r/canadaguns • u/YDpr99 • Jun 11 '26
Buy recommendations First Shotgun?
Hi all I’ve been looking at buying my first firearm and think I want to pickup a 12g semi auto shotgun. But I can’t decided I’ve seen so many options but I really don’t want to spend more than $1500 CAD on it.
I have friends telling me you can’t buy anything decent semi autos for less then $2500 but then I have other buddies telling me not to spend that much and you can get a good semi for $600!!?
Idk what to believe anymore but I feel like just under $1500 is the sweet spot I’m happy to spend that and I’ve seen a bunch of options for under that price point.
Right now what’s really caught my eye is the Beretta Shotgun A300 Ultimate 12 Gauge, 28" Barrel, 3" Chamber. But even tho it’s a good name and has a long reputation I’ve seen so many reviews complaining of having to send it back for warranty work then it becomes a good gun…
If I wanted to save a little money I also was considering the Stoeger M3000 as my buddy said for the price it’s one of the better semis you can buy. Obviously both of these options are very different.
Would love to know everyone’s opinion on these or if you see any other options fitting. I’m mainly looking for a do it all shotgun. I want to try turkey hunting some waterfowl and skeet.
7
6
3
Jun 11 '26
[deleted]
1
u/YDpr99 Jun 11 '26
I’m really unsure what’s better since I’ve never even fired a shotgun before I grew up target shooting ARs and pistols so I’m not sure what I should be looking for
1
u/Darkleaf71717 Jun 11 '26
The A300 and A400 are the softest shooting shotguns I've ever fired. I cant remember the name but its in the stock, like a compression area its really good I didn't even put a recoil pad on.
3
u/GetOnMyAmazingHorse Jun 11 '26
They call it 'kick-off" stocks if i recall. I have an A400 xtreme plus and i can shoot target #7 1/2, target slugs and target buckshot all day without slightest sign of shoulder pain.
Great gun!
2
u/Spydude84 Jun 11 '26
I have an A300 Ultima 28" 12ga and it has never had a single problem. It's eaten all the ammo I've fed it, which is almost exclusively light target loads, and not had a single failure to cycle, even though I clean it much less than the manual recommends.
This is a sample size of 1, but I've never heard of people having problems with A300s or Berettas at any sort of scale.
For clays, the A300 Ultima is the best entry semi-auto shotgun imo.
The real question: what do you want to do with it? It's great for clays, and probably hunting, but it's not a tactical shotgun.
3
u/YDpr99 Jun 11 '26
Ya I’m not interested in this being a tactical shotgun this would mainly be for clays and hunting
3
u/YDpr99 Jun 11 '26
Also did you do any sort of break in period?
3
u/Spydude84 Jun 11 '26
The manual says to run 50 high-brass shells through it, which I bought the cheapest ones and did that, but I didn't have any failures in that period.
2
u/SocksOfDeath Jun 11 '26
I got an a300 ultima patrol last month and i I love it. Put around 100 rounds through it and it’s been completely flawless. Just be sure to throughly clean it because it comes with a ton of sticky oil for shipping.
2
2
u/Vikare_ Jun 13 '26
If you can afford to save up for a Beretta 1301 they are super nice. I didn't really understand the hype until I bought mine. Totally worth the premium. My 1301 comp is easily one of my favorite guns, I would say the only I like more is my Glock!
Check your local gun stores and see if you can handle one. Make sure you do lots of research, it's a big purchase. You absolutely don't want some piece of shit that you might have to send back on warranty.
1
u/Mammoth_Attention_59 Jun 11 '26
Got me a Stoeger m3k that I use for 3 gun and it’s been fantastic
A solid m2 clone
Comes down to what you need it for. Want a shotgun that’ll be the end all be all? Sure 3k
Don’t shoot a ton of shotgun, buy to the use case. Most use cases in Canada, shooters are not pushing the gun to its mechanical limits.
End of day, your money, your discretion.
1
u/DarkHeroes5 Jun 11 '26
Have the exact same shotgun I use for skeet/five stand every weekend. Love it, it doesn’t fit my friends well but for me it’s perfect
1
u/YDpr99 Jun 11 '26
Why doesn’t it fit your friends well
2
u/DarkHeroes5 Jun 11 '26
I’m not to sure but it’s just how their cheeks rest on the stock they feel it a lot more then me when I shoot.
1
u/ADrunkMexican Jun 11 '26
I bought a mossberg 590m last summer. Currently on sale at tenda.
2
u/PepperAndFrens Jun 11 '26
590 series is unbeatable for pump action, i reccomend it to anyone. I got a 940 pro waterfowl for hunting, havent had any problems whatsoever with either
1
u/Darkleaf71717 Jun 11 '26
I have a friend who owns a A400 and he absolutely abuses it, scratches never cleans it. And that thing is so soft shooting never any issues, pretty remarkable. $2700 tho.
1
u/Constant_Window_4089 Jun 11 '26
Used Remington 1100’s or 1187 are the best in my opinion. You can find them for around $800 and there are plenty of them out there. The only problem is with the o-rings and that’s it. Before you go ahead and spend your money make sure that, the shotgun you are going to buy actually fits you properly otherwise it’s no good. If it’s your first shotgun, I’ll suggest buy one with a wooden stock, because you can always make it fit to your specifications like length of pull and drop from comb and etc. Why are you looking to buy a shotgun anyways ? Like for hunting or clay shooting?
1
u/YDpr99 Jun 11 '26
Mainly for turkey and duck with some clay shooting
1
u/Constant_Window_4089 Jun 12 '26
Then go for Remington 1187. Make sure to buy one with interchangeable chokes. You won’t regret your decision. Couple of my friends have 1187’s and 1100’s and they are active clay shooters and hunters and they are very happy with their purchase. I won’t recommend you to buy new beretta’s or stoegers as both of them are known to have problems with heavy usage. If you really want to buy a beretta then go for 391’s. They are known to be much more reliable than a300’s but it’s going to be a bit of a challenge to find a good one for sale especially around $1500.
1
u/GlizzyGuru Jun 11 '26
I have a Winchester sx3 and have had 0 issues.
Only thing I don't like is that its 26" id trade it for a 28" in a heartbeat.
1
u/YDpr99 Jun 11 '26
Do you really notice a difference I’ve been debating if it matters that much between 24-28”
2
u/GlizzyGuru Jun 11 '26
I mean I don't have a lot of experience with 28" I am just rather tall and have real long arms just think think 28" is better suited for my size from everything that I read.
How they shoot is negligible the difference. Mainly just how it feels and swings in your hands.
1
u/Few_Lynx2224 Jun 11 '26
I would get a Berretta 1301, Mossburg 940, or a Stoeger M3000 depending on your preferred price to quality. All are good enough for hunting and sport shooting. If you have to trust it with your life the cheapest I would go is the 940.
1
u/YDpr99 Jun 11 '26
Why would you make that choice is it more because of the price point?
1
u/Few_Lynx2224 Jun 12 '26
Price point to quality ROI. The M3000 is sport shooting quality, the 940 is self defence quality, the 1301 is basically milspec.
1
u/Penguinbotxv Jun 11 '26 edited Jun 11 '26
Nova 3 or 590a1. Purely for reliability but doesn't 100% suit your needs, only suggested these 2 because you said first shotgun and probably don't want any headaches and hassle
1
13
u/GoingBallistik Jun 11 '26
Beretta firearms are on sale right now!
Just got me an a300