[bbrown609]

Hi people. I have been reading this forum for a few months and have posted and replied a couple of times while saving for a new shotgun. I have saved almost enough that I am going to have to make a final decision soon and would like a few more opinions from you guys. This is a little background on what I presently have. I have a Remington 1100 Lt-20 which was my first shotgun. It is still in great shape, and I have slipped on a recoil pad to give it some extra length and bought a Remchoke barrel for it. I don't use it much anymore, but hopefully my wife can get some mileage out of it. I also have a Winchester 140 which is the plain jane version of the 1400. It is also in great shape and has the original Winchokes for it. I have bought a skeet choke for this gun, and it is what I use for hunting and at the range. It is a fine functional skeet gun, but not something I am going to show off or brag about. I have pretty much decided to buy some form of the Winchester Super X2. It is basically the same gun as the Browning but without the speed loading function which gives it a lower price tag. As of now, I am thinking of buying the synthetic stocked 3 1/2 inch model to give me an all around hunting gun. If I do this, I will continue to have to shoot my old 140 at the skeet range and at doves if I wish to shoot really light shells. The other option would be to buy the sporting or field model which could shoot the light loads but not the 3 1/2 inch shells. These models also have wood stocks which would be more subject to damage out in the woods or boat. In the future, would I regret not getting the option of being able to shoot 3 1/2 inch shells? Also, would I regret not having the synthetic stock on a gun that would see a lot of use in deer, turkey, and duck hunting? I do plan on saving for a decent O/U after making this purchase to shoot at the range, but that would take another year. I know this is a long post, but any thoughts, opinions, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Kingcreek]

I have the SX2 synthetic and it is an excellent shotgun. I bought it as a dedicated waterfowl gun. I started shooting hevi-shot on geese and don't see a need for 3.5" since. I guess its OK to have the option, tho.
BTW, mine handles light loads with no problems.

[kudu]

Up untill a few years ago there 3.5" shells were unheard of. Just think of all the other shooters out there that do without them. Oh there was 3.5" 10 gauges out there though, but you know where I'm coming from.:D

[Dave McCracken]

The big benefit of the 3.5" load is to the makers. They get to sell more shotguns to folks with perfectly good shotguns already.

New improvements in non-toxic loads render the 3.5" load even more moot. While there is a slight actual advantage to using the longer load, few shotgunners are of such proficiency to truly gain from this.

Wood stocks work well.

The X2 is going to be one of the classics, like the 870 and A-5.

Enjoy...