Waterfowl 12 gauge for deer?

F

Faster

New member
With deer season getting into full swing here in New Jersey, and no rifle season for deer, I'd like to get a new shotgun that can be versatile for different uses. I want to be able to hunt deer with 00 buckshot, but also be able to hunt ducks, pheasants, and possibly even some coyote with the shotgun I end up getting.
I really like the Franchi I-12 in realtree camo. I would get it in a 24" barrel.
Here's a link to what it looks like. http://www.franchiusa.com/firearms/images/i12_apg_12ga_lg.jpg
What do you guys think? Thanks for any input, good or bad. Also note that I dont plan on using slugs in this gun, I have a 20ga for that.
 
If your sold on the Franchi it should serve your purposes well. If your not look into the Stoeger 2000 same gun less $$. Or their 3500 in 3.5". Just putting a few options out there for you.
 
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Are they exactly the same? If so, then arent they pretty much the same as the Super Black Eagle 2? I do have a personal vendetta against Stoeger due to the side by side 12ga I have of their's that fires the right barrel when you close them.
If I were going to go cheaper, I might look into some Remingtons or something domestic made. But I think the Franchi is good for the price, which is near my limit. I always liked the 912 model Franchi.
 
buddy has a franchi and loves it....pretty solid gun for the money. I would also look for a winchester sx2... have been seeing them pretty cheap since the x3 came out
 
Benelli Super Black Eagle and dont look back, and get the extender tube. Ive never had a malfunction and I bought mine the first or second year they were made. I hunt all the animals that you listed.
 
If you going bird hunting I would go with a 28" barrel. A 24" just don't have the follow through like a longer barrel. You will end up shooting more tail feathers than anything. You can still kill deer and yotes with a 28"


Or get a pump with a 28" barrel and with the money you save you could buy a shorter (24") bird barrel and a slug barrel and ammo.
 
That F I-12 is a good looking shotgun !I'd like to try it out.
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Is it a gas operated gun ? Everyone has a barrel lenght pref, for an all around one does all, I like a 26".

If I was to line the safe with shottys it would go like this.....
Turkey/ preds/ deer --- 21-24"
upland birds -- 26-28"
Waterfowl ---28"

It's always good to buy upper end in the semi auto world. Spend the $$ or buy a pump,nothing worse than a single shot auto! I've had one .
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My current fav....
IMG_0517.jpg
 
Originally Posted By: frozenbuttIf you going bird hunting I would go with a 28" barrel. A 24" just don't have the follow through like a longer barrel. You will end up shooting more tail feathers than anything. You can still kill deer and yotes with a 28"

I see your point, maybe I will rethink and go 26", but 28" is just too long for what I'm looking for I think.
Originally Posted By: Tim NeitzkeThat F I-12 is a good looking shotgun !I'd like to try it out.
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Is it a gas operated gun ? Everyone has a barrel lenght pref, for an all around one does all, I like a 26".
My current fav....
IMG_0517.jpg

Its the inertia system like benelli. Supposedly cleaner shooting, but a lil more kick. I think 26" might be the ticket. Thats an awesome picture btw. Thanks for posting it.
 
Originally Posted By: yoteblasterStoeger auto's are hit and miss as far as functioning properly. Do a search on that model

Very true, though I think they have worked out most of the issues from 5 years ago. I have owned 3 now, the first one my choke was stuck so baddly it had to be sent back for repairs, while it was in the shop I bought an 11-87..........that was pure junk, jammed constantly. Got my gun back and traded it for an Encore rifle, so I bought another 2000..........no problems with it, my gf kind of took that from me to use herself....bought another one and have had zero issues with it.
 
Originally Posted By: Faster
Its the inertia system like benelli. Supposedly cleaner shooting, but a lil more kick. I think 26" might be the ticket. Thats an awesome picture btw. Thanks for posting it.

I'd have no problem running it if it's like the Benelli. Mine runs very clean and goes bang everytime I ask it. Thanks, I've got a few pics. This is one of my fav's.
IMG_0089.jpg
 
Great pics Tim. Yours is a 28" barrel right? I'm pretty sold on the Franchi at this point. Going to go to a few stores Sunday and hold one just to make sure I like the feel. Hopefully they'll have one in RealTree and a 26" barrel so I can just get it then.
Thanks for the info guys.
 
handle them all if you can, pick the one for you. i love my 24in sbe2. never an issue with it that wasn't my fault. couple of times i didn't make sure the bolt was all the way forward trying to close it without making any noise. cost me a really nice longbeard. got it the month they came out, max-4 not offered in 24in had to get timber.
 
Originally Posted By: FasterGreat pics Tim. Yours is a 28" barrel right? I'm pretty sold on the Franchi at this point. Going to go to a few stores Sunday and hold one just to make sure I like the feel. Hopefully they'll have one in RealTree and a 26" barrel so I can just get it then.
Thanks for the info guys.

Mines a 26" with a extended Kicks choke. Now that I have it I wish it were a 24".
 
I'll add this....

I had a hard time deciding between an M2 and SBE2. Had just got into goose hunting a season or so before. If I'd not had 2-2.5 cases of 3.5" steel from my other shotty I'd be rockin a M2 instead.
 


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