I have hunted my entire life, but have only been duck hunting for the past three years. Each year, it seems I duck hunt a little more and deer hunt a little less. I recently bought a boat with a 20 hp Go Devil, so plan on duck hunting even more next year.

I grew up shooting a Remington 1100, and my 30 year old 1100 still works flawlessly. Four or five years ago, I bought an 1187, and have been using it for duck hunting to take advantage of the 3" shells. I'll admit I am not the best at taking care of my weapons, and as any of you duck hunters know, duck hunting is really hard on your gear. I have had nothing but problems with my 1187 since I started duck hunting.

It has been serviced by a good gun smith, and taken apart and cleaned many times after malfunctions. It seems like something new is always breaking or it's jamming again. I've replaced the O ring several times, so I know that is not the problem. I also had lots of cycling problems with it on my first cold weather hunt in South Dakota this year, hunting pheasants and grouse. I am to the point that I had no faith in this gun any more, which means it's time for a new shotgun.

My son shoots an 870 synthetic, which I like, but prefer an automatic if possible. I feel like I am much quicker with that second or third shot with the auto, but my on my last duck hunt of the year I took out my three wood duck limit with it with only four shots, so this is also an option if I can't find an auto that I like.

The gun I have been looking at are the Benelli M2. I like the feel of it, and understand it is very similar to the SBE2, with the exception of only shooting 3" shells. Do any of the duck hunters on here have an M2, and would you buy it again, or would you get something else?

Does anyone have another shotgun that they would recommend?

Thanks for any input.

Benelli SBE II, SBE I, Vinci, M2
Beretta Extrema I or II, possibly the new Xplor
Browning Maxus (yes I said it BOBO)

Any and all of these are great weapons. I would say shoulder all of them, shoot as many as possible, and see which one fits you best. Then, let the wheelin and dealin begin.

Browning Cynergy O/U with synthetic stock. Two "for sure" shots beats 3 maybes any day in my book. They are easy to load when you have on cold weather gloves, and very easy to keep clean.
My two cents.

Oh, do we ever. It's pretty parochial with the Browning, Beretta, Benelli and Remington camps all going at it.

I shoot a Beretta Xtrema2 and love it. I could preach all day why its the best gun and then an SBEII lover will come behind and tell you that his gun us better.

Go check them out. Set a price range you are comfortable with. Top of the line guns are ~1500. Some sales can be had.
Cabella's had $100 of Berettas last week.

Academy now stocks the Xtrema2 as well.

All the guns listed above are good but I'll throw the Winchester SX3 in the mix with them. I like the finish because it is parkerized like and I can't see it rusting easily.

As TE said you need to shoulder and shoot, if possible, everyone because they are all different but at the same time all good.

If you were in Texas I would tell you to go to some of the get together clay shoots we have planned. Several models will be there all at once (like a candy store) and people are usually happy to let you shoot one.

Its what fits you the best and feels the best.

Price range of 1500 will get you all guns listed above in camo patterns.

I am a benelli fan, as i have shot them for years. i really want to shoot that maxus though1!

Also you can get a Franchi now that is cheaper and looks identical to SBE2. And the good thing is is that it's inertia driven and a Benelli company. Also it shoots 3.5" shells. They at Cabelas and dick's sporting goods( under the name Diamond). Comes with 3 yr warranty.

This was my second season with my Benelli M2. Never had any major issues with it. Went duck hunting in 20 degree weather, pheasant hunting up in the Panhandle in 16 degree weather and it cycled fine. Only had one shell jam on me while duck hunting but after giving it a good cleaning, it went back to performing just like normal.

just bought a maxus. great gun! I really liked SBE2 also. I would buy both if funds werent an issue :-)

While at one of the local sporting goods stores here, Sports Authority, I was shown the Franchi. I was told it was similar to the Benelli, and the price was in the $600 range. Has anyone on here had any experience with this gun? It did feel good, and I liked the price, but did not want to buy a less expensive gun only to wish I'd gotten off my wallet and bought a better gun. I've always loved my Remingtons, but I've come close to wrapping that 1187 around a tree more times than I can count. Thanks everyone for all of the input....keep the comments coming, as I value your thoughts and opinions.

From what I've gathered from online and all my buddies that hunt, is that Remington did an awesome job with the 870 and 1100 for years, but as soon as they changed it up and came out with new models they were prone to malfunctions. I have and would put my life on the line with an 870 but I would rather hunt with my benelli!

+ 1 for Benelli. I love my Vinci!

You cant go wrong with a Berretta or Benelli.

If you can find a Franchi 612, 712, or 912 they are really good guns. Gas operated, and the models that inspired the Beretta Extrema. They are all discontinued but you can still get a 912 which is the 3.5" chamber at Dick's Sporting Goods sold as a Dicks's Diamond.

The Franchi I-12 and Stoeger M2000 are very similar, the Stoeger is close to $200 less. They are decent, but I would get the Stoeger over the i-12 because they are budget guns so I would get the cheapest.

I shoot a Franchi 612 and I just traded for a 912. They are great guns that were designed and built when Franchi was a stand alone company, not a budget line under Beretta and Benelli.

I love my S2K, its taking a beating and still keeps going. but its not one of the favorites here on the forum. Lots of SBE guys here.

Get whatever fits you and your budget

My brother and several buddies all hunted ducks with the Rem 1187, all had problems with it. If you hunt every week during the season you might avoid this model.

A little brain dead today, forgot this was the model you had problms with, my bad. How about anything other then a 1187. Good luck...

Franchi I-12 is inertia operated and only shoots up to 3"
Franchi 912 (Dick's Diamond) is gas operated and shoots 3.5"

Yeah, so why not just get the SBE2 so you have the 3.5 inch when you need it.

Get the Maxus. Just ask gr_elliott. he'll say the maxus too.

Garret? You get a maxus??

beretta Extrema 2

well if you look at the top 7 duck guns the mossberg 935 magnum came in spot number 5 compared to all the B guns and was picked even over the Winchester SX3 and its also alot more affordable and it shoots 3 1/2in shells so that is why i chose the mossberg over all the others and on top of things its made in the good ole U.S.A.

Yes, it make sense.. GO FOR SBE2 and you will never go back..