Considerations for a waterfowl shotgun?

langfordbc

langfordbc

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I’ve never hunted any birds besides grouse, but would like to start hunting ducks and geese. What should I be looking for in a gun? Are there questions I should answer for myself that would dictate what would best suit my intentions?
 
I’d go with a 12g semi auto with removable chokes that will be suitable for steel shot. My preference is toward gas autoloaders, but that is just me. Others would recommend inertia operated autoloaders. This is a matter of preference.

Decide by picking the gun that fits you best versus buying a particular brand that someone tells you is the best. Any semi made by Browning, Benelli, Beretta, Winchester, Remington, Mossberg….to name a few……would all be good choices.
 
What's your budget? And how much do you think you'll actually hunt (one box of shells a season, or a case?). Those answers will either steer you to Turkey or to the US / Italy.

I'd second the vote for a 12ga. autoloader, and add that camo finish is very durable and a good choice for a fowl weather gun. A 3" chambered gun is all you need for the biggest and highest goose, but if you find a deal on a 3 1/2" gun they'll cycle 2 3/4" or 3" waterfowl loads just fine. As evident from my trader rating, I'm a big fan of used guns and have owned and used many different waterfowl shotguns. You tell me your preferred budget area and I'll find a handful of suggestions in the EE and PM you (none for sale by me - I'll have no skin in the game).
 
My choice is an old school pump shotgun nothing fancy something your not too worried about getting wet, dinged or dropped - something built in the 70's before modernization and cheap parts came onto the scene.
 
Having started with a single as a kid then a bolt. Money was the limiting factor. I moved to a pump and used it well. SxS was next progressions in 10 and 12. Finally a numbers of semis were tried. I have stuck with a semi for the last 20 years. Save some time and money by getting a good gun now and not having to change. Talk to some of the shooters that do clays and ask about fit. It is the most important part of success. After you find a gun that acts like part of you, get a # of boxes of different shells, and pattern each shot size you will use. We hunt over decoys so most shots are about 30 yds or less. Our groups uses #4,3,2 shot mostly some BB at end of season for Greater canadas. Great times and good friends is what it’s about, good luck.
 
Considerations for a waterfowl shotgun?

Remington 870 Wingmaster from the mid 80's to mid 90's....
Removable chokes and a 28in. barrel.
You'll get your feet wet and then move on to the world of doubles or semi auto's.
Rob
 
Remember when you’re swinging that prospective new toy around checking for fit, you won’t be in light summer clothing when waterfowl hunting, your gun fit is much different when wearing typical late fall hunting clothes.
 
I have three 870's but they are all in an 18.5" configuration. I'd probably not bother buying a longer barrel for one and would be more inclined to try a semi, budget $1500-2000ish. I also always look for used on the EE before going new.
 
langfordbc said:
I have three 870's but they are all in an 18.5" configuration. I'd probably not bother buying a longer barrel for one and would be more inclined to try a semi, budget $1500-2000ish. I also always look for used on the EE before going new.
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A good cheap gun is the Stoeger m3500 $930 for camo 3 1/2" chrome lined barrel. I've had mine 9 years 0 problems, it's inertia driven.
 
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Considerations...budget is #1, after that do you plan to hunt water most or are you going to be hunting dry fields primarily. I used to hunt water alot but since moving to the prairies I don't hunt water unless it's a flooded spot in a field and those are few and far between most years. That is one reason besides preferring them esthetically that I can and do hunt with a traditional wood stocked and blued gun but if I was going to be hunting water alot, hunting from a boat or going to be hunting with a duck dog I'd recommend a synthetic stocked alloy receiver gun. Something that resists corrosion better and leaves one with less worry about getting marked up or cracked stocks. As for barrel length, chamber size etc that is more personal preference but a longer barrel like a 28"-30" provides a much better sighting plane and has much better swing and follow through characteristics for the type of shooting waterfowling offers. I will also tell you that a 3.5" capable gun is of zero advantage. Any gun chambered to accept 2 3/4" and/or 3" ammo is all that is needed. A 12ga is the easiest to find a good selection of both firearm and ammunition choices. I personally shoot nothing but a 20ga these days and not trying to blow my own horn but, and this is my personal opinion only I would not recommend a 20ga for the average shooter. You have to really know your gun/loads limitations and have the experience how to judge range well to send the smaller payloads downrange at large flying birds and be able to fold them consistently.
 
