Whats your Favorite "Dove Gun"?

[chas08]

It's almost here. Dove season is the first bird season to open in Texas.(Sept. 1) I bet it's the same in most other states that have a season. I know that not all shotgunners hunt live game, but even the strictly "clay shooters" must have a game that imitates it. Lets hear from you too. Quail hunters feel free to chime in. Many characteristics of a good quail gun are an asset in a good dove gun. There are no wrong answers and pic's are welcome. :)

[oneounceload]

28 gauge, preferably a nice O/U or SxS, 28 inch or longer barrels, chokes SK/LM

worse comes to worse, a Remington 1100 28 gauge with an IC in the tube:D

[Ohen Cepel]

I've really had good luck and enjoyed my Ruger Red Label, 20ga in the dove fields.

[big_bang]

20ga Remmy 1100

As an aside, when hunting chukar out west, I found that my Stoeger 12ga coach gun with #6 was fantastic. It's short & light, and therefore easy to carry and maneuver against those evil bastages in the mountains. It's also cheap, so I didn't get bent outta shape when it got banged up.

[Deer Hunter]

My Stoeger 12 gauge coach gun.

[Dave McCracken]

Damn.

It's hard to pick just one.

There's a couple 870s here that come close to being ideal.

So's the B gun, albeit it's long and relatively heavy.

Heck, even the little NEF single will work.

[3pairs12]

I like 20ga 870 wingmaster or beretta A 302. My old man shoots a 410 wingmaster and makes most of us look foolish. Of course he shoots 10k + clays a year and shoot far far less.

[hddeluxe]

I gotta go with the 870 Wingmaster. It takes a lickin and keeps on shootin. I have three of them so when friends or relatives come for dove season they don't have to worry about bringing their own guns. So far they all like the 870 as well as I do.

[chas08]

It's hard to pick just one.

My dilema exactly. I'm real partial to a 28 ga SxS I picked up a few years ago. 26 in. barrel choked I/C & Mod. 3/4 oz of 7 1/2 shot....sweet.

a nostalgia hunt somewhere along the way with my 42 yr old "H&R Topper158" 20 ga mod choke that started it all when I was 10 years old.

Finish out the season with a hunt or two with my duck gun. Remington 870Express Super-Mag 26 in barrel I/C or Mod choke. 1 1/8 oz 7 1/2 shot.

This year I'm going to have to work in some time for a Winchester 1400 12ga, a Remington 1187 Super-Mag and an Ithaca 37 Ultra-Featherlight 20 ga that I picked up during the off season with funds aquired mostly from the sale of a benelli sbe1. so many guns ...so little time....:D

[MCgunner]

I guess my fave is my Winchester 1400 12 gauge, but a close second is the Remington Spartan SPR220 20 gauge coach gun I picked up a few years ago. It saves me money on hunting trips. 40 mpg motorcycle vs 15 mpg truck. :D

[machinisttx]

Either one of my 12 gauge 870's or my 16 gauge 870. I'll see how I like the 16 gauge Stevens 311 I traded into, but I'll probably go back to my beloved wingmasters.

[ArmedBear]

20 Gauge Ithaca SKB 500 Over/Under.

But any will do. I don't keep guns I don't want to shoot.:)

This year, I may try out a very old 16 Gauge SxS I picked up. I suspect I might like it.

[chas08]

Remington Spartan SPR220 20 gauge coach gun I picked up a few years ago. It saves me money on hunting trips. 40 mpg motorcycle vs 15 mpg truck.

MC If I ever see a guy on a bike on Highway 87 or 35 with a shotgun in a scabbard I'll know it's you. (LOL) I'll be the guy in the dirty white KIA with bloody feathers stuck to the trunk lid. :D

[MCgunner]

ArmedBear, what choke does that old 16 have? Problem with a lot of older guns is they got carried away with the chokes, mod/full. I'd rather shoot IC/Mod on dove. Full is almost unusable, too tight. That's one reason I rarely use my old 12 SxS anymore, but I keep it. Ain't gonna sell it, had it too long.

