altrocker1

So...I just thought I would post this up, even though i KNOW i will get way too many opinions...but i'm going to start looking for a new gun this spring...not the right time now, but once i have steadier income coming in, i'm going to start looking. my biggest problem is that i only have one gun, and while i was in canada, it kept occuring to me that if it broke i would be screwed! so now, i'm debating on whether to buy a new primary or a new backup gun. i'm also torn between pump and semi auto. i'll be honest, i was raised a pump guy and NO ONE in my immediate family owns a semi auto. doesn't mean i wouldn't get one, just means i don't really know anything about it. the only semi auto i've ever fired is a remington 1100 back in the day...and i've been hunting for 16+ years. i started with an ithaca pump, then a remington sportsman pump. when i finally got my own gun i got an 870 for christmas that served me well for a long time and i sold it in a fit of stupidity after i bought my nova. (never sell an 870...not worth anything on a resale and for the reliability they are worth their weight in gold as a backup gun)...at any rate, i'm not looking to spend a ton of money, but if its something thats going to last or hold its resale value, id throw down for it. this gun will be used for waterfowling and some phesant hunting. i will also say, as is the case with most waterfowlers, I am really hard on guns. my nova is holding up well considering all the times it went swimming and the time it got run over by a truck! not looking for any arguments about which gun is the best, but maybe why you like or dislike the gun you shoot and how much it would be to purchase...so help a brother out!

Ty515

For the money in an auto loader get either a SX3 ($850-950) or a Browning Silver ($800-1000). I wouldn't shell out almost $1500 for a benelli when you can have a good as gun as the SX3 or the SX2 that they call the Browning Silver. Find out what fits you the best and buy that gun, even if it is a pump. Stay away from the Stoeger 2000, junk in my opinion. Give me a call I might be able to help you out in finding a buy!!!!

chris

Soggy Bottom Boy

I would also agree that if you are looking at semi autos X3,X2 and Gold would be good choices in the 800-1000$ price range. The rem 11-87 is also a relieable gun. If you want to stay with pumps then 870 all the way JMO

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corey032

I have a Franchi 912 variomax which can shoot anywhere from light clay loads to heavy 3 1/2 inchers. It can do that because it is gas and inertia operated and you can regulate how much gas is being released by flipping a collar around(really helps eject the light loads). I have had that thing for about 6 years now and have put it through hell and back. It has been totally emerged in water, dropped in the mud, snowed and rained on numerous time and it keeps coming back for more. The more and more I use it the more I love it. I don't think Franchi makes them anymore but I know at gun shows you can still get them new. I think MRSP is like $850 but I am pretty sure you can get them for $600-700. It would probably be a good primary gun and I would definetely get it in camo because that is so much nicer in controlling any rust.

Another fair priced gun(comparing to SBE II) would be the Remington 11-87 waterfowl edition. I have heard some good and bad things but my buddy has one and he likes it so far. I too used to have an 1100 and I never wish I would of sold it. I don't think you can go wrong with Remington.

If you want to go with a back up gun I would look no further than like you said, the 870. I have seen them go through a beating and keep on going. Good thing about them is they are the most popular shotgun ever made so if you do manage to break something on it, gunsmiths know it well and parts are readily available. Not to mention they are a great gun for the money. I think I saw Dunhams have a sale on black friday on one that came with a 26" smooth bore and a 22" slug barrel, chambered for 2 3/4 and 3" for $330. Thats pretty cheap bran new. If I went with 870 I would get the supermag so you can shoot 3 1/2" at them big geese if desired, it's the cheap mans 10 gauge and it works well.

Anyway, there are a lot of nice guns out there and I have heard good things about most of them. Good luck!

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Ty515

I have a Franchi 612 and it is a great gun, 3 inch. Some years ago when Benelli came to their senses they took the 3.5 Franchi out of production, conflict of intrest with the SBE so finding a gun like Corey has will be difficult. Good option but hard to find in a new condition.

gunner85

Buy an Extrema 1 used or a 2 and you will never have to buy another gun again. I'm sure we're gonna get into the Beretta vs. Benelli battle here now... Ohwell its fun!

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altrocker1

as long as it shoots straighter than yours LOL :lol:

i guess it can't shoot any more crooked than mine :wink:

i'll give you a buzz,

$850 sounds comfortable to me, obviously cheaper is better, but quality is important, so i think i would pay up to $1000 if it seems worth it. probably won't happen until feb or march, but this is the best time of the year to check out what people are carrying since most haven't put them away for the year yet.

for me recoil is not a big concern, i want something that patterns consistent and doesn't jam up a lot. also something that doesnt break down. i know novas are cheaply made, but mine got ran over by a truck and i only had to replace 1 piece. luckily it was in a soft cornfield, otherwise it would have been bad news. not saying i like to run over guns by any means, but i thought it was cool. for my own sake because i'm semi auto declined, what is the difference between inertia driven and gas driven systems?

CamoHunter870

I've used both the 870 Super Mag and currently have the Xtream2.

If you are looking for a cheaper back up gun, then I would get the 870 or possibly the Super Nova.

If you are looking to spend some money and get a nice auto, I would look at the X3, Xtrema2 or the SBEII or I. My dad shoots the X3, I shoot the Xtrema2 and two of my main hunting buddies have SBE's. All have functioned well in harsh conditions and only minor instances of jamming for all three guns. Most of the time this was caused by the gun being very dirty and the weather outside very cold and nasty. Once the gun was cleaned, the problem went away.

Best idea is to go to a sporting good store and mount different guns and see which one you like best. Three seasons ago I was torn between the Xtream2 and SBEII and went to Scheels many times during the summer and mounted both shotguns. The Beretta fit me better

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Oscar

While I use an SBE II and love it, I can say the same for my ld 870 as well. There are a lot of good guns out there and just have to find yours.

I would take CHris's offer to help as he kno0ws more than most and sees the good the bad and the ugly everyday

AJB

I got an 1187 and an xtrema I will let you shoot if you want next weekend to see if you like them. I got my xtrema for under 700 bucks last year. Last one of the originals gander had.

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altrocker1

yeah...but ive seen him shoot :lol:

i'll be down to see you soon...we'll go check out a few guns and shoot some honkers

thanks for the advice guys, like i said not ready yet, but i'm going to start picking some up and shouldering them in the stores. i think i'm going to look at a semi auto and make my goal time spring snow goose season. is there a good gun shop or show in eastern iowa (dubuque area) that is a good resource for used guns or would i be better off buying new?

mnduckhunter

Go and shoulder as many guns as you want to find one that fits you. It all depends on if you want a gas or interia auto. It all depends on how much money you want to spend.



ty515, what problems have you had with a Stoeger M2000? You must have had a lemon. I have one and don't baby it. I just put on a limbsaver on it and forgot the recoil.

knobby

i am a pump man myself, just cant be convinced that an auto loader is the way to go, that being said, i have a stoeger p350 and have had no problems with it, i only have shot 3 1/2 2's or bb's out of it, but i beat it around like it owes me money and have had no problems, would be a comaprbale fit to the nova and wont break the wallet, only changes i made to it were a limbsaver pad and a pattermaster choke

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