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1st NEW Gun Advice

paladin29
I'm looking to buy my first NEW shotgun. I enjoy shooting clays with my dad with some older guns we have and plan to start hunting in the next year. I'd like to buy a nice NEW gun- something that can be handed down multiple generations, a 12 ga. around the $1100-1400 range, something that looks classic but is great quality. I'm not loyal to any brand, and I've been debating which would be better quality for the money. I've been looking at:

Beretta 391 or 3901
Browning Silver
Benelli Vinci or Montefeltro
Remington 1100

...they all seem to be great guns w/ their own advantages.

Any advice or suggestions?
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Comments

6 comments

Date Votes
  • txfeller
    You obviously like the autos. There are still some new browning auto 5's out there, should be able to find one for about a grand.

    Have you considered an over under? If I was willing to spend 1400, I'd be inclined to spend a little more and get a browning citori. A citori has incredible balance and is an extremely fast pointing shotgun.
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  • leeblackman
    I love my Benelli Super Black Eagle, honestly I can't believe it still works after what I put it thru. But if you gave me the choice it would be hard for me to pass up a Beretta 391. Still nothing has the legacy of a fine over/under if you favor the taste.
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  • Sparty_76
    I think it depends on what you primarily want the gun for. A freind has a 391 and loves it. He uses it for everything. I love autos and I love my 2 Benellis. I have two grandsons and each will get one. I shoot trap with my SBE but to be honest think there are other guns better sooted for that. It is difficult to find a shell catcher for any of the Bennelis. My SBE does not like some of the low brass shells and will not kick them out of the chamber sometimes. For pheasant hunting I prefer my M-1 and think it might be a better for trap/clay gun but it is a left handed gun and I have to learn to shoot right handed (medical problem) so I use the SBE. For deer I think the M-1 (new is now M-2) with a slug barrel would be a better choice as well. I agree with leeblackman you can put the SBE and M-2 trough anything and they will ALWAYS shoot. The SBE just feels like a great gun with power! The SBE has to be the world's best waterfowl gun. Have seen the Vinci but do not know much about them. The Montefelto feels like a great gun and feels lighter then my two. The Montefelto may be a better trap/clay gun. If I wanted a 20 ga I think I would buy a Montefelto. Both my Benellis are black synthetic stocks. The Ventis I have seen are always camo synthetic and I have never seen anything but wood stocks on Montefeltos. I think all the Benneli autos are the "recoil ejection/recoil system. The Brettas, Browning, and Remington guns are all "gas/recoil systems". Benneli is owned by Beretta

    I have to admit you can save a few hundred bucks and go down to a nice 1100. I see alot of them on the trap range. Some of the 1100 Trap Grade guns I have seen are BEAUTIFUL! My Remington 870 is a better pump gun in my opinion then my Nova and it is 40 years old! I have nver been a "Browning" man. I further agree with leeblackman you cannot beat a "over and under" for class. If I buy another shotgun it will be my first over and under, maybe a Browning.

    I would be interested in knowing what you decide. Good luck!
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  • gary wray
    paladin29...I have several of the shotguns you mention, but I also have a Citori and favor it over the others. The 391 is great but the Citori is class and is super at both clays and in the field. +1 for the balance and flexibility for doing both. You might pay a few bucks more, but handing it down over the generations is no problem. Looks classic...great quality. IMHO you can't beat it. But if you favor the semiauto, either the 1100 or 391 are good at what they do. Good shooting!
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  • nmyers
    I had a Beretta 390, & the fore end cracked; I then found out that this is a common problem, & a replacement is not cheap. Just poor design. I don't know if they fixed in the later auto models. Also found that the gas system parts are quite complex; it's a real pain to have to clean them.

    My Remington 1100's aren't quite as good looking, but everything about them is simple & reliable. If you want something to hand down, consider an 1100 in D grade (or higher).

    Neal
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  • tsr1965
    If you look at a stack barrel, make sure you take a look at the CZ line, and the Winchester label Select Energy. I have a Select Energy Trap gun with 30 inch barrels, and adjustable comb. It comes factory ported and backbored too...it shoots real light, and is a fast pointer.

    Best
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