Hunting Fishing Discussions

Featured Outdoor Businesses



Share on Facebook subscribe feed

Waterfowl shotgun??

by , Posted to on 03/05/2011 10:47 PM | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 11/01/2005
Location: ND
Trying to decide on a good waterfowl shotgun and I'm not going to put up the cash for a new Benelli. I tend to beat the crap out of a shotgun while waterfowl hunting. I currently have an 870.

So here's the most basic reliability test: how will it function when I feed it wet shells? The 870 doesn't skip a beat with a little water in the action. Unfortunately, the operator is lousy and would like something semi-auto (or even an O/U if they made one that could really be abused) Here's what I'm looking at:

Farnchi i12 $500 used
Benelli M1  $750 used
WInchester sx2 $650 used
Browning Gold  $600 used
Mossberg 935 $400 used
Beretta 390  $650 used


What do you suggest? Why or why not?
- A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government strong enough to take everything you have. - Thomas Jefferson
- Meat is murder... tasty, tasty murder. - a really sweet t-shirt
- Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for yourself.
Re: Waterfowl shotgun??
by on 03/05/2011 11:05 PM | Reply #1 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 11/03/2002
Location: ND
A faster report isn't going to make you a better shot.  Maybe your 870 doesn't fit you?  Maybe save some jack with a saw or a slip-on recoil pad...
svnmag



                                                                                                    
Re: Waterfowl shotgun??
by on 03/05/2011 11:05 PM | Reply #2 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 02/18/2009
Location: ND
I have an 870 and a Browning Gold 3 1/2.  I love the Gold, have never had a problem with it cycling any loads, any conditions.  Clean it at the end of the season and it is ready to fire for the whole next season.  Have shot trap with it and it cycles anything.  Only thing I wish it came in camo.
Re: Waterfowl shotgun??
by on 03/05/2011 11:10 PM | Reply #3 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 11/03/2002
Location: ND

If you just want another shotgun, that's cool too.  BTW

svnmag



                                                                                                    
Re: Waterfowl shotgun??
by on 03/05/2011 11:13 PM | Reply #4 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 11/14/2006
Location: MT
Mossberg, gets my vote.
Yeah, it's kind of like that.
Re: Waterfowl shotgun??
by on 03/05/2011 11:24 PM | Reply #5 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 11/01/2005
Location: ND
svnmag Said:
A faster report isn't going to make you a better shot.  Maybe your 870 doesn't fit you?  Maybe save some jack with a saw or a slip-on recoil pad...
This was my first response as well. If I can't hit anything with my 870, I won't hit anything with another shotgun, right? Well, the old 870 doesn't fit me particularly well. I have a hard time comfortably lining up my line of sight with the barrel. I figure, if I'm going to pick up a shotgun that's a better fit, may as well be a semi auto.

Any suggestions on how to improve the line of sight on the 870? can it be shimmed?
- A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government strong enough to take everything you have. - Thomas Jefferson
- Meat is murder... tasty, tasty murder. - a really sweet t-shirt
- Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for yourself.
Re: Waterfowl shotgun??
by on 03/05/2011 11:31 PM | Reply #6 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 12/01/2008
Location: ND
Benelli or Browning and shoot more trap!  Try to simulate your most missed shots and get familiar and gain confidence.  An idea on the lead and confidence in your gun is key.  Also, water fowl fly in many different angles than up/down, left/right.  If you imagine diagonal travel and lead you will hit more.  It took me a while to understand, but if you lead by direction AND angle you will kill a lot more birds.

"Diligence is the mother of good luck."
Benjamin Franklin

Re: Waterfowl shotgun??
by on 03/05/2011 11:44 PM | Reply #7 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 11/03/2002
Location: ND
Walk,

I don't know how to do the quote box deal.  You can buy/modify 870 stocks on the cheap.

If you tool around on here, someone will help you.  http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/index.php

870 stocks are a dime a dozen on e-bay.
svnmag



                                                                                                    
Re: Waterfowl shotgun??
by on 03/05/2011 11:49 PM | Reply #8 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 11/03/2002
Location: ND
Also, Ahab knows damn right.
svnmag



                                                                                                    
Re: Waterfowl shotgun??
by on 03/06/2011 2:07 PM | Reply #9 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 05/11/2010
Location: ND
Dont waste your money on anything other than a bennelli. You have the only Browning Gold in the world that doesnt jam or skip a beat in conditions. Snowy or wet conditions are terrible for the Gold. Single shot for the rest of the day if you dont clean it every 5 shots. Add a little dust and the POS probably wont go off at all. Just my 2 cents went to bennellis(SBE1 and SBE2) have one and my dad has the other and the gun wont miss a beat. you might not hit a damn thing but that aint the guns fault now is it. those 870s are the best pumps out there though.
Re: Waterfowl shotgun??
by on 03/06/2011 3:45 PM | Reply #10 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 05/19/2009
Location: nd
luv pike . . . i have seen several binellis freeze up on December pheasant hunts, i have seen almost all the auto loaders freeze. our best luck with ANY auto loading shotguns has been SX3s and SX2s just gotta clean the gas system good every hundred rounds or so
Re: Waterfowl shotgun??
by on 03/06/2011 4:10 PM | Reply #11 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 01/05/2010
Location: nd
luv pike Said:
Dont waste your money on anything other than a bennelli. You have the only Browning Gold in the world that doesnt jam or skip a beat in conditions. Snowy or wet conditions are terrible for the Gold. Single shot for the rest of the day if you dont clean it every 5 shots. Add a little dust and the POS probably wont go off at all. Just my 2 cents went to bennellis(SBE1 and SBE2) have one and my dad has the other and the gun wont miss a beat. you might not hit a damn thing but that aint the guns fault now is it. those 870s are the best pumps out there though.
I've never trusted a benelli owners review of their own gun, when they don't know how to spell it .