[MCgunner]

MC If I ever see a guy on a bike on Highway 87 or 35 with a shotgun in a scabbard I'll know it's you. (LOL) I'll be the guy in the dirty white KIA with bloody feathers stuck to the trunk lid.

LOL, well, that's the deal with the Spartan. I can break it down and it fits in the top trunk of my GoldWing. :D I can lock it up safe and secure while I chow out in a restaurant or whatever. I got paranoid hauling a hard gun case bungeed to the seat, didn't wanna be out of sight of it on a trip.

[ArmedBear]

SPRED-R

http://www.polywad-shotgun-shells.com/spreader-16-gauge-loads/

http://www.polywad-shotgun-shells.com/images/spr1.jpg

[MCgunner]

Hey, that's a new one on me. THANKS!

[Zip7]

Problem with a lot of older guns is they got carried away with the chokes, mod/full. I'd rather shoot IC/Mod on dove. Full is almost unusable, too tight. That's one reason I rarely use my old 12 SxS anymore, but I keep it. Ain't gonna sell it, had it too long.

My old SxS 12 has 30" modified and full barrels, and the full is really full too, but it's my favorite dove gun - it's harder to hit them with, but I like a little challenge.

We shoot a lot of hand thrown clays on the opening weekend of Dove season, and My SxS never breaks the clay in half - it vaporizes them.

[Milkmaster]

Sitting on a bucket in a fence row or tree line shooting doves would call for my 12ga Win1300 or my 12ga 1100.

My all time favorite for quail would be an old 12ga Ithaca 37 I stupidly sold years ago. It was light to carry when a lot of walking was involved. I have a BPS that would serve that purpose nicely now. The BPS is a little heavier, but it doesn't throw the hot hulls in anyone's collar close to me.

[SoCalShooter]

Being a range officer at my local range people are more than happy to let the range officer try one of their guns especially if you make a special trip down to the trap range for them. I have shot atleast 15 different makes and models of *bird guns*. And personally I think the best choice I made was my Benelli Nova. Its light, its not fancy its got a quick action and everyone of my friends and family I have let shoot it have agreed with me its awesome.

Its the basic 3 1/2 26" model, nothing extra, black finish. I love this gun.

[plumberroy]

:D:cool::DH&R 28 gauge single shot:D:cool::D
Roy

[gp911]

It used to be my Daisy BB gun, when I was a kid. :D 10 pumps in the old Powerline 860 did the job with copper BBs. I was into non-toxic shot even in those days! ;) Makes me wonder what the fuss is about, really. We'd take 'em right off the power lines back then.

Now I'd use my NEF .410 or use the 28 ga. barrel I have for it.

gp911

[viking499]

SKB 300 20 guage

[Larry Ashcraft]

My Citori, with IC and mod chokes in. I've had it for 25 years so it's like an extension of me.

Last year, though, I tried Sandy's little Baikal 28 ga SXS, and did really well. The gun just seems to work for everybody.

[jkingrph]

28 ga Darne with 26" barrels, just over 5 1/4 lbs. Next would be my vintage Win 101 in 20 ga.

[Blue Brick]

M500 A

[HB]

Browning BPS, extremely slick action, heavy to absorb recoil, and bottom ejection. Killed my first dove with one when I was 12, and bought my own about a week after that.

HB

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

I've got two:

CZ Durango 20 ga, 20":

http://www.yellowstonegateway.com/images/czdurangoamarilloshotgunpic.jpg

and

Winchester 1400, also 20 ga, 26"

http://armsbid.com/ks7pix/7tl-025.jpg

These are my dove/quail/pheasant guns. Both have interchangeable chokes. The Winchester is a pussycat. Gotta wipe that first beauty down with oil right after the hunt, as hot, humid, & sweaty as dove weather is. My main problem with doves is that I have no dogs trained to retrieve them, and it's hellacious trying to find them in the tall summer flora. Oh yeah, hitting them is also difficult for me - I miss more than I hit. Part of that is due to them being smart enough to stay way up there as they migrate - I think by the time they get here, they've been shot at a few times. I use 7.5 or 8 shot shot & IC choke if set up right on water, and use 6 or 7.5 shot and IM, M, or M/F if set up away from water where they fly higher. 2.75" only, of course.

