Duck and Quail Gun?

[gil1]

I have a buddy who is just getting into hunting and will be going on quail and duck hunts. He needs to buy a gun or guns to get him going. Can he just buy one dual purpose gun, or does he have to buy separate guns? Getting started, I would imagine he wouldn't want to break the bank. I appreciate any gun suggestions.

 

[rabbit hunter]

One gun would do, especially just starting. Remington 870 Express magnum pump shot gun. Screw in chokes. I just happen to have one forsale I need to get rid of. Just like new.

 

[FULLDRAWXX75]

Remington 870 pump, 12 ga. (3" chamber) change loads for the various types of hunting he will be doing.

Can't go wrong with this combo.

FDXX75

 

[fastbs]

good advice so far. i fell into the 3 1/2" craze a while back but quickly came to my senses; now have a 3" 870.

look for a Remington 870 or mossberg 500.

 

[gil1]

good advice so far. i fell into the 3 1/2" craze a while back but quickly came to my senses; now have a 3" 870.

look for a Remington 870 or mossberg 500.

This may be a stupid question, but why not buy a gun that can handle 3 1/2s even if you are mostly going to shoot 3s? Thanks for all advice.

 

[knightrider]

my moss 500 with different loads and chokes will do it all

 

[FULLDRAWXX75]

good advice so far. i fell into the 3 1/2" craze a while back but quickly came to my senses; now have a 3" 870.

look for a Remington 870 or mossberg 500.

This may be a stupid question, but why not buy a gun that can handle 3 1/2s even if you are mostly going to shoot 3s? Thanks for all advice.

In my opinion, 3" is all the abuse a shooter should ever want to go through period and unless you are shooting high/long distances..................3.5" is not needed. 3.5" would be for heavy shot loads for geese or long range turkey shots.

If you have never fired a shotgun with 3.5".........do so then make your choice.

FDXX75

 

[Kimberman]

With the advent of heavy shot, a 3" is all you will ever need, the 3.5 will just abuse the user more. Any 12 gauge pump with a 24-28" choke tubed barrel will work good for an all around shotgun. I personally dont like Mossbergs, but they work. Rem 870, Ithaca 37, Benelli Nova, or Browning BPS would be the ones I would look at. I would make sure to try to find an older 870 rather than a new one, Remmy has really cheapened up the 870 the last few years.

 

[JimFromTN]

No offense Kimberman, but have you priced heavyshot? I went online and Bismuth and heavyshot are both around $3 a shell. That being said, 3 inch steel works just fine for ducks and geese. There is nothing wrong with getting a shotgun with a 3.5 inch chamber and never shooting more than a 3 inch shell out of it. There is an advantage to shooting 3.5 inch shells at ducks and that is they throw about a 1/4 oz more shot at the same velocity as a 3 inch with a lighter payload.

I do agree with you on getting an older 870. I would rather have an older 870 magnum than a new 870 supermag anyday.

 

[Kimberman]

The heavy shot I have shot was reloaded by a friend of mine (2 3/4"), and if I took up duck hunting I have the equipment to reload my own. Plus being from E TN, you MAY shoot a box of shells a season, so the cost doesnt scare me all that much. Then you have to figure trade offs, the 3.5 inch chambered shotgun is a little longer and a little heavier, both attributes you dont want if you are quail/rabbit/grouse/chukkar/pheasant/woodcock hunting. I have been an avid shotgunner for the last 23 years, and I have made it this far without needing a 3.5 inch magnum.

 

[Tiny]

While I'am sure he dosen't want to break the bank and this one might depending on the person... Super X 3 is one fine feeling shotgun,would already have one but it breaks my piggy bank and I simply don't need one.

 

[Buck Assassin]

Mossberg 500 with screw in chokes.

 

[JimFromTN]

The heavy shot I have shot was reloaded by a friend of mine (2 3/4"), and if I took up duck hunting I have the equipment to reload my own. Plus being from E TN, you MAY shoot a box of shells a season, so the cost doesnt scare me all that much. Then you have to figure trade offs, the 3.5 inch chambered shotgun is a little longer and a little heavier, both attributes you dont want if you are quail/rabbit/grouse/chukkar/pheasant/woodcock hunting. I have been an avid shotgunner for the last 23 years, and I have made it this far without needing a 3.5 inch magnum.

I could easily see going thru close to 2 boxes of 10 at $30 a pop on a good day. I'd probably want to carry 3 boxes to be on the safe side. Even when reloading, its still expensive. It goes for around $150 for a 7 lb bag so you are still looking at close to $2 a shell. Also, if you compare the remington express 12ga with the 28 inch barrel to the 870 supermag, there is no difference in weight and length between the 2.

That all being said, I have been duck/goose hunting for over 20 years and have never owned or felt the need for a 3.5 inch gun. My point was that there is some advantage to the 3.5 shells.

 

[FULLDRAWXX75]

The heavy shot I have shot was reloaded by a friend of mine (2 3/4"), and if I took up duck hunting I have the equipment to reload my own. Plus being from E TN, you MAY shoot a box of shells a season, so the cost doesnt scare me all that much. Then you have to figure trade offs, the 3.5 inch chambered shotgun is a little longer and a little heavier, both attributes you dont want if you are quail/rabbit/grouse/chukkar/pheasant/woodcock hunting. I have been an avid shotgunner for the last 23 years, and I have made it this far without needing a 3.5 inch magnum.

I could easily see going thru close to 2 boxes of 10 at $30 a pop on a good day. I'd probably want to carry 3 boxes to be on the safe side. Even when reloading, its still expensive. It goes for around $150 for a 7 lb bag so you are still looking at close to $2 a shell. Also, if you compare the remington express 12ga with the 28 inch barrel to the 870 supermag, there is no difference in weight and length between the 2.

That all being said, I have been duck/goose hunting for over 20 years and have never owned or felt the need for a 3.5 inch gun. My point was that there is some advantage to the 3.5 shells.

If your bag limit is less than 30 birds, you need cheaper loads or more practice...............LOL

It's cheaper to buy duck at the Piggly Wiggly......

FDXX75

 

[JimFromTN]

The daily limit is 6 ducks and that does not include coots, gallinules, mergansers, or rails. Needless to say, a good day on open water could cost you a small fortune in shells even if you are shooting good.

 

[FULLDRAWXX75]

The daily limit is 6 ducks and that does not include coots, gallinules, mergansers, or rails. Needless to say, a good day on open water could cost you a small fortune in shells even if you are shooting good.

Yep,

Just busting you a little, that's all.

You can't hitt'm all..........so they say


FDXX75

 

[Chaneylake]

The daily limit is 6 ducks and that does not include coots, gallinules, mergansers, or rails. Needless to say, a good day on open water could cost you a small fortune in shells even if you are shooting good.

shells are the cheapest part of the hunt, on good years in my area, we will go through 20-30 boxes per season, per person, I start every season with at least 20 boxes and hope I have to purchase some more

 

[Kimberman]

Like I said, in E TN, you may be lucky to shoot 1 box of shells in a season. The best day I have had was 5 ducks, it took 7 shells.