In the market for a new shotgun and seeking advice on what I should look into. Mainly will be used for dove hunting. TIA!

Without posting a budget I'll say …
https://www.purdey.com/pages/our-bespoke-models-the-sidelock-side-by-side

First decision is, do you want a semi-auto or an over/under?

I have 5 shotguns.

I would recommend an A400 Xplor. I have the Unico version and it is one of my favorite guns.

A Browning Citori 725 is great too but I only use this as a clay gun. Guns get dirty on the field.

There will be plenty of people that disagree with this generalization. But avoid buying any shotgun made in Turkey. They are a bunch of hot garbage. If you disagree with me watch the TFBtv shotgun burndown videos.

I have had more friends have more trouble with all different brands of Turkish shotguns. And you also have to be careful and do not assume a certain brand is made in, say, the US. My buddu has a Winchester 20 gauge made in Turkey that is a better paddle than it is a shotgun.


That all being said, I have two shotguns made in the last twenty years. Both are Benellis. One is a Legacy and the other is a Montifeltro. If I was going to buy a third shotgun it would be a Benelli.

Semi-auto is preferred. Budget matters but if I have to pay a little more to get something that will last and is durable then I won't mind.

I have a Browning Maxus, a Browning Citori 725 Sporting, a Beretta A400 and a Benelli Ultra Lite. I also own a Franchi Affinity 3. Haven't shot the Franchi, but I really like my others, but none more than the A400.

What is your budget?

The shotgun world is one of the most unique and diverse in all of the gun world - you can get $200 shotguns and you can get $300,000+ shotguns and everything in between.

So, without a budget established, i'd say you need a bespoke 28ga Kreighoff, Purdy, AGL, etc. or step down to a Perazzi with Grade 1 English walnut and custom engraving and color case hardening.

Beretta A400 or A300 or any of the Benelli semi-autos.

I prefer the fit and recoil of the Beretta over the Benelli but both are great guns.

BastropCountyAg said:

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Semi-auto is preferred. Budget matters but if I have to pay a little more to get something that will last and is durable then I won't mind.

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A300 is a really fantastic mix of durable and affordable, IMO.

I love my A400 but the 300s I've messed with are quality too. Know several ranges that use A300s as their rental guns because they are that good mix of $/reliability.

There are lots of good choices. A lot comes down to personal preference for feel/ergonomics, aesthetics, and features.

Since you said you prefer a semi-auto, I would go with Benelli personally, based on owning 2 Montefeltros, 2 Super Black Eagles, and an Ultra Light. I have also owned several Browning, Beretta, and Remington semi-auto shotguns to compare them to, and I prefer Benelli for their mechanical simplicity, lighter weight, and handling qualities.

Since you mentioned upland bird shooting, look at either the Ultra Light, Montefeltro, or Ethos series.

Of course, you can't go wrong with the Beretta A400, though personally I prefer the Benelli inertia operated system over gas operated guns.

The Browning Auto 5 / A5 is a great choice as well if you prefer the "retro" humpback design. The new A5 is a different shotgun from the classic Auto 5 that was in production for 100 years until 1998, but it shares the same basic "long recoil" operated system.

agsalaska said:

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There will be plenty of people that disagree with this generalization. But avoid buying any shotgun made in Turkey. They are a bunch of hot garbage. If you disagree with me watch the TFBtv shotgun burndown videos.

I have had more friends have more trouble with all different brands of Turkish shotguns. And you also have to be careful and do not assume a certain brand is made in, say, the US. My buddu has a Winchester 20 gauge made in Turkey that is a better paddle than it is a shotgun.


That all being said, I have two shotguns made in the last twenty years. Both are Benellis. One is a Legacy and the other is a Montifeltro. If I was going to buy a third shotgun it would be a Benelli.

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Benelli FTW. No brainer in my experience and opinion.

Winchester SX4- I really love this gun. Light with not much recoil and very smooth shooting.

Franchi Affinity 3 is a great option if the pricetag of the Benelli is too bitter a pill.
They are owned by Benelli anyway.

Bought my son the A300 a few years ago and it's been perfect, especially nice for the price. Also love my Benelli M2.

Lots of great guns out there. Big fan of the value of a Winchester SX. And like others said, A300, A400, A5, Maxus, M2, SBE. Handle a bunch and decide on a budget. Do you need 3.5in? Beretta, Benelli, or Browning will all be nice.

Also the more budget end, I like Franchi.

Apache said:

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Franchi Affinity 3 is a great option if the pricetag of the Benelli is too bitter a pill.
They are owned by Benelli anyway.

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Seconding this, I bought one before this past dove season. It's light, reasonably priced, and super reliable; I can confirm it'll still run with dove feathers in the action.

I love my Browning Maxus Lite but would also go with the Beratte A400.

Beretta A300 20ga
Have to spend three times as much to get any improvement. Fits every budget and simply performs.

Remington 870 in 20ga is God's gift to Texas dove hunting.

Or go 28ga.

Apache said:

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Franchi Affinity 3 is a great option if the pricetag of the Benelli is too bitter a pill.
They are owned by Benelli anyway.

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I shouldered one at Scheels the other day and it comes up and fits just like a benelli sbe3. Will be getting one for a spare/ foul weather gun.

OP, you must shoulder and aim shotguns to see which brand "fits" you. For me it's Benelli/ Franchi, Remington in the auto loaders.

Berettas just do not shoulder right for me, regardless of changing shims. And the other big problem for me with Beretta's is the safety being on the front of the trigger guard. Grew up with an 870 and every shotgun with a cross bolt safety should have it on the back of the trigger guard.

Looks like that'll put me further in debt!

