what is the best shotgun for waterfowl hunting

What Are The Top Waterfowl Shotgun Choices: Browning BPS Benelli Super Black Eagle

3 Remington V3 Pro Waterfowl Stoeger M3500 Waterfowl CZ-USA 1012 Synthetic Mossy Oak Bottomland Camo TriStar Viper Max 3½-Inch Magnum

Full Answer

What gauge shotgun do I need for waterfowl hunting?

What Gauge of Shotgun Do I Need For Waterfowl? Most people prefer 12 gauge 3 ½ inch BB, #1 or #2 for large ducks when shooting in a 10 to 40-yard range. Smaller ducks can be shot with #4 to #6 birdshot in the 10 to 15-yard range. Whereas larger geese may need BBB or T shot.

What is the best gun for duck hunting?

12 Gauge and 20 Gauge shotguns are the most popular duck hunting guns because they have enough power to take down just about any bird out there. While the vast majority of duck hunters own a 12 gauge, 20 gauges have been growing in popularity over the years as new ammo technology increases the performance of each round. 12 Gauge

What can you hunt with a waterfowl gun?

Waterfowl hunting takes many forms, and waterfowl themselves range from tiny teal to giant Canada geese, cranes, and swans. Your shots may come at very close range, or you may have to reach out well past 40 yards. You may also want to use your gun for target shooting as well as upland, dove, or turkey hunting.

What kind of shotgun does Retay make for waterfowl?

For 2019, Retay added a waterfowl model to its Masai Mara line of shotguns. The Retay Waterfowl features a 3½-inch chamber. It’s capable of effectively cycling lightweight and low-recoil shotgun shell loads, as well as heavy hunting loads, and it should be as at home in the dove field as it is in the goose blind.

What is the best shotgun to duck hunt with?

Ask a duck hunter what company makes the best duck hunting shotguns and the three most likely responses will be Beretta, Benelli, or Remington....These were our top picks:Editor's Choice: Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus.Great Buy: Winchester Super X4.Best Pump Shotgun: Remington 870 Express.

What gauge shotgun is best for duck?

12 gaugeWhat gauge shotgun do you prefer while duck hunting? The vast majority of those who responded to the survey preferred using a 12 gauge rather than a 20 gauge. In pattern density and shot stringing, the 12 gauge offers a slight advantage over the 20 gauge, especially with larger steel pellet sizes.

What is the most reliable semi-auto shotgun?

Summary of Our Top PicksEditor's Pick. Benelli M4. ... Best for Home Defense. Mossberg 930 SPX Tactical. ... Best Value. Weatherby SA-08 Deluxe. ... OG Style. Browning A5. ... Best Combat Shotgun. Beretta 1301 Tactical Semi-Auto Shotgun. ... Most Modern Semi-Auto. Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical. ... Best for 3-Gun. Benelli M2 Tactical.

What shotgun chokes to use for ducks?

For ducks and geese that are close, improved cylinder or even skeet constriction choke work well. If the birds are farther out, a modified choke tube is better.

Is a 12 or 20-gauge better?

Because a 12 gauge shotgun shell has more volume than a 20 gauge shotgun shell, it fits more powder and bigger projectiles. This means you will get a harder-hitting shot at a greater effective distance with a 12 gauge than you will with a 20 gauge.

What is the best shotgun in 2022?

According to Guns.com, the top 10 selling shotguns are:Mossberg 930 Tactical-$618.99.Remington Model 870 Express-$562.99.Kel-Tec KS7-$570.99.Remington 870 Tac 14-$448.99.G-Force Arms GF2P–$147.99.Mossberg 590-$445.99.Stevens 320 Security-$196.99.Mossberg 590 Shockwave-$494.99.More items...•

What is the most reliable semi-auto 12-gauge?

