What type of shotgun are you using for your bird hunts?

GSP 4 me · Post by **GSP 4 me** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 1:02 am

I'm currently using a Beretta 12 gauge semi-auto for dove, pheasant, and quail. When this shotgun had to go to a gunsmith for some repair work 1 1/2 years ago, I pulled out my trusty 12 gauge Ruger Red Label over/under for a pheasant hunt ( I actually shot better with it too

).

I typically hunt with the Beretta, but bring along my Remington 12 gauge 870 express pump as a back up in case the auto loader ever fails me.

So what shotgun are you typically using?.... Old school side by side, over/under, semi-auto, pump???? Do you usually bring along a back up in case your primary shotgun fails?

Ruffshooter · Post by **Ruffshooter** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 5:00 am

I am a Ruger Red lable guy, 20 guage for grouse wood cock and pheasants, 12 guage blued for duck and pheasants, 12 guage stainless for duck and turkey, has camo tape on it. I got to liking the OU because they never fail never jamb and are tough. My twenty the extractors got loose and sent it to them they fixed it free of charge it was at least 6 years old then.

But I got looking at the berretta OU and I think if some day I can afford it or sell a couple of guns I will get one in 20.

ACooper · Post by **ACooper** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 6:12 am

I always carry a back up, depending on my mood I shoot my citori or my bps , but a gun I really like to carry and shoot really well is an all synthetic charles daly field, a cheap gun that works very well for me.

Sir Buckwheat · Post by **Sir Buckwheat** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 7:17 am

I'm a high class type. I shoot a quality Mossburg 835 pump my wife bought me 9 years ago from Walmart....9 years, thousands of shells, who knows how many birds and never a problem. All at America's lowest price!!

1doogie · Post by **1doogie** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 7:27 am

it don't matter what gun you use OR how much it cost!! It only matters how you shoot it!! Is it comfortable? shoot straight?!? can it handle enough shots for your likeing?? if it's one you don't want to get scratched and take ouot in bad weather don't buy it!!! Just hang a picture it is cheaper!!

Ruffshooter · Post by **Ruffshooter** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 7:58 am

Sir Buckwheat:
Funny Story, years ago I was living in a Trailer park in Maine, It was the night before duck season. I had my clothes laid out, my Mossberg pump by the bed went to sleep. During the night, I heard noises, thought it might be Dexter but he was on the floor near my be standing there growling. Then I heard some one whispering and walking towards my room. Grabbed the gun opened the door and ran it through. Just the sound was enough to send them running and screaming, I had just one shell I always keep by my bed.

Those things are tough and noisy. I had to laugh.

Rick

birddog1220 · Post by **birddog1220** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 8:11 am

i used to shoot a rem.1100 12ga but now my 101 is all i use. for ducks and geese my trusty bps 10bore

jim ritze

Shadow · Post by **Shadow** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 9:17 am

Always been a 20 guy- started with a Remington Sportsman 3 shot semi auto, shot out the barrel of my Beretta AL-2 semi auto- put on a Browning Special Steel 3" magnum invector barrel- surprising the 2&3/4 gun handles 3"

pretty much prefer my Browning Citori Upland Special - light and short- something about those short barrels

TEX-X · Post by **TEX-X** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 10:21 am

i have a benelli super nova pump and a benelli super black eagel 2 semi auto.....but i'm about to buy the new benelli vinci...i've heard awesome things about this gun.... my girl shoots a winchester SX3....(her birthday present)

rkelly · Post by **rkelly** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 10:24 am

I am going to give the Browning Cynergy O/U a whirl this year, other than that have always shot a BPS. That will be the backup this year.

3Britts · Post by **3Britts** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 11:18 am

Been using my Rem. 870 express for years without complaint. Never saw a reason to switch to another (higher priced) gun. Thought that my money could be better spent taking an extra couple hunting trips each year. I will switch to a Mossberg 500 20 ga. when going after quail and grouse though. Both always work and I can hit what I aim at with each.

nwMOgsp · Post by **nwMOgsp** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 12:10 pm

I mostly shoot my Beretta AL390, but picked up an American Arms Derby SXS to try this year. Always wanted a double, and thought the price was too good to pass up. There seem to be lots of good/decent deals on used guns out there right now.

