I don't know a whole lot about guns and have hunted only a handful of times growing up so I wanted some advice before I went out and spent some money.

I'm going to start shooting/hunting more, and right now due to limited funds I'm trying to find the best shotgun that will do nicely for a little clay shooting and duck hunting. I'm thinking about the Beretta A400 but wanted to know if you guys have any other advice.

Benelli M2

Get a gun that fits you. Go to a good gun store that has a good selection and shoulder them all. The gun that fits you may not fit me and vice versa. After you find the gun that fits right go shoot it a lot.

Brands that are better quality are Franchi, Browning, Benelli and, Beretta.

Brand that are good quality are Tristar, Weatherby, Stoeger, Mossberg, Remington and, CZ

I have no experience with the new Winchesters so no comment.

Welcome to the forum and good luck...

The A400 is a good choice. You might look at the Beretta A300. Great gun for a lot less money.

Shoot as many different guns as you can. If you have a skeet or sporting clays range that has rental guns try them. I have found that some guns that seem to fit don't when it come to actually shooting them.

If you are interested in Skeet you need a quality O/U that really fits you because you will need tubes for the 20,28,&410. Skeet Shooter say the least expensive investment was their gun. Most who start use Citiori's or Berettas. If you check you can find good deals on a entry level weapon with tubes, chokes, and a hard case for around $2500 or less. Take care not to get to short or light of a shotgun. Must competitive shooters that excell shoot 28-30" bbls and guns that wgt about 12-13 lbs. You can use them hunting also.

Beretta Outlander; bought mine (wood version) out the door for under 800. It chews up any ammo I put through it and I can hit anything. Honestly, took it dove hunting this year and limited out one morning with only 1 box of ammo. It is my favorite rifle I own, have not taken it duck hunting yet but will soon.

Whoa pardner, slow down... He said he is interested in "a little clay shooting", not joining the registered shooters. And I disagree, the last thing I would want for upland or duck hunting is a 12 to 13 lbs. gun!

OP, the Beretta A400 is a good gun. As mentioned, you can get the A300 for about half the money, but it is a basic shotgun. I love mine though. Nate gave the best advice though, choose the one that fits you best.

I love my Browning Maxus. Find the one that fits you. If it will kill ducks, it will bust clays and vice versa.

Beretta.
The A400 is nice but you can get a great deal on a Beretta and spend a little less money.

Choose between the 391, 390, 3901, or the newest one, the 300

I wouldn't bother with the 3.5" chambered guns. They really aren't necessary but come at a price and weight premium.

Shoot a Benelli Super Sports and you may be in love

^^^ Smart guy

I used to have a Mossberg 590 tactical pump that I switched to a Stoeger 2500 Tactical for home defense. The Stoeger has ran everything from cheap target loads to 3" mag steel shot loads and 00 buck. I liked it so much I just bought me a Stoeger 3000 in MAX4 camo for my duck/turkey/dove gun.

I got the 3000 over the 3500 because I don't need the 3.5" capability nor the capability to mount a red dot. Mine will be $499 out the door after FFL fee. Should be here Thursday and I can't wait. Going to pattern it this weekend to get ready for the second half of duck season.

I have never had any problem killing the crap out of ducks with my 12 ga. Remington 870.

However, I only shoot clays with a 20 ga, also an 870. Seems to work fine for me, although I am not a competitive shooter and I don't like auto shotguns.

If I was going to shoot more skeet or trap I would get an O/U 20 ga.

In college I shot shotguns competitively and ducked hunted a lot, I was using a Winchester SX-2 and never had any issues shooting either with it.

go to one of the name brand store and handle each of the auto loaders, SX-3, extremea 2, SBE2, ect see which one fits you the best. any good auto loader should be able to easily do both for you

I killed a lot of ducks, geese, and clay pigeons with a 3" 870 and 11-87. With Remington's current QC issues, I would probably look at Berettas pretty hard. My brother has a Silver mallard that I really like.

I bought a Franchi Afinity this summer. I have hunted with A5s for 40 years and did not think I would ever shoot anything else.
I really like the Franchi, I bang it around dove and duck hunt with it this year. Have not found anything yet that it will not shoot from target to 1700fps 3inch duck loads. I bought it because it fit me best and just felt right. That's how I would choose a gun.

I and most of my buddy's still shoot our competition guns hunting Ducks, Dove and those things where we drive up and mostly sit to shoot. I'd not rec. a target gun for quail. It doesn't wgt as much with the tubes out, but all of the guys that may be contrary to my view if they shoot much or well probably use multiple guns. You said one gun. By the way, get a old 30" A-5 Browning Mag Goose Gun with 30" vent rib bbl, load it and wgt it. You may get a shock. Most competition guns are heavy because they have mercury recoil reducers in them plus dense grain wood and not hollowed out stocks!

Beretta all the way, like they said between the 400's 390, 391 and the 300 there is a fit in there both handling and price wise. If all you were going to do is hunt ducks or geese with heavier camo on a benelli wouldnt be a bad choice at all. Everyone on here that has shot different models of the two will tell you the berettas gas system has the least amount of recoil. A good thing if you spend a day at the clays course or in the field in september trying to reach white wings.

Benelli Super Vinci with the 30 inch barrel.

I think ya'll scared muddawg19 off...

You might check out Brownings Silver Hunter. Great gun! Will cycle whatever you feed it and won't break you. I've got a 12 and 20 in it and love both.

You simply can not beat a Cynergy.