"The 20-gauge is much easier to shoot than the 12-gauge, produces significantly less recoil, and is lighter and more maneuverable," says retired SWAT team leader and multi-level certified self-defense instructor Steve Denney, who currently serves as the general manager of Pro Arms Inc., in Live Oak, Fla.
The 20 gauge isn't restricted to ducks. Morgan said that it's also effective on geese, within limits. “If you have geese within 25 yards, it'll do the same thing that a 12 will,” he said. “The 12 has more pellets, and you can get some pretty hot loads.
Let's start things off with a list of everything a waterfowl hunter needs for the hunt.
- Ammunition Supply.
- Shotgun.
- Shotgun Sling.
- Blind Bag.
- Calls: 6-in-1 Whistle, Double-Reed Duck Call, Electronic Caller, Mouth Calls, Short-Reed Goose Call, Duck Call.
- Dog Whistle.
- Duck Strap.
- Decoys.
A 12 gauge shotgun load is heavier and delivers more power than 20 gauge ammo does. As a result, a 12 gauge is typically better equipped to take larger game. You do sacrifice some things for that power 12 gauge shotguns have more recoil than 20 gauge and the firearm itself is more of a burden to carry.
The Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus Waterfowl shotgun is built with the best and most expensive parts you'll find outside of a company like Daniel Defense or
Benelli. The barrel is made of Steelium Plus, which is the 1st time in history that a Steelium Plus barrel is used in a hunting shotgun.
Specs.
Specifications. 20-gauge shotguns are especially suitable for hunting game birds such as quail, grouse, turkey, and other game when using shot shells. A 20-gauge can also shoot slugs and buckshot and thereby become an effective deer-hunting gun.
Under federal law, you actually can't hunt waterfowl with a rifle or a pistol, so a . 22 would be a no-go.
Wet weather creates great duck hunting. An old-timer told me years ago he'd hunt puddle ducks during a long, steady rain but would forget about divers during similar conditions. Generally, I think that's good advice. Steady moderate to heavy rain seems to stifle diving duck movement more than puddler activity.
I personally like the look and feel of the camo gun, but it's not really necessary. I just bought a camo shotgun but the next one I get probably won't be. Another option that could be explored, though: buy the black and see how you like it. If you're itching to get camo, just get it camo dipped for $150-ish.
Duck hunters are only allowed to use a shotgun, 10 gauge or smaller, that carries no more than three shells. If the shotgun carries more than three shells, the hunter is required to “plug” the gun so that only three shots can be fired before reloading.
Nicely balanced over-and-unders or side-by-sides can be ideal for jump-shooting, which really has more in common with upland-bird hunting than most waterfowl shooting situations.
Do your research to pick the right firearm for your specific upland-bird hunting needs.
- Benelli ETHOS Sport.
- Winchester SX4 Upland Field.
- Browning Citori White Lightning 12 Gauge.
- Savage 320 Field Grade.
- Mossberg 930 Autoloader.
- Benelli Montefeltro.
- Franchi Instinct SL.
- Savage Stevens Model 555.
All a 12 gauge gets you in a rifled slug gun, with this load is more recoil than a 20 gauge. No advantage whatsoever in ballistics or lethality for today's deer hunter. Both Savage rifles have similar weights, so clearly the 12 gauge will have substantially more free recoil.
8 Most Versatile Hunting Shotguns
- Remington 870. Remington.
- Winchester 1300.
- Benelli Nova.
- Stoeger Model 3000.
- H&R Pump Shotgun.
- Benelli Super Black Eagle II.
- Winchester SXP.
- Weatherby SA-08. This synthetic is a rugged, reliable shotgun capable of outstanding performance from early dove season through spring snow goose hunts.
It's not illegal for ducks or any bird, at least where my friends and I hunt, but it is generally frowned upon. Also worth noting, if you are dispatching a wounded duck that's trying to swim away but can no longer fly it's both perfectly legal and socially acceptable to shoot it on the water.
Patterning your gun might not clearly demonstrate the lethal effective range of your load, and there's a big difference between punching holes in paper and driving a pellet into the vitals of a duck or goose. For most shooters, the maximum effective range with a shotgun is between 35 and 40 yards.
Common shot sizes used for waterfowl (from smallest to largest) are No. 4, 3, 2, 1, BB, BBB and T shot. Naturally, smaller shot sizes are best suited for ducks, while the larger shot is better for geese and swans.
if they're just resting while passing through, chances are they won't come back in any event. once they get up, they're gone to the next rest stop. regardless of how bad or how little they're spooked. if they're hungry, and it's a good feeding spot, they won't be gone too long.
It's important to select a choke tube with little to no constriction. That's why a cylinder or improved cylinder choke is ideal for use with slugs. These types of chokes have a large enough diameter to shoot slugs without damaging the shotgun barrel or causing harm to the person firing.
Pump actions are more reliable than semi auto shotguns. They are much more reliable than semi auto shotguns that are even vaguely competitive with them price wise. Most uses of shotguns don't really benefit from the slightly faster follow up shots that a semi auto gives you.
1. SITKA Gear Delta Wading Jacket: It is among the most preferred waterfowl jackets as it has been designed with bulletproof forearms along with the gauntlet. The distinctive feature of GORE-TEX pro shell fabric enables this jacket to be light weighted and durable.
For someone starting into shotgun sports and upland or waterfowl hunting, a simple model 870 will work great, especially since you can put shell after shell through it.
22 LR rifles are primarily used to hunt rabbits, squirrels, rats, coyotes, raccoons, and birds up to and including turkeys on the ground.
The main difference is usually the length. Some guys prefer a shorter 24" barrel for turkey hunting to avoid hitting tree limbs and brush if you have to swing the barrel because the gobbler moved. Many guys prefer a longer barrel for waterfowl, 28" to 30" because they say it swings better on flying birds.
Best Shotguns for Dove Hunting
- Stoeger IND – P3000 12 GA 18.5” Black Pistol Grip 3”
- Remington – 870 Express 18in 12 Gauge Blue 6+1RD.
- Weatherby Inc – SA-08 Deluxe 28in 12 Gauge Blue 4+1RD.
- Panzer Arms – AR Twelve 12 Gauge.
- Mossberg – 590A1 Retrograde 12 Gauge.
