Step Child. I would say more like the unwanted redheaded step child of your second cousin who is only related to you by marriage because your first cousin adopted him when he married the kids idiot mother.
Poormans Benelli it ain't. We all wanted it to be, but it isn't. I broke one in 30 seconds and that was at a gun show, no ammo involved. For each one that is loved there are an equal or greater number that are not.
The dream of the cheap ultra reliable $500 semi-auto is relative, based on how you define reliable. For that matter, to me all season means all weather, not all hunting seasons AKA different game. So it works in hot, cold, wet, dry, ice and snow. Not sure if that is what the OP means but that is how I took it.
Nothing is more frustrating on a bird hunt then having your semi auto turn into a bolt action gun and/or stove piping. You spend a ton of money just to get to a hunt when you factor in everything from paid time off, travel, licenses and all the other "stuff." Shaving $100 to $200 on the gun is the wrong place to save money. So is buying cheap ammo for the hunt.
Buy quality used guns at the same price point before you buy cheapo new ones. But if you can't afford more, buy something and make it work. There comes a point where you will be better served by a pump gun.
To the OP, what do the people you hunt with use? You never defined what "break the bank" meant to you.
For semi autos I own Benelli, Beretta and Remington. Listed in the order of my personal rankings for all season reliable and that includes both hunting and clays.
If I was going to break from my Brand preferences, it would be for one of the new Winchesters.
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