Benelli Super Black Eagle II
Benelli Super Black Eagle II
Just remember, every model of duck gun has broken, has been sent back to the manufacturer, been cussed at, jammed up with sand and/or mud. So pick one that's in your budget, feels and fits you proper. Then once you've chosen one, check out the reviews, which anymore I take with a grain of salt sometimes. I've seen a brand new 1187 break a firing pin on the 5 shot, doesn't mean they all suck. I've seen a Super Black Eagle II have magazine spring issues, doesn't mean they all suck, I've seen an 870 and an 835 get jammed up with sand...........which was the whole reason the guys didn't want a semi-auto........... You get my point, happy hunting!
I have been using my 11/87 for the past 6 years and after 60,000+ rounds through it, I have absolutely no complaints about it. When I first bought it, I did a little preventative maintenance on it and even after all the rounds I've put through it, it still functions flawlessly...
All auto-loaders tend to work well when clean, in dry, warm conditions. Cheap autos tend to jam up when the conditions turn to crap (IMHO) particularly if you aren't meticulous about cleaning it. Duck hunting tends to be better the crappier the conditions.
When it's 17 degrees, sleeting, and I've just spent 30 minutes breaking ice, just in time to see the ducks pouring into the hole, that's a bad time to find out your cheap gun won't fire.
I shot a Stoeger for several years, went back to pumps when it became a single shot in crappy weather. Finally able to afford a "good" auto-loader (SX3) but am still religious about keeping it clean.
When it's 17 degrees, sleeting, and I've just spent 30 minutes breaking ice, just in time to see the ducks pouring into the hole, that's a bad time to find out your cheap gun won't fire.
I shot a Stoeger for several years, went back to pumps when it became a single shot in crappy weather. Finally able to afford a "good" auto-loader (SX3) but am still religious about keeping it clean.
I've been beating the hell out of my Beretta xtrema2 for the last few years. I saved a couple hundred dollars on it by not buying the "Kick-off" option (basically a fancy recoil pad). I don't even want to guess how many rounds I've run through it.
It's a GREAT gun, but like "badrinker" said, it will turn in to a single shot in the worse conditions(think wet gun, wet dog, course sand, layout blinds, sand in every orifice of everything! Even the pump guns start to fail). Even with the occasional issue due to neglect/extreme conditions it's still the only gun I'd want to take with me!
Picture for your time.
It's a GREAT gun, but like "badrinker" said, it will turn in to a single shot in the worse conditions(think wet gun, wet dog, course sand, layout blinds, sand in every orifice of everything! Even the pump guns start to fail). Even with the occasional issue due to neglect/extreme conditions it's still the only gun I'd want to take with me!
Picture for your time.
Take a look at Beretta's A300 Outlander, it's a lot of gun for $650 in black and $750 in camo. Check out shotgunworld.com for detailed reviews and info on the models that interest you.
I will definitely check this out....
I went and looked at semi shotty's the other day for duck hunting as well. Pump is fun but i'd really like to upgrade my beat up ugly as heck Mossberg 500 (someone painted it in old school camo!!). The A300 seemed like a very very nice gun as did the Mossberg 935. I think i'll end up with a 935 just because I really Mossberg's and the tang safety. But that A300 is definetely on the list of possible guns.
I sold my pump gun finally and am Saving my pennies after a rifle build for a Win SX3.
You can't go wrong with a "B" gun. All are built well. All will outlast the shooter. Narrow you list down to 2-4 guns in your price range and buy the one that fits you the best. With shotguns, the most important features is fit, fit, and finally fit.
I have been shooting a Winchester X2 since 04. I don't abuse my guns, but they get used. They hype about keeping an auto loader clean can be brand dependent. I have a Beretta 391 that has to be cleaned or it stops feeding. My X2 went an entire season (on purpose) without cleaning. I shot nearly a flat of shells that year. Not one hiccup.
I have been shooting a Winchester X2 since 04. I don't abuse my guns, but they get used. They hype about keeping an auto loader clean can be brand dependent. I have a Beretta 391 that has to be cleaned or it stops feeding. My X2 went an entire season (on purpose) without cleaning. I shot nearly a flat of shells that year. Not one hiccup.
