Duck hunting shotgun question...

[Don458]

As much as I love Semi auto shotguns especially 16 gauge, I for some reason like to Duck Hunt like its 1950. I use a Stevens 311 12 gauge that has been dropped in the water plenty, a Lefever Nitro 12 gauge (short chambers ) 30” or if in the parks in NY that have blinds (we call it living room hunting) my browning Citori gr 1 12g But when on the bay its the old way. Cork ll bean decoys also - When i young I had the pleasure of meeting a Real old time Duck hunter my Aunt was taking care of (RN) and that’s how he did it.He also gave me most of my Duck hunting gear when he knew he wasn’t able to do it anymore. I even have his last NY hunting license from 1963 I just think it’s fantastic that he past it on to me .

 

[skydiver386]

I use Lucas White Lithium Grease.. about $6 at walmart.. started using it on my service pistol during the winter back in my cop days (very thin coat on the rails).. and now do the same thing for rifles and shotguns.. neither heat or cold effect it much and it wears for a very long time..

It also makes WONDERFUL raccoon deterrent lol... I have a couple of barrel feeders mounted on 4' legs that are supposed to keep the raccoons from getting at the tray... within 24 hours of deploying the feeders I had raccoons scaling the legs, yanking on the motor and tray, pulling at the solar panel, etc..

I went out and slicked up the legs of the feeder with lucas grease about mid july... its now mid november and I havent had a racoon climb the feeder since lol..

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This is the most useful thing I've learned on this whole thread!

 

[Ontario Hunter]

As you have written constantly, you are a brilliant shot - no doubt the finest on this forum with shotgun or rifle. Like @Hunt anything my experiences guiding hundreds and hunting with many dozens more is that the third shot is largely a wasted one by most using a semi-auto.

I use a double of some sort almost exclusively, I rarely use three-inch shells and always something other than steel - tungsten in a modern double and bismuth or soft shot matrix in my older guns. I have never felt remotely under gunned or lacking in "firepower."

This is my favorite goose gun. It is a traditionally chambered 10 bore built by Lindner around 1880-90. Traditional means it is chambered for 2 7/8" shells and 1 1/4 ounces of shot. In other words, it is what the modern 12 bore 1 1/4 ounce load was created to replicate. The advantage to the 10 is it has shorter shot string. I have not felt the slightest disadvantaged sharing a field or goose pit with plastic bangamatics.
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Yep. Back in the day, when I was guiding, I became something of an expert in the maintenance and field repair Remingtons.

Most of us mortals either can't afford tungsten or bismuth ... or can't justify the ridiculous expense. Ten gauge bismuth must be close to ten bucks a shell now. One has to judge just how badly he wants to gut geese. For those of us who have other financial priorities (e.g. families) steel is the answer for waterfowl. Three shots, especially with steel, is essential in my experience ... which is pretty extensive. I also carry three shots in that same shotgun when upland hunting but I doubt I empty it once every two or three years. In fact I can only recall firing all three rounds just twice in the last ten years. Once for a triple on roosters four years (?) ago and last year when I should have shot a triple on Huns but missed the last and easiest shot. Damn, that would have been something! I carry three in the A5 when upland hunting because it shoots great that way (fantastic actually) and I don't want to change the balance. Don't mess with what works. I have a nice O/U that would probably work okay for uplands (and make me look more like an upland hunter) but I don't shoot it nearly as well. Don't mess with what works.

But waterfowl is much different. Frequently it's shooting into flocks of birds. Why not have a third round? And shooting triples on geese is nothing special, especially as they drop onto the decoys. Make the first shot count and the next two are easy as those big heavy birds struggle to change direction. And even easier when hunting alone. Hunting with others = too much confusion as birds are falling when I pull onto them with my gun. Your clients may have been into wasting a lot of ammo but I am not. I don't shoot a third shot just because it's in the magazine. But when I need it, which is often shooting waterfowl with steel, I want a third shot available. Seems to be the concensus among most of us who shoot waterfowl. Yes, there still are a few double tube waterfowl shotguns made but the three shot variety massively outweighs them in popularity. Must be a reason for that.

