Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Shotgun Recommendation???

This is not the first step in the equation. Let's be realistic. the OP is looking for a recommendation for a quality shotgun that isn't going to break his bank. Everyone has posted good options.

Fitting a shotgun correctly doesn't happen overnight. Without a solid repeatable mount you are wasting your time and money on getting fitted. Another note to this is no gun is going to fit anybody perfectly. The gun industry came up with generic measurements that are supposed to be key word (SUPPOSED) to fit the average male. There is no average male!

Further more your eye is the only sight! It isn't the rear sight it is the sight. If you are looking at anything other than your intended target you are doing it WRONG!

tag

Some of the best shotgunners ive seen can hit with anything. They simply have great hand/eye coordination and shoot a LOT. Pretty sure a buddy would outshoot me with a twisted 2x6 and a crooked barrel. Lol. He can pick up any shotgun and quickly get hits that match what he does with his own gun.

I however will take all the help I can get!

I'm old and old school so I prefer my Remington Model 11 with 2 barrels. I once bought a Beretta 390 from Jaqua's and it was like shouldering a 2 X 6. I sent it to another zip code.

I saw a demonstration of just this at a sporting clays course several years ago. A young guy showed up with a new 391 and was having trouble hitting with it. He started complaining that it was off. One of the old regulars asked to try it. The station was a hard left and right, report pair. The older guy called for a bird and shot from the hip, smoked both clays. When he handed the gun back to the young guy he said, "don't think it's the gun". Probably could of been handled better, but he got his point across. I found out later that the guy was a regular fixture at the state shoots every year.

Winner!

I think you should look very closely at the Beretta A300 Outlander. And I wouldn't worry about a "turkey" barrel myself.

If you really need 3.5" shells and a 24" turkey barrel, then the A350 would be your pick.

He lives in NY, he may only be able to hunt deer with shotgun. I believe there are counties in NY that don't allow rifle hunting. Like it is in CT on state land.

For a gas gun I vote Browning Gold or Silver.

For the money another one that is hard to beat is the Winchester SX4. I am a fan of the Invector Plus choke system these and the Browning's use.

If you don't mind a little more recoil then a Benelli or Franchi would be good guns.

I rifle hunt for deer, this would be a scatter gun for turkeys, upland birds, clays, etc.

One thing I would like to have is a bird barrel with a cantilever mount so I could use an optic for turkeys and a standard bird barrel for all other uses.

Unfortunately the only gun i can find such a barrel for is the Winchester SX4 and I'm not that interested in that gun.

As for 3.5" , no, I don't feel the need for it but wouldn't mind having the option if The right gun happened to be chambered in 3.5.

The A300 is something I can actually find locally so I would at least be able to handle one and see how I feel about it.

Could find one that is drilled and tapped for a base then you could use 1 barrel for all shooting, just remove the optic.

Also the possibility of having a gun drilled and tapped.

I'd prefer the optic go with the barrel but doesn't seem like I'm going to find that option.

SBE2`s are D&T`d
Here`s a good deal on one !

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...13477311/gonew/1/wts-benelli-sbe2#UNREAD

Buy what fits for wingshooting. Use just the bead for turkeys. A 12ga can throw a heavy enough load you don't have to choke it so tight as to need a scope.

Winchester SX4 has a very reliable gas system and comes in 3.5 if that's what you like or may need.

A lot of the good advice here.

I highly suggest going to a show or store and shouldering a few. The SBE3s or A400s can be the sexiest and most highly regarded shotties in the world, but if they don't feel right, it's gonna throw off your game. Shoulder a few and feel the swing as you run the bead along the horizontal corner (wall meets ceiling) of the room. After you do it a few times, one will talk to you. Research will tell you if its a dog.

I have two Remington Versa Maxes. One is an HD/Turkey gun and the other is for birds on the wing. Versas are a little thick and a bit hefty, but they are the softest-shooting shotguns I've ever fired and easy to fit without a gunsmith. They have their typical Remington Q/A warts, though, and I would not buy a used one.

Good luck with whatever you get!

For turkeys, avoid inertia guns unless you want to pay extra to upgrade parts for reliability. Search "Benelli click" for an explanation. The Beretta A300 leads the pack for affordable gas guns, but the extra barrel ain't real cheap. You can get a Mossberg pump for what a Beretta barrel costs.

I suggest the A300 for wingshooting and a Mossberg 505AF 20ga for turkeys. Mount your sight on the barrel. There are various options. Aimtech Rib Rider is one. Load Federal TSS and a SumToy choke on the 20 for gobblers. The light 20 will be much more enjoyable in the turkey woods.

Has to be the funniest thing I have read all day. How many Benelli's have you shot over 100K rounds through? M1 on top has well over 100K bottom has well over 30K

The only thing on them after market is the charging handle.

I wonder how all those dove outfits in Mexico and Argentina keep their fleets of Benelli's running strong.

It could be off when he mounts it to his face and locks in. Shooting from the hip is a different skill set and proves little in that situation.

Addition: However, one has to admit it most certainly proves the necessity to look at the target with more than a casual glance.

An adjustable comb is rarely a waste of money.

MCH told the secret. Repeatable correct mount, and without it you can have a perfect fit and suck. Then having the faith to look hard at the target and not the bead. Which may be the most difficult part of getting past mediocre. Also the great ones know were to initially put the gun and how fast to put it there, which allows them to look correctly.