The Best Semi-Auto Shotguns ReviewedStoeger M3000 Defense 18.5" Semi-Automatic 12 Gauge Shotgun. ... Mossberg 940 JM Pro 24" 12 Gauge Shotgun 3" Semi-Automatic. ... Benelli Super Black Eagle II 28" Semi Auto 12 Gauge Shotgun. ... Beretta 1301 Tactical 12 Gauge Semi Auto Shotgun. ... Benelli M4 Tactical Shotgun 12ga 18.5" , 3" Chamber.More items...

What is the fastest semi auto shotgun?

Winchester claims to have the fastest semi-automatic shotgun on the market with its SX4 model. How good is this gas-operated 12/76 gauge autoloader on the range?...Winchester SX4 Composite specs and price.Model:Winchester SX4 Composite 9 RoundsBarrel Length:30”/760 mmStock Length:362 mmTrigger Pull Weight:2250 g7 more rows•May 18, 2021

Can you use a 20 gauge for duck hunting?

A 20 gauge has enough power to shoot pellets with the required force (3-5 foot-pounds) to consistently harvest ducks and geese up to 40 yards away.

What makes a good duck shotgun?

A good duck gun should be durable, weather-resistant, easy to swing and should have good sights for when that group of teals or mallards comes up hard and fast on your decoys and duck blind.

Is a pump action shotgun good for duck hunting?

It's another part of the duck hunter's day. Generally, a pump gun will shoot a modern duck load quite comfortably, and as with any shotgun, while there is recoil, it is not attention getting.

What is a waterfowl shotgun?

It follows, then, that waterfowl guns are the pickup trucks of shotguns, built to deliver heavy loads in the worst conditions. Synthetic stocks, matte finishes, screw-in chokes, and improved mechanisms make the current generation of waterfowl firearms the toughest, most reliable ever.

Why do waterfowl use 20 gauge?

Twenty-gauge waterfowl guns are in right now. Once considered appropriate only for the small-framed and recoil-shy, they’re now a fad among waterfowlers of all sizes and experience levels. Some clubs require 20-gauges, on the theory that a slightly quieter report helps hold birds on their properties. But far more hunters choose 20s just because they enjoy shooting the smaller guns. They’re light, trim, and easy to point. Loaded sensibly, they don’t pound on your shoulder. And used within their limitations, 20-gauges make short, humane work of ducks and geese, too.

What is a redhead duck gun?

If you’d prefer to shoot an O/U at waterfowl, the CZ All-Terrain line is worth a hard look. The Redhead is the flagship model of the 11-gun All Terrain lineup. It features matte walnut with swivel studs and olive Cerakote on the receiver and barrel. It comes with a choice of 28- or 30-inch barrels and extended chokes, and—in a genius move—CZ has put tiny magnets in the ejectors that are just strong enough to keep a shell from falling out when you tip the gun to load it. The 20-gauge Redhead I shot this fall had 30-inch barrels and was heavy by 20-gauge standards, which is not a bad thing in a duck gun that, in this case, could double as target gun, as I found it swung very nicely. Check availability here.

What size barrel is best for a SX4?

The 20-gauge version weighs a bit above 6½ pounds and comes with your choice of a 24-, 26-, or 28-inch barrel. It comes in a wide range of options, from black synthetic to full-camo waterfowl models. All have sling-swivel studs and the stock features length-of-pull spacers, so it can fit shooters of all sizes. Check availability here.

How much does a Masai Mara waterfowl cost?

The Masai Mara Waterfowl starts at $1099. Ratay USA. The newest name in inertia guns, Retay is quickly gaining a following, especially among Southern waterfowlers. Built in a very modern, high-tech factory in Turkey, they are well fit and finished.

How much is a Mossberg 500?

Mossberg 500. The 20-gauge Mossberg 500 retails for just $445. Mossberg. Light and extremely popular, the Mossberg 500 comes in a 20-gauge black synthetic version that makes it a good choice as a duck gun you don’t have to baby.

Is a 20 gauge duck gun better than a 12 gauge?

So, before moving on, let’s get this out of the way: Day in, day out, all things considered, a 12-gauge is still a better duck and goose gun than a 20-gauge.

Is the SXP a waterfowl hunter?

