No wrong answer from the B guns.. but take a look at the Winchester SX4 as well. I'd be sorely pressed not to buy one if I needed/wanted a new Semi. This video is one of the reviews that caught my attention.

I've tried them all, and several years ago settled on the Benelli M2.

Be a boss and shot at those with the $300 870 from Academy. People laugh until they see this redneck outshoot those super overpriced shotguns. I'll always keep that wingmaster close and use it for all birds. Good luck.

Dave is right above, most get wrapped up in Benelli, Browning and Beretta.

I owned one of the SX3's when they first came out...softest shooting 12g shotty I ever owned. It just did not fit me and I never shot it worth a crap...I also had a Browning Cynergy o/u duck gun that was the same way.

Fit plays a huge factor in how well you will shoot it.

Beretta A300 Ultima is the best deal on a shotgun, IMO, and it's half your budget. I have an A400 and really like it, but if I buy another it will be the A300 Ultima.

I’ll be the odd man. I have been thru semi’s, pumps, o/u’s, single shots. After 30 years of 870’s & BPS’s and happy with them until I wasn’t.

I settled on the Browning Auto-5, 1965 Belgian. I love it, don’t use anything else. Still have the 870 & BPS, just don’t use them.

I have shot one. While I did well with it I felt it was punching me in the jaw when I shot it

I have 870, 1187. I tested out a longer 28-30” barrel and I shot better and it felt easier on clays

I’ve been duck hunting less than 10 x as I don’t care for it.

BIL, that surprises me. My A400 is a peach to shoot. I also have several Beretta 390's and they are easy on the shoulder too. Maybe the fit wasn't right. Although, the 1187 is known as a really light shooter as well.

Its funny how each gun is so different to each shooter.

Does all I need done. Don't shoot much skeet though. Do deer, hog, rabbit hunt and occasionally knock off a poisonous snake. However I must have 10 other shotguns.

What are you expecting this new auto shotgun to do that the 11-87 won’t?

not use 1987 o-rings

A $254 Mossberg 500 Field model pump from Walmart will “do all”. A shotgun is just a pipe with a firing pin.

Probably a Benelli montefeltro. But since you don't want wood probably an m2

Get me higher scores on clays while I can still use it in the field

Patrick, you’ve already learned that a longer barrel helps, another thing good target guns have is more weight. Both barrel length and overall weight of the gun promote better follow through…..neither of these things are common to good field guns because they both hinder quick handling and mounting, not to mention just carrying them around all day. Your best bet, if you insist on this fools errand, is to go with the semi of your choice with a 30” barrel for clays and a 24-26” barrel for the field.
The only problem with this is that you’re still stuck with 12 ga. when a 20 or even 28 is a better choice for the field and O/Us with interchangeable barrel sets are too expensive. Last, shoot with more open chokes, a large % of shooters use too much choke. Go to a clays range for practice/fun, screw in a skeet choke and leave it there for the full 100 targets, then see what your score is.

Edit: Oh yeah, check into a barrel weight from Brileys and either a mercury recoil reducer or a roll of quarters to put in the butt of your stock…these will get you the weight you need for clays yet can be removed for the field.

For me, there's one answer

Franchi Affinity 3

Everything comes out the front, no reason to remove the buttstock after cast and drop is set. Made in the same factory as the Benelli, uses the Beretta .729" bore diameter instead of the skinny .723" Benelli bore. Patterns great with steel or lead, handles light target loads, easy to clean and can be had for half of the Benelli.

Great ad Mr. Maas, I’m a Franchi fan also…..but what do all those statements mean with the question at hand? Franchi is a great brand but not the answer here…..too light.

X2. The A300 Ultima is a fantastic gun and a great value

Go buy the Beretta Extreme Plus that just got posted in the classifieds. It’s a 26” model and would be a great go between from clays to field.

For the record, my A300 has been flawless

I bet I have shot several thousand 1 1/4oz steel loads at 1450fps and up with no complaints from me. Shot tons of 1oz target loads with no hiccups either out of the Affinity 3. 7lb shotgun is too light, would have never guessed.

Most of the autos being mentioned are right at 7lbs, sporting guns get there additional weight from actual weights. By all means, don't let me stop you from spending twice as much as needed.

Well then, find a new in the box Japanese Light 12.

A shotgun is a personal thing. I have a lot of them but only hunt with a few. Try what your friends have on a dove hunt and decide what you like. Pick one and use it for life!

I’ve gone and held a few and still up in the air. Top two at the moment are probably the a400 and the Benelli Supersport
The Franchi was nice just didn’t feel right.
I’m having some issue seeing the bead just right on the beretta , not sure if it’s just an adjustment on the stock or something easy to make the bead go to a natural point

Then there’s that 28 vs 30 thing

On second thought, since you already have the 1187 and shoot it well for hunting, why don't you get a shotgun geared toward sporting clays since that is what you want to improve. Go 30" or 32". Also, try an O/U. I shoot my Browning Special Sporting (compromise between a field and sporting clays gun) for everything. The weight is inconsequential unless you walk a LOT for hunting. You are welcome to borrow mine for your next clays round. Note, I have not felt only two rounds hinders me at all in hunting as my 3rd shot with my autos is generally a desperation shot anyways.