It lasts. The double-rail pump action is reliable. This is by far the mostcustomizable shotgunon the market. Stoeger M3000. TheWinchester SXP Turkey Hunteris designed as a turkey gun, but change out the choke and youre good to go duck shooting. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. It has to be light so you can carry it comfortably for miles, yet still be substantial enough to swing smoothly. Sign In or start your online account. This feature will come in handy should you ever drop a magazine cap in the marsh, which, not surprisingly, I have. It also has a larger bolt handle, a large safety button, and a reversed barrel . That said, weve also reviewed a few smaller bore guns, mostly in youth models for people with smaller frames. What are the best shells for pheasant hunting? Those short hunts left plenty of time for gun testing throughout the rest of the day. The Savage Arms 320 Field Pump Shotgun is a pump action, 12 gauge shotgun with a 28-inch barrel. 25 Feb/23. The ideal fit varies from person to person, yet some stocks suit a wide range of shooters. The authors 16-gauge Winchester model 12. 5. Not only is this the most popular shotgun bore around, but its the best one for waterfowl shotguns. Its located on the bottom, instead of the side. We collect information from many stores for best price available. A super-light inertia gun, it has quickly become the choice of upland hunters who want a light semiauto and appreciate the ballistics of a 16-gauge load. And even wood stocks are now made and finished primarily by machines and lasers, while synthetic furniture is molded. At 7 pounds, 4 ounces, the 590A1 gives you the stability you deserve from your duck gun. All Gun Dog subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Other than its size, this gun is identical to the classicMossberg 500. The Benelli Super Black Eagle III is a gas-operated, semi-automatic shotgun. We tested an older SBE3 that belonged to Robinson. (Read a review of the Stoeger M3000 here.). Third, pumps are tough and inexpensive, and if you want a gun that you dont have to babyor worry about, a pump might be the best duck hunting shotgun for you. Phil Bourjaily. By switching from heavy to light loads, you can use a 12 to hunt ducks in the AM and quail after lunch. This is a real life saver if you shoot left-handed, since you wont have hot brass smacking you in your arm every other shot. Try them each to see which you prefer. Justin is a firearms enthusiast with an expansive knowledge of the firearms & hunting scene. During teal season in Texas, our test crew put 17 of the best duck hunting shotguns on the market through the ringer. is a quality semi-automatic with walnut furniture. Customize your experience with a shim kit and five pack of interchangeable choke tubes. In 2010, the 20 gauge version of this gun was used in a world-record dove hunt in Argentina, with one shooter firing 16,000 shells in 14 hours with four Beretta shotguns. They are much lighter and livelier than the Express and SP versions, which have barrels beefed up to accept choke tubes. The Weatherby PA-08 Synthetic is a 28-inch, pump action shotgun with a 12 gauge bore. Best Side-by-Side: CZ Bobwhite G2 Project Upland. Today it costs over twice what it did in the 80s (a mere $1500 then), but its still a bargain if you can find one of the 1200 or so that were made. A life-long hunting, shooting and motorsports enthusiast, Zachary Hein grew up on the plains of western Kansas chasing pheasants, quail and deer. The 870s stock, with its thin comb and substantial drop, fits a lot of different shooters. It's chambered for large, 3 -inch shells, making it exceptionally powerful for an inexpensive field piece. An ungainly profile isnt a deal-breaker, but if you like the way your gun looks, youll be happier with it. (Benelli Surface Treatment) technology turning heads and taking stock in the market. Black polymer stock, pistol grip, and fore grip, Full length Weaver top rail with M-LOK attachments at 6, 3, and 9 oclock. The British best game gun, a sidelock double made to measure, represents the peak of the upland gun makers art. All of us shot the gun well at ducks and at clays. It also comes complete with a fiber optic front sight and mid-bead, adjustable shims, and a trio of interchangeable chokes. Not only is the A5 Stalker reliable, its also accurate. You want to call it a "starter" gun? The Beretta A350 Xtrema is designed for one thing and one thing only: firing as quickly as possible. (Read a review of the Browning Maxus II here.). 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. SLX 600 Black Benelli 828U Performance Shop Upland Savage 555 16-Gauge TriStar TT-15 Field The days when we used one shotgun for everything are long past. But even if you decide to choose a different model, we hope our reviews have been informative enough to help you become a more educated customer. Theyre the bottom-of-the-boat gun. TheBrowning A5 Stalkerhas the most reliable semi-auto shotgun action on the market. 