FirstFreedom
Moderator
1. Browning Gold
2. Browning Silver
3. Winchester SX2
4. Rem 1187
5. Stoeger (the Benelli copy)
6. Beretta 3901
Compare/Contrast relative pros & cons. Which one is the best/best value for *my* purposes? I'm wanting a nice-looking wood/blued 20 ga. 3" capable, 26" bbl, semi-auto, for social hunting for upland birdies, particularly quail & pheasant, but also doves. Consider such things as looks, recoil absorption, cycling reliability with all types of loads from lightest to heaviest among the 2.75", cycling speed, pattening ability (backboring size/quality), features such as sights, etc., overall quality, and relative price. Before you ask, reason I want 3" capable is it may have to double as turkey gun if I take a buddy turkey hunting who doesn't have a shotgun. So the level of reliability among 3" loads doesn't matter, because that won't ever be needed (1 shot for turks) but cycling with heavy 2.75"ers for pheasant down to light 2.75s for quail does matter.
I'm leaning towards Browning Gold or Rem 1187. Does the Stoeger even come in 20 ga, or 12 ga only? Is the inertia system of the Stoeger ever really a problem in a situation where the gun is "limp-shouldered"; IOW in reality, would this ever happen to such a degree as to cause non-cycling? I hear they are supposedly *more* reliable than a gas gun, but then again, if you "limp-shoulder" they are less reliable. So how "limp" would the limp-shoulder have to really be to cause a problem?
Can't really justify Benelli or Beretta 391 prices (as opposed to 3901)
P.S. Also want interchangeable chokes.
P.P.S. Is the Rem 105Ci model worth the extra small buttload of cash? It's the only one among really high-dollar stuff that seems it may be worth it for the features.
2. Browning Silver
3. Winchester SX2
4. Rem 1187
5. Stoeger (the Benelli copy)
6. Beretta 3901
Compare/Contrast relative pros & cons. Which one is the best/best value for *my* purposes? I'm wanting a nice-looking wood/blued 20 ga. 3" capable, 26" bbl, semi-auto, for social hunting for upland birdies, particularly quail & pheasant, but also doves. Consider such things as looks, recoil absorption, cycling reliability with all types of loads from lightest to heaviest among the 2.75", cycling speed, pattening ability (backboring size/quality), features such as sights, etc., overall quality, and relative price. Before you ask, reason I want 3" capable is it may have to double as turkey gun if I take a buddy turkey hunting who doesn't have a shotgun. So the level of reliability among 3" loads doesn't matter, because that won't ever be needed (1 shot for turks) but cycling with heavy 2.75"ers for pheasant down to light 2.75s for quail does matter.
I'm leaning towards Browning Gold or Rem 1187. Does the Stoeger even come in 20 ga, or 12 ga only? Is the inertia system of the Stoeger ever really a problem in a situation where the gun is "limp-shouldered"; IOW in reality, would this ever happen to such a degree as to cause non-cycling? I hear they are supposedly *more* reliable than a gas gun, but then again, if you "limp-shoulder" they are less reliable. So how "limp" would the limp-shoulder have to really be to cause a problem?
Can't really justify Benelli or Beretta 391 prices (as opposed to 3901)
P.S. Also want interchangeable chokes.
P.P.S. Is the Rem 105Ci model worth the extra small buttload of cash? It's the only one among really high-dollar stuff that seems it may be worth it for the features.