[jclifton]

My all-time favorite is a BPS that I have had for 22 years. I have killed a lot of doves and ducks with this gun. I looks a little rough now, but I know it better than any gun I have ever shot. A BPS is a true work-horse.

[Virginian]

Browning BSS 20 gauge, or Remington 1100 28 or 20, depending on the mood and weather. The Browning is not a rain gun, and I have literally hunted doves in a hurricane. The Remmies I can take completely apart and clean.

[Mannlicher]

I vary the gun between two choices for Dove. Early season, I am most likely to take the 20 GA DB Ithica. Later, I will be using a 12 GA Browning A5.

[Guyon]

I only have one. A Remington 1100. One of those Wal-Mart close-outs mentioned here several years back. I've used it for dove hunts ever since I got it.

[BarkeyVA]

12 ga. Marlin Model 90 o/u choked IC/Mod that I have had for over 50 years. My dad bought it used for me when I was 14 years old. He cut off the stock to fit me and added a piece back when I got bigger. I still shoot it as well as any gun I own. I just got a 20 ga. M90 choked F/Mod. I may take the 12 ga. and the 20 ga. with me and use either one depending on how the doves are flying.

[240SX]

Remington 870 Express Super Magnum (Mossy Oak finish) 12 gauge...I just have to make sure I've chaged up my choke (use it for turkey hunt too).

[TexasBen317]

someone else said "My all time favorite for quail would be an old 12ga Ithaca 37 I stupidly sold years ago. It was light to carry when a lot of walking was involved"

Got to agree,, getting older and slower that full chock on mine allows me to take my time and still reach out there and put the touch on them,,dove or quail.. mine really needs a factory re blue but I love it still.. Shortest pump action on the market still.

[gp911]

With all this talk about the BPS as a dove gun maybe I should try mine out...

Of course it's a 10 gauge, so I'd be sitting on the ground crying and twitching after awhile with a bunch of vaporized dove bits around me, but it might be fun... :D I could take dove at longer distances, I guess... I'd have to avoid those power line birds with it though. ;)


gp911

[JesseL]

Winchester model 12, 16 gauge, w/ polychoke.

[Kman]

Savage 311 SXS 20G, but if the birds are really flyin' got to go with an autoloader or pump. Dove hunting in Ky., it was hotter than Georgia asphalt and the birds were thick, I had one cook-off in the chamber as we had paused to pick up the fallen, lesson learned!

[Floppy_D]

Stoeger M2000 in 12g. Probably overkill, but it's my only shotgun, it works, and it's my only shotgun. Someday, when I'm as good as you guys, I'll buy a 410. Until then, I'll run what I brung.

[orvpark]

I still use my old single shot 12ga, It would take the fun out of it to do anything else

[Jason M]

You do realize you are driving me insane by bringing up dove season three months early... :banghead: :D

But to answer the question...

My 1975 Beretta AL-2. She has a 30" barrel and a fixed full choke. The bluing on her is easily 95% or better and it is as shiny as the day she was made in 1975. She weighs in at barely 6 pounds empty. I rescued her from abandon a year ago from the used rack in a gun shop. Dirty as all hell and you could barely pull the action open she was so gummed up. I honestly believe she hadn't been cleaned in 20 years--really. THREE cans of spray can gun cleaner later, a few runs of the bore snake and a thorough lubing later she shoots like new. I am smitten. :D

I own five shotguns and I'd sell most of them to keep the AL-2 if I had to.

-Jason

[chas08]

You do realize you are driving me insane by bringing up dove season three months early.

