I have used a Browning BPS pump since I started turkey hunting 10 years ago and it has been trouble free and reliable. No issues at all with it....but I have been interested in buying an automatic turkey gun for the last several years.
I would like to hear from all of you on which auto shotgun to buy. The Benelli SBE is a little expensive but if it is the best I would certainly find a way to get it. What do ya'll recommend?
Thanks in advance.
GunRunner
IMO the Benelli SBE2 is the best. You would never ever have to buy another turkey gun. I've had & shot lots of turkey guns in my life & Benelli wins hands down. Just my 2 cents ! Good luck with whatever you choose !
vaturkey :newmascot:
I dont own one but i have heard the Benellis are the best as well.I have owned a Beretta A390 and own a Remington 11-87 and i had no problems or failures with them.
Most likely any current new shotgun that is taken care of will out last the shooter or at least it should! To me the feel of the gun as I hold it up and work the action is important and personal preference is where it is made, if there is one made in the USA that weighs heavy now with me. Your choice your gun enjoy it in good health.
I'm an SBEII guy, but think it's just whatever feels right when you shoulder it. The gas autos shoot great but get dirty much quicker because of the gas coming back in the action. The SBEII is so simple and reliable you can't go wrong. That being said they are a little finicky for heavy turkey loads because of the small bore diameter. I would check out the Browning Maxxis as well.
My opinion the benelli are to high priced just to be strictly a turkey gun.They are great guns though.I like mossberg so im reccomending a 935 mossberg.Mossberg has always shoulder real well for me and feels good in my hands.What ever fits u best u need to buy.Good luck with whatever u choose.
Not an auto kinda guy but the 11-87 and 935 are two that I would look at. Good Luck!
Benelli, SBE2 if your shooting 3.5" -- M2 if your going to shoot 3" :icon_thumright:
Quote from: davisd9 on July 30, 2011, 07:36:26 PM
Not an auto kinda guy but the 11-87 and 935 are two that I would look at. Good Luck!
:agreed:
i have a sp10,3 1187's,an 1100, and a model 48 sportsman model 16 gauge that kick's worse than an 835 mb.no kidding.recoil opperated.wow that little thing pounds ya.and i have never had a problem with any of them.i guess all products from all the big dogs have there trouble.
Quote from: timb on July 30, 2011, 09:34:09 PM
i have a sp10,3 1187's,an 1100, and a model 48 sportsman model 16 gauge that kick's worse than an 835 mb.no kidding.recoil opperated.wow that little thing pounds ya.and i have never had a problem with any of them.i guess all products from all the big dogs have there trouble.
KEEPTHEM ALL CLEANED!!!
I have owned 1187, Super black eagle, beretta extrema, stoeger m2000, Ithica model 51 featherweight and a beretta 390. By far, I think the 390 is the best.
you can still get the older 390s, but my suggestion would be to get a 3901 citizen. It is the new version of the 390...has a timney worked trigger and is half the price of the benellis. I owned a beneli and wasnt all that impressed.
I had a SBEII when they first came out it was a nice lite gun but a few years of duck hunting with 3.5's and the forearm and forearm cap would get loose. It would make a nice turkey gun mine just did not hold up too a lot of shooting with heavy loads.
Beretta 391 or the new A400 Xplor
You've already had a lot of excellent suggestions. I own a number of self-loaders and I think it comes down to what feels right to you when you shoulder it, balances well in your hands and makes economic sense.
You may want to consider looking for a good used SBE, the original model. They are tough, well made guns and can sometimes be found for very reasonable prices.
The gun that seems to fit me best these days in the Vinci. It also has very little muzzle jump, in the event that you need a second or follow-up shot. Mine is the original 3" model and it's really a fine gun.
The good news is that there are many excellent guns out there. I wish you well in your search.
Thanks,
Clark
right now i currenly have a vinci as my only auto loader.i think if i were looking for an auto mostly for turkey and not alot of hi volume shooting i would probably look into a gas operated 3.5 for the recoil reduction properties.that being said i do love the benelli models for their simplicity, reliability and their lighter weight.
Make sure you look at the Winchester SX3 in a 26" barrel. Light and a pleasure to shoot.
Super X 2 or 3 Either one will hold their own against any auto loader there.