Originally known as the Model 1300, the gun was redesigned, improved, and outsourced to Turkey after Winchester’s New Haven plant closed. The 20-gauge Waterfowl Hunter version with camo synthetic stock is matched with Browning/Winchester’s very effective Inflex recoil pad. It comes in both 26- and 28-inch barreled versions for under $500. Check availability here.

Why did some hunters quit waterfowling?

Some hunters quit waterfowling when steel shot replaced lead thirty years ago. Early steel loads weren’t as good as those we have now. They were inconsistent in both velocity and ignition. Water got into them, rusting shot and ruining primers. They were slow, and they were made in the same shot sizes that worked for lead. Steel damaged barrels, reduced effective shotgun range, and crippled birds.

Why are steel loads better than other types of guns?

Steel loads have better primers, better powders, wads that protect most gun barrels, and they’re sealed at both ends to stay dry inside. They’re faster, and they’re loaded with appropriate shot sizes to make the most out of steel’s pros (efficient patterning) and cons (poor energy retention).

Do steel pellets protect gun barrels?

The way those disgruntled old-timers told it, you could hear steel pellets rattling off of a bird’s wing feathers. That wasn’t true then, and it’s certainly not after thirty years of improvements. Steel loads have better primers, better powders, wads that protect most gun barrels, and they’re sealed at both ends to stay dry inside. They’re faster, and they’re loaded with appropriate shot sizes to make the most out of steel’s pros (efficient patterning) and cons (poor energy retention).

Does lead kill ducks?

I have shot just enough lead at ducks—at the tail end of the lead era, and on trips to South America—that I can tell you it kills ducks better than steel does. But, lead isn’t Kryptonite. Those old-timers conveniently forget they lost birds with lead sometimes, too. And, I’ve shot a bunch of steel at waterfowl since then, and plenty of the premium non-toxics, too. If you understand how to choose shot sizes and chokes, steel loads perform just fine out to 40 yards or a bit more. If you can afford premium non-toxics and can shoot straight, you can kill birds to ranges where most people have no business shooting.

Was Bismuth shot brittle?

Compared to the wimpy steel loads of the time, bismuth shot was deadly, and it brought a lot of great older guns back to the duck blind. It wasn’t perfect. The pellets were brittle. Some would shatter in the hull with the force of ignition, others would break up when they struck bone.

What gauge shotgun is best for duck hunting?

Best Gauges for Duck Hunting. 12 Gauge and 20 Gauge shotguns are the most popular duck hunting guns because they have enough power to take down just about any bird out there. While the vast majority of duck hunters own a 12 gauge, 20 gauges have been growing in popularity over the years as new ammo technology increases the performance of each round.

How much does a duck shotgun cost?

Like many other pieces of gear in the hunting industry, duck hunting shotguns typically fall into three categories based on price and features. $400 - $600. $800 - $1,000. $1,500 - $1,800. Most guns under $400 don’t work well out of the box.

How many chokes does a M3000 have?

Chambered at 3 inches, the M3000 comes with the 3 standard chokes, drop shims, fiberoptic sights, swing swivels, and it’s drilled and tapped if you ever wanted to drop a sight on it for turkey hunting. Check out the full list of features below: Check Current Price.

What is the difference between 20 gauge and 12 gauge?

Quickly growing in popularity, and with modern advances in ammunition, the 20 gauge can accomplish similar patterns and knock-down power as the larger 12 gauge with less recoil. Less recoil typically leads to more accurate and consistent follow-up shots which means more limits and duck poppers on the grill (and the added bonus of showing up your friends by out-shooting them with their magnum 3 ½” 12 Gauge loads).

What is a 12 gauge shotgun?

Easily the most universal gauge, the 12 gauge shotgun can be used for pretty much any waterfowl bird out there. If you only had enough money to buy one shotgun, we’d recommend a 12 gauge as it can be used to hunt a wide variety of species in addition to waterfowl including rabbits, turkeys, deer, pheasants, dove, squirrel, and many others. Most states only allow deer hunting with shotguns now.

How many lbs triggers do duck hunting guns have?

