auto Shotgun

[Ivory]

I haven’t been in the shotgun market for a long time but I’ve been a big Remington fan for the last almost 40 years. I am a very avid turkey hunter and have been using a 12ga 11-87 Super Magnum (camo Special Purpose) since the 1990’s. Unfortunately, production of this gun and its parts was discontinued around 2020 plus the bankruptcy. I know there were issues with some of these, especially with repeated 3.5” shell use. I actually had some issues of my own with one last year that I was lucky enough to be able to find parts for but it’s just going to get harder and harder to find parts. I have not kept up with all the latest and greatest offerings from shotgun manufacturers over the last 2 decades but I’m starting to think about getting something new for my turkey gun. I have always been a dedicated green blooded Remington fan tried and true, but would consider something different if the quality and dependability was proven. I haven’t purchased a new shotgun in over 20 years. In today’s market, what would be the top recommended camo 12ga 3.5” auto-loading models? I don’t want to discuss 12ga vs. 20ga or 3.5” vs. 3”, I already know I want a 12ga 3.5” auto-loader. I want something dependable, good quality, not too heavy, and common enough I can find parts for if needed. What should I be looking at? Thanks for any feedback.

 

[Wheels]

Beretta or Benelli

 

[chizelhead]

I'll second. Beretta and Browning for gas and Benelli for inertia. I haven't tried a Franchi, but I've heard good things. I will say as I've gotten older, the Benelli with 3.5" shells is a bit of a thumper. It has me looking at switching to Beretta. I hunted Browning and Remington's growing up.

 

[KenLee]

Happy with original maxxus with black stock and forearm. Ordered it that way after seeing many Remington with camo rubbed off and white showing

 

[Jim1187]

Had enough camo guns have the finish come off and reveal white or yellow under it I'll save the price difference and grab a black version and couple cans of spray paint, if it's available.
Winchester SX4, Browning or Beretta for a gas gun, Benelli, Franchi, or Browning A5 for recoil operated. I don't trust the parts support myself but retay and Weatherby are providing some Turkish made options that handle and appear to be finished well. If 3" was acceptable for you options increase again.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Beretta a400 all the way.

 

[RockAndSage]

Franchi Affinity 3.5 - absolutely love mine.

But, OP, with shotguns...it's supremely important to buy based on fit, not model. Take everyone's suggestions here, write them down, then go to a big box store or 3 and lift and swing every single one you can from that list. The list should be about reliability and durability, btw. The one you want is the one that naturally aligns your eye right down the rib the most precisely with zero work on your part. Close your eyes, mouth the gun with a good, natural cheek-weld without moving your head around, and open your eyes. The perfect one will have that bead centered left/right, up/down, without trying.

The one that points the best will shoot the best.

 

[Kurts86]

If you are buying a new turkey gun optics mounting would be top of mind. Are you shooting TSS yet?

Beretta and Benelli are the top of the heap. Benelli will be lighter than a Beretta all things equal but will recoil harder.

 

[Gen273]

Benelli SBE

 

[need4sneed]

Beretta or Benelli
My a400 (first gen extreme unico) did not like a waterfowl season worth of 3.5 (250+) and it blew apart the gas mechanism (no clue what truly happened but assigned failure to exclusive 3.5 use and it correlated). Had to go back to Beretta. Great gun otherwise - no complaints on thousand plus duck/upland loads (<3.5”) after, I just never jived with the fit and swing.
Another buddy with same model gun - thousands of rounds and no real problems (fair amount of 3.5 duck/goose, mostly 3”).
Third Buddy has truly torture tested the other traditional wood stock a400 (same timeline model but different gas mechanism) and never had problems. Admittedly, he rarely ran 3.5 shells. Superb shotgun IMO.
I picked up an ethos and love it (3” gun mind you). 3 total jams I can remember in thousands of rounds - during fairly extreme ice conditions. It will get slow occasionally, but this is almost always the result of having agricultural crop/cattail fuzz piling up in the recoil spring, especially with freezing water.
Two other buddies picked up franchi auto 12’s (similar inertia gun) and have been solid - hundreds if not thousands of duck/upland loads.
Not a great 3.5 representation, but we trend towards: you want to shoot 3.5, buy an Sp10.
A couple of us were a revolving door of 12 g lRemington parts for a few years- all of us switched to Beretta/Benelli or Franchi(Benelli without the fine finishings&added QC) - never looked back, that case of 3.5 on that a400 is the only real problem any of us had. Everything else has worked drama free and we’re too lazy to even do basic maintenance (hence the back of my gun routinely acting as a grain silo). If the inertia system works well with 2 3/4 & 3 it should, conceivably, work bettererer with 3.5”.

 

[Matt5266]

Have 2 Benellis love them!

 

[Ivory]

Thank you for all the great replies everyone!! I understand the difference between gas and inertia cycled actions, but I'm unsure if one is better than the other??

 

[Ivory]

Had enough camo guns have the finish come off and reveal white or yellow under it I'll save the price difference and grab a black version and couple cans of spray paint, if it's available.
Winchester SX4, Browning or Beretta for a gas gun, Benelli, Franchi, or Browning A5 for recoil operated. I don't trust the parts support myself but retay and Weatherby are providing some Turkish made options that handle and appear to be finished well. If 3" was acceptable for you options increase again.