Remmy 1187 shurshot. If you look around you can get in the $850-900 range. Don't overlook Winchester SX3, Browning Silver, and Benilli M2 American. I only own the Remington, but have heard great things about the other listed also.
I would have to recommend a Benelli for an autoloader. I currently own an M1 and have recently purchased a super Vinci for both waterfowl and turkeys. There is nothing that shoulders, cycles, and is as dependable as a Benelli. I also have an 1187 that is a great gun, but doesn't truly compare to the Benellis in the auto loader category. I chose the super Vinci over the SBE II due to it being lighter and just liking the way it swings a little better. The super Vinci tears down in seconds and I truly cannot find anything that I don't like about it. Oh yeah, the price but hopefully it will last like my M1. I have had the M1 for 12 years duck hunting all the time, mud, turkeys, boat paddle and have never had to due a thing to it other than clean it...
I LOVE the feel of the SBEII's.....for a wing shooting gun. But, for the life of me, I can't fathom why anybody would want an intertia driven autoloader for a turkey only gun (considering a gas gun will do a much better job of taming recoil). Does it really matter if a gun "shoulders so good" and won't jam even if you shoot it a million times for being humped up at the base of a tree hunting turkeys and shooting at most 10 times a season? The logic just don't make a bunch of sense to me though I fully understand why somebody would want one for a do it all shotgun. Ya'll educate me.
Quote from: JUGHEAD on August 01, 2011, 06:00:45 PM
I LOVE the feel of the SBEII's.....for a wing shooting gun. But, for the life of me, I can't fathom why anybody would want an intertia driven autoloader for a turkey only gun (considering a gas gun will do a much better job of taming recoil). Does it really matter if a gun "shoulders so good" and won't jam even if you shoot it a million times for being humped up at the base of a tree hunting turkeys and shooting at most 10 times a season? The logic just don't make a bunch of sense to me though I fully understand why somebody would want one for a do it all shotgun. Ya'll educate me.
:icon_thumright: My current 3" stoeger and my old black eagle used to knock the dog snot out of me. The berretta dont kick at all and they have an excellent trigger
Quote from: savduck on August 01, 2011, 06:05:42 PM:icon_thumright: My current 3" stoeger and my old black eagle used to knock the dog snot out of me. The berretta dont kick at all and they have an excellent trigger
I was told by one gunsmith prior to buying my 935 that he wouldn't touch a Mossberg trigger. Got a 2nd opinion from a different gunsmith....he worked my 935 down to a zero creep, crisp, 3#......better than some of my not used as often rifles. I've also been REALLY surprised by how little recoil (relatively speaking) that my gun has too. I would MUCH rather shoot it with a 3.5" Mag Blend (I hear folks that shoot pumps for turks saying that this round kicks terribly) than I had my 870 slug gun with a hot, 2 3/4" or 3" sabot slug.
Not sure how much you are wanting to spend, but the Remington VersaMax is a real nice gun in my opinion. It is a lot of fun to shoot and so far has done what it was designed to do. Recoil reduction makes shooting the magnum rounds a breeze and the gun will shoot anything you put it in and spit it back out.
Gotta go with the SBE 2 as well. :z-guntootsmiley:
Quote from: JUGHEAD on August 01, 2011, 06:00:45 PM
I LOVE the feel of the SBEII's.....for a wing shooting gun. But, for the life of me, I can't fathom why anybody would want an intertia driven autoloader for a turkey only gun (considering a gas gun will do a much better job of taming recoil). Does it really matter if a gun "shoulders so good" and won't jam even if you shoot it a million times for being humped up at the base of a tree hunting turkeys and shooting at most 10 times a season? The logic just don't make a bunch of sense to me though I fully understand why somebody would want one for a do it all shotgun. Ya'll educate me.
Why would you worry about recoil on a gun you only shoot at most 10 time a season?
It is lighter for run and gun hunting. It makes a difference for those of us who may walk several miles in a day of turkey hunting.
Theoretically, an inertia driven auto will have a higher velocity than a gas operated auto because the bolt stays engaged longer. Admittedly, I don't know how much difference you will actually realize in the field, but it makes me feel better that the energy is going out the barrel and not the action.
