Sidearms & Scatterguns What semi auto shotgun for waterfowl hunting?

[haveagreatday]

I own the SBEIII. I have also shot the A400 and the A391. Here are my thoughts based on my first hand experience, but bear in mind that it really is the Ford/Chevy thing.

- The SBE III in IMO is ergonomically better than the Beretta. The forend of the Beretta is blocky and thick. It puts me in mind of the Glock in the sense that its like holding a 2x2 piece of lumber. The SBE III forend is the opposite and is damn sexy to hold. The balance is much better on the SBE III as the Beretta feels much heavier in the stock end.

- I also never really liked the Beretta safety being in front of the trigger guard but that is a minor thing that you could surely overcome in the course of one morning.

- SBE III recoil is noticeably more but the SBE III recoil is mild to begin with.

- Both easy to break down and clean although the SBE III is ever so slightly easier.

- In my experience, with anything less than negligent maintenance, both will go boom with everything from fancy roman candle 3.5s to Wal-Mart dove loads. My bro-in-law has a A391 from the early 2000s that he only cleans after duck season and it is going strong. I am a bit of a nerd about clean guns so I clean mine at least weekly during the season. I think reliability is equal.

- HOWEVER, my SBE III (purchased in January 2018) shoots high. I've attached a pic of the pattern at 25 paces with the factory full choke and hevi-shot 3" 1 5/8 #4. Aimed at the wattles. Naturally, I didn't pattern it before opening morning and I missed right before this pic was taken. Benelli says the spec is 60/40 POA but that has not been my experience.

After that pattern test, I did not get to pattern it again due to some silly people feeling strongly that work/family/life is more important than turkey hunting. Prior to dove season, I shimmed it with the factory shim (the "D" 65mm, I believe) and have not had a problem hitting birds on the wing once I was aware of keeping the whole bird visible. With turkey season coming up, I will pattern again and follow up here if I can remember. But don't do what I did and have a gobbler at 25 paces with no idea of how the pattern looks.

Having said all of this, I have chosen to keep the SBE III because of the way it handles and because, once shimmed, I had no more problems with misses (other than operator error) on ducks and doves, my main quarry and I've put a case of dove load and two cases of duck load through it since then. I haven't made up my mind about using it for turkeys since I have other options.

Of course, your mileage may vary.

 

[ThePretzel]

I noticed that the A300, at least for me, also patterned quite high at about 75/25 or 80/20. I think these style of semi-autos are designed to pattern high since so many shots on birds are rising shots or shots where the bird comes over the top of you. It definitely threw me for a loop since I got used to shooting trap that way and then switched to an O/U that shoots 50/50 and started missing everything.

 

[BJames]

First and foremost, it’s critical a shotgun fits YOU well. Thankfully most, if not all, the shotgun manufacturers include the shims for about 90% of the adjustment required. Little things that don’t feel quite right can make a big difference. For example, I hate the forends on SBE’s, feels weird to me even though it’s a fantastic shotgun. I can’t hit shit with them, always shot lower scores with benelli’s when I competed. Beretta’s always felt amazing to me, I could see the difference on the score board. Same with the SX3, I prefer the SX2. My advice, get your mitts on as many of them as you can and go with the one that feels the best, comes up, points, and swings naturally.

Secondly, reliability. I believe you pay for what you get a little bit in this category. Most of them will fail to feed/eject at some point, some do it less. Depends on a lot of variables, your climate, and hunting style. Most of the major manufacturers do very well until you’re trying to compete in the local beer league clays matches in -10* temps with 2 3/4’” 1 1/8oz trap loads, everything fails in those miserable conditions.

 

[gearguywb]

I spend a lot of time in the blind (heading to E. Co this weekend). See a lot of guns....some work, some don't.

My choice for the last 4 years has been an A400 extreme. Wouldn't trade it for anything

 

[USACS]

As a southpaw, this was my choice and I've never had an issue with it functioning in any weather condition.
SJC

Benelli has long been a friend to the wrong-handed. I used to sell guns back in 1998 and Benelli had a LH gun back then.

 

[Magnumitis]

For a 3.5" chamber, I say winchester sx3 or 4

3'' M1 super 90 or current equiv.


...and Franchi is no Benelli and parts do not interchange.

 

[Friar]

Super Black Eagle

 

[abn31c]

I bought a gen 1 SBE back when they were 800 bucks. I clean it about.....hmmm never. Ive used it to break ice blah blah you know. It goes bang everytime. Yes it barks with a 2 1/4 oz turkey load but its never let me down. If I was buying today it would be an M2. Ive out grown the 3.5 inch thing. AKA old age. Im afraid if I got a gas gun I'd have to clean it and I just dont care enough about shotguns to put up with that bs.

