Waterfowl gun

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Looking to buy a new (or used) 12g. for ducks and geese, any suggestions?

Needs to be at least 3 inch chamber (I imagine nearly all shotguns are these days). I was thinking about a semi for a bit of reduced recoil. I normally hunt with a pump (winchester 1300 I believe).

Price isn't a huge issue as I would pay more if I thought that it was really worth it. I understand that a semi is going to cost a lot more than a pump, especially in a Benelli or Beretta. Not going to get a fancy o/u at this point.

Are there any models that are especially good these days?
Thanks!
 
I ve tried remington 870 express ,winchester 1300 pump, winchester 1400semi ,baikal mp153 semi and benelli nova pump........and my personal choise is the nova aim right, light,robust :rockOn: but that is my opinion!!!
 
I can't recommend the Benelli SuperNova enough. An 870 is more versatile overall due to it's ability to swap barrel lengths and stocks and all that, but for a dedicated waterfowl gun you can't go wrong with a Nova or SuperNova.

Just my $.02
 
Don't be fooled into buying a light weight gun for waterfowl. You will appreciate the extra weight for smoother swings, and less recoil.
 
I'm in the same boat as you right now. Shoot the same gun. How big a deal is the recoil for you? After trying gas-operated semis, I won't shoot anything else now if I know I'm going to be taking lots of shots in a day. I find light pumps and recoil operated semis just too hard to shoot all day long.
The winchester super x3 and browning silver/gold seem like the way to go. Not up at the same price of the beretta, not near as many unhappy owners as the remingtons.
 
yeah if you are recoil sensitive a pump waterfowl or turkey gun shooting 3-3.5" loads is not a good idea.

definitely look into the Browning Silver shotguns, theyre really nice looking guns at a decent price. i am not sure how they stack up to the Remington semis in terms of reliability and maintenance though.

if you are on a tight budget the Mossberg semis are cheap, and Remington just released some cheap new semi that doesnt seem to be out yet in Canada.
 
Benelli M2. Just as reliable as a pump and if you can handle the recoil of a pump then any semi auto will feel like a 22. The first rounds through my M2 were 100 rounds of buckshot and slug wearing a t shirt. I'm not a big guy or trying to be macho and shooting that ammo was no big deal. I know when I duck hunt I am concentrating on the birds so much I rarely notice any recoil.
 
I second the vote for a Benelli M2.I've owned several different gas operated semi-autos and they all performed reasonably well.But the Benelli is an extraordinary and exceptional gun.It's light but not abusive when it comes to recoil.Its between the hands feel allow it to get on target quickly.It's easy to clean in the field especially if dopped in mud or water,something that can't be said of other autos.

For sporting clays I use an over and under,simply for the choice in chokes given the different target presentations,but for field use the nod goes to the Benellis.

I am definitely predjudice as I now own seven Benellis.I've sold all but one gas operated auto and that gun has sentmental value.

I can't say that you won't be happy with another gun,but I can emphatically state that you will be happy with a Benelli.

Here are a few of my Benellis.

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I use a Beretta 391 for waterfowl but my semi has to do double duty on the clay target fields.

If I were seeking a gun strictly for waterfowl it would be a Benelli M2 or an SBE if I felt the need for 3-1/2" shells.
 
Thanks for all the advice. I'm not super recoil sensitive, I've shot a pump (and a .300 win mag) with 3" loads for years but at the end of the day, less recoil is better!

I'll definately look into the Benellis, seems to be a lot of support for them. I guess semi from winchester, browning, benelli. What's the best bang for the buck? (pun intended)
 
First choice for me, for a dedicated 3-1/2" waterfowl gun, would be the Bertetta Extrema 2, with KO, in Max 4HD. In 3" it would be a 391, however, I do very much like the 3" Benelli Cordoba.
 
beretta boy said:
First choice for me, for a dedicated 3-1/2" waterfowl gun, would be the Bertetta Extrema 2, with KO, in Max 4HD. In 3" it would be a 391, however, I do very much like the 3" Benelli Cordoba.
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The Cordoba is nice except for the ported barrel. It would make one very unpopular in a duck blind. :eek:
 
if you are considering the Benelli then do your wallet a favor and also consider the Stoeger P-2000. basically uses the same Inertia operated system as the Benellis, you take a bit of a hit on fit and finish but it costs way, way less.
if recoil is a factor id reconsider both the Benelli and Stoeger and look into a gas-operated gun though.

you cant brag 'ooooh look at my $2000 Benelli', but itll work 95% as well for 1/4-1/5 the price. $440 at LeBaron with club card till Xmas.
 
The truck, the boat, the motor, the decoys & the dog are all worth more than the Benelli ... and braggin' about it ...we'll who's got the incliniation or time. Of bigger concern to me is a gun that will work " 95% " as well.

That's just not good enough ! " Finish " is neither here nor there on a waterfowler, but fit & balance are of utmost importance.

One nice thing about guns ... everyone has there own tastes and preferences, just like horses, fast cars, wine & women ... so whatever floats your boat ! :)
 
Without doubt the best waterfowl gun has to be an old English Punt Gun, +2" bore and well over a pound of lead, Have seen and used a number one bore many years ago fixed to an old punt , it scared the living daylights out of me when it went off, but took over 30 ducks with that one shot.
 
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