For me, the drawbacks of hunting with a Benelli for turkeys are, small bore diameter and price, but I still carry one to the turkey woods a lot.
Benelli, without a doubt, makes the most reliable autoloader on the market. However, one only maximizes that reliability when they are in waterfowl/dove/ skeet shooting situations where many, many rounds are being fired in one session.
Today's gas autoloaders are incredibly reliable with the same amount of maintenance that one would have to put into a Benelli to keep it functioning propertly.
Furthermore, Benelli's have a VERY tight bore diameter (I think .723 or .718) and they are not the optimal gun if one is desiring a truly impressive pattern at 40 yards and beyond.
Backbored shotguns such as the Winchester SX3/SX2, Browning Silver/Gold/Maxus, or even the Mossberg 935 are by better platforms to start with than the Benelli.
Goodluck in your search.
Benelli SBE 2 or Beretta Xtrema II.
Quote from: beagler on August 12, 2011, 10:42:37 PM
Benelli SBE 2 or Beretta Xtrema II.
Im gonna pick up a 930. Great gun for the money. But you already know how I feel about Mossbergs don't you Beagler? :TooFunny:
Quote from: drenalinld on August 07, 2011, 07:06:34 AMWhy would you worry about recoil on a gun you only shoot at most 10 time a season?
Because it sux being kicked in the face with the equivalent force of a young mule? ;D
I like the 3" vinci to held.one at basspro.I actually like the looks something different fit me good to but I just bought a atv so I can't afford it
Go with the Browning "Maxus". Great trouble free gun.
Stoeger 3500
Just wait for a civilian version of the AA12 to come out. ;)
Look at the autos that have been out awhile and used long enough to prove their reliability. It seems every new gun that hits the market has its quirks to work out.
I've had a SBE2, Browning Gold and Beretta Extrema 2 and if my house burned down today and I lost them all and had to start over I would have the Extrema 2 in a heart beat....no doubt.
I like the way the Benelli feels the best but the most reliable (and this is just from my personal experience) is that the Extrema is the most reliable and has given me the fewest problems.
Keep in mind that I am a waterfowl guy in addition to turkey hunting so that factors into my equation and I actually shoot a 870 shurshot for my turkey rig but if I had to start over and only had one shotgun out of all the ones I own, it would be the Extrema 2 with the SBE being a close second.
Why get a stoeger when you can get the Beretta 3901 for 50$ cheaper. There going for 599$ locally stoeger is close to 700$ .
Quote from: redleg06 on August 24, 2011, 04:12:39 PM
I've had a SBE2, Browning Gold and Beretta Extrema 2 and if my house burned down today and I lost them all and had to start over I would have the Extrema 2 in a heart beat....no doubt.
I like the way the Benelli feels the best but the most reliable (and this is just from my personal experience) is that the Extrema is the most reliable and has given me the fewest problems.
Keep in mind that I am a waterfowl guy in addition to turkey hunting so that factors into my equation and I actually shoot a 870 shurshot for my turkey rig but if I had to start over and only had one shotgun out of all the ones I own, it would be the Extrema 2 with the SBE being a close second.
X2.......love my Berettas....got rid of my Benellis to get more berettas
All of the newer guns from the big boys should provide good service. That being said I would like to try a 11-87, but Im a remington kind of guy.
The benelli, stoeger and franchi all work on a similar recoil system. Which one is the best I don't know. I have an older SBE.
Any gun will or can be made to work. Picked up an M 1 Super 90 for 700 and wouldn't part with it. Would really like to own a versa max but wouldn't trade the benelli for one. My 1100 took 17 birds in 3 years on 2 3/4 shells. My hitting improved with the benelli on rabbits because it fits me for some reason. If I had to have a gun for turkey only, I would probably pick up a used 870.
the remington versa max is an awesome gun... but dang the price is just too high
I own the "Original" Benelli Super Black Eagle. I bought it 7 or 8 years ago just for Turkey hunting. I picked the Benelli because IMHO it's the best autoloader on the market. I don't regret it. All the other auto's on the market IMO fall short. It's the best plain and simple! The Gobbler in my avatar was bagged last spring with the Benelli. I killed him with one shot at 53 paces! ;D
If your going to shoot 3 1/2" shell's better look at the SX3..Cycles them all and reduces felt recoil.