With moving targets, frequent group hunts, and a wet and often cold environment, most duck hunting guns have a 10-12 pound trigger.

When were recoil shotguns invented?

No modifications required. Recoil/Inertia Operated: The first, mass-produced, recoil-operated shotguns back in the early 1900s, designed by John Browning, used brake systems under the forearm and the barrels would actually move back into the action. Heavy springs would stop as the pressures fell to a safe level.

What is a BPS shotgun?

A redesigned stock and forearms, the addition of Browning’s Inflex recoil system and a larger, more glove-friendly trigger guard are all changes the duck and goose hunter will have no problem with.

How many rounds does a 1012 shotgun fire?

CZ-USA put the 1012 through the wringer—firing more than 5,000 rounds without cleaning or any lubricant.

What is a Retay waterfowl?

For 2019, Retay added a waterfowl model to its Masai Mara line of shotguns. The Retay Waterfowl features a 3½-inch chamber. It’s capable of effectively cycling lightweight and low-recoil shotgun shell loads, as well as heavy hunting loads, and it should be as at home in the dove field as it is in the goose blind.

Is a shotgun a generalist?

At one time considered a generalist, in its modern iteration, the shotgun has become a specialized too. Gone are the days when your granddad would shoulder his good ol’ Browning Auto 5 to bag anything with feathers or fur.

Can a shotgun kill a goose?

A shotgun meant to knock down quails on the wing most likely won’t excel at taking down a goose on a high pass shot. With that in mind, we’ve put together the top waterfowl hunting shotguns available today. The guns are tailormade to survive the harsh conditions of the duck marsh and put meat on the table.

What is the best shotgun for duck hunting?

The Editor’s Choice for the best duck hunting shotgun came down to a shoot-off between two of the premier semiauto duck guns: the Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 and the Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus. When the smoke cleared, the Beretta had won over all four testers, including Robinson, who had provided his own personal SBE 3 for the test.

What is the best value for a waterfowl gun?

The Winchester SX4 beat out a crowded field of semiautos in the sub-$1000 range, establishing itself in the eyes of the test team as the best value in a waterfowl gun. Can spend less on a duck gun? Of course. But it’s worth stretching even the tightest budget to move up to the X4, which can hold its own in the blind among the Benellis, Beretta, and Brownings.

How much does a Winchester Super X4 cost?

It lists for $959, about half the price of anyone’s flagship semiauto. And if you don’t need 3 ½-inch capability, the 3-inch model is just $829.

What is the X4 gun?

The X4 is the evolution (or devolution, if you ask cranks like me who prefer heftier guns and traditional styling) of the Super X2, which was derived from the Browning Gold, and which begat the SX3. The point is, the X4 uses a proven gas system, and all the X series have been reliable, easy-to-maintain performers. The X4 has been slimmed down and lightened up to fit current tastes and it has the enlarged bolt handle and bolt release that waterfowlers want. I do like the bolt-release button, which is big enough to be easy to push, but nearly flush so you don’t bump it accidentally as you do with so many of the enlarged bolt releases on the market. It also has a big, square safety button that’s easy to find with numb fingers and simple to reverse if you’re left-handed.

What is a 940 JM shotgun?

An upgraded version of the 930, the 3-inch, 12-gauge 940 Pro Waterfowl includes features from the 940 JM 3-gun shotgun designed to make it more reliable and improve its ergonomics. It has a redesigned buffer tube, boron-nitride coated internals, and a stainless recoil spring as well as cerakoted metal surfaces. It also features an enlarged bolt handle and bolt release and a cutaway loading port for fast, easy reloads. The gun does have an inexpensive look and feel to it. Its performance was quite good. The gas system worked well and did an admirable job of reducing recoil. And the gun cycled everything including light 7/8-ounce reloads.

Why is weight important in a gun?

Weight is an important factor in how a gun carries and how it recoils. We weighed each gun. We also checked trigger pulls, because, although shotgun triggers are slapped, some hunters appreciate a lighter pull—and some extremely heavy triggers can be hard even to slap. Finally, we made extensive use of the 5-stand at Pintail Hunting Club, where we got more trigger time with every gun and could evaluate its function, handling, and felt recoil.