I've used many a touch up can on my remingtons over the years. Thank you for the info.

 

[Ivory]

Franchi Affinity 3.5 - absolutely love mine.

But, OP, with shotguns...it's supremely important to buy based on fit, not model. Take everyone's suggestions here, write them down, then go to a big box store or 3 and lift and swing every single one you can from that list. The list should be about reliability and durability, btw. The one you want is the one that naturally aligns your eye right down the rib the most precisely with zero work on your part. Close your eyes, mouth the gun with a good, natural cheek-weld without moving your head around, and open your eyes. The perfect one will have that bead centered left/right, up/down, without trying.

The one that points the best will shoot the best.

Great advice. Thank you!! A trip to the store would be perfect during these cold months.

 

[Ivory]

If you are buying a new turkey gun optics mounting would be top of mind. Are you shooting TSS yet?

Beretta and Benelli are the top of the heap. Benelli will be lighter than a Beretta all things equal but will recoil harder.

Yes, shooting mostly TSS now. Wonder how the recoil and weight of the Beretta and Benelli would compare to my Rem 11-87 super mags shooting the same 3.5" TSS loads?

I haven't gone to a red dot or glass optic yet on my turkey rigs. My eyes are still good enough for the ol tro-glo beads that have worked well for me for the last 20+ years.

 

[Ivory]

Beretta or Benelli
My a400 (first gen extreme unico) did not like a waterfowl season worth of 3.5 (250+) and it blew apart the gas mechanism (no clue what truly happened but assigned failure to exclusive 3.5 use and it correlated). Had to go back to Beretta. Great gun otherwise - no complaints on thousand plus duck/upland loads (<3.5”) after, I just never jived with the fit and swing.
Another buddy with same model gun - thousands of rounds and no real problems (fair amount of 3.5 duck/goose, mostly 3”).
Third Buddy has truly torture tested the other traditional wood stock a400 (same timeline model but different gas mechanism) and never had problems. Admittedly, he rarely ran 3.5 shells. Superb shotgun IMO.
I picked up an ethos and love it (3” gun mind you). 3 total jams I can remember in thousands of rounds - during fairly extreme ice conditions. It will get slow occasionally, but this is almost always the result of having agricultural crop/cattail fuzz piling up in the recoil spring, especially with freezing water.
Two other buddies picked up franchi auto 12’s (similar inertia gun) and have been solid - hundreds if not thousands of duck/upland loads.
Not a great 3.5 representation, but we trend towards: you want to shoot 3.5, buy an Sp10.
A couple of us were a revolving door of 12 g lRemington parts for a few years- all of us switched to Beretta/Benelli or Franchi(Benelli without the fine finishings&added QC) - never looked back, that case of 3.5 on that a400 is the only real problem any of us had. Everything else has worked drama free and we’re too lazy to even do basic maintenance (hence the back of my gun routinely acting as a grain silo). If the inertia system works well with 2 3/4 & 3 it should, conceivably, work bettererer with 3.5”.

Thank you for all the great first hand info!! Looks like Beretta, Benelli, and Franchi are what I need to look at. Wonder if any of them make a 21-23" short turkey barrel??

 

[Timplant]

I REALLY love my new Baretta A300. We are VERY hard on shotguns up here duck hunting, lots of mud and snow and ice and I am the worst about tools. I have ran Winchester Sx3's for awhie, bough a SX4 immediately sold it. Picked up a A300 two seasons ago and it's been GREAT just got my wife a 20ga in it as well!

I have shot all of them, and they are all good... my group religiously duck hunts, but for around 750$ the A300 is what I will continue too buy.

 

[Ivory]

I REALLY love my new Baretta A300. We are VERY hard on shotguns up here duck hunting, lots of mud and snow and ice and I am the worst about tools. I have ran Winchester Sx3's for awhie, bough a SX4 immediately sold it. Picked up a A300 two seasons ago and it's been GREAT just got my wife a 20ga in it as well!

I have shot all of them, and they are all good... my group religiously duck hunts, but for around 750$ the A300 is what I will continue too buy.

Thanks. Have you ran a lot of heavy 3.5" loads through your A400? I'm starting to learn some great 2.75" and 3" shotguns might not be as great when running 3.5" loads. That's basically what I have now with my 11-87 super mags.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

Beretta a391 xtrema and later a400 have been my go to shotguns for the last 25ish years. Wore the shell catch out on the 391a, it was double feeding, while it was getting fixed wife got me a400. My oldest boy carried the 391 to the blind last weekend..still folds ducks like it did in '01, still makes a decent boat paddle when needed...

Any of the B brands and you will be fine..find the one that fits you best.

Just an FYI whatever you get it's probably going go be lighter than what you have...I recommend some clay shooting to get you swing adjusted.

Good Luck!

 

[Timplant]

Thanks. Have you ran a lot of heavy 3.5" loads through your A400? I'm starting to learn some great 2.75" and 3" shotguns might not be as great when running 3.5" loads. That's basically what I have now with my 11-87 super mags.

We shoot 3.5'' BBB and BB for geese (about 300rds guestimate) and it's functioning perfect at this point.