My apologies, I didn't mean to get you so worked up. But for us here in Texas' central zone it's only 1 month 4 days 23 hours and 32 minutes away....:D ;)

[TrapperReady]

My dove gun selection often comes down to "eenie meenie minie mo" while standing in front of the safe.

Past winners have included a 1958 20ga 870 Wingmaster, a 20ga Benelli M1 Field, and a 12ga Browning 425. I've been successful with all of them, although I probably hit the best with the 425, using IC and LM chokes.

[Okiecruffler]

Well, mine used to be my 20ga 311, but now that's my son's favorite. Guess I'll have to settle for the old 12ga 311.

[Jason M]

My apologies, I didn't mean to get you so worked up. But for us here in Texas' central zone it's only 1 month 4 days 23 hours and 32 minutes away....

I hate you. :D

Let me stay with you. I will hunt and do chores! :p

[chas08]

I hate you.

Let me stay with you. I will hunt and do chores!

Jason, I share your enthusiasm. I started hunting Duck with my Dad at 10. I wasn't allowed to join the men shooting Dove till I was 12. I guess the "Old Man" , and I use that term with ULTIMATE respect, wanted to make sure all that he'd been teaching me had set in. It's such a friendly, social, form of hunting, that even now at 52, I still look forward to it like I was 12. I still make it a point to take his Model 12, 12 ga and my Grandpa's Model 12, 16 ga on at least one dove hunt each season. Keep the enthusiasm, and pass it on. :)

[publiuss]

I have to cheat here and pick 3. The B-80 12ga. or 870 16ga for opening day b/c I may not be up to snuff after the summer lay off. After that I switch to the 11-48 .410.

[RandyB]

I have a few favorites, all 12 ga.

Ithaca 37
Remington 870
Savage 311

[Gordon]

all around I like my old Browning BSS 12ga SxS with imp.cyl and mod chokes 28". Stoked with #7 1/2 of 'dove' loads on sale.Works for me!

[ATAShooter]

Winchester Model 12, 12ga, 30" full choke.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/ATAShooter/win122.jpg

[KiltedClaymore]

mossburg 500 12 Ga.

or remington 1100


(sidenote: for quail, the winchester model 12 in 16 ga. is tops)

[chas08]

(sidenote: for quail, the winchester model 12 in 16 ga. is tops)

I've been blessed with the ownership of a 16 ga Model 12. Although I've never used it on Quail. Loss of habitat and fireants have all but eradicated them in my corner of the world. I have used it on Dove and Duck (with Bismuth & tungsten-matrix shot) I can see why my Grandfather made it his gauge of choice. Back when most folks only owned one shotgun,as he did.:)

[45crittergitter]

Hands down, a 20 ga. Montefeltro. 5.5#, and I kill literally twice as many (or more) as I ever did with the 12 gauges. But I reserve the right to continue experimenting...

[HuntAndFish]

16 gauge Winchester model 12.

[KiltedClaymore]

lotta 16 ga. fans here! :D


they are great arn't they?

[HB]

It's such a friendly, social, form of hunting, that even now at 52, I still look forward to it like I was 12

It seems like that up here in Missouri too. Shooting from 3 until limits or your to tired to pick up your gun, go up to the farmhouse, pick the birds, and have cool beverage of your choice with a dozen friends :)

[Joe D]

Rem. 1100 with 26" barrel. Favorite shell - 3 dram with 1 1/4 oz of 7 1/2 shot. Shoots very soft. BTW if you are not getting your limit with one box of shells then you are just "sky busting".
I get a good chuckle when I see folks shooting at doves 60 yds away.

[Radical120]

Winchester Model 1400 - bought a used truck awhile back and got a shotgun with the deal!!!

[Scoupe]

Favorite dove gun: Remington 1100 Special Field in 20ga. I like the straight stock and the 23" barrel in the field.

[jibjab]

I use a 20ga Ithaca 37 featherlight.

[chas08]

BTW if you are not getting your limit with one box of shells then you are just "sky busting".

