This 30-inch variant ofRemingtons venerable 870 shotgunis purpose-built for bird hunting. Our pheasant hunting and quail hunting is known to be the #1 quail & pheasant hunting lodge in Illinois. Not only is this the most popular shotgun bore around, but its the best one for waterfowl shotguns. 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. (Read an extended review of the Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus here.). Now, lets be clear, the .410 is undersized for anything but close-range shots at small game, but it can still bring down a duck under the right circumstances. Thats because it has a wider spread than smaller-bore guns, making it easier to hit those pesky moving targets. The Best Bird Hunting Dogs 1. The only downside was the steep price, but the Super Black Eagle is worth the money considering what you get. In terms of weight and balance, versatility is another word for compromise.. Each All-Terrain model harnesses a damage-saving duo of rugged all-weather features and state-of-the-art technology that modern hunters demand from their shotguns. The 680s have recently been replaced by the 690 series, which feature improved wood and internal barrel dimensions but otherwise are largely the same, which is a good thing, as the 680 wasnt broken and did not need fixing. Our lineup of shotguns from our 2021 duck gun test at Pintail Hunting Club in Garwood, Texas. (Read a review of the Mossberg 500 Hunting here.). It also doesnt have any rear sight, although thats more or less par for the course with cheaper guns. I have not been pheasant hunting this season, as I am too busy duck hunting. Theyre now built on 12-gauge frames. Get everything Gun Dog has to offer. Theres a reason Nintendo didnt choose , 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. Its a reliable gun that shoots a dead-on 50/50 point of impact, which is what I prefer. What makes the Versa Max shine is its proprietary gas port system, which adjusts the cycling pressure depending on what size shell youre using. They instinctively zig-zag in front of a hunter, using their excellent nose while staying within shooting range. The gun patterned well for us at the range, and it shot dead-on to slightly (like 60-40) high for us on the bench. It lists for $959, about half the price of anyones flagship semiauto. You might want a shorter barreled or at least muzzle light gun that wont tangle in the brush or might be quicker to the target. Learn more . Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus Semi-Auto Shotgun in Gore Optifade Waterfowl . Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. On the other hand, youll need to provide your own rear sight. The action itself is reliable, and makes a classic ka-chunk when you rack it. The Benelli Super Black Eagle III is a gas-operated, semi-automatic shotgun. This gun is a little pricey for a pump action, but very well-manufactured. An increasing number of guns come with shims and spacers to allow their owners to adjust fit to some extent. The Mossberg 505 Youth All-Purpose Field is a .410 bore shotgun with a pump action and a 20-inch barrel. You have to pick a gun that suits the type of hunting you do, that fits you best, and has the right weight and balance for your shooting style. A gun needs to feel right when you hold it. 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. Recoil, or rather lack of felt recoil, tilted the scales in the Berettas favor. Using the included shims, you can adjust the Xtrema to the exact pull length you needs. It weighs just under 8 pounds, with a solid polymer stock thats well balanced and takes most of the kick out of the action. Because waterfowl shooting is fairly deliberate when compared to upland shooting, the guns dont have to be fast to the target, and some weight in the front end makes them easier to point surely and swing steadily. The Win.s do not pattern well in my gun, but others have had excelent results. 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. As Spider Man taught us, with great power comes great responsibility. But this versatility has a price: Weight. Over two million Model 12s were made between 1912 and 1964. They also have a dense, wavy coat that is excellent for busting through thickets and brush. Winchester SXP Waterfowl Hunter Pump-Action Shotgun - Best Affordable Duck Hunting Shotgun. Gone are the days of deciding between your dedicated duck gun and devoted upland gun, this category combines it all in a single selection. Apr 29, 2020. It combined a slick stroke with double-gun-like pointability that made it a great gun for waterfowling, trapshooting, trench warfare, and upland hunting alike. Or you may be looking for the best semi-auto shotgun for, Other than what style action youre looking for and whether youre willing to shell out the money for a semi-auto length is another important consideration. Its located on the bottom, instead of the side. It has a front bead, but no rear sight. Its efficient, its deadly as it is beautiful, and it costs many times more than most of us would ever be able to spend on a gun. 