I do know, that my berettas have performed flawlessly for me though. my 390 that i have owned for 12 and never jammed ever. Or my extrema 2 that I haven't really cleaned in 4 years and still doesn't jam in -40 wind chill. If you want to do a good test, wait until a      -20 day and lay your gun in the snow in your yard for a couple minutes. Take it out make sure there's no snow in the barrel, than let it sit in the wind for half hour. If it still goes off, its probably pretty reliable.

 
Re: Waterfowl shotgun??
by on 03/06/2011 5:06 PM | Reply #12 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 02/27/2002
Location: ND
I am a true believer in my winchester X3.
Love it.
 
Re: Waterfowl shotgun??
by on 03/06/2011 10:58 PM | Reply #13 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 02/12/2002
Location: ND
I would go with the SX2.
 
Dakota Decoy
The Canadian Wingshooter
Natural Gear Camo

 
 
Re: Waterfowl shotgun??
by on 03/06/2011 11:12 PM | Reply #14 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 11/01/2005
Location: ND
Wingshooter,

You appear to have a laundry list of pro-staff credentials. Frankly, that doesn't mean a lot considering a lot of "pro staff" hunters swear by a lot of questionable products, like scent-lok for instance. However, it would seems that at the very least you might be a guy who does a lot of waterfowl hunting. Care to elaborate on your preference for the sx2? Your feedback is appreciated.
- A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government strong enough to take everything you have. - Thomas Jefferson
- Meat is murder... tasty, tasty murder. - a really sweet t-shirt
- Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for yourself.
Re: Waterfowl shotgun??
by on 03/07/2011 10:19 AM | Reply #15 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 05/11/2010
Location: ND
moosehunter09 Said:
luv pike . . . i have seen several binellis freeze up on December pheasant hunts, i have seen almost all the auto loaders freeze. our best luck with ANY auto loading shotguns has been SX3s and SX2s just gotta clean the gas system good every hundred rounds or so

are those sbe s or another older model. i think it is probably the same with most auto loaders that if you clean them every hundred rounds or so they should be fine. I do know that the Gold we have is terrible no matter how often you clean it and our Eagles are shot ALOT and we clean them once a year after all seasons are over. (Late January)
Re: Waterfowl shotgun??
by on 03/07/2011 10:33 AM | Reply #16 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 05/11/2010
Location: ND
I mean Super Black Eagles
Re: Waterfowl shotgun??
by on 03/07/2011 10:35 AM | Reply #17 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 12/04/2007
Location: ND

My suggestion to you is to spend a day picking up every type of shotgun you can find, swing it, pull it up and once you find one that feels right and fits. Buy it. The gun has to fit...period. I have several 870's and I bought two Winchester SX3's because they fit well and I shoot them well. Find one that fits.

LIFE...It's nature's way of keeping meat fresh!

If you want to sound wise, go to school. If you want to be wise....go to Nature!

Re: Waterfowl shotgun??
by on 03/07/2011 11:07 AM | Reply #18 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 04/07/2009
Location: ND
I love my Beretta OU, but I would say of the list you have which ever one fits the best is going to work the best for you.

Re: Waterfowl shotgun??
by on 03/07/2011 11:09 AM | Reply #19 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 12/12/2003
Location: ND
hntdux Said:

My suggestion to you is to spend a day picking up every type of shotgun you can find, swing it, pull it up and once you find one that feels right and fits. Buy it. The gun has to fit...period. I have several 870's and I bought two Winchester SX3's because they fit well and I shoot them well. Find one that fits.


I agree, "Play before you Pay".. perhaps a friend or relative will let you take their guns out and try them out.   Take them out and bust some clays.  Btw. those freeze ups on Benelli I would say the person is using too much or the wrong type of gun oil.  I have never experienced something like that in any of my Benelli.  But then I also believe that Beretta, Winchester and Benelli are pretty dang good!!

Re: Waterfowl shotgun??
by on 03/07/2011 11:26 AM | Reply #20 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 01/29/2003
Location: MN
#1)m-1 if its in decent shape #2) beretta~ Run a few rounds thru'em to make sure they cycle,ask if the m-1 stock spring has been replaced,if so when,only weak link in the benelli if you shoot alot,the spring needs to be replaced every so often,for me 5 years of abuse and alot of shooting~

MPO~

Tim

Perazzi usa
Benelli usa
hevi shot prostaff
Briley chokes
Posted By:
Posted On: 03/05/2011 10:47 PM
1481 Views, 26 Comments

Tags: shotgun, waterfowl, 0, benelli, i'm, beat, trying, hunting, currently, crap
More Tags: USD,
Region: North Dakota

Categories: Hunting > Guns and Ammo - Shotguns, Rifles, Airguns, Handguns
Rate This ForumTopic
  • Currently 1/5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

1/5 (1 votes cast)

You must be signed in to comment on this topic