Double guns for big birds?

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crunch68

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I grew up mostly shooting a Spanish 12ga SxS. Although I'm not recoil shy, I remember this gun beating me up pretty bad even with heavy 2 3/4" loads. I moved on to pumps and semis for waterfowl and turkey hunting, but have always had a soft spot in my heart, or perhaps head:), for double guns.
Do any of you waterfowl and turkey hunters use a double for these big dirds? If so what are you using?

Thanks,

crunch68
 
I regularly shoot a 16 ga. Browning Citori O/U for ducks. In the past I have used a Merkel 147E sxs 12 ga. for geese, and did a LOT of duck and goose hunting with a Citori 12ga 3" before I foolishly traded it for a Rem 870 wingmaster. One of my stupider moves. Last week I shot a Mallard while hunting with my AYA #1, 12 ga. but it is hardly a waterfowl gun.
 
I too enjoy an O/U (Beretta 682 Sporting) while duck shooting, especially when chasing divers off one of my favorite points.
 
If by double gun you mean a SXS, I think a Browning BSS would be just the ticket. I had one, not a light gun. Would be great in a duck blind or waiting for old Tom.
 
I have used a number of American, Belgian, Italian & Spanish made SxS's over the past 40 years for waterfowling (but not exclusively) ... and currently enjoy a Union Armera (Grulla) 206E out in the marsh and stubble fields. When lead shot for waterfowling was banned I stopped using the doubles for a while, but started using them again when
2-3/4" Kent "Impact" Tungsten Matrix was approved for use. I remain convinced that the Kent product is as good as, if not better than, an equivalent load in lead.
 
I have used my 12 gauge baikal o/u for ducks and geese - but mostly save it for sharptail and ruffies. Hunting with an o/u or sxs is a lot of fun and a different experience than an auto-loader or pump.
 
For ducks I enjoy shooting my Ithaca model 200. It's a nice quick gun. With 3" tungsten matrix and#3 shot it works on geese pretty good,as long as you pick your shot
 
I took my first Turkey with an old Zolli & Figli Sidelock SxS. Basically took the birds head off at 30 yds. You don't need a 3 1/2 in. Magnum to kill big Birds.
 
I took a 20 lb turkey this past spring with a A H Fox 12 gauge from 1909. Choked full and full and used Kent Tungstun Matrix (they were in my jacket pocket left over from the fall duck season). I had intended to use lead but came upon the turkey rather suddenly (I was still 30 minutes by truck from my intended hunting area and had to act fast).

While calling them in is great, there is something to be said for the quick adrenaline rush from jump shooting a big tom.
 
 
crunch68 said:
I grew up mostly shooting a Spanish 12ga SxS. Although I'm not recoil shy, I remember this gun beating me up pretty bad even with heavy 2 3/4" loads. I moved on to pumps and semis for waterfowl and turkey hunting, but have always had a soft spot in my heart, or perhaps head:), for double guns.
Do any of you waterfowl and turkey hunters use a double for these big dirds? If so what are you using?

Thanks,

crunch68
Click to expand...
Mine's a double , but the barrels go up and down, not sideways!:D
I shot some ducks with my SXS 28 this year as well.
Cat
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