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Dad is going to buy me a new shotgun - San Antonio

3,867 Views | 39 Replies | Last: 17 days ago by angryocotillo
lotsofhp
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11:06a, 8/20/25
AG
I've hunted all my life but I don't know squat about guns.

My dad bought me a pump action 12 gauge 25 years ago that I've used to this day. Pretty sure he got it at Walmart and I have no idea even what manufacturer made it. All I know is I've killed gobs of doves with it and it's been super dependable.

When it comes to guns, I'm the equivalent of the person shopping for a car who says "I just need something to get me from point A to point B". Can I put a 12 gauge shell in it at fire it at a dove? Yes? Ok let's go.

But, for the last few years, he's been saying I should get a new shotgun and now this year he said he wants to buy me one. It's obviously been on his heart, so I'm going to take him up on it and let it be a special thing.

Can the highly educated people of the OB give me some advice on what to look for in a new shotgun and maybe the best place to go look at them in San Antonio?

My initial instinct is to stick with a pump because my current one has never give me problems at all and I've been with people who've had to stop dove hunting or had a frustrating hunt with a semi auto that would keep jamming. However, if I knew the semi auto would be rock solid dependable, I see how that would be nice.

I very rarely take the 3rd shot at a dove if I missed the first 2 times. But I like the 3rd shot being there. To me that rules out an over/under, but maybe yall can tell me why I should consider that.

Budget is about $1300 and then I could always kick in some money too.

Thanks for any help. When I go with Dad to look at them, I don't want to just be like "idk Dad whatever…" I want to match his enthusiasm because he really loves this stuff. I think having put some thought and research into it will make it a lot better.

Sorry for long post.
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Illustrious Potentate
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11:16a, 8/20/25
AG
Maybe get some input from your old man on his recommendation.

ETA - I hope the above doesn't come off as me being an ass. I lost my dad ten years ago when he was 61. I'd give my left nut to have one more experience of him "showing me the ropes" on a subject where he had more knowledge than me.
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Yesterday
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In reply to lotsofhp • 11:16a, 8/20/25
AG
Well thought out post that you can tell comes from a good place. You're going to run out of pump action shotguns with a $1300 budget and might even be able to buy a pump and a semi with that.

The Remington 870 is an all time classic pump shotgun that I would recommend if you want a dependable, good and well priced pump shotgun.

I've hunted with a Beretta A300 12 gauge the last several seasons and it hasn't jammed on me once with several different brands of shells. I've always had good luck with Beretta over a Benelli but Benelli definitely has some good ones.

You may have to go the used route for a O/U although yildiz makes some decent stuff that people really like.
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Ark03
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In reply to Yesterday • 11:21a, 8/20/25
AG
Yesterday said:
Well thought out post that you can tell comes from a good place. You're going to run out of pump action shotguns with a $1300 budget and might even be able to buy a pump and a semi with that.

The Remington 870 is an all time classic pump shotgun that I would recommend if you want a dependable, good and well priced pump shotgun.

I've hunted with a Beretta A300 12 gauge the last several seasons and it hasn't jammed on me once with several different brands of shells. I've always had good luck with Beretta over a Benelli but Benelli definitely has some good ones.

You may have to go the used route for a O/U although yildiz makes some decent stuff that people really like.

I would not buy or recommend a new 870. They're not what they were 30 years ago.
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AgDad121619
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11:27a, 8/20/25
AG
A Franchi affinity is right in your price range and has the benelli inertia driven semi auto action. Very dependable but does have a little more kick than an air operated action.

I just ordered one last fall that I'm going to hunt with this dove season and really like it so far - but don't have a dove hunt under my belt for a full evaluation
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Dirty-8-thirty Ag
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11:35a, 8/20/25
AG
Beretta A300 or Winchester SX4, very nice semi-auto shotguns and will save your old man some scratch. Well under the $1300 budget.
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Hoosegow
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11:37a, 8/20/25
Your father is not buying you a shotgun. That would be a violation of the ATF rules.
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TRIDENT
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11:37a, 8/20/25
AG
I'd get a semi-auto by Beretta, Browning or Benelli, whichever fits you best and speaks to you. Dury's Guns would be a great place to shop.
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Maximus Johnson
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11:40a, 8/20/25
AG
Do you do any waterfowl hunting? If so, my recommendation would change, but for only dove/upland hunting I would pull the trigger on this and not think twice:

https://www.benelliusa.com/shotguns/montefeltro-shotguns?eid=288
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Ark03
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In reply to Hoosegow • 11:41a, 8/20/25
AG
Hoosegow said:
Your father is not buying you a shotgun. That would be a violation of the ATF rules.

