opinions on shotguns for waterfowl...

18 October 2011, 03:31

Rub Line

If you were to buy a brand new shotgun today, which one is the best out there in terms of reliability, low recoil and ergonomics? Mainly for ducks and geese in the midwest.

I don't care about 1100's or A5's, I want to know about the latest generation of scatterguns, beretta, browning, benelli, etc.

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18 October 2011, 04:18

Jackduckhunter

I really like the Benelli M2 which will likely be my next but Benelli Super Black Eagles are a very good choice as well. I currently shoot a Beretta Pintail which I absolutely love, but no made here any longer. You can still find them new on Gunbroker.com for reasonable prices. Good luck in your search

Captain Jack Renfrew
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18 October 2011, 12:21

Patricio Gaudiano

beretta 391, 390, beretta extrema, benelli m1 or m2 or super black eagle..... or my new favorite, the beretta extreme 400 in cammo...... Note, a lot of people have had problems with light primer strikes on the extrema 2's so I would probably not get that (I have 4 and have problems with 2).....

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19 October 2011, 05:51

collector

If you will be hunting marine environment then get a dipped gun. It prevents rust.

Here would be my top 3 picks in this particular order:

1) Benelli Super Black Eagle II

Advantage: Easy to clean
Disadvantage: None

There will be no SBE III...instead Benelli has come out with the 3.5" Super Vinci. I handled the gun and it is very very nice.
2)Benelli Super Vinci

Advantage: Easy to clean
Disadvantage: None

3) Beretta Extrema II

Advantage: Very very easy on Recoil
Disadvantages: Gas action is a bitch to clean

.

19 October 2011, 06:05

Norton

Make sure you shoot that Vinci first.....a bud bought one and had a hell of a time smashing his fingers on the back of the trigger guard with recoil......if you look at the pictures comparatively you can get a sense of what I mean......but it's probably something one can adjust to.

PS.....I shoot a SBEII......and I NEVER feel recoil while hunting and shooting 3.5" all day long.

-----------------------------------------------------

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19 October 2011, 20:14

Norton

quote:
Originally posted by Rub Line:
Thanks for the insights, I suspected benelli and beretta would top most peoples lists.

Are the brownings or winchesters worth looking at?

All of the high-end semis are good I suspect....it all comes down to fit and if you want gas-driven.....I think KG shoots an Extrema2 these days.....the forestock on Benellis is unlike any other and part of why I like it so much.

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21 October 2011, 03:45

BaxterB

quote:
baxter, I have allways shot berettas........ just dont get an extrema 2 as they had really bad light firing pin strike problems....... every other beretta I have ever owned was awesome, probably 2 dozen so far....

I won an Extrema2 and sold it unused to buy a 375. I had heard of the light strikes. I don't shoot 3 1/2 inch shells at all so my choice would be the Urika 2.

22 October 2011, 02:30

collector

@butchloc
Salt marshes are brutal to all guns. I would dare not expose a fancy O/U or SxS to that environment...I respect them too much. Have seen many hardcore badass waterfowlers with SxS hunting the saltwater....they learn quickly

Also, the semi-autos can pump 3.5" shells all day for specific hunts such as Snow Goose pass shooting. One will need shoulder surgery with a SxS or O/U (assuming it can handle 3.5" shells).

All sentiments aside...there is a time and place for waterfowling guns. They would not be my choice for say a Grouse and Woodcock hunt in Maine. I would much rather prefer a short barrel 28ga SxS for that. BUT take me to the Maine Coast for Eiders in saltwater and my preference would change to a semi in a heartbeat.

22 October 2011, 16:57

sako

Up here in Iceland Benelli and Beretta pretty much dominate the semi market like most other places but for waterfowl and seabird hunting i see Benelli´s most of the time!

Ive had Benelli S90 M1 left hand and loved the gun, easy to strip down after a dirty day and never fails!
Never had a Beretta and never will as long as they continue to ignore us lefties..
Have a Rem 1100 left hand that i use for all hunting be it wildfowl, highland ptarmigans, cormorants on the shore or seabirds.
never failed and have not had any rust issues, just soak it in oil and go huntin;P