10 Gauge Options

DrNick

DrNick

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Hi Fellas,

Been out goose hunting a few times this year....last time I was hunting with a friend who was using a 3 1/2 inch 12 gauge. I was suprised at how much better the birds folded when hit with the magnum as compared to my 3 inch 12 gauge.

LeBaron sells the Remington 870 Express SUper Magnum for $348.00. Before I buy one I thought I'd test the waters and see what people think of the mighty 10 gauge.

I've heard that the 10 gauge is better than the 12 gauge 3 1/2 ( less recoil, more pellets, etc) and I hear it's perfect turkey medicine ( I plan on beginning my turkey hunting career this spring). A quick look thruough a couple of catalogs shows that 10 gauge and 12 gauge 3 1/2 ammo are very similar in price...

Any thoughts?
 
You could read this article...
http://www.ballisticproducts.com/bpi/articleindex/articles/312inch1/GA1235K1.html

If you choose to use lead shot it may be harder to find it in 3 1/2 inch 12 Gauge then the 3 1/2 inch 10 Gauge. The 10 Gauge usually has less recoil only because the guns for it are heavier.
 
My thoughts are that if you want to play with a 10 ga. by all means go ahead. But you don't NEED one unless you are limited to pass shooting. If you want to efficiently kill geese, a properly pointed 12 ga. 2-3/4" does the job over decoys. I shoot several limits of geese per season, ( 8 Canadas and 20 snows) using fast steel 2-3/4" shells. Wait till they are in range, and don't stop your swing!
 
Perhaps he was hitting the birds more solidly then you were. I would start with patterning your gun, to make sure you have a decent pattern for shooting geese. A 3" gun will kill geese just as effectively as a 3.5" 12 or 10.

But a 10 is fun!!!!
 
I have a 3 1/2" 10ga. AYA and I haven't used it since the ban on lead shot came about. I'm still debating between having the chokes opened and handloading steel shot, or going to the added expense of Bismuth for handloads. I hesitate to 'touch' the chokes because it does pattern exceptionally well.
For factory loads I used to use Federal Premium and 2 1/4oz handloads. And the 10ga does 'reach out' a long way.
 
I've got a Benelli SBE that shoots 3.5 inch and I've put a grand total of 10 3.5 inch shells through it out of the 5000 plus shells it has fired. Even on some really long shots, I haven't seen the need for a 10 guage or a 3.5 inch shell. 3 inch fast steel seems to be the ticket -- that and getting on their beaks. Center the patterns on their heads and you could kill even big geese with 2.75 inch low brass 6's at 40 yards (not advocating that however).

I like the fact that mine does shoot 3.5 inch only for the reason that if I ever get serious about shooting coyotes again, it will put more lead on target.
 
Own both, a 10 gauge and a 3.5 12 gauge. The ten does a better job for geese and with lead turkey home loads there is a lot of difference from the 12 gauge. You can get the same results with a 12 but it's like driving a dually and comparing it to a 1/2 ton, both will get you where you are going.
 
I have folded geese with a .410 but I won't do it on purpose. My advice is if you can , try both and see which fits YOU better . I own both and for stopping power on long gliding cripples , I recommend the big 10 . I am a guide and am faced with crippled birds from clients who don't take the time to learn to shoot correctly . My motto is that you can't kill them too dead .
 
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