Considerations for a waterfowl shotgun?

[silveragent]

I started with a cheap pump to start hunting eight years ago (SXP) and after three years of it I decided to upgrade to a semi after my partner also got a semi so it was a bit of an arms race.

I put about four years into a Winchester SX4. It's a nice light semi that shoots pretty fast. However, I got a bit of money recently from work and decided to splurge on a step up. Same family - Browning - and same choke system. So I've been shooting a Browning Maxus 2 since the start of duck season and so far it's been pretty good. Even though both are gas operated, the Maxus 2 has a bit of a kick to it and also shoots lower than I am used to. But I'm getting used to it and it has a couple bells and whistles more than the SX4. It has a magazine cut off so that if you are shooting duck loads and a flight of geese comes on you; you can rack out the chambered shell and quickly throw in a BB. Nice in theory but I've yet to do it. The other feature is that if you run dry, you don't have to put one in the ejection port and chamber it (two motions). Instead you can shove one into the loading port and it will be sucked up automatically and chambered. Again nice in theory but that function hasn't been as reliable as it seemed when I tried it out at the store.

[Dutch]

Had them all, inertia guns tend to have more recoil ,as they are inertia driven ,gas guns lesson recoil but must be kept clean although I have seen my partners Beretta a 400 stop working having never been cleaned in a year.I shot a Browning gold for years great gun still have one in 20g ,Beretta 400 ,benelli SBE, all good with their plusses and minus .Now have a Savage renegauge ,got it cheap it is a gas gun does have very little kick ,not 3.5" which is a negative but has an interchangeable stock with different pads and comb heights which I find is a plus, considering the different gear I wear . One other thing in the really cold and snowy ? days switch to my o/u Browning always works even if it's only a 2 holer cheers D

[Modeltwelve]

All good info but no one has mentioned fit. If gun doesn’t fit you properly you’re going to miss more than hitting your target Try out different shotguns first

[MichelD]

All good info but no one has mentioned fit. If gun doesn’t fit you properly you’re going to miss more than hitting your target Try out different shotguns first

Yeah. I had a nice Browning Gold Hunter I loved to shoot but couldn't hit anything with it. Sold it and went back to my 870.

[Linksman313]

3" chamber with interchangeable chokes, and weighing in the 7-8 lb range with a 28" barrel is a pretty good start. I like pump-action guns for the reliability. One that takes down for easy cleaning is also recommended.

Yes, yes, yes and yes

Winchester SXP Camp/Field combo 28" and 10" barrels (turkey/slug barrels available at Valley Firearms trail $125/$175 respectively)

first "new" shotgun i ever bought to replace an older fixed choke 2 3/4" 30" barrel wingmaster (that still shoots!)
purchased for $499 from Reliable in Surrey

been in service for 15 years

never an issue

good luck
Links

Ps there are plenty of incredibly lightly used shotguns out there, bought during the "Duck Dynasty" years and never made it past the skeet pit

PPS youtube any model you are interested in for a variety of opinions in various situations

[Dutch]

All good info but no one has mentioned fit. If gun doesn’t fit you properly you’re going to miss more than hitting your target Try out different shotguns first

Yes absolutely and shame on me for missing that ,fit is number one ,the balancing act is fit well and stay in budget .Hate to spend a ton on something that ends up being a safe queen.

[hawk-i]

Can a person have an older fixed choke (f) barrel fitted to use replaceable chokes?

Gun is a Beretta A-M-300.

[Dutch]

Yes you can but it could be cost Prohibitive. I had a couple of my old Winchesters reamed out to Mod. And IC was cheaper and they work well with the 2-4 steel .

[250 sav]

A semi works well for waterfowl hunting as it absorbs some of the recoil of those heavy loads. I'd stick with a B gun (Browning, beretta or benelli) whichever fits you the best.