Shotgun recommendation?

[wang949]

So I've been hunting upland and waterfowl game for about 5 years now with the trusty 870. Now that the holidays are coming up, I'd like to treat myself to an auto-loader; it's time for an upgrade. My budget is between $500-$1000, hopefully closer to $500

Looking at:
-Mossberg 930
-Stoeger M3000
-Rem 11-87
-Beretta A300
-Winchester SX3 (expensive)
-Browning Maxus (expensive)

What do you guys recommend? Pros/cons? Are there any others I should look at?

[aippi]

11-87. Good news is there is a $75 rebate from Remington if purchased before December 31st. Also, all your Rem Chokes fit both the 11-87 and the 870 you have so you most likely have some favorite choke tubes already

[gibbygoo]

I have a similar thread up now with a poll. I'll do like others have done and suggest one not on your list...

Benelli Montefeltro

[rugerp345]

I have a weatherby SA-08 and its been an excellent shotgun. $577 at buds guns shop

[Kodemonkey]

I had a mossberg 930. Great shotgun. Replaced it with a Winchester SX3 Sporting adjustable. 3X the price, but not 3X the gun in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, I love the SX3 - it's a wonderful shotgun. But if you are looking for value, that mossberg was a trouble free workhorse of a shotgun. I sold it to a friend and he loves it. I'm pretty sure if I were to get a tactical shotgun, It would be the 930 SPX.

[rugerp345]

I have a weatherby SA-08 and its been an excellent shotgun. $577 at buds guns shop

http://youtu.be/k6HCT2YD9vg

[Kodemonkey]

I should add, the Mossberg 930 and Winchester SX3 breakdown the same way. That was one of the selling points - both of the designs are easy peasy to clean and are very reliable.

The SX3 cycles faster but you probably know that. One of the consequences of that is the SX3 doesn't have the same mass in the bolt design and you don't feel the movement in the shot impulse. That's a plus. It feels like a over under for the most part, but it's a lot softer. One complaint I have with autoloaders is that you can feel the mechanism cycle. For hunting, that's no big deal at all. But for trap shooting, it's just something I like better about the SX3.

These are very relative nuances between the two. As I said in the above post, I hold both in high esteem. The SX3 is a better shotgun, but the mossberg is a better value. IMHO, YMMV...

Edit: I broke a plastic part in the fore-end because I assembled it backwards. I asked Mossberg; "How much for this piece? I messed up and put it in backwards and broke it." Mossberg replied with; "give me your serial number and address - We will send you a couple, you're not the first person to do that." They sent me 3 in the mail. Oh, and the shotgun ran just fine - I put 100 shells through it and it never hiccuped. When I took the forend off to clean it, there were little pieces of plastic floating around that fell out. Still ran like a champ.

[ckyrulez]

Go for the Maxus (this one is on my list as well). I started off with an 870 as well, but once I started getting more & more into trap/sporting clays I decided to go for a Browning O/U. Although I love it, I find myself frequently borrowing my friend's Maxus. Fairly light, reduced recoil, and easy breakdown (from what my friend told me).

[lewdogg21]

Just keep your autoloader clean. I would go shoulder each of these guns to find which fits you (if you haven't done so already). There is a big difference between them.

[Legasat]

I paid $700 + ($20 shipping) + $35 FFL Transfer for my Winchester SX3. Is that a lot to you? It has been flawless.

[spetsnaz]

mossberg

[sundayduffer]

I have a practically brand new Weatherby SA-08 Deluxe (the highest grade of SA-08), only shot 25 shells thru it. Bought it 2 weeks ago. Its a 12ga with 28" barrel. Its a hunting shotgun. Im about to sell it, i need a sporting gun. Comes with everything factory. I bought 3 more extended chokes, these will come w the purchase also. PM if youre interested. I can take pictures if requested.

[mobertok]

Stoeger M3500

I bought a Stoeger M3500 about a year ago, I love it, Some failures in the beginning but that was user error. It was a new kind of gun for me (inertia driven) so it took some getting used to. But I am very happy with it. It goes bang..bang..bang. I really like the button on the side for unloading out the bottom too.

[Thefeeder]

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How to pick a shotgun Thread

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?p=6282490#post6282490

[YeloSub]

Sorry, but I have no need for anything other than my trusty 870.