Duck & Goose Shotgun Advice

[Triumph]

Guys - looking for advice on a duck & goose gun.

Shotguns I currently own:
Remington 870 Express
Beretta Urika 391 (wood & blue)

What I hunt:
Dove
Duck
Goose

The other trick is my wife would accompany one one or two duck & goose hunts per year - so need something for her also.

Questions:
1. Do I need anything or just give the wife the 391 or 870 & I take the other?
2. Do I buy a new shotgun, 3 or 3 1/2?
3. If buy new vs. used? If new would love a Browning Maxus but don't have funds right now. If used - what are best value used 12Ga Autos (that will hold value if I want to upgrade to Maxus later).

Any feedback would be appreciated.
No SBE2, Extrema vs. maxus debate please (I've read a lot on that).
Thanks, All

 

[oldbanjo]

Number 1 is the best answer if you want a Browning later. I found me a Marlin bolt action Goose Gun MD 55 w/36" barrel Ex Full. I put a Super Full .660 Chock on my Winchester and it's close to the 36" Barrels pattern.

 

[147 Grain]

Suggest you let your wife use the 870 pump shotgun.

On the pump, she will likely benefit from a reduced LOP (Length of Pull) stock from Remington (13") with the LimbSaver R3 Pad or the 12" version from Hogue. Spending $70 to upgrade your 870 with a shorter stock is a good alternative and the answer here.

In addition, the $125 Knoxx Special Ops stock from Blackhawk Industries is adjustable and reduces recoil up to 95%. Many women love the short length and low recoil of this system that produces more fun during extended range sessions.

As for the Beretta, does your 391 Urika have the recoil reducing Kick-off System? The Classic version doesn't and the LOP built for a man will likely be difficult for her to deal with.

 

[oldwheelieguy]

#1 for now!
If the interest grows then you should fine her something she wants. ( remember , if she ain't happy .you ain't happy)
There is nothing better for hunting wings then a gun you "LUV" to shoot. IMO.

 

[Triumph]

Sorry guys forgot to mention that I will be the on stuck with the 870 Express. She hates pumps so she will get the 390.

Should I worry about taking a wood & blued gun out into the mud & muck?

Also, if I wanted to get a used auto, to bridge the gap until I can afford a Maxus, what would be the best bet?

 

[ThePunisher'sArmory]

My $.02 Buy a synthetic stock for a waterfowling gun. Don't ruin your wood. I notice you mention the Browning alot. I picked up a Winchester SX2 3 1/2" camo last year for about $700. It will cycle dove rounds all the way up to 3 1/2" goose getters with no probs. Its alot less costly than the Browning. You know what its a great gun and is made by FN same as the new Browning. Just something else to think about. Here's a list of my guns and what I use them for.

Mossberg 500 20ga: Dove, phesant, and any small game.
Winchester 1400: Dove, phesant (small game birds), and meat shoots.
Winchester SX2: Dove, Duck, and Geese
Browning A5: Meat shoots only (fixed full choke barrel). This was Grandpa's gun.
Mossberg 500 12ga: (soon to be bought) 8rnd+1 for HD/SHTF

 

[Capstick1]

Plus one on the last entry about getting a gun with a camou, synthetic stock. Duck hunting can be pretty hard on shotguns. You can be sure that any gun you use will be exposed to rain, mud, getting knocked around in boat, and occasionally being dropped in the water. I have a Browning Citori that I use for sporting clays and trap. For clay games this shotgun is wonderful but I would never even think about using this shotgun for duck hunting. I would spend too much time worrying about dinging up the beautiful wood stock and getting water on it. A 3 inch chambered shotgun works fine for duck hunting. Those two choices you listed are fine candidates if your just going after ducks. Goose hunting on the other hand is a bit more challenging. These birds have sharper eyesight and it can be tough to get close enough to score a killing shot on them. You need all the help you can get. This is about the only time I think I'd use 3.5 inch magnum. If you or your wife do decide to get a 3.5 inch magnum spend the extra money on a good semi. Don't try to save a few bucks and buy a pump. The 3.5's have nasty recoil and are hard on the shoulder. Some of them like the Beneli Black Eagle 2 for example work great with 3 and 3.5 inch shells but tend to be finicky about feeding regular 1 1/8 oz or smaller 2 3/4 inch shells. If I was looking for a good 3.5 inch shotgun right now that had no problems digesting everything from the light 2 3/4inch field/target loads on up to the biggest 3.5 inch magnum shells, I'd get either a Browning Maxxus, Beretta A400 Xplor, or the new Remington Versa Max that they just came out with.

 

[HKGuns]

I have a 391 Urika as well. However I use my Xtrema 2 for everything you've posted. It is a great do it all shotgun that will cycle anything you put through it....Light target loads on the 5 stand range, light dove loads.....All the way up to 3.5" Duck/Goose & Turkey loads. I'd take the Xtrema2 over any of the others mentioned above obviously, because I purchased one.

Also agree on synthetic for waterfowling. The water repelling coating on the Xtrema2 really works, very little chance of water sticking to anything and rusting.

It is a lot easier to clean than the Urika also which factors in to which gun I will take to the field. (That and the confidence I have in its performance.)