James Reeves is a punk. Turknelli M4 shotguns are just fine. Especially the gforce gf4 or panzer clones. There are others that are fine as well.

I like my Beretta A400 Xcel with KO as an all-around hunting shotgun.

fittybmg said:

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James Reeves is a punk. Turknelli M4 shotguns are just fine. Especially the gforce gf4 or panzer clones. There are others that are fine as well.

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Bull*****

Just as good at 1/4th the price of a Benelli M4

Wow. Ok

Im going to move on since the OP is talking about a completely different shotgun.

Benelli Super Black Eagle 20 or 12 there ya go

tk127ag said:

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Winchester SX4- I really love this gun. Light with not much recoil and very smooth shooting.

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I will back up the SX4. My SX3 and SX4 have sold a lot of guns for Winchester. They are truly an any shell/every time kind of gun. You won't have to find a "shell it likes". It will cycle a 3 inch mag behind a target load. As far as i know, no other gun has been able to match its 12 shells cycled in 1.442 seconds yet.

FirefightAg said:

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Benelli Super Black Eagle 20 or 12 there ya go

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If the OP is upland bird hunting -dove, quail and the like, there's no benefit to a 3.5" chamber and the SBE. If he was including waterfowl and turkey into the mix, then I'd agree. Otherwise, I'd opt for the lighter Monte, UL, Ethos.

Thaddeus Beauregard said:

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FirefightAg said:

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Benelli Super Black Eagle 20 or 12 there ya go

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If the OP is upland bird hunting -dove, quail and the like, there's no benefit to a 3.5" chamber and the SBE. If he was including waterfowl and turkey into the mix, then I'd agree. Otherwise, I'd opt for the lighter Monte, UL, Ethos.

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I beg to differ

agsalaska said:

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There will be plenty of people that disagree with this generalization. But avoid buying any shotgun made in Turkey. They are a bunch of hot garbage. If you disagree with me watch the TFBtv shotgun burndown videos.

I have had more friends have more trouble with all different brands of Turkish shotguns. And you also have to be careful and do not assume a certain brand is made in, say, the US. My buddu has a Winchester 20 gauge made in Turkey that is a better paddle than it is a shotgun.

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There's certainly a lot of low quality shotguns coming out of Turkey, but it has more to do with guns made to a really low price point to meet importer sales margins than the fact they came from Turkey. Correct me if I'm wrong, but TFBtv has only reviewed semi-auto and pump action Turkish shotguns, not O/U and SxS Turkish shotguns, right? There are some Turkish gun mfgs like Huglu and Akus that are capable of making some good double barrel shotguns. The current CZ doubles made by Huglu are reliable no frills guns that are decently made and the people who own them by and large have positive opinions of them. The Dickinson doubles are made by Akus and are actually quite nice and typically get great reviews on the shotgun forums. The latest Weatherby Orion was made by ATA in Turkey. The Kimber Marias (O/U) and Valier (SxS) shotguns were fairly expensive and very nicely finished and were made by (I believe) Akus. Akus also made the S&W Elite Gold abd Elite Silver shotguns, as well as some SKB shotguns after they moved production from Japan.

The better Turkish shotgun manufacturers are capable of making some very fine shotguns if the importer pays for it. Another case of you get what you pay for. It's all a matter of the specs and price point the importer wishes to target.

Stick to the B's….Browning, Baretta, Benelli. Can't go wrong and a range of prices. Personally I field the Browning A5 for semi-auto and Baretta Silver Pigeon for o/u as favorites.

Thaddeus Beauregard said:

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FirefightAg said:

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Benelli Super Black Eagle 20 or 12 there ya go

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If the OP is upland bird hunting -dove, quail and the like, there's no benefit to a 3.5" chamber and the SBE. If he was including waterfowl and turkey into the mix, then I'd agree. Otherwise, I'd opt for the lighter Monte, UL, Ethos.

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No one asked you, and I didn't mention 3.5".

It come camo, which I like and prefer. Is synthetic and is also a great gun for turkey and waterfowl which I presume he will eventually partake in, in the life of the gun...also it's cheaper than those mentioned

SGrem said:

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Beretta A300 20ga
Have to spend three times as much to get any improvement. Fits every budget and simply performs.

Remington 870 in 20ga is God's gift to Texas dove hunting.

Or go 28ga.

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had one stolen out of the duplex i lived in over behind the tap.....loved that gun

FirefightAg said:

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Thaddeus Beauregard said:

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FirefightAg said:

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Benelli Super Black Eagle 20 or 12 there ya go

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If the OP is upland bird hunting -dove, quail and the like, there's no benefit to a 3.5" chamber and the SBE. If he was including waterfowl and turkey into the mix, then I'd agree. Otherwise, I'd opt for the lighter Monte, UL, Ethos.

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No one asked you, and I didn't mention 3.5".

It come camo, which I like and prefer. Is synthetic and is also a great gun for turkey and waterfowl which I presume he will eventually partake in, in the life of the gun...also it's cheaper than those mentioned

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Ok, first, he did in fact ask the whole board for opinions, which is the purpose of the thread. I gave mine, same as you.

People can disagree. No need to be rude. I wasn't rude to you.

I forget that Benelli recently added 3" chambers to the SBE3 series. The original reason for SBE's creation was to shoot 3.5" shells, so that's what it's normally associated with.

And it's not at all cheaper than the other Benellis mentioned. The base model Monte is $800 less. The Monte Silver and the base Ethos are the same price. The Ultra Light is $250 less.

Although the SBE3 is much lighter than the original SBE and SBE2, those are still lighter shotguns than SBE3 if that's important.

All are good choices. I merely made recommendations based on what I thought were a bit better fit to what the OP said he was wanting to do. There's no "right" or "wrong."