You can buy the Beretta Extrema 2 at Puglia's in Metairie for $999. I have seen some slightly used Extrema 2's on GunBroker.com for around $850.

I would imagine the Franchi is a good gun. They have been around for a long time. Your resale value on the Franchi will probably be less than on a Beretta, Browning or Benelli though so that is something to consider if you decide you don't like it. For the amount you pay for a Franchi I think you could come close to getting a Browning Silver or Gold.

Another option would be the Winhester Super X-2. This gun has been replaced by the Super X-3 but you can still find the Super-x 2 for around $650 and up. The Super-x 2 was made in Belgium and is an awesome gun. You never hear anybody saying anything bad about a Super X -2. The Super x-3 is also a great gun, but you would pay around $1000 or so for it.

The Remingtion SP483 gets rave reviews, shoots 3.5 inch shells like a champ, and comes in a camo version at Academy for about $500.

Let us know what you decide!

Remington 11-87

MY BUDDY JUST BOUGHT A 3 1/2 IN. ,CAMO BERETTA EXTREMMA FOR $950. THEY WANTED AN EXTRA $300 FOR THE STOCK SHOCK RECOIL REDUCING SYSTEM, WHICH DID'NT SEEM WORTH IT. FIND A FRIEND WITH A FIREARMS LIC. AND HE CAN SAVE YOU SOME $$$$$$$$$$$$$$

I just bought one and love it. It was only $599

Well I had the wife sold on the idea that I needed a semi auto shotgun, and we were on our way to puglias to purchase it. Then the mail came, and we recieved her hospital bill from when she had our baby in August. So it looks like another year with the 870 express super mag, or until I breed my lab, and sell the pups.
Any prefrences on chokes would be great seeing as how I only have one choke that came with the gun.

i know everyones had their own experiences with guns, but I couldn't spend much on a gun last year either and I bought a used charles daly camo semit automatic shotgun for like 380$ from the cabelas used gun section. I hunt in some rough marsh and the gun has been under saltwater and mud plenty times and I'm gonna have to knock on wood after i say this but it has yet to give me problems. just a suggestion

have 2 of them and if you do some research franchi, benelli, beretta and umberti are all owned by ''the beretta group''. it comes down to what you prefer, but all the guns everyone else mentioned are also great choices. i think it's more personal preference and price.

i own a tri star and it is in my opinion the smoothest shooting most reliable shotgun i have ever owned. i used to shoot an 11-87 and it was a great gun but it cant compare to my tri star. the only other semi auto i have shot recently was the mossberg 935 and lets just say my shoulder still regrets it.