New waterfowl gun recommendations

[BigCountry344]

So I was on the hunt for a new auto that will shoot 3.5 inch and had decided on a browning A5 but I talked to a guy that has one today and he said it kicks worse than any other he has, is this true with those of you that have one? Any other guns I should be considering instead? Do not want a Beretta, Steoger, or Bennelli. Thanks!

 

[hodgeman]

I've got the Benelli and a Stoeger... barring one of those, the Browning Maxxus is pretty soft shooting.

I prefer the inertia guns... they kick a little harder, but tend to be more reliable over the long haul than gas guns, especially in freezing spray.

 

[coleman]

I'll second above. I have both benelli and a browning maxus. Both good guns. Maxus is softer shooting and the benelli more reliable.

 

[tt_johnsclist]

I’d you don’t want a beretta or Benelli you are pretty much down to Brownings if you want to stick with high end semis. Get a Maxxus or buy a benelli. Consider over and unders?


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[ShortMountain91]

I own an A5 and it does kick harder than a gas gun. Recoil has never really bothered me though. I'll trade the extra kick for the reliability of an inertia gun. Go maxus if you want softer kick

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[Desk Jockey]

Not much of a water fowl guy but I shoot upland. I have done the Pepsi challenge on a lot of different semis. Borrow many. Bought and sold a few. I keep going back to benelli. “Ol Ben” just goes “boom” when I want him to. Meanwhile, my buddies are borrowing pliers and what not to Get their guns back up and running.

 

[FLS]

I’d vote Beretta. I’m not a 3.5” guy but I have an AL 390 that 20 + years old. It’s had hundreds of cases of shells thru it. In all that time I’ve only replaced the action spring with a sure cycle kit due to salt water corrosion.
Ive also got a AL391 that I shoot clays with that’s had thousands of rounds thru it. Replaced the lifter around 10 K. Still runs as good as the day I bought it.
I’ve had Benelli M1, M2, and SBE. Good guns but not as reliable as the Berettas IME.

 

[Tod osier]

I’d you don’t want a beretta or Benelli you are pretty much down to Brownings if you want to stick with high end semis. Get a Maxxus or buy a benelli. Consider over and unders?


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pretty big handicap eliminating the top two options off the bat. I wouldn’t choose anything other than a beretta or benelli for your stated goals.

 

[jdmaxwell]

If you just dont want Bennelli or Stoger name buy a Franchi. But Super Black Eagle 2 is lighter than my Franchi.

 

[Blakelok]

I’m pleased with my Winchester SX3.

 

[LightFoot]

I loved my benelli M2 but went to the Maxus when I moved to 3.5" loads.

My little brother has the A5 and it is nice, but 3.5" loads are brutal. The Maxus is more manageable.



>>>----JAKE----->

 

[fatlander]

Auto loading shotguns worth their salt all start with the letter “B”

If you don’t want a beretta or a beneli, browning it is.

I never was a fan of the full hump on A5s and I didn’t like the low rise of the maxus. The half hump of the silver hunter was perfect for me.


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[EmperorMA]

Winchester is a very good option for a gas gun. SX3 and SX4 are superb.

 

[Cdroot89]

DO NOT buy a stoeger. I used to waterfowl hunt a good bit and before I could afford the higher end guns I had a stoeger. The quality is poor and it just gave me a lot of troubles over the years. I even sent it back to the factory to be fixed within the first year of me owning it. I have a few benellis, I like the SBE3 as they have improved it to prevent the famous benelli click from happening. What is your budget? I personally don’t think the 3 1/2 shells are worth it.

 

[TREE ‘EM]

Don't get hung up on 3.5" shells. They offer no practical advantage. Lower velocity and longer shot string, plus the few I've patterned for friends tend to blow the pattern at 40.

I've shot a A5 2.75" with 1 3/8 oz of #3s for the past 30 years with no gain in range over my Maxis with 3" 1 5/8 loads of my buddies SBE with 3" and way better then his 3.5" loads.

You want to reach a little further I've got a Beretta Silverhawk SXS 10 Ga with Briley thin wall chokes I'll sell you.

 

[TripleJ]

Winchester SX4 is pretty sweet, light weight and and light recoil.

 

[Elk slayer]

Like pretty much everyone else said Benelli can't go wrong

 

[FOS373]

I picked up the new version of the A5 for this season and really like it. I also recommend the pattern master choke tubes - a little pricey but they pattern very well

 

[16Bore]

I’ve run the dog shit out of 11-87’s, without hiccups. Easy peasy. 2-3/4 ammo if you know how to shoot, 3’s if you’re marginal, 3.5’s if you have good dental insurance.

 

[hartigjosh]

Look up Retay. The inertia drive system came off patent and guys like Retay came to market. Its inertia 2.0 with some unique differences.
I hunt the Eastern Shore of MD and shoot a lot of waterfowl. I never use 3.5 in shells for waterfowl or even turkey, its just unnecessary.
I have shot a lot of shotguns and by far and away my favorite is a 26 inch barrel M2 but that's not bc of durability or quality, its shoot-ability. The gun fits me. Which brings up my next point... forget whats popular, whats being marketed to you... shoulder a bunch of guns and what fits your length of pull and cheek best will be the best option for you.
Benelli, Beretta, Browning, Retay, so on all makes guns that if you care for properly wont fail. Just find the one that fits you and dont make 3.5 a factor bc it is truly unnecessary.