I usually do with shells to spare. :)

[10X]

Browning A5 Light 12

Handles very well. Invector chokes let you adapt to the situation.

[bass806]

Can't wait till 09-01-08. My fav is a 1100 Sporting 28 ga. Will use my 28 ga. SxS to get ready for quail season also. After going to the 28 ga. I will never shoot another gauge for dove and quail.

[MrMex]

This is going to be my first bird season, FINALLY! Never hunted as a kid and when i got into firearms a few years been trying to go ever since but the problem is you have to have land, know somebody that has land or be stinkin rich.

My mother moved to uvalde and now i have a place. Ive only seen dove out there until last visit and saw a tasty little quail run across the road in front of my atv...mmm.

Ill be using a Rem. 1100. Buying a new barrel now, the current 30" full choke is too long and tight for me. I was advised to get a IC in 26". Is that a good small bird setup on an 1100?

[Dave McCracken]

Yes, Mr Mex. I've taken more birds with an IC or similar than any other choke.

Your new barrel may be able to take choke tubes. If so, put the IC in and take a Mod along for pass shooting if needed.

[chas08]

Ive only seen dove out there until last visit and saw a tasty little quail run across the road in front of my atv...mmm.

MrMex,
Since you are fairly new to bird hunting. Be aware that not all bird seasons open at once. Especially dove and quail in Texas. Familiarize yourself with the game laws and heed them. Texas game wardens seem to materialize out of thin air. :uhoh: As usual Mr McCrackens barrel and choke advice is right on target. The 1100 is a great gun also. Happy Hunting. :)

[MrMex]

Yeah ive heard about them...i have the tdpw handbook and am familiarizing myself with it daily. I cant wait!

[onebigelf]

A Fox BSE side-by-side in 12 gauge.

John

[woodsltc]

Beretta 20 gauge A390. :D

Don

[Snarlingiron]

I have picked up 4 new shotguns in the last year. Check back after dove season.

Prior to this season, it has been a Wingmaster 20 ga. with fixed modified choke.

I have shot so much skeet and sporting clays with my A390, I will probably start with that one, and try the others as the season wears on, but honestly, I can't imagine that it won't be my favorite.

[chas08]

What a great response. And such diversity. And not a single "wrong answer". I've heard models mentioned I haven't thought about for years. I wish all of you a safe, sucessful season. Remember to "Pick up Your Hulls" and "Take a Kid Hunting" :)

[Savage Shooter]

Favorite dove gun the one I happen to be shooting at the time as long as i can hit em.:D. But really my mossi 500 12 with my 28" barrel and M choke. I still will never understand my dad he has a perfectly good 1100 but when we go dove hunting he takes his old beat up savage 311 12 SxS. He's alright with it neither one of us is exactly a record breaker I manage at least once every year to take two birds in one shot last year I got one double and then a triple:what:. My dad says he would never belive it if he hadn't been there to see it. My grandfather thought i was kiding him until I made my dad tell him.:D I don't know if its luck or the gun but I don't think its me. My dad can still out shoot me on doves I only get more a year because i go out more. I'll get him some year just got to keep shooting i'll get it in time.

[DZL HOG]

The only shotgun I own.......Rem11-87 Premier 12ga Gotta remember to take the buckshot out and put the plug back in, before opening day. Oh yeah, change the choke too.
The last couple years the birds havent been around here. We got a good field goin this year, and Ive seen several birds, so I hope to have a good time.

BTW if you are not getting your limit with one box of shells then you are just "sky busting".

I've got a buddy that has done that. He drove an hour+, out of state, to get to the field, and had his limit in 6minutes.
Whats the fun in that?? I can shoot from noon till dusk and can only kill 12, so I dont mind taking stupid shots that I know Ill never make. Occasionally I do make em(not the 60yd), surprising me.
Plus with only me and my dad (maybe couple more) in the field, some extra shooting is needed to keep the birds flying, otherwise it gets boring.
Dad will probly be shooting moms BPS 20ga this year. His old A5 Light twelve, tends to mess his shoulder up(for a week) after long term shooting.
Anyways, its all fun.

