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It's kind of like BRD but I more confusing. I currently have 2 shotguns a Mossberg 500 my dad won at a DU defense and gave to me anda 835 he gave me for Christmas back when I was in high school and thought 3 1/2 inch shells were necessary to kill ducks. Dad died 7 years ago from a sudden aneurysm at age 52 so it would be hard to get rid of one of these pumps.
I would prefer a gun less than $1000 but could go a little over it would be used to shoot dove, ducks, geese, clays and just range fun. I don't have a dedicated defensive shotgun so an ability to fill that role would be nice but with the exception of Stoeger 3000 & 3500 shorter barrels for autos are about the price of a Mossberg 930 home defense at Walmart. I would also like the option of using 3 1/2 inch shells if for no other reason that I have about 100 shells already.
Guns I've handled (haven't been able to shoot any of them): Winchester Sx3 I like how it feels and handles the black shadow is under $1000 it's over bored so no shooting slugs. Versamax feels cheaper than the Sx3 but the bolt looks to be a good design. Beretta exterme feels about like the SX3 but cost quite a bit more and the benelli SBE 2 and Super-Vinci both feel alright I think I prefer the SBE but they're almost if not double my $1000 goal Mossberg 930/935 feel ok but not as polished as the others and finally the Stoeger 3500 and 3000 which looks to be the best value and I had talked myself into buying a3500 then chickened out the feel a little more clunky and less sleek and streamlined than the others but are the least expensive and a defensive length barrel isn't that expensive.
Of course for the hd shotgun I can get a shorter barrel for the 835 and the pump would be fine. Another option is something like the 930 field/defense combo and use the 835 when I feel like I have to shoot the big shells.
What does everyone say?
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Mossberg 935 will shoot 3" & 3.5" shells, but NOT 2-3/4" lighter loads, like field loads for doves or trap loads. It's not designed to, it even says so in the owners manual. If you want to shoot clays or doves, you're better off with the 930. I bought it to shoot the 3.5" shells, so I don't care that it doesn't like 2-3/4" shells. For 2-3/4 or 3", I have a Beretta Pintail ES100, that I bought used on Gunbroker for $375, that shoots everything. It's a Benelli recoil action, and almost identical to the Benelli 123, the 3" forerunner to the 3.5" Super Black Eagle.
One of my 3 duck hunting buddies has an SX3, and it pretty much acts like my 935 with light loads also. Great with magnum 3" or 3.5" duck or turkey loads, but trap loads don't have enough recoil nor gas to cycle it reliably.
Don't know much about the 3000 or 3500 Stoegers, but the 2000 was a real craphoot. Either you got a good one that works, or a bad one that no amount of "fixing" will make reliable. Another guy I share the blind with has one, it's been back to the factory 3 times. Works for about 2 boxes of 3" duck loads, then starts stovepiping and misfiring. We started calling him "2 guns", because he has to bring his Nova as a back-up gun. Stoeger's service has been great... his gun is long out of warranty now, but they've replaced virtually every part but the rear stock & receiver for no charge. Supposedly, the 3000 series has worked out the bugs of the 2000, but I'd research it before buying.
The other guy in our blind has a Benelli M2, 26" barrel, in camo, it shoots everything he feeds it, but it's a 3" gun... and recoil is noticeably more than the 935 or SX3 gas-operated guns with 3" shells. So is my Beretta Pintail's recoil.