Looking for a new dove/ sporting clays gun.

**dstrbd223** · 08-20-2011, 01:24 AM

I love the look at feel of the Benelli Cordoba/SuperSport, but most clays shooters are using a Beretta 391. The Teknys is an awfully nice gun as well. Anyone have any experience with these, please help point me in the right direction.

**life2short1971** · 08-20-2011, 03:38 AM

Sorry I have a 50 year old Franchi Field o/u and wouldn't think of replacing it.

**camjr** · 08-20-2011, 06:14 AM

Can't go wrong with Beretta semi in 12 or 20 guage. I've got a black synthetic Beretta 390al in 12 that probably has 10-12k rounds through it without a hiccup. It eats and ejects everything from light target loads to slugs and heavy 3" duck and turkey loads. It's my dove gun, duck gun, turkey gun, clays gun, and for 5 years was also my competitive skeet gun. I was looking for pure function and didn't want to worry about dinging a beautiful wood stock. I did have the forcing cone lengthened, bought aftermarket choke tubes, added a Beretta gel-tec recoil pad and a Hi-Viz fiber optic front sight (I find that makes a huge difference in those early morning and late evening dove fields).

The 391/Teknys are great semi's, and I have several friends that love theirs. That synthetic wood they use on thier stocks for those is dang near indestructible. Another great dove gun is a Remington 1100 in 20 (what many consider the State Dove Gun of Texas), but I still like a 12 for versatility. YMMV.

Cheers!

**dstrbd223** · 08-20-2011, 06:23 AM

Thanks. I probably won't own another Remington product anytime soon(had too many issues). I really do like the 391's. But for some reason the Benelli keeps calling my name.

**camjr** · 08-20-2011, 06:54 AM

Benelli's are fantastic guns and utterly reliable, but I find Beretta's more comfortable when shooting high volumes due to the recoil system. Beretta's use a gas recoil system while Benelli's use an inertial recoil system. For me, it's more comfortable to shoot a Beretta for an extended period of time than a Benelli, but they're both great shotguns across their model spectrum. YMMV

Cheers!

**dalecooper51** · 08-20-2011, 06:34 PM

How much are you looking to spend on a gun? Are you looking for a 12ga? Are you only looking at autoloaders or would you consider an O/U? It will help narrow the field of suggestions. No matter what suggestions you get, try and shoot the gun first. Go to a gun shop near you and fondle as many as you can. Once you find some that you like the feel of, try to find some place to shoot them. If it doesn't fit, you will not hit your target. You will hit much better with a $200 Mossberg pump gun that fits you then $10k Krieghoff that doesn't.

I currently shoot a near 10lb O/U SKB sporting gun for skeet, but it is definitely too heavy to take afield. It's nothing fancy, but fits me well and shoots where I look. I have a mid 80's Remington 1100 (gift from my father) that I had been using for upland and skeet, but unfortunately about a month ago the frame cracked on it and I need to get something new myself. If I had to guess, I would say that it had between 150k and 200k rounds through it over the last 25 years.

I have had a Benelli Cordoba with a 30" in the past. It was a very reliable gun. I pushed it past 2k rounds without cleaning it and it never choked on me. The inertia action is nice and goes a long time between cleanings, but it is harder on your shoulder. I also found it to be pretty light and whippy in my hands until I added a magazine cap weight to it. It also didn't fit me as well as I would have liked and I eventually sold it. Another issue with Benelli guns is that parts are hard to come by and very expensive.

**Mr. Scruffy** · 08-20-2011, 09:33 PM

I use a 20 year old Beretta 686 Onyx 12 ga. with a 28" barrel and interchangable chokes.

Light, sleek and easy to take down for a thorough cleaning. I'm not very tall (5'-6") and the shorter barrels allow me to swing around faster on a target.

**stobes21** · 08-20-2011, 10:19 PM

The beretta 390/391 series is extremely popular for good reason: they are reliable, soft shooting, will handle everything from light target loads up to the heavy magnum/high brass stuff, and come in a wide variety of models to suit various needs. If I ever end up buying an autoloader (I mostly shoot an o/u and occasionally a pump) it'll be one of those. I've never shot the benelli but they have a good rep as a very reliable, albeit overpriced, gun. I personally find them rather ugly, but that's purely a style thing (for what it's worth I also find the beretta xtra wood thing repugnant). Overall though the best gun for you is the one that fits you the best. When you shoulder your various options do it with your eyes closed and see which one naturally aligns the best.

**RHVette** · 08-21-2011, 09:36 PM

I don't have a recommendation for a semi-auto shotgun, but if you want a double barrel, I'd give CZ a look. Their shotguns are like their pistols used to be: great guns that flew under the radar to give amazing prices.

