Waterfowl Shotgun

[little bubba]

If you were going to buy a new WATERFOWL SHOTGUN what would you buy? Doesn't matter what the cost. Looking real hard at the Beretta 391A with kick/off 3.5 inch. Not interested in the Benelli.
LBubba

[Mddelta]

It all depends on what you want to spend. A normal 1187 does great...but then if your into the name, Beretta does well too.

It just all depends on what your wallet is telling you. I'm a Benelli guy now but I shot a 1187 for years, now my son is using it.

[fish1]

Extrema 2................................................. ........................................

[FishHook321]

Second the 1187 :thumbup:

[Seadog1]

get the best one you can afford..i use a 1187 but have never shot a berreta or a benneli

[cuhollow]

It all depends on what you want to spend. A normal 1187 does great...but then if your into the name, Beretta does well too.

After years of watching everyone with an auto jam, including 1187s, while I was shooting a pump I finally decided to buy into the name. My Extrema2 hasn’t jammed but once (after it came from factory with problems - sent it back through Green Top and they were both great) and I think that was a problem with the shell - it was on the third shot anyway. I went for the kickoff and 3.5” as well for heavy goose loads. I can’t even tell I am shooting a 3.5” shell - feels like a dove load. Benellis are good too but if you aren’t interested I would go with Beretta. If you don’t need the 3.5” the Extrema2 may not be for you because Beretta has a cheaper option that is just as good.

[V.B. wells & irrigation]

I've got a VGC 3" 870 that I'd let go of pretty cheap. It don't jam.

[V.B. wells & irrigation]

It's beens shot maybe a hundred times.

[CJacobs2]

Browning Maxus is comeing out it looks nice. It sould come out next month!

YouTube - Browning Maxus Auto Shotgun -- Just Announced (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPgy6ZkeBmY)

[mdram]

i prefer a pump. the 870 is pretty much bullet proof, and its got a decent price

[STeveZ]

I use an 1187 that was a gift. Its a great gun for waterfowling. If I were going to replace it I'd look at Benelli and Beretta. Their autos seem to be thinner and lighter than the 1187 and both have a reputation for quality and reliability.

I would do a little research on 3.5" ammo ballistics and seriously consider my need for it before spending extra to accommodate it. This article makes a couple salient points; that a 12/3.5 is not a replacement for a 10 gauge and that its recoil could be punishing in a modern light framed gun. But I'm making these observations without the benefit of any research on my part.

12 gauge 3-1/2 inch (http://www.ballisticproducts.com/bpi/articleindex/articles/312inch1/GA1235K1.html)

[V.B. wells & irrigation]

I have a 3.5" 870 that I deer hunt with now. The recoil is punishing indeed, but it put 'em to sleep. With 00 buck, it the same as a 10 ga.

[jkapl001]

I think the new Maxus is going to be pretty sweet. If you check out the youtube video that browning posted its pretty hard not to be impressed with it. Also I like the Browning silver alot. I shoot an older (mid 90's) 870, it has never jammed, hung up, or misfired. I do understand that alot of the newer ones are not that way. I think if you go with the browning, winchester, benelli, or beretta there is no way that you will be unhappy, its just personal preference.

[linebuster]

I bought a benelli black eagle and I hunt everything with it from dove to geese to deer. All I can say about it if you load you can shoot. From dove loads to 3 1/2 in magnum loads. If you buy one it will probily be the last gun you will ever buy or need as far as shotguns go. 3 1/2" shells do kick when you are target shooting but when shoot for real you don't even notice.
2 3/4" dove loads you never have to take your eye off the target.

[little bubba]

After years of watching everyone with an auto jam, including 1187s, while I was shooting a pump I finally decided to buy into the name. My Extrema2 hasn’t jammed but once (after it came from factory with problems - sent it back through Green Top and they were both great) and I think that was a problem with the shell - it was on the third shot anyway. I went for the kickoff and 3.5” as well for heavy goose loads. I can’t even tell I am shooting a 3.5” shell - feels like a dove load. Benellis are good too but if you aren’t interested I would go with Beretta. If you don’t need the 3.5” the Extrema2 may not be for you because Beretta has a cheaper option that is just as good.

Pretty sure I'm going with the Beretta Xtrema 2 with/kick off. I don't like nothing that punishes on the back end.
LBubba

[little bubba]

To the Remington responses. I myself am a Remington man. Looked at the Remingtion line but they have had trouble with the 3.5 inch guns. The weight of the 1187 waterfowl gun is 8lbs 4oz. That heavy compared to the Beretta 7.8 and Benelli 7.2 . I wouldn't take nothing for my 1100, 1187 and 870. For a deer gun you can't beat a 870.
LBubba

[oceanrebel]

My son uses the Extrema for about 5 years now, not 1 problem with it,, I have used the old Ithaca Mag 10 and the newer Remington SP10 since the 1980's or so, the Extrema will kill geese at the same distance as the SP10 using only 3" shells, I have had issues with both 10 guages over the years,, sometime frustrating, If I was looking to buy a new gun, it almost be a sure bet it would be a Extrema, Phil

[brismith]

