Duck hunting shotgun question...

[Tanks]

A couple of weeks ago I was in ND for pheasant hunting. After filling my limit in the morning (3/day), I went duck and goose hunting and really enjoyed it.

I borrowed a semi-shotgun for the duck hunting. I really enjoyed it, so decided to get my own lefty shotgun for the future. Based on an earlier post here and my own research I decided on a lefty Beretta A400 Extreme Plus.

Question for those that have a lot of experience, does the camo pattern really matter for ducks? I am leaning towards no camo.

 

[Russ16]

Camo or black it doesn't matter, either works.

But get a Benelli.

 

[375er]

I have hunted with blued/wood shotguns on waterfowl for decades. No problem. Pick what shotgun you shoot best and go have fun!

 

[Firebird]

Have used a solid black version for decades. Keep the barrel down and out of sight and don’t move when the ducks are working-
Camo duck guns can and often do look good, it’s a place where camo really becomes part of the sport. (Along the lines of darkening your face So they don’t see the glare) But you can certainly get by without it on your shorgun.

 

[KEC]

100% agree with 375er !!
I've used everything to hunt waterfowl and never noticed a difference, your new Beretta will be perfect.
I'm not a fan of Benelli's, I owned one and patterned 2 others and they pattern way too high for my liking. Beretta's fit me well, pattern nicely and have been very reliable.

 

[Altitude sickness]

As long as it doesn’t have a chrome or polished bolt carrier group. Or other shiny polished parts to produce glare.

 

[Rubberhead]

Here's my thoughts...

 

[deewayne2003]

I seriously believe the camo guns are just a marketing ploy, my AL390 silver mallard is black and scores of dead ducks never saw it coming.

 

[Houston Bill]

I don't think it matters, black or camo. The Beretta A400 is a very nice shotgun. I prefer the Benelli, it fits me better. I have had the Super Black Eagle for years and it has never failed me.

 

[trperk1]

I'm surely not spending more for camo but will take it if the price is the same.

 

[375Fox]

I can’t comment on camo vs black vs wood, but as nice as the A400 is there are better hunting shotguns. I fell in mud with my A400 and lost a morning duck hunting. I could have rinsed a Benelli super black eagle off and kept hunting. The top of receiver coming off with the barrel is a huge advantage to the Benelli. If you get a pebble into the wrong spot on the A400 it can be very difficult to disassemble the ways it’s designed. I also think recoil operated is a better duck hunting gun than gas operated. The Benelli always fires. The A400 needs cleaned frequently. The A400 fit me better, but I regret selling the Benelli after seeing the design and practical differences.

 

[MacJenkins]

Agree with this!!

Haha, I’ve been duck hunting for almost 20 years. Between 50-75 days a year. If you are going to hunt a lot the inertia guns have been a lot more reliable for me. I like the lighter weight of the Benelli as well.

My daughter disagrees and likes the A400 better. Whatever you shoot well go with it.

The SBE 3 in 28 gauge is an absolute blast. Very fast gun.

 

[MacJenkins]

Oh, and fitting the shims to a new Berretta is BS! Benelli is a dream compared to it.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

A couple of weeks ago I was in ND for pheasant hunting. After filling my limit in the morning (3/day), I went duck and goose hunting and really enjoyed it.

I borrowed a semi-shotgun for the duck hunting. I really enjoyed it, so decided to get my own lefty shotgun for the future. Based on an earlier post here and my own research I decided on a lefty Beretta A400 Extreme Plus.

Question for those that have a lot of experience, does the camo pattern really matter for ducks? I am leaning towards no camo.

I use a traditional wood stocked Beretta Model 626E since 1989. Never had a problem filling up the freezer.

 

[mdwest]

My wife shoots a beretta a400.. I shoot a benelli super vinci… I agree with @375Fox … the benelli is A LOT easier to problem solve for in the field..

That said… her a400 has been rock solid reliable… so field problem solving hasn’t been an issue for us (yet)…

Both of our guns are camo… but I hunted ducks with an old blued and wood rem 870 pump for 20 years when I was young.. camo has never been the difference between success and failure… the only reason I bought the guns we currently waterfowl hunt with in camo was for the weatherproof finish vs blued…

Black (or brown or any other color) cerakote would have been just as good..

 

[Red Leg]

I was a duck guide back in college - essentially every day of the season for four seasons - many hundreds of hunts since. I have never seen a duck or goose frightened by a gun. Ugly pale faces? Absolutely. But never a gun. Beretta makes a fine field semi if that is your thing (rather than a fine double), but for waterfowl, the Benelli is a far better marsh and boat gun.

I personally shoot a 32” Connecticut Shotgun RBL SxS. It is deadly on ducks and geese with a1/4 ounce load of tungsten - no. 6 for ducks and 2 for geese.

 

[Tanks]

Beretta makes a fine field semi if that is your thing (rather than a fine double), but for waterfowl, the Benelli is a far better marsh and boat gun.

Well, my Grulla SxS are not proofed for steel or hemi (that I could confirm). I am wary of Benelli as I tried their 20ga super eagle and had issues in that every third round or so would not fire. I tried many different brands of ammo before I exchanged it for a 20 ga. A400. No issues at all, just spray some gun oil every 4-500 rounds and it kept going in Argentina for doves.

 

[Houston Bill]

I was a duck guide back in college - essentially every day of the season for four seasons - many hundreds of hunts since. I have never seen a duck or goose frightened by a gun. Ugly pale faces? Absolutely. But never a gun. Beretta makes a fine field semi if that is your thing (rather than a fine double), but for waterfowl, the Benelli is a far better marsh and boat gun.

I personally shoot a 32” Connecticut Shotgun RBL SxS. It is deadly on ducks and geese with a1/4 ounce load of tungsten - no. 6 for ducks and 2 for geese.

Wow, Connecticut Shotgun, they make great shotguns. I dream about owning an A-10 one day.

 

[Goopy]

I’ll go out a limb here ( I know the bad reputation of the Versa Max- but I must’ve gotten a good one) and throw in my two cents:
I use a Remington Versa Max in 12 gauge or a rattle canned H&R 20 gauge pump. I keep them marginally clean and both have served me well from Canada thru the Midwest in all kinds of weather on ducks, geese and gobblers.

Life is hard on shotguns in goose pits and duck boats!

 

[Goopy]

Sorry- missed the whole point of the question: the Remington was originally stock black, but I camo taped it with a cheap kit from Amazon. Its held up remarkably well for the last decade…