Shotguns

I am looking for a new semi-automatic shotgun. I have looked at both the SBE-2 and the Franchi I-12. I liked the I-12, but i dont really know anybody that owns one. so if anybody has one and could give me an idea of what you think of it I would really apperciate it.

you can not go wrong with a benelli, both me and my dad have one and i also bought my girlfriend one for x mas. my buddy tho, has a franchi and loves it to death.

Browning Gold Fusion
There is a reason I own two.

Heidi and I both shoot Beretta Xtrema 2s…. and we love them!!!
Just a piece of advice…..don’t decide on the gun then go shopping. Go shopping and let the decision be made by the gun that fits you the best.

I looked a long time until I finally narrowed it down to a SBE or Xtrema. Then I stood in the store going back and forth between the 2 for probably 30 minutes or so.
Picking up one pulling it up with my eyes closed and seeing where it came up…both came up really well at first. However, I was there so long going back and forth pulling them up my arms started getting a little tired and that is when the Beretta kept coming up good and the Benelli didn’t. That is what sold me. Both are absolutely awesome and you won’t go wrong with either. I just figured spending that kind of coin I wanted to make absolutely sure I was getting the right gun for me.
JB

What are you going to do with it? This needs to be taken into account. If you hunting duck make sure you keep the mud water and cattails in mind. Theres nothing worse than banging up a bueatiful weapon.

It’s kind of like Slider. He’s nothing to look at but does a hell of a job running a boat.

Kinda depends on what you want to use it for.

I have a Benelli M1, and if I were getting a 3 inch gun, I would get another.

If I were getting a 3 1/2 inch gun, I would probably get and Xtrema 2. Softer shooting due to the gas, no less reliable (have had a Browning and a Benelli, hunt with many guys with SBE’s and Berretta’s. IMO they will all jam, and for the most part all are reliable nowdays.), and the bolt return spring is in the forearm and not the stock, which makes it MUCH easier cleaning. I believe this is the only gun with the bolt return spring in that area (not sure about the new Urika2).

I have a SBE 2. I got it in 2005. The only down fall that i have noticed is that it wont eject the lite loads all the time. And i am an avid skeet shooter and i dont use it often for that becuase it wont cycle the second shell. Other wise it is a great gun i have had it not cycle in the field but that is becuase i was hunting in some nasty conditions duck hunting. And i have found out that dirt and mud in the trigger mechanism makes it not want to work sometimes.

I hunt ducks/geese/pheasants and trap shoot with my Winchester Super X2. It has been a great gun – 3 years without a single problem. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking at a new auto. My $.02

Lars

I guess I am old school I shoot an older Remington 870 12-gauge pump Special Purpose Deer Combo with a 20-inch rifled slug barrel for deer hunting and a 28-inch vent rib barrel for pheasant hunting.

I recently bought my daughter a Youth 870 Express in a 20-gauge, both are very reliable guns. My 870 has served me well for over 20 years. What kind of hunting are you going to use your semi-automatic for?

I must be the only one who likes the Remington 1187.

I have an 870 like Steve’s, that i used forever, a good all around workhorse, that never let me down. I picked up a CZ Redhead O/U 2 years ago, and I would not trade it for nothin’ Like Buckshot says about his Xtrema2, the CZ just shoulders and practically aims itself. I would not hesitate recommending this gun to anyone looking for a double

big g

I have an 870. Great Gun, you can tow it behind your truck to go hunting and it will work flawlessly. You will never have problems with this gun. The finish on it sucks (express, not wingmaster), but for what you pay for it, the best for your dollar.

I then upgraded to a Browning Gold hunter. Great Gun….when it kicked in a second shell. Needless to say, that lasted about a year and it went away. The only gun I have ever got rid of.

Now I have a SBEII. I love it. I had the problem with it not kicking in trap loads at first. After the “break in” period, it has worked flawlessly. I feel that I put a gun through its paces, it gets rode hard and put away wet, from 70 degree early season, to -10 late season. Never had a problem I could blame on the gun. It did shoot crooked last time I shot it though Had to be the guns fault, most certainly not user error

I Say go SBEII.

Fun hunting for guns isn’t it/

My brother went with the benelli extremaII with the camo stock and 3 1/2″ chamber. Loves it, and has been perfect so far, and soft shooting. I have the Browning Gold with the synthetic Blk stock. 3″ chambers. Like the B-nelly, and shot shell, any time, I have never had a problem. I put nearly a hundred rounds od 2 3/4 at the range on clys through it, went two days later to ducky opener, 3″ mag steel,(hadn’t cleaned it) no problem!!!!

You make the call! And enjoy the shopping!