Winchester SX4 vs Mossberg 940 Pro vs Beretta A300 Ultima vs ???

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drummerchuckb1

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I shot a round of sporting clays for the first time a couple weekends ago and enjoyed it but bruised my shoulder pretty good. I was using an old Ithaca 37 12 gauge. I'm trying to decide what to do to fix the bruised shoulder issue in the future. I have sort of 2 separate sets of questions, but decided to put them in the same thread.

First line of questioning: Can I make the Ithaca more comfortable for shooting lots of rounds? I actually had a cheap ($10) slip on buttstock pad on the gun and still had a bruised shoulder. I have been looking at limbsaver and kick-eez as higher performance options for reducing the felt recoil. Who has experience with these and how well they might work? My biggest issue with these (slip on or the screw on type) is the impact they have on the LOP. I was having a hard time mounting the shotgun with an extra inch on the stock. I could cut the stock, except I'm the 4th generation to have this shotgun (my uncle recently gave it to me) and I inherited another 37 from my dad a couple years ago, so I'd really like to keep both original.

This leads to the next point. I started considering getting a semi auto gas gun as a lower recoil alternative, with the added benefit of faster follow up shots, for sporting clays. The A400 seems like it's one of the best options, but I don't want to spend $2k. In fact, I would like to be under $1000. So with that said, I think I've narrowed it down to the Winchester SX4, Mossberg 940 Pro, or Beretta A300 Ultima. The internet tells me the SX4 doesn't come with shims and the A300 has trigger reset issues. There isn't much info on the 940 pro field. Does anyone here have experience with any (or multiple??) of these options and can offer any input on recoil, reliability, tuning the fit, etc etc? Are there any other options you think I'm overlooking? Thanks.
 
The A300 trigger issues were supposedly limited to a 2021 production run and later rectified. Even so, they'll correct the defective ones by replacing either the hammer or trigger group if you happened to run into the issue.

At least in the case of the A300 Patrol, adjusting the fit takes all of 5 minutes if you have the shims you need. Two screws to remove the butt pad, and one nylock nut to remove the entire rear stock assembly and shims.
 
You could also consider the Weatherby I am selling. I have not shot it, but the reviews I could find have been good and I wouldn't hesitate to say you'd save your shoulder 😁

NC - WTS - Weatherby Element 12 gauge - 28”

Up for sale is a BNIB Weatherby Element; box was opened and firearm assembled to show everything is there by the gun shop. This is the cerakoted version with a 3” chamber. Comes with 4 chokes, mod, IC, full - lead only, and an extended steel mod for waterfowl. You can read the reviews yourself...
carolinafirearmsforum.com carolinafirearmsforum.com
www.targetfocused.life

Weatherby Element 12ga Shotgun Review

Weatherby Element 12ga Shotgun Review
www.targetfocused.life www.targetfocused.life
 
Thanks for the replies. That's good to hear they sorted out the trigger issue on the Beretta. I did just realized the magazine tube can't be extended on the A300 Ultima. Not that it's needed for sporting clays, but it can be fun to shoot more than 4 in a row sometimes. Seems like the patrol can be extended but not the ultima.... I wonder if the new A300 Ultima "Sporting" will be able to be extended.

Thanks for pointing out your Weatherby for sale. I have convinced myself gas is better than inertia, although I don't really know that because I haven't shot them back to back. But I will keep an eye on the classifieds going forward I suppose.
 
drummerchuckb1 said:
Thanks for the replies. That's good to hear they sorted out the trigger issue on the Beretta. I did just realized the magazine tube can't be extended on the A300 Ultima. Not that it's needed for sporting clays, but it can be fun to shoot more than 4 in a row sometimes. Seems like the patrol can be extended but not the ultima.... I wonder if the new A300 Ultima "Sporting" will be able to be extended.

