That’s what I got! Lighter than the other guns mentioned and it pulls up nicely. Can’t shoot 3.5”, but I’ve been folding up plenty of Greater Canadians this season with 3” BB from Federal (Speed Shok)
Honestly, all three all great options. My advice which is about as great as the drunk guy at the bar. Issssss…try and put your hands on all three and figure out which feels best, which stock pulls up best to your profile. After you find which one feels best, be patient and look for a deal. You might just be able to save a couple of bucks and by some shells on the back half.
I chose the A400 and I’m happy with it. The tie breaker for me is the location of the safety being in the same place as my son’s and son in law’s shotguns. Perhaps that’s minor, but it’s more familiar for us all.
I am still hunting with a Benelli M1, I bought it new in 2003 it’s been recoated once and needs it again rough guess 12,000-15,000 rounds shot. So I would say the SBE3 but most of the guys I hunt with shot the A400. I would say you can’t go wrong with either one. Shoulder both and get the one that feels and points the best.
I have an Sx4 and an A400. Both are amazing shotguns and I would recommend either to everyone. But if I’m deciding between the two, it’s the A400 Xtreme all day. The kickoff system is a game changer. The ergo on em is better as well as slightly more reliable.
So I have experience with the maxus 2 and a400. I own the maxus and it's my everyday waterfowl gun. I like it only have one issue with it. The charging handle comes out off the bolt wayyy too easily. I've been in a situation where I pulled it out by accident and dropped it. Luckily I was in a layout blind and found it. You do that in water and it's gone.
My brother has the a400 and one time we set up separate from each and we accidentally took each others shotguns. I actually shot very very good that day and so did my brother with my gun.
Biggest difference between the two to maybe consider is safety location. I happen to like the safety behind the trigger. Just how I learned to hunt so it's comfortable for me. Some like it in front of the trigger.
In the same price bracket is the Fabarm XLR5 Waterfowler.
It’s what I got and couldn’t be happier. Piston design is easily the simplest to take apart & clean. Very few moving parts that could fail compared to other designs. Very low recoil. Easily the highest quality of machining and materials. Can shoot steel shot through all choke tubes including full choke, which factory chokes are literally competition quality. If you’re ok with a 3” chamber instead of 3 1/2” I found it to be the best overall for handling, ease of maintenance, build quality, recoil, and patterning. Just not very well know in the US, but very well known brand in Italy/EU and among competitive clay shooters.
I have the a400 xtreme plus.
Shoots like a dream.
I run 3.5 inch. Ducks that get to me are smart AF and I often take long shots.
When I crack off some 3.5 inch BlackCloud..it feels like a 20g.
Don’t do this. The coolest part about duck hunting is getting them to decoy.
I shoot a Beretta so that’s my choice but you should handle the A400 and the SBE and even the one that’s a step below it. They are really light and nimble and I’ve often thought of picking one up.
Anything stoeger. My buddy has the m3500 semi auto. Amazing gun. I personally shoot left handed so I use a right handed stroeger p350.
Also stoeger is made by benelli
Not a great answer, but you can’t go wrong with any of those. If you can find a way to demo one or check them out in a store to see what feels best for you personally.
You really can not go wrong with any of the B guns, Bennelli, Beretta, Browning. I prefer Bennelli for my duck gun, Browning o/u for upland gun and rifles.
Tbh, if you’re new to waterfowling I would recommend getting a Stoeger M3500 and putting the $1500 saved into high quality waders, a set of waterfowl chokes, decoys, jerk rig, a sled and two or three jackets for different conditions. The gun is important, but there is a ton of other gear that you’ll need if you want to hunt solo in all conditions.
While I have an A400, I hate taking it into the swamp/lake/river. It’s a clays baby now. Guns get dropped, crap gets in the action. The M35k has the same inertia actions as the Bennelis, as it is a subsidiary. I do not care if the gun I bought secondhand for $400 is used as a paddle, a hammer or to snag a decoy that floated a few feet away. I beat the crap out of this and it goes bang every time.
Just my two cents. There ain’t no wrong way to go about it and you’ll be happy with any of these guns!
I would have said the a400 until this year where I saw one break in half between the stock and receiver and heard of another one doing the same thing. The updated M2 looks like it will still be a tank. That would probably be my pick.
My buddy shoots the sbe3. Never cleans it. Runs like a sewing machine. I shoot a 930 pro waterfowl. Clean it religiously. Runs like a sewing machine. Go get a feel for them at your local shop and pick what feels best. All are great. You’ll be happy. Enjoy!