No it's not a violation. A gift of a shotgun isn't the same thing as a straw purchase.

A straw purchase occurs if he's not legally able to own the shotgun, and if the father buys the shotgun on behalf of the son to bypass the criminal background check.

Legitimate gifts are perfectly okay.
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NRH ag 10
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In reply to Hoosegow • 11:46a, 8/20/25
AG
Hoosegow said:
Your father is not buying you a shotgun. That would be a violation of the ATF rules.

Buying a gun as a gift for someone who isn't prohibited from owning a firearm is illegal?

EDIT: beat to the punch.
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Yesterday
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In reply to Ark03 • 12:00p, 8/20/25
AG
Ark03 said:
Yesterday said:
Well thought out post that you can tell comes from a good place. You're going to run out of pump action shotguns with a $1300 budget and might even be able to buy a pump and a semi with that.

The Remington 870 is an all time classic pump shotgun that I would recommend if you want a dependable, good and well priced pump shotgun.

I've hunted with a Beretta A300 12 gauge the last several seasons and it hasn't jammed on me once with several different brands of shells. I've always had good luck with Beretta over a Benelli but Benelli definitely has some good ones.

You may have to go the used route for a O/U although yildiz makes some decent stuff that people really like.

I would not buy or recommend a new 870. They're not what they were 30 years ago.


Interesting. I haven't seen a noticeable difference but I'm also not a shotgun guru. What pump would you recommend?
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dodger02
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12:51p, 8/20/25
AG
Buy a semiautomatic that starts with a "B" or the Winchester Super X4.

I have a Browning Maxus and couldn't be happier.
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dmperch
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12:58p, 8/20/25
AG
Go to Drury's off 410 and shoulder some, find what fits you well. They have a pretty large selection, and the people there are very helpful. Think the Drury family are Aggies too.
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lotsofhp
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1:05p, 8/20/25
AG
Thank you for the replies guys! Yes, we're going to go to Drury's too!
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kyledr04
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1:11p, 8/20/25
AG
Winchester sx4 is a great gun. Big sale as bass pro right now. I might grab another one.
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agfan2013
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In reply to Ark03 • 1:29p, 8/20/25
AG
Ark03 said:
Yesterday said:
Well thought out post that you can tell comes from a good place. You're going to run out of pump action shotguns with a $1300 budget and might even be able to buy a pump and a semi with that.

The Remington 870 is an all time classic pump shotgun that I would recommend if you want a dependable, good and well priced pump shotgun.

I've hunted with a Beretta A300 12 gauge the last several seasons and it hasn't jammed on me once with several different brands of shells. I've always had good luck with Beretta over a Benelli but Benelli definitely has some good ones.

You may have to go the used route for a O/U although yildiz makes some decent stuff that people really like.

I would not buy or recommend a new 870. They're not what they were 30 years ago.


Agreed, I know multiple people that had issues with standard 870s made post 2005 or so.

However, I would still recommend an 870 Wingmaster, quality on those is much better and I absolutely love the one I own, never had a problem with it. Fits within OP's 1300 budget as well.

We've had two recent threads OP can check out about shotguns with some ideas in them as well.

