I need shotgun advice

[Sheltowee]

Merkel or Sauer 12 gauge side by side. Simple as pie. 6.5 lbs and elegant, tough, dependable. Everything you want in a do-it-all gun. Used market under $1k.

Figured you'd be showing off a vintage LC Smith double sidehammer, Brent.

 

[ismith]

Avoid the Turkish guns.

 

[BrentD]

Figured you'd be showing off a vintage LC Smith double sidehammer, Brent.

Actually, I do not have an American double. Just has not worked out that way.

English guns are a better value and German guns can be even better values yet. At the moment, I have only one hammer double - Cashmore/Birmingham. I shoot it very well, but I would not recommend it for an all around gun. It would be a tad slow on ruffed and spruce grouse in cover over a flusher. Pheasants, ducks, turkeys, it handles well, however. I also prefer hammerless guns when it is really cold.

 

[BrentD]

Avoid the Turkish guns.

I'm not sure that I agree with with such a blanket statement, but then I like to say things like, "Avoid the new and recent manufacture guns" which would include all the Turks and many more.

 

[Ringbill27]

Winchester SX4 is the only auto I’d buy for waterfowl. Well…. Until a SX5 comes out.

 

[scub300]

I'd recommend a Berettta A400. I have a 10 year old Xplor that has been nothing but excellent. It's my everything shotgun at this point -just switch out choke tubes. At least 10k rounds through it with zero failures! (I shoot a lot of trap and sporting clays).

I second the Beretta. I have several, dead nuts reliable and probably the softest shooting semi auto out there.