My son's been after me to go for geese with him this coming fall. Trouble is, I only have 3 smoothbore 12's: a 12 inch side by each Norc coach gun - out of the question. It's chambered for 3" and not too bad recoil wise, but patterns suck and the fireball would scare the bejeesus out of the other guys in the blind. I have an 870 with a 20" rifles barrel and a 24" smoothbore, but I'm not sure about a 24" tube for geese. That leaves my lever shottie. I bought it as a toy, because I love the 14 inch barrel, but it also comes with a 28" tube, with interchangeable chokes and is chambered for 3". It is pretty light and not a fun gun with heavy loads, but, I could handle that. Just curious to see if anyone out there has used one for ducks/geese, and how you found it. Is it fast enough to get multiple shots off, etc.
Lever 12 for waterfowl?
- Thread starter Papaclaude
- Start date
Nothing wrong with the 24" pump gun assuming it has a useful choke constriction. Might not swing as nicely as a longer gun but it'll still work fine. The lever will also work fine, but if recoil is lighter with the pump then that would be my choice unless I shot the lever far better.
My 870 has interchangeable chokes, so that wouldn't be a problem. The lever gun is very light. With the 14" bbl it is not pleasant at all with 3" slugs and buckshot, so I'm assuming the heavy goose loads would be worse yet.
I guess if worse comes to worse, it could be an excuse to buy a new toy.
I see no reason why the pump wouldn't work if it has interchangeable chokes. It might not be ideal but it should be entirely useable.
You do make a good point about it being a good excuse for a new toy though - assuming you are interested in getting a gun with a more dedicated waterfowling purpose. Alternatively, if you would rather a bunch of other stuff and only care about spending time with your kid, then a gun you already own would be more than sufficient.
Maybe give it a go with the pump or lever and then decide whether you want to get a dedicated goose gun?
You do make a good point about it being a good excuse for a new toy though - assuming you are interested in getting a gun with a more dedicated waterfowling purpose. Alternatively, if you would rather a bunch of other stuff and only care about spending time with your kid, then a gun you already own would be more than sufficient.
Maybe give it a go with the pump or lever and then decide whether you want to get a dedicated goose gun?
Heck of a decision - I have had a hankerin' for a 3 1/2" semi, so who knows. Maybe I'll try busting some clay birds to get the feel of the gun, then get a box of steel goose shot and try my hand with it.
Thanks. Good to know. I would not have been concerned at all about 24" barrel length if we were still talking lead shot, but I figured with the new duplex loads, hevi shot, and such, that a longer barrel was pretty much a necessity.
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I have shot 3 inch Hevi shot Hog Wild buckshot out of turkey shotgun with 23 inch barrel. The interchangeable Imp Mod choke has superior effective range.
Great to know - thanks. But maybe I should be mad at you for taking away the excuse to buy a new gun.
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Lol !
Oh no sir. That option is still there - you already said you don't have a semi! Lol
Well, I do have a semi - it's just a 20 gauge. An old Ithaca recoil operated (a 900, I think). Great little gun, never gets used anymore, though.
Oh you definitely need a new gun, there's no doubt about that. The ones you have just won't do.
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Oh you definitely need a new gun, there's no doubt about that. The ones you have just won't do.
I fully concur!
Well, in the spirit of true democracy, majority rules - new gun it is (unless the resident dictator vetoes).
Not to discourage you from buying a new gun but i posted chrono results of various barrel lengths in a thread not all that long ago. Cant remember which one though. Basically after 12" of barrel the rest is for sight plane and swing. I use every thing from 13" to 32" i have no issues crushing targets or canceling waterfowl flights. Ive used my canuck defender for water fowl and its 13" barrel and mod choke knock down the big divers at 40 yards with ease. I just prefer the semi for the times i have to chase a cripple. Its easier to paddel and shoot a semi then it is to pump. Now that i bought a paddle leash i think the difference will be nil next season
Nice thing about a semi is it does cut down on the recoil a tad. I know my little lever is not a lot of fun with 3" slugs, or 3" turkey loads. Haven't tried goose loads in it, and I haven't fired a single shot from the 28" bbl, but it is pretty light.
A very good point. Consider, though, how simple and inexpensive it is to add weight to a shotgun - even temporarily. That would make it a little more enjoyable.
Goose move slowly. And if you are shooting over decoys and set yourselves up properly, they will be almost in slow-mo as they drop their landing gear. It isnt like shooting teal in a flooded forest where you are chasing a speeding bullet diving and dodging. A short barrel gun will work fine as long as it patterns okay with steel.