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For waterfowl reliability and fit is the top considerations. For semi choose between the best reputations of makers and find a model that fits.
For me it's Beretta a400 series and the original a303 but I grew up with an Ithaca 37 pump and rem 1100 semi
None o my berettas have ever let me down
Browning offers several models and the Winchester sx series has a good rep. As does the versamax from Remington
An older used Beretta a303 or rem 1100 in 3" chamber and barrel with a mod choke does great with steel loads for ducks on the lakes
 
I like a semi auto myself, any of the Beretta, Benelli, Browning or Winchester guns are very reliable if maintained properly. They do fit very differently though, and even shims don't guarantee the best fit. 3" is fine for all waterfowl, and they tend to be more reliable for light target loads than 3-1/2" guns. I prefer synthetic stocks and a dull finish, as waterfowl guns generally get wet, and those finishes do better in wet conditions.
 
I eventually will go to a semi auto. But I've been using a pump without issue for awhile now. My go to is a Browning BPS. Well built, durable and has been really reliable. Pump, or semi make sure it fits you right that's the largest factor to consider.
 
OP, you have several Remington 870's right now, so in my opinion you'd be best just getting a longer barrel 28"-30" with a modified choke or choke tubes and go hunting. That's the "practical" way to do it. If you find you like waterfowl hunting there is plenty of opportunity to buy something else if you want to try a specialized semi. If you need an excuse to buy more guns, of course we understand completely are here to help!
I personally have a strong preference for pump guns for waterfowl. That's not a popular opinion, but having been around malfunctioning semis for many many years my preferences are based on some experience. No denying the gas operated semis are helpful for reducing recoil though.
My other advice is to not be duped into thinking 3-1/2" shells are any actual advantage. They are designed for American style competitive shooting on crowded public marshes where few opportunities and frustrated hunters leads to "hope" shots that are at extreme range. We don't need to emulate that kind of behaviour here. I don't even bother with 3" shells most times, if you do your job right with scouting and decoys, birds can be killed cleanly with good fast 2-3/4" steel shells.
 
Longwalker said:
OP, you have several Remington 870's right now, so in my opinion you'd be best just getting a longer barrel 28"-30" with a modified choke or choke tubes and go hunting. That's the "practical" way to do it. If you find you like waterfowl hunting there is plenty of opportunity to buy something else if you want to try a specialized semi. If you need an excuse to buy more guns, of course we understand completely are here to help!
I personally have a strong preference for pump guns for waterfowl. That's not a popular opinion, but having been around malfunctioning semis for many many years my preferences are based on some experience. No denying the gas operated semis are helpful for reducing recoil though.
My other advice is to not be duped into thinking 3-1/2" shells are any actual advantage. They are designed for American style competitive shooting on crowded public marshes where few opportunities and frustrated hunters leads to "hope" shots that are at extreme range. We don't need to emulate that kind of behaviour here. I don't even bother with 3" shells most times, if you do your job right with scouting and decoys, birds can be killed cleanly with good fast 2-3/4" steel shells.
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I have been using gas operated semi autos for the last 10 years or so, for all of my waterfowling. I properly maintain ,my shotguns, and I have had zero issues with them while hunting. I have seen issues with semi autos, but they were always the result of poor maintenance, some weren't cleaned for years, and just became so gummed up, they started to malfunction. So if a person buys a quality semi auto and properly maintains it, there are no concerns about reliability.
 
Echo that sentiment. Abuse, neglect, poor maintenance are generally the root causes of malfunctioning semis. If they are reasonably clean and lightly lubed (and of course in good working order), they'll work. The same conditions will mess up pumps, they aren't magical.
 
Fit is important as is price ,we all walk that balancing beam especially when you first getting into duck hunting. Pretty sure most of us started with pumps or early semi's that were not that expensive as you probably were not sure how hard you would get into the sport. As you became committed of course you bought better decoys ,calls, camo and of course guns. Spending a ton on a first gun is something I would never recommend but there are plenty of mid range priced that will fill the void nicely and have been mentioned. I shoot a semi and later in the year switch to an O/U but started with pumps as well. I have become a big believer over many years of trap/skeet shooting in fit so endeavor to find something that you "feel" fits you when you hoist it up. Bought a new 725 Browning trap and tried 3 out at the store all "fit" a bit different even though they were supposedly the same gun. Also don't be afraid to ask others if its ok to hold there's you might find one that is "made" for you or a diamond in the rough ,good luck.
 
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