Personally, I prefer the Benelli, and have a Super Black Eagle for anything from Dove to Ducks/Geese. From my own experience, I'd recommend going to a shop and getting a feel for different guns. When I bought my Benelli, I think I must have picked up every gun on the rack in several shops. The deciding factor for me was which one felt the best. For some reason, every time I sighted the Benelli, it felt perfect on my shoulder, the vented rib height seemed to line up with my sight path, i felt comfortable swinging the gun, and it just felt better than the others. To me, I think those types of observations will lead to the right purchase for you personally and better shooting. Hope this helps - Brian

[tommyb40]

SBE 2 or a Winchester Super X2, have both guns and never have had 1 problem with it. or the remingtions they are great also

[fishingforlife16]

extrema 2 is the best cuckin gun ever with or without kick off

[fishdadhunt]

Ive got a 391 that is great to shoot and I use it in the field for geese but when the weather is cold ANY autoloader will jam. I go with tmy 870 it will never fail. Nothing worse to have a bird leave beacuse the gun jams. If you go with one get the pump.

[baitman]

Here is my two cents and based upon actually using these guns.

From best and most expensive to best and least expensive:


Beretta Extrema2 w/Kick off - I have had one for 3 years and love it.

Benelli SBEII with all the extras: camo finish - I almost did it; would buy a used one if a deal showed up

Browning Citori Hunter O/U in 2 3/4 up to 3 1/2, choke tubes and satin finish. Hard to find; took me three years to find mine. No longer made. Last year was 2001? It is jap made but a super gun anyway but a little on the kicking side. The better shot I get I gravitate to this gun. It is easliy safetied by breaking it open when carrying. My Beretta has never jammed but I can say this Browning never will!

Remingtom 11-87

Remingtom 1100

Remington 870 pump with synthetic option in all matte finish black. Indestructible and cheap by comparison. Many polls have been conducted and this gun comes out on top or in the top three evry time for best waterfowl gun!

DO NOT buy:

Any Stoeger over/under or side by side. The recent sales and prices of these guns has made them attractive but I know at least two people who had problems with theirs.

Good luck,

Chris

[2strokerip]

i love my Browning gold 3 1/2 being a semi not much kick at all and is a killen machine


Matt

[hd232]

Beretta Extrema2 . I have used it for 2 years in Canada, Eastern shore, VA fields in mud, rain and cold and have been very happy with it .

[scott w]

Second the 1187 :thumbup:


every 1187 i have ever seen hunted with has jammed or malfunctioned in some way...

[RobieGardner]

I'm surprised that nobody mentioned the A-5. Its a classic waterflowl gun that has more testimony than any gun made today, with the exception of the 870. I really don't get into all that 3.5 inch crap. People have been killing ducks and geese with 3 inch for years. These guns have proven the test of time and if you look, you can get a great deal on some used ones. There's no plastic parts in those guns. Just my 2 cents.

[Will S]

you may want to consider the location of the safety on the Beretta. If you are used to a shotgun with the safety behind the trigger you may not like it. Especaially if you happen to be left-handed.

[Capt. Ahab]

For the first 3 years that I duck hunted, I used my dad's old A5. He shoots a Benelli SBE and I loved the classic look and feel of the Browning. It swung on my shoulder really well and the weight was perfect. However, this year, I switched to a Benelli Nova Pump because I want to discipline myself on taking too many shots too quickly. With the auto, I had the tendency to squeeze of all three rounds very quickly. Taking the time to pump allows me an extra split second to re-aim.

[jkapl001]

Second the A-5, I have 2 both the old belgium ones....prior to the gold trigger. Love them, they are a blast to shoot.

[mdsportsman]

1st choice would be a Winchester SX2 (I'm a little biased becuse that what I shoot). My second chioce would a Beretta Extrema2.

[riverwatcher]

Pretty sure I'm going with the Beretta Xtrema 2 with/kick off. I don't like nothing that punishes on the back end.
LBubba

A friend who is new to waterfowl and turkey hunting, just bought a Beretta Extrema II with K/O. He brought it to the range today to get used to it. He shot 25 straight on wobble trap with it on his second round, which I think he may have done only once or twice before with his Browning O/U in the last year. I think he likes the gun! I got to shoot it and hit 2 for 2. There was very little recoil (much less than from my Citori O/U) with 1 & 1/8 oz trap loads. The only strange thing was the mechanical clunking sound during recoil, which seemed louder than the sound of the shot while wearing my ear plugs. He will be bringing it back to pattern 3 & 1/2 inch HV turkey loads, so I will let you know how the K/O handles those bruisers.
No jams shooting these light loads, so this one gun can be a verstile gun from doves to ducks and geese.
Tom

[CarterAilsworth]

870 super mag. Beat the thing to death, drop it in the water and cover it in mud and it still won't jam. Put a pattern master on it and you're golden.

[FleetonLight]

I've hunted em all. The Extrema 2 with K/O is the best waterfowl gun on the market today, period. Shoots anything you put in, 3.5's feel like dove loads, and throws an absolutely murderous pattern. Ive handed it to terrible shots in the blind before and they were wringing birds out immediately. The great patterning and super low recoil really will help your shooting, no matter how good or bad you are.