Duck hunting shotgun question...

[skydiver386]

I've had blue steel and wood, solid black and camo duck guns. The ducks didn't seem to care, it was movement that they spotted. Stay still, have some motion in your decoy spread and shoot the gun you like.

Just as long as the finish is durable and doesn't show wear to bad, it's good to go. Every waterfowl gun I've owned led a very rough life, so look at it as a tool more so than any other firearm you own.

 

[Red Leg]

A big double, appropriately proofed for 3" shells (though I only use 2.75" 1 1/4 ounce tungsten matrix loads), simply brings a sense of elegance to what is otherwise a muddy cold brawl.

 

[Field28]

This guy killing plenty of ducks with his trusty Model 12 with walnut and blue steel!

 

[RETD16]

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 have only one camo waterfowl shotgun (Benelli M2). My other two are black SBE 3s (one 12ga and one 20ga). All left handed of course, as civilized hunters have!?!?

Seriously, no duck or goose will care what color your shotgun is!!! Unless it’s hot pink or something like that…

 

[Inkgardener]

Perfect timing of a question!

I too am interested in a semi auto for duck hunting and was looking at an A400. Now I need to look at the Benelli’s.

The allure of the wood stocked sxs draws me in though!

 

[Josh P]

My shortcomings in killing ducks has almost nothing to do with my shotgun being black/not camo!

 

[Field28]

If you want something dual purpose get an old 870 with fixed mod, you can shoot ducks with it or use it as a boat paddle if need be, it will keep working.

I don't think camo matters in a duck gun.
I only own two camo guns and they are both turkey guns and I've killed quite a few turkeys with guns that weren't camo.

Beretta semis are great guns, they actually made one of my favorite Browning semis, the B80.

Not a big fan of the new A5s. That brings up another subject. I love my couple of Belgian Auto 5's, they are shooting works of art. They will never see the inside of a boat. I have shot wood ducks with them from the bank sitting next to a cypress tree on clear days. They belong in the dove field and maybe a clay course along with my old 1100's. Truth be told, the Miroku Auto 5's were much more suited for the blind, they were tougher guns.

Love them or hate the SBE is just a great general purpose gun as well as the M2.
I like the feel of my SBE2 better than the 3. Would love to find an original SBE, one of the Heckler & Koch guns.

All that said, give the Franci Affinity 3 a look. Very solid guns made in the same plant as the SBE'S and M2's last I heard.

 

[festuscat]

I use a 30 yo1187 and an 870 and the same camo from the 1980’s.
I try to stay as still in the blind as possible.
I know folks that have more camo patterns than the USMC.
Happy Birthday to my fellow Marines.
Semper Fi
J

 

[Wyfox]

Ditto on the inertia gun.
35 years of duck hunting and 25 years with the same Inertia Beretta(Benelli SBE design) and thousands and thousands of rounds, fresh water and salt water. It even survived a shot after a squib load bulging the barrel and kept running like a swiss watch. Very few moving parts to have issues with and easy to maintain. Color doesn't matter, I'd opt for synthetic based on the environment of waterfowl hunting.

 

[WAB]

I totally agree with others, I’ve killed many, many waterfowl over the decades and have never owned a camouflage shotgun.

 

[BeeMaa]

Camo pattern doesn't really matter. Pick the one you like best.

The Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus with Kickoff is the softest & fastest shooting gas operated shotgun I've ever used. You won't be disappointed.

The Benelli SBE3 (inertia drive) would give you an edge in reliability over the A400, but some find the recoil impulse not to their liking. Personally, I prefer it. It's also lighter and has les moving parts.

Hard to go wrong with either choice. Best of luck.

 

[Hunt anything]

Since 1988 I’ve been shooting the same Browning Citori, it’s on its third finish. The original blu, Parkerized and now ceracote. I don’t think color matters but movement and faces do. Like @Red Leg i did some waterfowl guiding and faces flare and save more ducks than the color of the gun.
Just pick a gun that fits and you shoot well. I would add one thing about a semi auto or pump, the third shot is quite often a wasted shot or a wing and a prayer so to speak.
Good luck and waterfowling can get addicting.

 

[Rimbaud]

I’ve used a Bennelli SBE III, black, for many years. I like the ability to shoot 3 1/2 shells over big water, though I mostly use 3 inch steel. The shotgun is solid and withstands the rigors of water. Some of the guys think Beretta’s have a softer recoil, but frankly I’ve never noticed recoil when hunting. I have a a beautiful AyA 12 gauge SxS that I had made that can handle steel and I have no issues using that beauty for blind hunts, but my SBE is my go to. I don’t think you can go wrong with Bennelli or Beretta, and liken the debate to be tantamount to Ford v Chevy or Mercedes v BMW

 

[roverandbrew]

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.

I bought my SBE2 in 2007 or so and its truly an amazing shotgun. I have never looked at another semi in the store since I bought it.

 

[DLSJR]

Camo on a duck gun is largely irrelevant. I’ve got shotguns that are blued with walnut stained wood as well as synthetic stocked guns that are entirely camo’ed. It doesn’t make a bit of difference. Today I mostly hunt ducks and geese with camo’ed synthetic stocked guns but that’s just because they came camo’ed. The first 8,000-9,000 ducks and geese I shot were all shot with wood stocked, blued guns; most of those with a Beretta A302 that I still have and occasionally use. I shot about 35,000 shells through that gun, almost never cleaned it and it would hang up maybe once in every 5-6 thousand shots. It still functions fine but looks terrible, like a worn out boat paddle. It started as a 26” Improved cylinder barrel but I’m not sure what choke it may be now after so many shells.

The A400’s, especially the sub-gauges, seem to have more feeding problems than the old guns. I’m sending a couple A400 28’s and 20 guage to Cole’s Guns to have them worked on. Cole’s is Beretta’s warranty station in the USA.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

You’ll appreciate the A400; Camo or Not… I prefer camo, but have owned and shot black steel guns. I shoot the LH Benelli equally well.

Looking forward to using my new A400 when I get back.

 

[375Fox]

The A400’s, especially the sub-gauges, seem to have more feeding problems than the old guns. I’m sending a couple A400 28’s and 20 guage to Cole’s Guns to have them worked on. Cole’s is Beretta’s warranty station in the USA.

I’m lucky to have a good gunsmith locally. I had to take my 12 ga A400 in when the gas system stopped cycling. I’m good for about 40-50 shells before it starts jamming and needs thoroughly cleaned. I sold my SBE to my brother. It gets “cleaned” once a year with a bottle of starting fluid to flush out action. It just works regardless.

 

[DLSJR]

Tha

I’m lucky to have a good gunsmith locally. I had to take my 12 ga A400 in when the gas system stopped cycling. I’m good for about 40-50 shells before it starts jamming and needs thoroughly cleaned. I sold my SBE to my brother. It gets “cleaned” once a year with a bottle of starting fluid to flush out action. It just works regardless.

That’s the problem with A400’s. My old A302 would literally go a couple duck seasons without cleaning despite mud, dirty water and even being used literally as a boat paddle a few times. After I installed a Sure Cycle from Snake River Manufacturing I don’t think it hung up more than once every 8-10 years and I abused it more than 99.9% of all hunters ever would.
The old Berettas are great guns, better than the newer ones.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Camo does not hold up against bug dope. Lifts or dissolves it.

 

[mark-hunter]

Maybe I missed this in earlier posts, but having not much experience with duck and geese hunting: does anybody find any benefit in 3 inch and 3-1/2 inch shells for this use?