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. Honorable mention must go to the Browning BSS sidelock, another copy of the Holland, but this one made in the Japanese Miroku factory from 1983 to 1988. packs the power of a 12 gauge in the fun and versatility of an AR-style frame. 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. They also kept the heavy polymer, which brings the guns total weight to a hefty 8.25 pounds. All in all, its a good buy, especially for left-handed individuals. As a gas gun, its very soft-shooting, and the Browning/Winchester Inflex recoil pad works, too, cutting the kick even more. Besides which, who needs insane accuracy when you have an ergonomic pistol grip and sturdy buttstock to reduce recoil? The gas-operated semi-automatic action is smooth and reliable, provided youre using 3 or 3 -inch shells. It was also a heavier gun than theBenelli and several others in the test, weighing close to 8 pounds. The 870 Express as we knew it is back, and were delighted to include this in our list of the best duck hunting shotguns. Phil Bourjaily This shotgun sports a 28-inch barrel, which can be customized with any one of five of the choke options Benelli ships with the gun. Key Features. What's Included, Already a subscriber? They will also go a long way between cleanings. 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. Photo by Anthony Hauck / Pheasants Forever It works. The polymer stock is heavy enough for good balance, and features an adjustable rubber butt pad. Learn more , More than any other shotgun, an upland gun has to be almost a part of its owner. The components have been properly treated to ensure the gun withstands harsh treatment while aiding their performance. A no-show draw is held at 11 a.m. at the office both days. Best 30-yard pattern 158 of 193. What Remington kept from the original 11-87 was the reliable, time-proven, gas-operated semi-automatic action. You want to call it a "starter" gun? 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. Given that a basic black M2 lists for $1,449, the $2,500 price tag for the enhanced Performance Shop version seems like way too much for the extras you do get. Our test teamF&S editor-in-chief Colin Kearns, Outdoor Life editor-in-chief Alex Robinson, OL senior editor Joe Genzel, and myselfhas hunted all over the U.S., and in a few other countries. Many of those are 12s with long barrels, but if you come upon a 20 or a 16, grab it, even though youll pay a little more. Unique editorial written exclusively for premium members. Roberts has been designing chokes for more than 30 years. This is one of the few readily-availableleft-handed shotgunson the market. Holding five 16-gauge shells, it offered plenty of firepower in a gun as light and trim as many 20 gauges. is perfect if youre buying your first duck gun. The semi-auto action allows for less recoil than a pump action 12 gauge, so you can stay on target easily. You shouldnt pick a gun purely on appearance, but it does matter to some hunters. The Remington Versa Max is a gas-operated, semi-automatic shotgun with a generous, 7-round magazine. Best Budget Side-by-Side: Tristar Bristol SxS. Joe Genzel. provides top-notch accuracy and reliability for the price. You may be looking for a basic pump action piece that you can upgrade over time. Its small, its lightweight, and it kicks considerably less than your big bore. is designed to withstand high volume shooting, and it fits well into the duck blind, too. To my eye, the Winchester Super X4 is not as well fit and finished as its predecessors and it looks cheaper, but if Winchester has cut some costs with this gun, it doesnt come at the expense of performance. However, if you will take the same gun into the uplands (or carry it on long, jump-shooting expeditions for ducks) or into the turkey woods, you might prefer a gun that doesnt weigh quite as much. It cycled shells without a bobble and, despite visible tooling rings in the barrel, it patterned well, too. Exclusive bird dog training videos presented by Gun Dog experts. And we know they have to be shootable. I bought the DLC to support the Devs, but the contents of this DLC is worthless, it is useless. Originally developed in South Carolina, the Boykin Spaniel is one of the most prized flushing dogs available to hunters, but they are also well-suited for family life. The Savage Arms 320 Field Pump Shotgun is a pump action, 12 gauge shotgun with a 28-inch barrel. Super Black Eagle 3. While 20 gauge isnt ideal for duck hunting, its more than enough to get the job done in the hands of the right person. Everything you need to know about the parts of a compound bow and how they work. Fortunately, gun makers in Spains Basque region learned to copy British best guns at a fraction of the cost starting in the 1950s. Best Budget Duck Hunting Shotguns. The Classic Trap is a special, 30-inch version of this iconic gun. It doesnt matter how rugged or reliable your gun is if you cant hit what youre shooting at with it. We patterned each gun from a bench, in a Lead Sled, to test its point of impact. The 12-gauge 870 is actually built on a 16-gauge Remington 11-48 frame, making it a trim and fairly light gun that handles very well. The polymer stock are dense and durable, with enough weight to provide good balance and recoil absorption. 