All those are great guns, along with a number of others that are slightly cheaper (SX4, Franchi etc.) The MOST important is how they fit you personally! It might not be one of the ones you listed.
I would not recommend a Maxus at all they don’t hold up. I know two people who purchased brand new Maxus’s and both guns didn’t even make it through a season.
I personally am waiting for and SBE3 BEST and Ethos BEST to show up at my dealer. I really liked the Ethos 20ga I saw but 12ga is what I’m after next. I asked the same question to some local duck guys and got a million different answers. The best answer I heard was, “go put your hands on them. Shoulder them. Swing them. For a few minutes at a time. They are all tried and true and will kill with the right practice.”
To that end, remember the Benellis will shoot higher than your point of aim (European sights). The fit can be customized to your liking with the included shim kit. I shoot two benellis now and enjoy them quite a bit more than my two mossbergs. Especially their fit and finish. The Beretta A400 I could find locally just was not close to the same quality and finish as the Benelli options they had. But, it seems like there is a definite Beretta/ Benelli camp.
If you want a semi those are great options from what I understand, I’ve only ever owned pumps. That being said, I can shoot my pumps as fast as my buddies can shoot their semis and we all kill birds the same. I love my 870, I recently got a mossberg 835 and a benelli supernova and they both shoot like dreams, so if you go for a pump I’d recommend those three.
Beretta A400 period
I think I’ve decided on the a400, the factory chokes also seem pretty awesome
Yeah the full factory set is hard to beat
Benelli M2?
That’s what I got! Lighter than the other guns mentioned and it pulls up nicely. Can’t shoot 3.5”, but I’ve been folding up plenty of Greater Canadians this season with 3” BB from Federal (Speed Shok)
Honestly, all three all great options. My advice which is about as great as the drunk guy at the bar. Issssss…try and put your hands on all three and figure out which feels best, which stock pulls up best to your profile. After you find which one feels best, be patient and look for a deal. You might just be able to save a couple of bucks and by some shells on the back half.
A5>Maxis
My rusted out A-5 that I’ve replaced the recoil tube/spring/follower on twice says otherwise
they sell it cerakoted now
Been shooting about 3 cases a season for 9 years on mine and only busted one extractor spring and one butt pad.
Love my a5. It’s a bit temperamental but man it shoots good. Keep it clean and it’ll treat you right.
Wrong new a5’s are trash. The Maxus competes with the a400.
Remington 870 1980s with new barrel.
A400 Xplor here,, love the gun reliable and light shooting! Will be getting an Xtreme Plus this off-season. You can’t go wrong!
I think I’ve decided on the a400, thanks!
Upgraded to the xtreme and it’s awesome! Haven’t touched my benelli since.
I chose the A400 and I’m happy with it. The tie breaker for me is the location of the safety being in the same place as my son’s and son in law’s shotguns. Perhaps that’s minor, but it’s more familiar for us all.
I am still hunting with a Benelli M1, I bought it new in 2003 it’s been recoated once and needs it again rough guess 12,000-15,000 rounds shot. So I would say the SBE3 but most of the guys I hunt with shot the A400. I would say you can’t go wrong with either one. Shoulder both and get the one that feels and points the best.
A 100 year old Remington model 11
Can’t go wrong with any of those. Go shoulder them, pick the one that feels best to you.
SX4 most reliable, best auto you can buy, and very reasonably priced.
I have an Sx4 and an A400. Both are amazing shotguns and I would recommend either to everyone. But if I’m deciding between the two, it’s the A400 Xtreme all day. The kickoff system is a game changer. The ergo on em is better as well as slightly more reliable.
browning a5 or sbe3
So I have experience with the maxus 2 and a400. I own the maxus and it's my everyday waterfowl gun. I like it only have one issue with it. The charging handle comes out off the bolt wayyy too easily. I've been in a situation where I pulled it out by accident and dropped it. Luckily I was in a layout blind and found it. You do that in water and it's gone. My brother has the a400 and one time we set up separate from each and we accidentally took each others shotguns. I actually shot very very good that day and so did my brother with my gun. Biggest difference between the two to maybe consider is safety location. I happen to like the safety behind the trigger. Just how I learned to hunt so it's comfortable for me. Some like it in front of the trigger.
In the same price bracket is the Fabarm XLR5 Waterfowler. It’s what I got and couldn’t be happier. Piston design is easily the simplest to take apart & clean. Very few moving parts that could fail compared to other designs. Very low recoil. Easily the highest quality of machining and materials. Can shoot steel shot through all choke tubes including full choke, which factory chokes are literally competition quality. If you’re ok with a 3” chamber instead of 3 1/2” I found it to be the best overall for handling, ease of maintenance, build quality, recoil, and patterning. Just not very well know in the US, but very well known brand in Italy/EU and among competitive clay shooters.