Jason

BigShooter · Post by **BigShooter** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 12:14 pm

The type that goes bang when I pull the trigger.

tommyboy72 · Post by **tommyboy72** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 11:50 pm

Yildiz 12 gauge O/U for pheasant
Baikal left handed 20 Gauge SxS for quail
Both for dove

moese · Post by **moese** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 7:42 am

Beretta 686 White Onyx 12g as primary gun. Beretta 391 Synth in 12g as backup or rain gun. The backup comes with on every trip short or long.

birddogger · Post by **birddogger** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 8:52 am

CZ sxs Ringneck in 20 guage. It is lite, well balanced and fits me well. I also love my Remington 870 wingmaster in 20 guage, but find it hard to leave the CZ at home.

Charlie

fishvik · Post by **fishvik** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 12:29 pm

Remington 870 12 gauge is my go to gun for most everything. On occasion I use my 20 gauge Mossberg for quail and ruff grouse. I've got to agree with Ruffshooter that if you want to get some law breaking pukes undivided attention, a round chambered through a pump shotgun is a show stopper.

smittysmith777 · Post by **smittysmith777** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 7:42 pm

man where are all the SKB'S you guys dont no what your missing

live4point · Post by **live4point** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 10:54 pm

I agree with you on the skb's,they are great,well made guns,I hunted for years with a model 500 Ithaca SKB o/u in 20 gauge.That is the gun that got away that I have kicked myself every since for getting rid of. The past few years I have been putting quail and pheasant down with a 410 o/u Mossberg silver reserve.

smittysmith777 · Post by **smittysmith777** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 7:19 am

it's funny you say that live4point i justlet my 500 go and boy do i miss her i just pick up a 280e but it dont fit me as good as the 500 did

Hotpepper · Post by **Hotpepper** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 6:51 pm

My favorite is a 20 ga Benelli 90 and it is not believable on game, rarely do I miss.

Pepper

Sir Buckwheat · Post by **Sir Buckwheat** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 7:24 pm

Ruffshooter wrote:Sir Buckwheat:
Funny Story, years ago I was living in a Trailer park in Maine, It was the night before duck season. I had my clothes laid out, my Mossberg pump by the bed went to sleep. During the night, I heard noises, thought it might be Dexter but he was on the floor near my be standing there growling. Then I heard some one whispering and walking towards my room. Grabbed the gun opened the door and ran it through. Just the sound was enough to send them running and screaming, I had just one shell I always keep by my bed.

Those things are tough and noisy. I had to laugh.

Rick

They are tough, and for the money I think they can't be beat. Someday though I'll have a Weatherby Athena SxS....Who knew they made shotguns??? They are even nicer than their rifles though!

twofeathers · Post by **twofeathers** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 2:33 am

Remington 870 pump. It looks as ruff as i do but have had it muddy, wet, full of grass seed and still it goes bang when i pull the trigger usually followed by a thud from game. My buddy hunts over his GSP with a 410 and he does pretty well with it too. It,s hard to give something up when it works well for you though.

prairiefirepointers · Post by **prairiefirepointers** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 5:50 am

My mainstay is a Benelli Legacy Y2K Limited Edition 1 0f 250 in a 12 Gauge. I plan on taking my SKB 785 Sporting Clays out for a test drive in the bird fields as well.

fase3 · Post by **fase3** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 6:53 pm

I use a Beretta SP II Combo( 20/28ga bls). The 28ga I use for quail and woodcock while the 20ga is used for dove and pheasant when I head out west. Of all my guns it is my "go to" gun!