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. They also include three of their custom Trap Rem choke tubes: the Singles, the Mid Handicap, and the Long Handicap. Dove hunting on the property is done by self check-in at the main office Sept. 3 to the end of season. Simply put, the AR frame has been very popular among firearms enthusiasts due to its modular design and the ability to customize just about everything. 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. Sign In Savage 320 Field Grade. But shooters with very small hands might do better with a trimmer gun. The new owners of Remingtonnow RemArmsseem to have solved some of the quality-control problems that plagued the guns over the past 15 or so years and the one we tested. TheMossberg 935 Magnum Waterfowlprovides top-notch accuracy and reliability for the price. Its available in a black synthetic finish or Mossy Oak Bottomland, Realtree Max-5, and GORE OPTIFADE Timber camo patterns. Superbly built and balanced and a pleasure to shoot with. Its performance was quite good. We particularly appreciate the all-over camo finish, which you dont often see on guns that are priced for the working man. Many years ago, while living in northernmost Illinois, a friend and I would make an annual pilgrimage to a public hunting area with the intent of chasing put-and-take pheasants provided by the state. That said, weve also reviewed a few smaller bore guns, mostly in youth models for people with smaller frames. (Read a review of the Super Black Eagle 3 here.). TheMossberg 590A1 Retrogradehas a large magazine for non-bird-hunting purposes. Pattern First You can buy a 12-gauge with a 26-inch barrel if you want a little more heft and discipline in your swing, or you can choose the even lighter 20-gauge model. (Read a review of the Benelli Ethos Codroba BE.S.T. Just $1 per month , During teal season in Texas, our test crew put 17 of the best duck hunting shotguns on the market through the ringer. During teal season in Texas, our test crew put 17 of the best duck hunting shotguns on the market through the ringer. The gun you bring when rain, ice, snow, or grit turns semiautos into single shots. is a true youth model shotgun, with a short pull. Our upland fields consist of native prairie grasses, thick drainages, and several acres of milo strips for additional cover and a fall/winter food source that provides excellent pheasant shooting and quail shooting opportunities. The gas-operated semi-automatic action cycles with blazing speed, allowing for lightning-fast follow-up shots on your favorite waterfowl. The primary attraction of this gun is its accuracy. TheWeatherby PA-08Synthetic is long and accurate. Its reasonably priced, and accurate enough to drop a bird on the wing at any reasonable range. The 20-gauge Superposeds are just right for upland bird hunting, however. Were here to help them make that decision. Its an easy gun to shoot well, and I liked everything about it except for the very high point of impact our test gun exhibitedand the $2,300 price tag. is a quality semi-automatic with walnut furniture. The 870 you want is the Wingmaster, either an old fixed-choke model or one of the newer guns with Light Contour barrels. The forever-popular Browning A5 is now available with a brushed nickel receiver and Grade I Turkish walnut stock in a lightweight, carry-all-day autoloading Sweet Sixteen. Our pheasant hunting vacation packages include all the meals, 5-star lodging, guides, dogs and transportation to and from . That said they all die when you shoot 'em in the head. Its reasonably priced, and accurate enough to drop a bird on the wing at any reasonable range. Then there are dedicated turkey guns. Pointers are best known for the stance they take when they notice prey. The ideal fit varies from person to person, yet some stocks suit a wide range of shooters. That means 50,000 or more new or reactivated hunters went afield last year, and many of those may be looking for a new waterfowl shotgun. pheasant hunters include Fiocchi Golden Pheasant (7/8oz. The downside of recoil-operation is that theres no gas bleed-off, and the barrel actually slides back to chamber your next round. 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. 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