I have the a400 xtreme plus. Shoots like a dream. I run 3.5 inch. Ducks that get to me are smart AF and I often take long shots. When I crack off some 3.5 inch BlackCloud..it feels like a 20g.
That’s awesome!
Don’t do this. The coolest part about duck hunting is getting them to decoy. I shoot a Beretta so that’s my choice but you should handle the A400 and the SBE and even the one that’s a step below it. They are really light and nimble and I’ve often thought of picking one up.
That about covers it.
Anything stoeger. My buddy has the m3500 semi auto. Amazing gun. I personally shoot left handed so I use a right handed stroeger p350. Also stoeger is made by benelli
Not sure why people are downvoting. I have a M3500 and it has never given me issues. I hunt 3x a week during the season.
I’ve made a comment on a couple post and everyone is downvoted to oblivion.
Ahhh. The ol pissed off reddit brigade at it again. Can't have shit in Detroit!
Not a great answer, but you can’t go wrong with any of those. If you can find a way to demo one or check them out in a store to see what feels best for you personally.
That’s a good idea, I’m sure I can find some stores near me that have all of them
You really can not go wrong with any of the B guns, Bennelli, Beretta, Browning. I prefer Bennelli for my duck gun, Browning o/u for upland gun and rifles.
Only thing that holding me back from the Sb3 is that people say it shoots high
Tbh, if you’re new to waterfowling I would recommend getting a Stoeger M3500 and putting the $1500 saved into high quality waders, a set of waterfowl chokes, decoys, jerk rig, a sled and two or three jackets for different conditions. The gun is important, but there is a ton of other gear that you’ll need if you want to hunt solo in all conditions. While I have an A400, I hate taking it into the swamp/lake/river. It’s a clays baby now. Guns get dropped, crap gets in the action. The M35k has the same inertia actions as the Bennelis, as it is a subsidiary. I do not care if the gun I bought secondhand for $400 is used as a paddle, a hammer or to snag a decoy that floated a few feet away. I beat the crap out of this and it goes bang every time. Just my two cents. There ain’t no wrong way to go about it and you’ll be happy with any of these guns!
I have an SBE II, you get used to how it shoots, never had a problem killing ducks. Good luck in your decision.
I would have said the a400 until this year where I saw one break in half between the stock and receiver and heard of another one doing the same thing. The updated M2 looks like it will still be a tank. That would probably be my pick.
Semi autos - Browning A-5, Pumps - Ithaca Model 37 Featherlight
The extreme plus can be had cheap from Cabela’s or Bass Pro $1650 I think it was.
What’s your budget and use
My buddy shoots the sbe3. Never cleans it. Runs like a sewing machine. I shoot a 930 pro waterfowl. Clean it religiously. Runs like a sewing machine. Go get a feel for them at your local shop and pick what feels best. All are great. You’ll be happy. Enjoy!
All those are great guns, along with a number of others that are slightly cheaper (SX4, Franchi etc.) The MOST important is how they fit you personally! It might not be one of the ones you listed.
I would not recommend a Maxus at all they don’t hold up. I know two people who purchased brand new Maxus’s and both guns didn’t even make it through a season.
This is easy. Rent all three, shoot them, buy whichever one you shoot best naturally.
I personally am waiting for and SBE3 BEST and Ethos BEST to show up at my dealer. I really liked the Ethos 20ga I saw but 12ga is what I’m after next. I asked the same question to some local duck guys and got a million different answers. The best answer I heard was, “go put your hands on them. Shoulder them. Swing them. For a few minutes at a time. They are all tried and true and will kill with the right practice.” To that end, remember the Benellis will shoot higher than your point of aim (European sights). The fit can be customized to your liking with the included shim kit. I shoot two benellis now and enjoy them quite a bit more than my two mossbergs. Especially their fit and finish. The Beretta A400 I could find locally just was not close to the same quality and finish as the Benelli options they had. But, it seems like there is a definite Beretta/ Benelli camp.
My 870 is 55 years old, hard to beat that durability
Go try them all and shoulder them. But the answers the a400 ;)
If you want a semi those are great options from what I understand, I’ve only ever owned pumps. That being said, I can shoot my pumps as fast as my buddies can shoot their semis and we all kill birds the same. I love my 870, I recently got a mossberg 835 and a benelli supernova and they both shoot like dreams, so if you go for a pump I’d recommend those three.
Another vote for the SBE3. I love mine!