12s are great for a variety of upland hunting like quail, pheasant, and dove, as well as waterfowl or turkey. Here's an ultralight upland shotgun option at a great middle price point. Weatherby Orion 20-Gauge Shotgun. With a 30-inch barrel, you get the best possible, with all the quality machine work that Remington is known for. What Remington kept from the original 11-87 was the reliable, time-proven, gas-operated semi-automatic action. Also useful for competition shooters and hunters. Any of the "B" brand semi autos will work just fine for all. The Weatherby PA-08 Synthetic is a 28-inch, pump action shotgun with a 12 gauge bore. This gun also cycles via an inertia-driven system and is chambered for either 3 and 3-inch shells. It has been over 25 years since the ban on lead shot for hunting waterfowl took effect. TheRemington Versa Maxhas a unique gas system, for very gentle recoil. of nickle plated #5 or #6 at 1,300fps)and Winchester Super-X (1 ounce of #6 at 1,200fps). Our gun shot straight and patterned well, but we had a couple of failures to cycle 3-inch loads, and the grip cap fell out. | Mossy Oak Shadow Grass Blades camo pattern, black matte barrel. Its designed to be lightweight, but it makes the gun front heavy and makes it kick like a 12 gauge even with a 20 gauge bore. On the other hand, youll need to provide your own rear sight. The German Shorthaired Pointer is a versatile hunter and all-purpose gun dog. This shotgun has solid walnut furniture, which gives the back end a little extra heft for stability and recoil absorption. TheBeretta A350 Xtremais one of the fastest semi-automatic shotguns available. The gas-operated semi-automatic action cycles with blazing speed, allowing for lightning-fast follow-up shots on your favorite waterfowl. The Spanish made AyA sidelock. The Orion I is a 28-inch with stylish gloss finish and the Orion Matte Blue is a 26-inch with a sleek matte finish. Here are the results. While 20 gauge isnt ideal for duck hunting, its more than enough to get the job done in the hands of the right person. Well, I loved it because when it was my turn to shoot it, I bagged my six teal with seven shots, which has never happened before and may never happen again. . Shotguns are best used instinctively, and how a gun handles, balances, points, and swingsand how comfortable it is to holdall have an effect on how easy the gun is to hit with. So my favorite shotgun, for most of the pheasant hunting that I get to do, is a 20 gauge over and under, choked improved cylinder and modified - that I've had for several years. Even shooting the gun from a Lead Sled, I could feel the comb rising up to hit me in the cheek. review of the Benelli Ethos Codroba BE.S.T. Our test gun shucked smoothly, shot straight, and patterned well. Joe Genzel. The Win.s do not pattern well in my gun, but others have had excelent results. That said, this is a budget gun. Depending on what range you usually hunt from and how much you tend to lead them, different versions will work better or worse for you. RemArms has a way to go before this is the equal of the old Express shotgunsthe hardwood stock looks even cheaper than old Express stocks, for instance, and this gun has a plastic trigger guardbut it also represents a huge step in the right direction. But the 870s mass popularity shouldnt blind us to the fact that it has all the traits of a good upland gun. Waterfowl hunting takes many forms, and waterfowl themselves range from tiny teal to giant Canada geese, cranes, and swans. Using the Modified choke that came with each gun (except for the M2 Waterfowl which comes with custom Light Modified), we used 3-inch 1 -ounce loads of 2 shot and shot at least three patterns at 35 yards with every gun to see how it performed with a typical all-around waterfowl load. Their Number 1 and Number 2 sidelock guns are gorgeous takes on the famous English Holland & Holland shotgun. It fires a 10 gauge shell, and even accepts the large, 3 -inch version which throws more lead than any other shot shell currently in production. Superbly built and balanced and a pleasure to shoot with. There is also a sporting clays version with 30-inch ported barrels, extended chokes, and a four-way adjustable comb. TheMossberg 935 Magnum Waterfowlprovides top-notch accuracy and reliability for the price. A lot of youth rifles go cheap on the furniture, with ultra-light designs that kick like a mule even at smaller bore sizes. TheWinchester SX3 Waterfowlsupports powerful, 3 -inch shells. The standard 555 is available in all common gauges with a black aluminum receiver and Turkish walnut stock in a lightweight, fast-swinging platform. The pump action will cycle through 8 rounds reliably without a misload. Not only is this mana from heaven for left-handed hunters, but even right-handed hunters will see some benefit; you wont be pelting your blind buddy with empty shells. Try them each to see which you prefer. If youre not sure about this, think back to the old video game that shipped on the original Mario Brothers cartridge. And of course, there are the important questions of weight, recoil and accuracy, all of which involve some trade-offs. The Editors 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. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Best Budget Side-by-Side: Tristar Bristol SxS. Also, although its a small thing, I also like the magazine cap, which comes off with just a half-turn after you depress it (like its childproof) and is high-visibility green on the inside. With an expansive list of tried-and-true bird hunting shotguns in their portfolio, CZ-USA has provided a unique solution for versatile upland and waterfowl wingshooters. The Browning BPS is a 12 gauge, pump action shotgun with a 28-inch barrel and a 4-round magazine. (Read an extended review of the Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus here.). Pattern First Our four testers traveled to Pintail Hunting Club in Garwood, Texas, for a three-day September teal hunt. Apr 29, 2020. Using the included shims, you can adjust the Xtrema to the exact pull length you needs. Then there are dedicated turkey guns. We weighed each gun. The Xtreme Plus differs from the earlier Xtreme in that it has an enlarged bolt handle and release buttonboth features waterfowl hunters appreciate in cold, wet weather. Offering superior comfort and functionality even in the worst of conditions, this tight-shooting 3-inch 28 is built for the serious bird hunter. Not only do they handle heavier loads that can save the day when birds dont decoy well, the added heft of a 12 makes it an easier gun to shoot well. Nova forearms rattle, which bothers some and never bothered me at all. Its small, its lightweight, and it kicks considerably less than your big bore. The Beretta A400 is a high-quality over and under shotgun, perfect for pheasant hunting. 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. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Berettas basic O/Us are among the most popular shotguns in the world, and for good reason. This is especially useful upgrade for those who shoot slugs often. Second, they arent finicky about ammunition. or start your online account, Already a subscriber? Now, we cant help you improve your high score, or get that little cartoon dog to stop laughing at you when you miss, but we can help you find the best duck hunting gun on the market. They also have a dense, wavy coat that is excellent for busting through thickets and brush. This gun has a fairly steep price tag. UPTO 50% OFF ON ALL PRODUCTS. Mossberg SA-20 ($469) The 20-gauge doesn't get as much love as it should with everyone in the bird hunting world, but it does have its purposes. Recognizable by the slotted screw over the hinge pin, Parker guns were built on different frames for different purposes. Brownings A5 puts an inertia design inside a receiver styled to recall the classic long recoil Auto 5. (Read a review of the Winchester Super X4 here.). The Remington Versa Max is a gas-operated, semi-automatic shotgun with a generous, 7-round magazine. is designed to withstand high volume shooting, and it fits well into the duck blind, too. Built upon the legacy and success of the Orion 12-gauge platform, this crowd favorite is now available in three 20-gauge models, including two field-oriented versions. Savage 320 Field Grade. The Winchester SX3 Waterfowl is designed to sling as much lead as possible as quickly as possible. There are functional reasons to consider workmanship as well. The 505 accommodates a large, 3-inch .410 shell, which improves your odds considerably. Brittany Outdoor Lifes Joe Genzel brought his fathers BPS to the test, a very heavy, older 3 -inch 12-gauge model made back when the 3 s were built on 10-gauge frames. Mossy Oak camo polymer stock and fore grip. The controls are easy to use, even with cold fingers, and the Easy Lock bolt does away with the out-of-battery misfire common to inertia guns. Where grit, mud, ice, and moisture can cause a semiauto to fail, pump guns will keep on working inmiserable conditions. English springer spaniel (pictured): spunk personified, the ultimate ball of energy in pheasant tangles, persistent, fun, good water retriever Boykin spaniel: all the springer is and potentially more; smaller than springer English cocker spaniel: smallest of the three, too small for ducks and geese; not as hyperactive as others When looking for the best duck shotgun, theres no one-size-fits-all solution. 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