Where is the duck gun test 2021?

Our lineup of shotguns from our 2021 duck gun test at Pintail Hunting Club in Garwood, Texas. Stephen Maturen

Where is the Winchester SX made?from guns.com

While we prefer the earlier SX3 made in Belgium, the newer SX4’s wear some very hunter-friendly control upgrades. With models available in compact size for smaller-frame shooters, finishes in all sorts of camouflage or wood, and many other options, the Winchester SX is a hunter’s shotgun.

Is a Ruger Red Label shotgun over or under?from guns.com

Ruger Red Label. There are so many worthy over/under shotguns that could hold this space. For instance, the older Browning Superposed or more modern Browning Citori are difficult to best in any era. Those who ever shot the Ruger Red Label O/U’s, however, will quickly recognize the guns capability in the field.

What Gauge of Shotgun Do I Need For Waterfowl?from gunmann.com

Smaller ducks can be shot with #4 to #6 birdshot in the 10 to 15-yard range. Whereas larger geese may need BBB or T shot. A 12 gauge shotgun has more range than a 20 gauge shotgun and is a very versatile gauge for different applications.

What is a waterfowl shotgun?from gunmann.com

A waterfowl shotgun is generally characterized by a long barrel (about 28 inches), a camo finish, good sights, and perfect balance for ideal swing. These shotguns should be rugged enough to withstand harsh hunting conditions while being lightweight and low-recoiling to support you during those strenuous shooting sessions.

How Do I Choose Waterfowl Shotgun Sights?from gunmann.com

Choosing a waterfowl shotgun sight is fairly easy. You just need to keep a few things in mind:

Why is the BPS camo finish important?from gunmann.com

The camo finish helps with adapting to the natural environment and the large trigger guard helps using the gun with gloves. The BPS also has a floating rib to aid with accuracy by preventing shifting of the point of impact. Which perhaps is an important factor for waterfowl shotguns. Bottom Line.

What is the 835 shotgun?from gunmann.com

The 835 has been designed after the famous Mossberg 500 and bears resemblance to its ideal handling and accuracy capabilities. Finally, one of the most admirable features of this shotgun is its super affordable price. Which allows you to keep it as a waterfowl specific shotgun. Bottom Line.

What is a Stoeger M3500?from gunmann.com

It is a balanced overall gun being widely used for waterfowling as well as hunting turkey and upland birds.#N#Why it Stands Out to Us#N#The Stoeger M3500 is a quality shotgun from Benelli, available at a very economical price and performing at par with many high-end models out there. The shotgun features an inertia operated cycling mechanism which requires less maintenance than gas systems. The recoil reducer stock increases the rearward weight, offering better balance while swinging.#N#The camo finish is very durable and perfect for waterfowl hunting scenarios, and the oversized components help to handle with gloves on. The shotgun cycles everything from light 2 ¾” shells to 3.5” magnum loads without a hiccup. It is a great multipurpose shotgun for different applications.#N#Bottom Line#N#The M3500 is the quality of Benelli packed in a more inexpensive package. The shotgun features everything you’d desire from a waterfowl gun. The gun patterns insanely even at 45-50 yards range and is the perfect option for a budget semi-auto shotgun.

What is the best shotgun for duck blinds?from wildfowlmag.com

Engineered with a long list of tech specs, the dependable XLR5 has quickly become a duck blind favorite. Touted as one of the fastest-cycling semi-autos on the market, the Pulse Piston gas system is simpler, easier to clean, and just plain reliable. The tapered TRIBORE HP barrel design improves down-range performance while reducing recoil and accommodates an extra full choke, unlike most other shotguns out there. The XLR5 comes outfitted with oversized controls and a rubberized feel to optimize its user-friendliness. Bred from competition shooting, the Long Rib increases the sighting plane, reduces glare, and provides a more comfortable head position for the gunner. MSRP $1,895 | fabarmusa.com