[chas08]

I've got a buddy that has done that. He drove an hour+, out of state, to get to the field, and had his limit in 6minutes.
Whats the fun in that??

(LOL) Your words remind me of a work friend/hunting buddy's. He says he can get his limit with one box of shells, of course his box contains 250 shells. :D

I still will never understand my dad he has a perfectly good 1100 but when we go dove hunting he takes his old beat up savage 311 12 SxS.

Well if he's anywhere close to my age.(chuckle) I bet it's got a lot to do with picking up hulls. :D

[Dave McCracken]

Interesting spectrum of responses. A couple things.

I note not much interest in the extremes here. No 10 gauges, no 410s, no Cylinder bores, no strangled turkey chokes.

My guess, the majority of shot used by the contributors here runs almost all 8s, 7.5s and a few using 6s for long shots. And about 50-50 between hard trap style loads and the budget "Dove" loads. I prefer the hard shot in the trap loads, but whatever works.

I do recommend EVERYBODY get out NOW and do some clays for practice. The benefits are obvious.

[mtngunr]

Sorry, Dave.....870 Cyl, and .410 Cyl or Mod...AA, and prefer the HS Clays 1300fps in the .410....spot on the shot size, but I don't take long shots and reserve 6's for bunnies.

[Dave McCracken]

"But I don't take long shots...."

That the secret to working with Cylinder in 12 gauges, indeed with any gauge.

I've used riot barreled 870s in situations where doves came in to 20 yards or so. Worked well. No history of 410 use.

[MrMex]

Excuse the ingnorance but what is a cylinder your mentioning Dave?

[Scoupe]

Cylinder = Cylinder choke/no choke constriction at all.

[robsc]

Benelli SBE ll/12ga. all camo
Mossberg 500CG 20ga. 28in ventrib/C-lect choke

[ch1966]

I've been reunited with my first shotgun. It's a Mossberg 183, .410, 3" chambered bolt action w/full choke.
I received it for Christmas 1973 or 1974. My brother who was 1 1/2 yrs older than I, got one also, although mine had 1" sawed off the butt. Santa Claus brought them, but I knew they were from Dad because both guns were used:D
It's the shotgun I learned to shoot dove with along the Colorado River, in southwest Arizona. I used to be good with it. Back then we considered 15 birds per box of shells good.
Im in Oklahoma now, I'll be lucky to see 15 birds opening day, but I'm gonna take the little bird killer out. The 870 can sit for awhile...........

[kentucky_smith]

Browning Light 20

[jhco]

for me theres only one and thats the browning double automatic my father has about 8 of them, part of the fun is when you lean it up against the truck and people stop, study it, then ask what is that? plus it shoots great i like the aircraft aluminum one with a 32in hastings vent ribe barrel

[RobG5538]

My fav shotgun is an older Remmy 1100. A tad heavy but as smooth shooting as it gets. Come on Sept. 1!!

[jibjab]

I feel like the odd man out with my Ithaca 37 :confused: It's not as fast as my 12ga 870 WM but it's been a good gun for me.

[Okiecruffler]

Well, just to throw a monkey in the wrench, dad's favorite is a Mossberg bolt action .410, full choke with a 2 1/2" load of 7 1/2's. Doesn't take him a box to limit out either. Grand dad prefers one of his 20 ga Greeners. Come to think about it, he doesn't use up many shells either.

[mtngunr]

Yep, Dave, I keep all shots at 30yds or less with either....past that, the 12ga patterns start to get really thin, to where anything past 35yds is a crippler....in .410, regardless of choke, the patterns seem to just fall apart past 30....with the .410 at 15-25yds, I get a dense 15" core, a few fringe pellets out to 20", so centering is crucial....never have tried a 28 that did much different, and .410 is a lot easier to find....my shotgunning bible was always Bob Brister's book, so I use open choke and hard shot for the shooting we have down here....matches my poorer skill level.

