I've had an itch lately for a new shotgun. I picked up a Beretta Silver Pigeon 20 guage and a Browning Maxus carbon fiber 12 guage. The silver pigeon because I've always wanted one and the Maxus because it was used and worth the money. Which one of these is going to make the better dove gun? I haven't shot either one yet. They both seem to shoulder well. Which one you think will have the least recoil? Any of you use either one? Thoughts on them?

My son and I both shoot Maxus shotguns and they are fine guns! His is the carbon fiber, mine is camo!



I can't speak for the Beretta but have never heard anything bad about them.

That's a cool picture.

Those are both excellent guns. You can't go wrong. It partly depends on what you already have. Most folks have a 12 gauge of some sort already. I really wanted a 20 ga o/u just because they're so cool, especially for doves/quail. The auto 12 is probably good fore everything else. I like wood grain guns, but if you get an auto consider getting black. Wood will scuff and camo goes out of style eventually.

...and in terms of recoil, you'll be surprised that the o/u 20 shoots about the same as the auto 12. I can't hardly notice a difference.

It just depends on which you shoot better depending on how it fits you.You should be able to do some adjustment on the Browning for fit.

I shoot a 686 Silver Pigeon for doves and a camo synthetic Beretta for ducks.My choice is mainly because I like the lighter 20ga in the dove field and my daughter who hunts with me also shoots a 20ga. I prefer the camo synthetic around the water since it's basically weatherproof.