As to expertise, I am not infallible superman with a shotgun. Actually missed a rooster last night. 35 mph wind but I should have had him anyway. Got the other one a half hour earlier. That was the first bird I've missed in more than a week hunting every day. And it has been damn windy too. But I shoot a lot of skeet with the same gun and it fits me perfectly. That makes a difference. Also having two great dogs and knowing the country after hunting here for twenty years running. Lots of reasons why I shoot a lot of birds. Not all just about me. It is what it is. Best thing is I have proven it can be done "on the cheap." All my hunting is on public land, DIY, and using affordable equipment. My gun is butt ugly, I shoot cheap shells, and my pants have holes in them ... but I can still put a pile of birds in the pot/freezer year after year.

 

[roverandbrew]

I’ve been using my SxS’s this season.

The sidelock bling on the AYA No.2 didn’t seem spook them. But the hammers can be an issue in a lay down, keeping the muzzles away from the toes after cocking and just before sitting up.

I’m looking for a synthetic stocked Benelli, Beretta, Franchi, Winchester SX4 for December Ducks


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Those are wonderful pictures!

 

[BeeMaa]

I shot at only one goose when we had a couple of hours free in the morning. I shot it 3 times, feathers flew on the first two, but the third shot broke a wing and brought it down. Tough birds. I couldn't believe how heavy it was either as I had never hunted geese.

When they are on the ground, they are very similar in body construction to turkey. Their heavy wings protect their bodies, but the head is still venerable. Head shots while flying aren't easy, but the TSS will penetrate further on body shots and the smaller shot size ensures more chances of a vital area being hit.

Highly recommend looking at Winchester Last Call #7's for goose if you are using a modern shotgun.

 

[Franco]

My father shot everything from quail and doves to ducks and geese, with pheasants and the occasional turkey in between, with a Winchester Model 12. He had a Browning A5, but very seldom shot it.

Neither of those two shotguns had any type of camo, nor do I recall him ever wearing camo. He was the manager of an exotic/game bird farm and hunting lodge, so he got in a lot of practice and was a very good shot.

On the other hand, I have found when it comes to shotguns, my proficiency seems to be more of spreading BB's around than actually hitting anything. I have even thought were I to simply cast BB's out with my hands, I would save the gunpowder, be time and money ahead, and probably be just as successful as shooting.

 

[Saul]

My only complaint about TSS shells, besides the cost, is that some birds are too bloodshot to keep. We’ve had to discard honker breasts shot with #9 TSS as they were too bloodshot to eat.

What would you attribute to the increase in bloodshot with TSS? I assume just that you are going down in shot size.

 

[BeeMaa]

What would you attribute to the increase in bloodshot with TSS? I assume just that you are going down in shot size.

I've not found an increase in bloodshot by using TSS because the pellets are smaller. I've seen much worse damage using 2's, BB and BBB. Plus the TSS tends to pass through completely so you don't end up "crunching" down on one.

Not discounting the experiences of @DLSJR, but I've not seen the same results.

 

[uplander01]

Camo is camo, I think it matters in open field situation where ducks or geese are coming in too decoys, .......Should have bought a Benellli SBE3-The king of waterfowl guns, Berettas gas system in cold, damp, waterfowl situations will fail.

 

[uplander01]

Also, Migra is the new rage in stacked waterfowl loads...heck them out

 

[Safari Dave]

I don't think camo/all black makes a difference.

I shoot a camo Benelli SBE 2 when waterfowl hunting.

I also shoot an all black A400 (but I don't take it duck hunting, for any particular reason.)


I read the earlier post about the disadvantages of an A400 when hunting in harsh conditions. You might want to think about that.

My duck hunting buddy uses a camo left-hand SBE 2 and really likes it.



I brand new SBE 3 would be really nice!

 

[BeeMaa]

I don't think camo/all black makes a difference.

I shoot a camo Benelli SBE 2 when waterfowl hunting.

I also shoot an all black A400 (but I don't take it duck hunting, for any particular reason.)


I read the earlier post about the disadvantages of an A400 when hunting in harsh conditions. You might want to think about that.

My duck hunting buddy uses a camo left-hand SBE 2 and really likes it.



I brand new SBE 3 would be really nice!

I had the SBE2 and upgraded to the SBE3 when it came out. I experienced the Benelli click on more than one occasion that prompted the change. I've not been disappointed with the performance in foul (fowl? LOL) weather. It's been fully submerged on a number of occasions and only shaken out before putting back in action.

The gas guns I've tried have not been nearly as reliable and this includes the A400. Softer shooting yes, but they don't go many rounds in harsh conditions without a failure.

