What 12ga 3.5" Auto to Get?

[YoungGobbler]

Thank you for all the great advice!!  I've never held a versamax or most of the others mentioned here.  I'm on a budget but don't mind paying for quality.  Heck, I blow a lot of cash chasing birds all season already.  Would there be any preference in a turkey gun as far as gas vs. recoil operated action?

And do all of these manufactures offer a shorter 21-23" turkey barrel option over the standard 26 or 28"?

Thanks!!

I like the suggestion someone made about the franchi affinity . A good choice for a good quality-price. But for a shorter barrel, I think mossberg will be the ones offering the most options for short barrels.

[lunghit]

Thank you for all the great advice!!  I've never held a versamax or most of the others mentioned here.  I'm on a budget but don't mind paying for quality.  Heck, I blow a lot of cash chasing birds all season already.  Would there be any preference in a turkey gun as far as gas vs. recoil operated action?

And do all of these manufactures offer a shorter 21-23" turkey barrel option over the standard 26 or 28"?

Thanks!!

Winchester makes a 24" barrel model of the SX4

[Poconodoghunter]

Benelli m2 20 gauge all day

[Poconodoghunter]

Benelli super black eagle 2

[the Ward]

SX4. I picked up one a couple seasons ago and love it. I did have an issue when I first got it with loading 3.5 shells into the mag tube, it was really tight. Sent it back to Winchester and they fixed it for free and was a quick turn around. Shoots dead on with the bead and patterns great. 100% reliable so far. Would buy again, but would have got one already factory drilled and tapped. Good luck in your quest!

[chipper]

I've had really good luck with my Winchester SX3 Ed. I paired it with a .665 Indian Creek and it shot the Hevi #7's wonderfully, then I started loading tss around 2010 and haven't looked back or used it much at all since then, I went to a 20, but with a 2 oz load of 9's it is awesome out to as far and further than you need to shoot.

[Texan1894]

If you can get your hands on an original SBE 1, I love mine. Nothing can stop that thing.


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[Taxidermist58]

why do you want to shoot a 3 1/2" shell? I used to in my younger days because it was the " New" powerful magnum shell. The last few years, I use my 20 gauge semi-auto( Benelli SBE 3 ) with TSS #9 shot. Never had one bit of problem killing birds out to 40+ yards, and don't have to feel the abuse of the 3 1/2 " magnum shells!

[Davyalabama]

You could go with a used Browning Gold Hunter and hydro dip it or just buy the black, it's a matte finish.

[BrowningGuy88]

I personally have a Browning Maxus 26" barrel as my do everything shotgun. I got the 3.5" because I got a great deal on the particular gun I bought. I would buy another one in a heartbeat, but really the only time it sees a 3.5" shell is during turkey season shooting Mag Blends.

Lot of great guns out there. If I were looking to buy another 12 gauge auto, my list would be:

Browning Maxus
Winchester SX4
Benelli SBE 3
Beretta Xtrema

I am sure there are others that work fine, but that is where I would spend my $.

[highball]

Depends on your budget. If you want absolute best and most reliable Beretta A400 Extreme in a gas gun. Benelli SBE 3 in inertia gun.

If you want best value Winchester SX4 in gas gun, Franchi Affinity 3.5 in inertia.

Having said that, in my experience the Remington Versamax was incredibly reliable with none of the issues that plagued the 1187 SuperMags.

Agree with this,2 of the best.