Shotgun Help Needed: Rookie Dad, Rookie Kid, Zero Shotguns

Best All Around 12-Gauge Pump Action for Hunting
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Morpholino
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1:59p, 8/20/25
AG
Does Dad need another son by chance lol
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Hoosegow
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In reply to Ark03 • 2:49p, 8/20/25
All I can do is speak from my experience. Tried to buy my daughter a 40 once - this was at Bass Pro in Buda. Guy refused to sell it to me. Said it as a violation. I completely understand what you are saying and I thought it was rediculous.
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Ark03
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In reply to Hoosegow • 3:12p, 8/20/25
AG
Hoosegow said:
All I can do is speak from my experience. Tried to buy my daughter a 40 once - this was at Bass Pro in Buda. Guy refused to sell it to me. Said it as a violation. I completely understand what you are saying and I thought it was rediculous.

Sounds about right for Bass Pro. They didn't understand the law either.
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TXCAV
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3:39p, 8/20/25
Franchi Affinity3 of Affinity Elite. One of the best semi autos in that price range. Remington hasn't made a good shotgun since before 2000.
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hutch2882
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3:47p, 8/20/25
AG
As others have said above. Browning maxus or winchester sx4. They are essentially the same gun, the browning is just prettier. I've shot both of them for the last decade with zero issues.
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FIDO*98*
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6:32p, 8/20/25
AG
The 3rd shell isn't for a 3rd shot. It's the 1st shot at a secondary or tertiary target. It's why I rarely hunt with an Over/Under
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JD05AG
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In reply to Dirty-8-thirty Ag • 12:33a, 8/21/25
AG
Dirty-8-thirty Ag said:
Beretta A300 or Winchester SX4, very nice semi-auto shotguns and will save your old man some scratch. Well under the $1300 budget.


Return the favor, buy him one as well and make some memories.
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96ags
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In reply to FIDO*98* • 6:18a, 8/21/25
AG
FIDO*98* said:
The 3rd shell isn't for a 3rd shot. It's the 1st shot at a secondary or tertiary target. It's why I rarely hunt with an Over/Under

What???

I always thought it was just to let the one you missed twice know that he better not come back!!!
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Drundel
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4:39p, 8/21/25
AG
https://texags.com/forums/34/topics/3552255
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SockDePot
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8:17p, 8/21/25
Benelli M2

Was the first shotgun I bought after a lifetime of using an 870.

Still use it to this day after almost 20 yrs.

No gaskets. I only had 1 issue with reliability, mostly due to poor maintenance after about 15 years. And it was still firing, just cycling super slow.

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rab79
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In reply to FIDO*98* • 8:33p, 8/21/25
AG
FIDO*98* said:
The 3rd shell isn't for a 3rd shot. It's the 1st shot at a secondary or tertiary target. It's why I rarely hunt with an Over/Under


You can't get a triple without that third shell...
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lotsofhp
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2:52p, 8/22/25
AG
Had a great experience with dad at Drurys. A guy named Luis in there was really helpful. Ended up with a Benelli Ethos. Just shot right past that initial budget lol but we had a great time and I made up the difference in price.
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Maximus Johnson
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In reply to lotsofhp • 3:43p, 8/22/25
AG
Big difference between the Ethos and whatever pump models you were considering. Congrats. I am sure you will love it.
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AgDad121619
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In reply to lotsofhp • 6:14p, 8/22/25
AG
lotsofhp said:
Had a great experience with dad at Drurys. A guy named Luis in there was really helpful. Ended up with a Benelli Ethos. Just shot right past that initial budget lol but we had a great time and I made up the difference in price.
lol - you weren't joking about blowing right by that budget - that's a fine gun you just got
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Dirty-8-thirty Ag
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In reply to lotsofhp • 7:28p, 8/22/25
AG
Nice choice. I want an Ethos in 28g so bad I can't see straight. Those are so slick.
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FIDO*98*
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In reply to Dirty-8-thirty Ag • 8:38p, 8/22/25
AG
I have a Legacy 28. Probably my favorite shotgun I own
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CTGilley
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In reply to TRIDENT • 11:22p, 8/22/25
AG
Why no OU?
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SanDiegoAg12
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11:53p, 8/22/25
AG
I shot the Winchester SX4 and compared to my significantly more expensive Benelli Cordoba. In hindsight, I probably would have saved some money and gone with the SX4.

That's my pick in your price range.

Edit* see you ended up with the Ethos. I think you'll be very pleased with the gun and reliability.
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