 

[tylerradke]

I have a browning gold hunter 3.5" and I have been happy with it. Gotta keep them clean but mine will run 2.75 target loads up to 3.5 Turkey loads reliably and it shoots a lot softer than a recoil operated gun.

 

[FishinGuns]

I bought an A400 Xtreme Plus (Optifade Marsh camo) to replace my NP3’d 870. Night and day difference in recoil management, obviously. I didn’t have to shim it at all right out of the box. I shot ducks and geese with heavy 3” loads with out issue. I’ve also shot a few rounds of sporting clays as well, also no issues with the target loads.

I was only considering the A400 Xtreme Plus and the SBE III, but all the reports of them shooting high, I just went to the Beretta. The forward safety cost me a couple early birds on the first trip, ha ha!

 

[WeisGuy]

Disclaimer, been shooting beretta field guns for years and have seen the inconsistency of benelli feeding light loads. In the end I got the A400 extreme plus with the KO stock and I dont think I could he happier. The gun fit me great right away and patterned how I'd like for it to.

 

[Magnumitis]

Who shoots anything under 3 dram 1 oz anyway?

 

[FishinGuns]

Broke in my Xtreme Plus on our late duck season the right way with one of my best friends who is teaching me the ways of the waterfowl.

 

[Blaster7Romeo]

I will just restate what others have said.. Beretta Vs Benelli.. Is Ford VS Chevy.. Get what fits you better of the 2.. I have a SBE II I prefer the lighter carry wight and feeling over the Beretta lighter recoil.. I am gonna be carrying the gun more than shooting for the most part..

And people who say you don't need a 3.5 inch gun....... remember 3.5 inch guns can shoot 3 inch shells BUT not the other way around !

 

[kackling-jackel]

Benelli. They are 100% reliable and super simple very few moving parts, no charge gasses used for operating so system stays clean aside from what you drop it in mud ,water ice, just pull trigger no problem.

 

[HogsLife]

Like many have stated above, For waterfowl I’d be all over a Benelli SBE 2 or 3.

I wanted something a little prettier and didn’t need something that was as ruggedized for upland game so I ended up going with a Benelli Montefeltro Silver in a 12g. Couldn’t be happier.

 

[260284]

Broke in my Xtreme Plus on our late duck season the right way with one of my best friends who is teaching me the ways of the waterfowl.

$20 worth of Suzie's in that picture!

 

[260284]

I am right handed but left eye dominate. I shot a Beretta 391 Urika and a Benelli Montefeltro at a gun shop that had a sporting clays range. Walked out with the 391 and have never looked back. That was 18 years ago. I clean it 1x a year if I remember, and it treats me right. I adjusted the shims for lefty and swapped the safety to left handed. Should have left the safety alone as it messes me up when I shoot other right handed guns. It will cycle 7/8oz to the heaviest 3" lead or steel loads I put in it. I also have a Beretta ES100 Pintail that is an inertia gun. Similar to a Benelli, kicks a little harder than the 391, but it has never let me down.

 

[FishinGuns]

I’m left handed, but right eye dominant. I feel pretty fortunate! Nobody wants to use my fishing stuff, but virtually all guns are set-up right handed.

 

[260284]

I’m left handed, but right eye dominant. I feel pretty fortunate! Nobody wants to use my fishing stuff, but virtually all guns are set-up right handed.

My family is full of cross eyed dominate shooters. My daughter is left eye/right hand and I have a son that is right eye/left hand. I grew up shooting an Ithaca 37 and learned to shoot both ways with both eyes open. Switched to a left handed bow about 7 years ago.

 

[11bar]

Browning maxus is what I have. I have never had a problem with the gun also use it to shotgun coyotes shoots 3 1/2 bbs too 8s with no issues

 

[Healy]

Winchester sx3/sx4 is has the same gas system as the Maxus with an $800 price tag

 

[Rillhurst]

Benelli SBE - still going strong 25 years later....

 

[Rillhurst]

Benelli SBE still going strong 25

 

[Scott037]

I bought a sbe3 and cut the load port for 3 gun I've yet to have malfunction low recoil ammo to 3.5 super hot Turkey load or steel 3.5s. Easy them all like candy

 

[swage2712]

I just picked up a SBE3. My buddy got the Beretta A400 Extreme Plus. Personal preference. Although for a hunting only shotgun the Benelli is tough to beat. The Beretta fit me a little better but felt front heavy and sluggish when swinging it. Can't go wrong with either.