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Wanting to purchase a 12 ga semi auto for goose hunting. My 2 choices thus far are the Winchester SX3 or a Benelli? I want to purchase an additional barrel to double as a camping/home defense shotgun, so wanting to find a 18.5 barrel? Any recommendations?

The second 18.5" barrel for a 3.5" 12ga. autoloader is going to a very spendy option, if you can even find one. You might find a second 24" barrel, but that too will be pricey. I'd focus on selecting a waterfowl gun that fits you, that feels good in hand, and upon mounting. My working waterfowl guns are the Beretta Xtrema II. Beretta autos are unique in that the are both gas and recoil operated. They're soft shooting even with the heaviest loads forced through tight chokes. The Beretta Extema II is "Aqua" coated inside and out. This coating is extremely corrosion resistant. I hunt on and near saltwater and have been amazed at how well these guns have held up. There are lots of great options out there these days. You should be happy with any of them as long as you prioritize fit.

Thank you that is another shotgun I will look at as well.

Buy a cheap 870 for home defense and chop the barrel down. If I were buying a gun specifically for goose hunting (not to be used for anything where I have to carry it much) it'd be a 10 gauge.

The SX3 will probably save you a few bucks over the Benelli, especially since Winchester just debuted the SX4. When the SX3 debuted I got a new closeout SX2 for $650.

Basil, if it's goose only

there are two options in my book as fsr as new guns
.

a Browning BPS 10 and a Browning Gold lite 10

lots of people will tell you there are no practical differences that justify the 10 but they are full of schidt

if you want a 12 auto my choices are benelli or Beretta.

I've had both the extrema2 and sbe2..you can't go wrong with either.

I want to shoulder a Beretta Xtrema2, haven't had a chance to get my hands on one but it does interest me. I might justify a 10 down the road, but for now I think I will stick with the 12? Thanks guys.

I have been shooting a SBE for years I also have a beretta 391. Love them both but if i were gonna get a goose only gun it would be a 10 ga or a gun that uses the invector plus choke system like a Browning silver, gold, maxis, or a winchester SX2,3 OR 4. I have spent many hours patterning shotguns and nothing shoots heavy loads of big shot better than a 10 or a 12 ga with a big bore diameter. All the invector plus barrels are back bored and shoot big shot sizes very well and they aren't near as picky about loads. Take it or leave it. If not for that I would go with the beretta, (if it fits you well) less recoil than the benellis too.

Kingston, when you say Beretta's are gas and recoil operated are you talking about the KO as being the recoil part of the equation?

If I were getting a dedicated goose gun it would definitely be a Gold 10 gauge.

SP10 is a tough gun to beat for just a goose gun. They're heavy but they're reliable as a ball peen hammer and mine patterns beautifully with everything I've ever tried in it.

The KO system would be the third mechanism of recoil management.



Aren't the newer Berettas, the Xtrema2 included, back bored? The Xtrema2s use Beretta's longer profile choke tubes. I forget what they're calling them.


For the record, I have an SP10 and a BPS10, but the OP asked about 12s. I'd love one of those new Browning 10s like Gitem's!

I can't believe anybod'd pay good money for a dedicated goose gun. WTF do you guys do with those nasty tastin' things ?

they're only nasty tasting if you can't cook.

Goose breast, just like sirloin! Fo-real!


But that's got nothing to do with justifying goose guns.

Yes, goose tastes awesome.
To be honest in the crockpot I can't tell the difference between it and venison roast.

Brian, do you haunt any of the Facebook waterfowl groups


there are Browming golds offered uo for good prices quite often

Tates like liver to me and I hate liver. Lotsa guys I work with shoot them but none like the meat. They all make jerky out of it to cover the nasty taste.

I am with Blkheart on this one.. my dogs love goose jerky though!

Wife takes the goose breast in a crockpot with cream of mushroom soup, potatoes, carrots and onions and we love it.
The meat has a stringy (for a lack of better explaination ) texture just like a big venison/elk roast.
And like I said tastes just like it.
One thing I do when cleaning the bird is to make sure there is zero fat or oils on the meat.

For goose only, I'd choose the SX3 for recoil reduction and backbored barrels.

But I'd choose the Benelli SBEII for an all-around waterfowl gun, including goose.