I have hunted from Manitoba to Louisiana to the Chesapeake, and I will not own an unreliable gun. I have owned over 40 semi auto shotguns, and all of them are gone but three, and I still shoot the second one I ever bought in 1963, a Remington 1100. Treated right, the 1100/11-87 platform is as reliable as any ever built. No, they will not run as long between light spray and wipe cleanings, but I have gone 200 rounds with filthy Blue Dot reloads, and I clean all my guns anytime I shoot them anyway. They are not as flexible as some of the newer designs that will shoot anything up to 3-1/2", but I don't shoot those anyway. I have seen some 11-87s have issues with light loads, but an extra oversized O ring that works like the barrel seal activator mentioned above will cure that. Lastly, Remington has greatly upgraded the finish on their less expensive guns. I think an 11-87 is an outstanding value.
The Beretta 300s have also proven pretty reliable for reasonable money.
In inertia guns, a Franchi Affinity seems to be pretty well received for way less than a Benelli.