Newbs, auto loader or Pump??
- Thread starter CBR
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Nathanael_Greene
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I'm no expert, but I'd say a pump.
Cheaper, more reliable, easier to clean when you drop it in the mud.
My first shotgun was a pump, and if I ever go duck hunting again, I'll take a pump gun.
I love an auto for dove, though.
Cheaper, more reliable, easier to clean when you drop it in the mud.
My first shotgun was a pump, and if I ever go duck hunting again, I'll take a pump gun.
I love an auto for dove, though.
Kimber1911_06238
Member
newer auto's are very reliable as long as they are maintained. They allow fast follow up shots and are widely used by waterfowl hunters. that being said, pumps are very reliable, cost several hundred dollars less, and with practice can be shot almost as fast. It's really a matter or budget and personal preference.
MCgunner
Member
I agree with Kimber1911_06238. It's just what you can afford. I love my auto with heavy loads, really tames the recoil. Just as good on ducks as it is on doves. Wish it handled 3" loads, but hey, it works with 2 3/4" stuff pretty decent and I don't do much goose hunting. I wouldn't mind getting a Remington Spartan 453, but it's not that high on the want list. My 3" chambered Mossberg covers the 3" problem just fine. That gun has slain a lot of waterfowl over the last 15+ years and the Mossberg I had before that (just had to have the posh camo) did, too.
I've mostly used my Winchester M1400 on dove the 20 years I've had it, but I'm getting older and less recoil tolerant and that gun fits me like a glove. Lately, I've started using it on waterfowl when boat rides and bays aren't involved. I take care of this gun. sm on the shotgun board turned me on to waxing it with paste wax and so far, it seems to be protecting the wood and metal parts pretty danged well. That camo/plastic Mossberg laughs at salt marshes, though. If they ever offer the Spartan in a camo finish, I'll be wanting it more. I think it's offered with polymer stocks, but I'd like the camo finish, rugged and blends with the vegetation. All reports of the Spartan 453 I've read say it's a good gun and it only runs about 400 bucks, cheap in a world of Benellis, SX3s, and such. A waterfowl gun, IMHO, shouldn't be a show piece, it should simply work.
I've mostly used my Winchester M1400 on dove the 20 years I've had it, but I'm getting older and less recoil tolerant and that gun fits me like a glove. Lately, I've started using it on waterfowl when boat rides and bays aren't involved. I take care of this gun. sm on the shotgun board turned me on to waxing it with paste wax and so far, it seems to be protecting the wood and metal parts pretty danged well. That camo/plastic Mossberg laughs at salt marshes, though. If they ever offer the Spartan in a camo finish, I'll be wanting it more. I think it's offered with polymer stocks, but I'd like the camo finish, rugged and blends with the vegetation. All reports of the Spartan 453 I've read say it's a good gun and it only runs about 400 bucks, cheap in a world of Benellis, SX3s, and such. A waterfowl gun, IMHO, shouldn't be a show piece, it should simply work.
I got to websearching and came up with 3 guns i really like, i would like to see what fourm members would prefer if any
a 500 pump action mossberg 12 guage 26" camo mossy oak
http://www.mossberg.com/products/default.asp?id=3§ion=products
Im not sure if these guns would be good on waterfowl but i would like to see
Model 870™
Express® Super Magnum™
Pump action reliability with 12-Gauge 3 1/2" shotshell capability
http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/premier_dealer_exclusives/model_870_express.asp
and
i like the mossberg pump action 500 slugster 12 gauge 24" barrel mossy oak...
what ammo do you guysprefer?
a 500 pump action mossberg 12 guage 26" camo mossy oak
http://www.mossberg.com/products/default.asp?id=3§ion=products
Im not sure if these guns would be good on waterfowl but i would like to see
Model 870™
Express® Super Magnum™
Pump action reliability with 12-Gauge 3 1/2" shotshell capability
http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/premier_dealer_exclusives/model_870_express.asp
and
i like the mossberg pump action 500 slugster 12 gauge 24" barrel mossy oak...
what ammo do you guysprefer?
HippieCrusher
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Whichever you perform best with and are most comfortable shooting. I tend to favor my 870 over my 1100 when I'm in the duckblind, but the 1100 over the 870 when I'm at a dove or trap shoot. The mossberg you mentioned doubles up as a good turkey gun too.
MCgunner
Member
I've a camo M500, excellent waterfowl and turkey gun, though I don't do turkey, don't have 'em on my place. Love the camo finish. You can get an 835 ultimag if you want 3.5", but I have no real use for 3.5". I'll shoot Remington Hevi Steel the rest of my Federal Tungsten-Iron on geese. I don't hunt a lot of geese, either, mostly ducks, but I had a goose lease several years ago and that Federal 3" tungsten iron brought 'em down like steel can't even out of a 3.5" gun. Shot density, shot material density, and velocity is the key. 3" is plenty with the right ammo. Steel shot is fine for ducks and, in fact, 2 3/4 inch loads are find for ducks. I'm going to be testing the 1550 fps Winchester stuff this season. Everyone says this stuff is great. I got number 3 shot in 2 3/4" for my Winchester autoloader.
To shoot flying birds, either those guns would be a poor choice. They are designed for rifle-style shooting where you aim and fire.
For waterfowl, you want a gun designed for shotgun-style shooting where you point, swing and fire. A plain-ol' 500 or 870 with 26" or 28' barrel is a great choice, and available cheap, too.
You really, really need to go get some practice before waterfowl season, or you won't hit anything. It doesn't matter if you can draw smiley faces on sihouette targets with a pistol and shoot a squirrel in the eye at 50 yards with a rifle; shotgunning is a whole different kind of shooting and you won't hit much if anything without specific shotgun practice on flying targets.
For waterfowl, you want a gun designed for shotgun-style shooting where you point, swing and fire. A plain-ol' 500 or 870 with 26" or 28' barrel is a great choice, and available cheap, too.
You really, really need to go get some practice before waterfowl season, or you won't hit anything. It doesn't matter if you can draw smiley faces on sihouette targets with a pistol and shoot a squirrel in the eye at 50 yards with a rifle; shotgunning is a whole different kind of shooting and you won't hit much if anything without specific shotgun practice on flying targets.
MCgunner
Member
Not a thing, just depends on which you think ballances better, but not knowing about shotguns in general, just toss a coin. LOL Heck, I've got 20" barrels on my little 20 side by side. I mainly got it for dove/quail or country doubles with the club, but I bought some steel shot for it and it tosses just as tight a group as a 28 inch, but it's going to be way whippy on ducks. Thought I'd use it just for the heck of it. Might actually be better on teal this teal season. Those little boogers come in low and fast and you have to really swing to get on 'em in the early dawn. I've killed a lot of ducks with a 20 gauge, just have to call 'em a little closer. It ain't the gun for late season decoy shy ducks.
My Mossy is a 28" gun and I like the way it swings, steady. You don't need quick on ducks, you need steady. But, then, you'll figure this all out in time.
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