All around upland game and waterfowl shotguns for me:

1. Benelli M1 or now M2
2. Benelli Super Black Eagle II

Inertia ejection bolt. Lighter than most gas operated shotguns. Definitely easier to clean. Complete take down of my M1 Super 90 is about 6 steps including the trigger assembly I do once / season. Putting back together is a snap.

You won't find a more reliable shotgun in auto-loader category in any condition after boxes of rounds through it, it almost never fails to eject and load round after round.

Don't buy an over/under for pheasants! It's ok when hunting alone but when you are hunting at a good outfitter, you will be wishing you had more shots.

if you are good shot, over under is fine,but i cant shoot one..that barrel underneath is no good for me..same with a side/side..

they both feel better to me than a semi-auto but i cant shoot one..

to me,if you want just 1 gun, semi is way to go.i shoot skeet, grouse pheasants, ducks all with just 1 gun..BERETTA URICKA FIELD,12 GA,28 INCH BARREL,6.6 PDS..

MOSTLY OTHER THAN PHEASANTS /DUCKS YOU WILL ONLY GET 1 SHOT ANYHOW,2 AT MOST..the down
fall of semi is you only have 1 choke in at time..i carry IC/MOD and switch it in brush,when i come to opening, i switch to MOD..

with over/under, you have 2 chokes, thats real nice..

Beretta 686 or semi auto pintail

Find the gun that fits you for the money you want to spend. Follow your gut on what you want. If you want an O/U, an auto isn't going to scratch that itch. If you want 26" barrels, get 26". I have 26" & 28" barreled shotguns. Why? The Browning Lightning Sporting Clays was on clearance at GM. It came with 28" barrels.(For the price I paid,the barrel lengthdidn'tmatter) The B Rizzini 20 gauge upland has 28" barrels. Why? Because it was used, and when I saw the english stock and beautiful wood, I had to have it.Now, my Ruger Red Label has 26" barrels and an english stock. I recently bought it used because it was exactly what I wanted for a late season grouse gun. (26" because it's thick where I hunt. My concern about swing is that I don't hit anything, not that it's not smooth or whippy) Go with your gut. If after reading some of these posts, your gut changes, then follow that! After you shoot your 26" O/U for a month or 2, you may get an itch for an auto....or sxs....or pump.........GoodLuck!

in thick brush for grouse,YOU POINT..in fields for pheasants, YOU SWING..

so,barrel length is not important in BRUSHfrom 26 to 28 inchs..

the whole SECRET is, BALANCE,but usually longer barrel, 28 inch IN SEMI is more BALANCED..this is why the skeet/clay shooters use long barrels, its sighting and BALANCE..THOSE CLAYBIRDS ARE AS FAST OR FASTER THAN GROUSE..

i hunt brush so thick its awful..i get grouse with long barrels because i POINT..TAKEshort barrel, in open and i will miss grouse, why, because i am SWINGING,not POINTINGand BALANCE is not good..

sprouls tip of day!!

Wow! - (I made two subtle changes above) I swing on both grouse & pheasant. Even on a straight-away shot, I'm swinging up, but still swinging. I've had as many straight-aways as crossers for both grouse & pheasant this year. Bottom line is that we all have "opinions" and methods. If I don't agree with you, which I don't (no offense), your methods will never work for me, because I won't give them chance. And vice-versa with my methods and you. If you love the gun and are confident in your method that's all that matters.And your love may (read will)change in thefuture.(Go buya new gun!)

Ryangrouse -again, if you have your heart set on anO/U, then that's what willwork best for you for now. I boughtthe RugerRed Label usedfor $625. You can get some lower endO/U's for $300-$500. For hunting they should last forever, although you run a higher risk for a potential problem, they are not normally light, and aren't as refined or balanced. I've seen new Browning Satin Hunters for a little over $1000 new, and if Walmart stillcarries them, you can order a new Ruger Red Label for a little over$1,100. I've seen Weatherby Orions for just under $1,000 at Sportsman'sWarehouse. The choices are virtually limitless, so goout and see which one speaks to you. Good Luck.

NO offense taken..heck, i like feel of o/u and s/s but sproul cant hit a barn with one..i am SEMI man..less recoil, feel good, if its beretta or benilli,franchi,others, are terrible..

semi can do it all where the others cant..if you want all around gun, its 12 ga semi..if you want only 1 gun, semi

if you want 2 shotguns, you are RIGHT..better guns for grouse and better guns for pheasants, quail etc..


i sold 5 guns to get my BERETTA field 12 ga..they are getting more expensive, i seen them now for over 900..i have 25 guns left and selling 12 now which i have all sold..i am looking at 1500 dollar KIMBER 22CAL.then at 400 dollar leopold scope..,so i 2000 dollar gun..

i am going to stay around 13 guns now,from 34 total..

I absolutely love my Beretta AL390. I used the gun exclusively for pheasants and chukars. With the new models taking the 390's place you might be able to pick up a used one at a good price. You can't go wrong with a Beretta.

i agree,i like beretta 391 field..boy, 20 ga is sweet but 12 is what i use..here is our site ,www.shotgunworld.com put beretta in search block, real good info ..