Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Help with 12 ga semi shotgun 3.5 choice...

Fellas...

My brother is going to buy a new 12ga and his requirements are for 3.5 in semi auto...and before all the "need/no need for 3.5"...I have a Benelli SBE and I load 3.5" for ducks, geese and turkey and he wants to be able to steal my shells .

He has looked and compared models, and may have settled for the Beretta A400 Xtreme. The other 2 models he strongly considered were the Benelli SBE II and the Benelli Super Vinci.

I'm not an expert, but I told him..."I;m not sure there is a bad choice between those models"

The purpose for this is going to be an all around shotgun from recreational skeet and sporting clays to dove, duck, geese, turkey and pheasants.

Is there any reason one shotgun stands above the others? Additionally, any downside to the Beretta in a duck swamp compared to the Benelli?


Your opions are much appreciated, Thanks.

I like the A400 in 3.5" and it cycles everything especially target loads.
That's the challenge in a 3.5" do all shotgun, cycling light loads.

The new Remington versa max is supposed to cycle all loads. Tried an early one that did fine with Remington black hull target bulk loads.

The fit and weight factors need to also be considered.

Has he considered the Browning Maxus 3.5"?

I believe he has looked at both of the Remington and Browning. Nice shotguns...he had narrowed his choices down to the 3. If nobody has any reason as to why he shouldn't purchase the Beretta, I believe that will be his next shotgun.

I tried to get him to get all 3 and I suffer with the left over 2...

Buy the one that fits. It's just that simple and it's oh so important. If several models fit, get the one with the biggest breasts (no, that's how you choose women). Uh, oh, just go meeny minie mo.

Thanks for the help fellas...he ended up with the Beretta.