[Dave McCracken]

Good. You may recall Brister writing about the 410. He replaced the pellets in a typical load with hard shot from a trap load and watched the percentages soar.

As for range, we all need to learn just what a real 40 yards looks like.

[LATex79]

Stoeger M2000 with a modified choke shooting Winchester AA Super Sporting Clays in 7.5

[marksman13]

A toss up between my Ruger Red Label 20 gauge and my Remington Sportsman 58 16 gauge. The Remington probably gets the nod for sentimental reasons.

[dagger dog]

Mossberg 12ga 30" extra full choked bolt action , for that real fast action when they're comin' in in trips and quads:D

[chas08]

Been gone for the weekend "fishing the salt". Lots of new responses. I'm going to indulge in a "topic drift"...."ways to cook 'em". Now most folks know about wrapping them with bacon & jalepeno and/or onion. A few years ago I was on a hunt where at the end of the day we donated our birds for an after hunt feast. The fellow in charge of the cooking made "Dove Kabobs" I've been cooking them that way ever since.

You start with any one of those shotguns you've mentioned and get about four - six birds per person
Fillet the meat from the breast bone.
Season the meat with a libral amount of McCormicks Montreal Steak seasoning.
Wrap each breast fillet with 1/4 slice of your favorite bacon. (I like pepper bacon)
Skewer the pieces with a piece of onion on one side and a piece of bellpepper or jalapeno on the other side. Be sure they are both pushed up against the meat.
Cook fast on the grill basting at least once on each side with olive oil till the bacon is done and the dove is about medium - medium well.
"Be Careful" they're so good you can hurt yourself. This recipie works really good on Duck, Goose, and Sandhill Crane also......Enjoy :)

[ch1966]

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/4226/p203000777op6.jpg


Duck kabobs!!!!!!!!!!!!


DM, youre absolutely right about the 40yds/.410 for dove. (Of course you are an expert!)
When I hunted dove as a kid with my little mossberg, the secret was listening to the little voice in my head telling me to wait.....wait....wait.......NOW!!!

[romeo212000]

My Yildiz 12 gauge o/u does the trick quite nicely. It's light weight helps me swing on those fast flying doves that you initially just see out of the corner of your eyes. Skeet 1 and Skeet 2 chokes are nice.

[dawei]

My Remington® (Baikal®) 20ga SxS; 6¼lbs, 26" bls choked IC & MOD loaded w/ 2½ DR. EQ. - ⅞oz - #8 shot. Alternate gun for when they are flying high is my 16ga Ithaca® SxS; 6½lbs, 28" bls choked MOD & FULL loaded w/ 2½ DR. EQ. - 1oz - #7½ shot.

[chas08]

ch1966 "That's what I'm talkin' about" a great way to cook those dark meated birds.

I see the 410 has become a large part of the latest replies. I once owned a Stoeger import SxS 410 choked Full/Full. It was abolutely deadly at 30 yds. It fit me well right out of the box. I lost it in the flood of 1998 and I've never replaced it. I shoot in the high 50 percentile on dove if the gun fits well, and it doesn't seem to matter what gauge I use, my percentages stay the same. No, I don't want to be any better, the fun would end too soon. I got a kick out of taking a limit with that 410 with less than a box of shells, while my hunting buddies pounded away with their 12's and 20's. My little Baikal 28ga. SxS comes close to replacing it. Perhaps someday I will. :)

[sillpapa]

I Dove Hunt Mostly In Eastern North Carolina Over Corn Or Sunflowers
Enjoy Shooting My Stoeger Condor O/U 16 Ga . The Ammo Is A Bit Pricey
But Still Alot Of Fun .

[Hornet 6]

Miroku Mk70 in 28ga for me, 30 inch barrel, skeet and 1/4.
Depending on range, 14 gram or 21 gram of 6.5 hard shot, for bigger prey and longer range, 24 gram and occasionally 28 gram of hard No6's.

Neil. :)