Over/under vs Pump for Ducks

[Loyalist Dave]

I don't really know why. Recently I've started looking at over/unders and side by sides. Was looking for comments/experiences with a double barrel and maybe using a modified and IC choke since I'd have two barrels vs one.

The comments about double triggers are correct. I agree that to effectively select which choke when using two different chokes in the field, you need both triggers.
The good part is that you can probably find a used 12 gauge or 16 gauge SxS with double triggers for not much money.

IF you find a 12 gauge, it's likely choked full and full, but you might find it choked Modified and IC. The 12 gauge will also likely be found with say a 32" barrel, having been a "goose gun". What you do then is send it out and have it fitted for screw-in chokes.

I have two 16 gauge SxS guns. (I tend to be traditional/purist in much of my hunting. 16 gauge for birds; flintlock for deer) The first SxS that I bought was a dedicated upland bird gun. It's very pretty and great for a nice walk in the fields with a bird-n-rabbit dog, but I didn't want to knock it about when doing other hunting. So I found me of all things, a Savage/Stevens 311 in 16 gauge.


It also came in Mod/IC chokes..., well that's was how it was marked, but I patterned it. The left/Mod barrel was a tad tighter than proper modified. The right/IC barrel was just a bit more open than true IC, but not exactly "skeet" choked. I wondered why. I hit upon a theory that as these guns in 12 or 16 were meant for Joe Sixpack, a farmer who probably would only own one gun and it would be that shotgun, one kinda sorta gets a bit better results with the chokes being as they were, in the days before steel shot and fixed chokes. A tad tighter choke on the left barrel would give the average guy just a bit more pellets on that distant duck. The slightly more open choke on the right barrel would give that same hunter a bit more "forgiveness" swinging on that fast moving dove, quail, grouse, or rabbit...at least in theory. (On the other hand it could have been bad quality control, and I might be full of beans, but I like to think American gun companies usually do such things on purpose.)

Anyway I had the chokes removed from both barrels and had screw in chokes done. The barrels were 28" and are now 26", so she swings pretty well. I can set up the gun for any shooting that I prefer, and select which barrel and choke with a simple move of my trigger finger. (OH, and I use Bismuth shot for waterfowl.) I don't need to worry about dings or scratches upon it either.

LD

 

[Bull Nutria]

I have been hunting ducks 60years, I started with a 20 ga SxS when i was about 12, borrowed a 12ga SxS when older, then bought a M12 Winchester 12ga when i was 15, hunted with the model 12 til, Igot out of college a bougth a 12 ga 870 Imp. Cyl. Hunted with that for many years. i got a deal on a beretta 12 ga O/U. when I was about 40 hunted with that for 10 years or so did real well with the O/U. I really started wanting my 3rd shot especially for cripples. Switched to used a 12ga Rem 1100, that started to be a jam o matic, bought a Beretta 391 camo and like it. I later bougth a Beretta A300 Camo and that is what i use currently. the Camo is very effective on rust prevention, which is more important than the camo in my opinion. You dont need 3.5 inch chambers. 3in shells will do all you need to do with ducks and geese in reasonable range.
Bull