 

[BAY]

Camo or black Hard to beat the A400 or SBE3. Shoulder both and buy what fits the best. Benelli POI can be adjusted with the provided shims.

 

[318AE]

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.

When I was a kid, a friend and I would save the money we could scratch together and go to the local Gibson’s hardware store to buy fishing lures. They had one side of an entire aisle that was almost entirely artificial lures. It seemed endless.

My friend’s Dad once told me “most fishing lures are made to catch fisherman, not fish”. I think this might apply to camo duck guns too.

 

[BeeMaa]

Camo or black Hard to beat the A400 or SBE3. Shoulder both and buy what fits the best. Benelli POI can be adjusted with the provided shims.

Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus with Kickoff comes with adjustments as well. Not as easy as the SBE3, but I fit my father for his A400 pretty quickly.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Camo doesn’t matter when duck hunting. I’ve shot them with a wood/blued 835, a black 1100, a camo SBE2, and a Rob Roberts custom.

Choke selection and patterning your load are more important than camo

 

[DLSJR]

I disagree on high flying snows and canadas late season. These geese have already been shot at for months and I would rather stay home than waste time shooting 12 3/4 shells.

Maybe you need a better place to hunt? Effective range doesn’t change just because it’s late season and birds are more difficult to decoy. With good shells you can kill birds efficiently out to 40 yards and beyond, not only in 12 gauge but 20 guage. I typically limit 28 gauge shots to 35 yards or less and birds die just as dead as when shot with a 12.

 

[DLSJR]

What would you attribute to the increase in bloodshot with TSS? I assume just that you are going down in shot size.

30-40 pellets going through a breast causes lots of bloodshot meat. A 410 with a mix of 9’s & 10’s holds 297 pellets in a 3” load. My son took the time to pluck the backs of a few honkers and told me most of the pellets went right through the honkers.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Short answer:

What do you think?

I shot this goose, 1 of 3, no shots on the other 2, on open lake bottom. Using a 10 gauge s x s.

Last year in the same area, also in similar attire, but wearing shorts and no jacket, I shot 3 geese with 2 shots. I had to go wading to retrieve the 3rd goose. Two with one shot; 3" T shot.

In essence it depends on the geese, the area, and the time of year.

Geese: resident
Area: open lake bottom near houses
Time of year: our early season September 1 thru 15

We also shot geese using decoys in the "backyard" hayfield, shooting from the sides of the well house, as cover.

Sometimes camouflage is just too overrated.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Disagree totally. Geese are the toughest birds to bring down. Countless times I needed the third shot to finish one I had hit hard with second round. And more than a few times it's taken three hits to bring down a honker. Usually at least once a season (formerly many times a season) I will take a triple on geese (three birds in three shots). The key to bagging triples is hunt alone ... and be a good shot. My frankengun Browning A5 Magnum (1961 FN receiver, 1970s trigger group, 1990s Miroku barrel with choke tubes, and aftermarket plastic stock) isn't pretty but it's deadly. Fits me perfectly which is more important than cosmetics.

+1 with this, on what @Ontario Hunter says to needing more shots on a goose. My hunting buddies and I were hunting the early season goose season. We were hunting a cove from my boat. One particular goose fell with half its head gone. It kept trying to get away. Between the 2 of us we put six more shots into the goose before it finally died. BTW this wasn’t the only nearly decapitated goose that took more than 3 rounds and/ or a good neck ringing to kill.

However, I have to disagree with "The key to bagging triples is hunt alone..." and agree +1 on ...and being a good shot". Or just getting lucky by or depending on the geese lining up just right.

I got my first "triple", 3 geese with 3 shots, hunting with a buddy, using his pump 12 with 3" BB loads. We switched guns.

My solo 3 geese with 2 shots, using a 12 gauge, 3-1/2", "T" shot, was simply because my 2 youngster hunting buddies were not present and my other hunting buddy, the youngsters granddad, didn't want to join me. Figuring he could shoot the geese as they passed low over his house or barn. We are prone to shot geese as they pass by and while sitting around his carport or from his patio.

Location is everything not just with geeseand ducks that fly over but also deer have the tendency to walk and graze in the gras ts of his backyard and in his hayfield that is part of his backyard. There's no baiting, no supplimental food plot, just grass for the deer and geese,... and the occasional turkeys.