**gorgehiker** · 08-25-2011, 04:16 PM

I have a O/U that fits me great, shoots where I look and was dirt cheep. I think I paid around $250-300 for it, cant think of the name right off hand. Also have a Browning BT99 that is one of the best trap only guns I have shot, its full choke is tight and makes most ppl miss. Shot my first 25 straight with it so it will forever be in my collection.

**Acmemfg** · 08-26-2011, 10:02 AM

You won't go wrong with a Beretta for a good all-purpose shotgun. I cannot think of any task my 3901 won't handle. Truth be told though, I have never been a huge fan of the "one Size Fits All" concept when it comes to firearms. For trap I use a Remington 1100 CT..that is ALL I use it for and it is a fine shooting instrument. Upland birds call for a Browning BPS w/26" barrel. It will soon be joined by a Citori. Ducks, feral hog, deer (where centerfire arms are not permitted) call for the Remington 870 Super Magnum with one of 3 barrels-Regular 28"VR, smoothbore 20" w/rifle sights, or fully-rifled Hastings cantilever with a quick-access Red-Dot scope, Stoeger Uplander SxS for rabbit and squirrels
..and the 3901, which can hold its own in any of the aforementioned environments

**csmorris** · 08-26-2011, 10:10 AM

Love my Winchester SX3

**maxman** · 08-26-2011, 10:28 AM

I've used Beretta semi's of a few types. They're great. Good for going from the range to the field.
The only thing I don't like about the 391 is the clunking sound they make.
No, it doesn't affect they way it shoot, but it just annoys me (what doesn't these days *sigh*)

**BigFoot** · 08-27-2011, 01:01 PM

Have you considered the Browning Maxus? I never gave that gone much thought until I was taken to a private hunting reserve. We did ducks in the morning and doves after lunch. The guy who took me there let me use his Maxus. It is by far the sweetest performing shotgun I have ever used.

I am a fairly big guy and it mounted like a dream. The balance was awesome. A lot of the larger autos that are all purpose are barrel heavy, not this one, hunting doves it tracked like an extension of my arm.

The model I used was the Stalker. It had a 28" barrel and was chambered 3 1/2". I shot a few heavy magnum loads through it during the duck hunt and the recoil was negligible. Later when using dove loads the recoil was almost non existent. That was a huge plus to me firing multiple shots to stay on target.

If I was going to buy an all purpose auto.....that would be the gun for me. The $1500.00 price tag is high but not out of line by today's standards. I know this was not on your list but I thought I would throw it out there.

**Hawkeye5** · 08-30-2011, 11:27 AM

The dove outfitters in Argentina, where I understand it is not uncommon to take 1000 birds per day, favor the Beretta 390 or Benelli Montefeltro.

**Mink** · 08-30-2011, 12:09 PM

I only shoot sporting clays nowadays. I have a Beretta Sporting Clays Gold with a 30" barrel. It's a 391 base, with some nice touches. I've had it for 5 years and have never had anything misbehave. If you put 100+ shells a day through your gun, the softer recoil of the Beretta makes a huge difference. I usually have others asking to use my gun for the last box of shells. It really is that nice. I love the fit and feel of the Benelli Sport, but it doesn't take long before the shoulder starts to hurt.

**morcoffee** · 09-25-2011, 01:26 PM

Any O/U in .410 for dove....
Teknys has a failure to feed issue.. but of course there is always a solution: replace the carrier with one from a 390

**jkingrph** · 09-28-2011, 06:53 PM

Originally Posted by csmorris

Love my Winchester SX3

What's a SX3?? My preference runs to SXS types, my favorite being a little 28Ga Darne that weighs just a fraction over 5 lbs, then a 16ga Charlin, both sliding breach vs break open doubles. I also have an Ithaca/SKB 12 ga, then a nice old Husqvarna hammer gun. Only one o/u, a Win 101 20 ga.

There is a Rem 1100 with a couple of different barrels stuck back somewhere, it is pre choke tube type.

**csmorris** · 09-29-2011, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by jkingrph

What's a SX3?? My preference runs to SXS types, my favorite being a little 28Ga Darne that weighs just a fraction over 5 lbs, then a 16ga Charlin, both sliding breach vs break open doubles. I also have an Ithaca/SKB 12 ga, then a nice old Husqvarna hammer gun. Only one o/u, a Win 101 20 ga.

There is a Rem 1100 with a couple of different barrels stuck back somewhere, it is pre choke tube type.

SX3

**Robotack** · 10-01-2011, 03:49 PM

I have an AL 391 Urika, in 12g w/ wood stocks. Does EVERTHING I want and more. Very handy gun to stip and work on when you get used to it. Here's a great link for you 391 owners:

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=101242