Thanks for pointing out your Weatherby for sale. I have convinced myself gas is better than inertia, although I don't really know that because I haven't shot them back to back. But I will keep an eye on the classifieds going forward I suppose.
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Yessir, its a good place to find options paying less than MSRP.
As for gas vs inertia, I have shot many of both, although almost all the inertia guns have been Benelli's. I have subjected both to conditions about as bad as they can be without actively trying to do them harm. Rain, sleet, thick brush, no drops in the water thankfully, and hundreds of rounds in a day in both hot summer and freezing cold conditions. If your goal is to have minimal recoil possible, gas is the best option. Inertia changes the recoil impulse and doesn't soften it as much, but they are ~generally~ more reliable. I still duck hunt with both, shoot sporting clays and trap with both. To me, shooting light clay loads, you're not going to notice much of a difference on pressure felt from recoil rather than recoil impulse itself. I'd pick whichever option fits you personally and your budget. The gas gun will be much dirtier, at the detriment of it's performance. Some people say gas guns don't like the freezing temps as much, I have only had a problem in them when the gun was not cleaned properly after a thousand rounds or so, my own fault.
Edit to add: some of the high performance gas guns chambered in 3 1/2" don't necessarily like really light target loads, in my experience. Though I'm sure some more experienced members may have other stories.
 
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I used Federal 2 3/4 inch, 7 1/2 shot, 1 1/8oz. I'll look into the Pachmayr pads for the Ithaca.

I am looking for a 3 inch chamber. I can't think of a reason why I'd need 3 1/2 inch. I also don't intend to put this gun through bad conditions, and I don't mind cleaning them. I like the smell of Hoppes. It's really all about fit and recoil for me with this one, as long as it's reliable when clean and can go at least 500 rds between cleanings. Might go to the gun show and see if I can find some of the ones I'm looking at and see how they fit and compare the feel.
 
drummerchuckb1 said:
I used Federal 2 3/4 inch, 7 1/2 shot, 1 1/8oz. I'll look into the Pachmayr pads for the Ithaca.

I am looking for a 3 inch chamber. I can't think of a reason why I'd need 3 1/2 inch. I also don't intend to put this gun through bad conditions, and I don't mind cleaning them. I like the smell of Hoppes. It's really all about fit and recoil for me with this one, as long as it's reliable when clean and can go at least 500 rds between cleanings. Might go to the gun show and see if I can find some of the ones I'm looking at and see how they fit and compare the feel.
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Drive down to Mid South Guns in Wagram, NC and you will be in shotgun Heaven.
Lots to try the fit to see what works for you.
Eat the fried chicken next door.
 
That's a pretty good drive. But the pictures do look like shotgun heaven, and fried chicken next door...

I held a A300 ultima and a 940 pro in some sort of tactical version today at a big box store. Didn't really care for the fit of the tactical Mossberg, not sure if the field version will mount differently. The stock felt short, I know it comes with spacers but still. Also the safety felt janky and stiff. The A300 on the other hand I shouldered first time and was looking right down the rib, mid bead and end bead nearly in a perfect row. It felt real nice. I'm second guessing my desire to extend the magazine tube. I need to find somewhere with the Winchester in stock, but that's proving to be a challenge without going on a road trip.
 
I have a Beretta A400 Xtreme and the felt recoil from a 3-1/2 is like shooting 2-3/4 from my Citori. It shoots really good and has a ton of spacers to get the correct LOP and point of aim. I highly recommend it.

I’d also look at a Remington 1100. Reliable and low recoil
 
Beretta is the king of shotguns and has been for a long time. If you have the budget I would put them at the top of the list.
 
The Ithaca is a very, very cool shotgun but in my experience shooting them they seem to kick a lot harder than you think they should. They are light guns (they are called “Featherweight after all) and my guess is they are a good pound lighter than the typical competition O/U which doesn’t help the recoil.
 
I shot a Mossberg 930 in local 3 gun for a year or two and it started having know issues. I replaced it with a Beretta 1301. I've been shooting it for about a year and a half. It's been great. The Beretta has a recoil reducing "kick off" system in the stock. If I'm not mistaken the A300 has the same system. The trigger on the Beretta is very good. If you can afford it I'd vote A300. I'm considering picking up a A300 patrol soon.
 
Beretta is definitely the way to go! The SX4 is not a bad gun either but I would 100% recommend the Baretta over it! If you enjoy shooting clays come out to Claybreakers Shotgun Range in Lexington and we have A300 rental guns and you can try one out to see if you like it!
 
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