I need a fudd gun.

[MarkCO]

Looking for a semiauto for turning birds into lunch. Pheasants in cornfields as much as anything, with some chance of waterfowl or turkey.

I don't want a pretty finish. Parked, wood, Realtree/Mossy Oak, whatever...there's at least some chance of my painting it anyway, so engraved dogs and chickens and beautiful bluing are not value-added.

Not interested in using it for 3-gun. I wouldn't sneeze at a multi-role gun, but it's not worth a premium to me.

Is the Versamax worth the extra squeeze over an 11-87 or an old 1100? Should I avoid one model or another? Or does anybody else make anything decent in the $5-700 neighborhood?

The VersaMax is THE best operating system on the market. Granted, Remington's implementation of the design (they bought a patent) is not exceptional. Put a 4 round VersaTube on a Sportsman or Waterfowl model, replace the hammer with a Benelli M2 hammer and then go shoot the heck out of it. It is a much better shotgun than the 11-87 or an 1100 could ever be, especially in harsh conditions and with variable loads. The only thing is does not like is short magnums. Meaning, don't put magnum 2 3/4" shells in it, and you will both be happy. If you need extra punch or payload, step up to the 3 or 3.5" shells. It is the softest shooting and takes no back seat to any other shotgun in the reliability department.

If $1000 is a bit much for you, then in the range you asked, look at the Stoeger M3500. It is basically an M2 design (inertia) system that recoils less than the M2 with the recoil system around the magazine tube instead of in the buttstock. They are very reliable. I have been playing with a new M3000 (3") which, if 3.5" is not something you want, would be a very good choice as well.

This is coming from a guy who has an 11-87 3" Magnum for sale, and used those and 1100s for 20+ years...look right past them to a better system.