Evaluating the Best and Worst Semi-Auto Shotguns for Waterfowl Hunting

Selection of the proper shotgun for waterfowl can be overwhelming with the vast offerings on the market today. While certain attributes like aesthetics, ergonomics, and functionality seem to take center stage over most other considerations in shotgun selection, the pattern performance of a shotgun is usually an afterthought. The following article will examine some of the finest waterfowling shotguns available on the market in more detail to see just how efficient they are at patterning.

This pattern test was done with a 30-inch paper target at a distance of 40 yards, with a shoot-and-see duck target in the center. Some consistency was provided by using the same choke (Carlson’s Delta Series) and Federal Speed Shok steel #2 shot (156 total pellets) for every test. Grading was based on how many pellets struck the 30-inch circle, the duck’s rectangular target, and the duck itself. The number of pellets in the 30-inch circle was used to determine the overall pattern performance percentage.

Shotguns tested:

• Benelli Super Black Eagle 3
• Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus
• Franchi Affinity 3
• Stoeger M3500
• Browning Maxus 2
• Browning A5
• Weatherby Element
• Mossberg 940 Pro
• Beretta A300 Ultima

Preliminary results showed most of the more expensive shotguns were no better than some of their less expensive counterparts. Just to be certain, accuracy was rechecked with three guns: the SBE3, A400, and A5.

The Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 did worse the second time around, putting 56 percent of its pellets inside the 30-inch circle. In contrast, the Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus did much better in its second test—81 percent of the pellets went into the 30-inch circle, and 35 pellets into the duck. The Browning A5, on the other hand, got worse with just 7 pellets hitting the duck target.

Best of the Test:

1. Mossberg 940 Pro: This shotgun turned in an excellent result, with the highest tied percentage of pellets into the 30-inch circle. A true point of aim/impact and even pattern distribution of note, considering this is a sub-$1000 shotgun price point.
   
2. Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus: This high-end shotgun matched the Mossberg 940 Pro with 81 percent pellet placement, but its true point of aim/impact and decent pattern distribution justified the price.
   
3. Weatherby Element: This was a bit of a surprise gun, as 71 percent of its pellets hit within the 30-inch circle using a true point of aim/impact and with decent pattern distribution.

Failures:

1. Browning Maxus 2 and A5: These two guns promised optimum patterns but blew holes in their patterns and could not produce a true point of aim/impact.
   
2. Benelli SBE3: That was supposed to be the crème de la crème of waterfowl hunting shotguns; the SBE3 turned in some of the worst pattern percentages—a function of the guns shooting high and putting far too many pellets outside a 30-inch circle.
   
3. Stoeger M3500: Being an inexpensive gun, the M3500 performed poorly, as it shot high with large gaps and several fliers outside of pattern density.

In the end, trendy guns like the Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus performed to their hype, but budget guns, such as the Mossberg 940 Pro and Weatherby Element, performed very well. These test results prove a huge point about pattern testing when making a critical decision for waterfowl hunting.