BoJack · Post by **BoJack** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 11:44 am

Ithaca Model 37 Featherlight 16ga.(1959 model) One of the Sweetest bird guns ever made.Light as a blind stick,beautiful swing,and Dead birds.Wouldn't trade it for Any shotgun made today.Alot of guys today buy shotsguns because of the Name,High price or Popularity,just to say they have one.Especially the young pups.But to each their own I guess.

gittrdonebritts · Post by **gittrdonebritts** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 1:49 pm

i use my Stevens gold wing o/u 12 gauge and bring my mossberg 12 pump and my remington model 11 12 gauge as a back ups every once in a while i pull out my great grand dads Iver Johnson side by side 12 gauge but it weighs a good 8 pounds and has full chokes so its better for when the birds are getting up and flying out farther away.

setterbud · Post by **setterbud** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 3:46 pm

quail- first half of the season 1967 A5 20, cly choke, last half and for pheasants 12 ga Benelli super 90. either cyl or imp cly

Chief_dog · Post by **Chief_dog** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 1:19 pm

I usually carry a CZ Bowhite 28ga or 20ga. Once or twice a year I break out my 12ga, a Browning Citori Lightning Feather.

tommyboy72 · Post by **tommyboy72** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 6:04 pm

Ya I got to see that CZ 20 do some damage on doves the other night. You don't miss too much with it do you?

Buckeye_V · Post by **Buckeye_V** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 12:38 pm

C/Z Canvasback in 12
C/Z Canvasback in 20 (wife's)
Benelli Nova (all-around gun and tack-driving slug gun)

You can't beat the bang for the bucks.

Chief_dog · Post by **Chief_dog** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 1:13 pm

tommyboy72 wrote:Ya I got to see that CZ 20 do some damage on doves the other night. You don't miss too much with it do you?

I actually shoot my 28ga much better, but I took the 20 because I was short on 28ga shells. I need to get busy and reload a bunch of 28's up.

tommyboy72 · Post by **tommyboy72** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 1:51 pm

Well leave the 28 at home this evening or you are going to give me a complex when you outshoot me with my 12.

Chief_dog · Post by **Chief_dog** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 8:47 pm

Lol, you shot 100% with your 12. How can I beat that?

tommyboy72 · Post by **tommyboy72** » Fri Sep 11, 2009 4:04 pm

Ya 1 shot 1 kill.

I wish we had seen more birds but I am sure we will during quail season.

fase3 · Post by **fase3** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 6:29 pm

It's not the money -it is the way it fits! I grew up in a family where you you could have any gun you wanted as long as it had "Browning" stamped on it.I have in my old age moved over to Beretta. For upland shooting I have a Beretta SP II Combo(20/28) the 20 I use on Phez and doves while the 28 is used on quail and woodcock here in south La. Life is good!

tommyboy72 · Post by **tommyboy72** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 8:07 pm

Where at in South La. I am originally from Pearl RIver close to Slidell?

Tall Boy · Post by **Tall Boy** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 9:34 am

I like an o/u because they do not jam, the barrels are in-line and anymore than two shots and you're either greedy or crippling too many birds!!

shume · Post by **shume** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 4:33 pm

Right now its an Ithaca SKB 12 gauge sxs. Man I love that gun! I also shoot a Yildiz 20 gauge O/U. Its a good gun for the price. Both are great guns for long treks because they are pretty light weight.

tommyboy72 · Post by **tommyboy72** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 6:03 pm

shume, how do you like that Yildiz 20? I have a 12 and am going to buy a 20 in the near future. I love my 12 and was hoping the 20 would be just as nice.

shume · Post by **shume** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 7:13 pm

Tommyboy, I think its an awesome gun. I am really impressed with it. I should have bought the sxs though I'm afraid. Since I got the skb I've been hooked on em. Those are some good looking pups you have. Almost makes me regret pulling the trigger on another setter! Picking him up next weekend down by Pratt. I grew up in SW KS. Not too far from your neck of the woods. You do much hunting around the Liberal area?

tommyboy72 · Post by **tommyboy72** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 7:24 pm

I may this year but mostly I stay right here in Oklahoma around home. The pheasant and quail hunting is just so good there really is no need to travel. I am thinking about hunting up in Morton county around Elkhart this year. Also I may end up getting to hunt later in the year up around Garden City do to another friend having some land for me to hunt on. Thanks for the compliment on the pups. They are all getting bigger, fatter, and healthier every day. Even the runt is growing so fast she is catching up to the others fast. In a few more weeks I don't think you would be able to tell she was a runt. I also have a setter but she is 8 years old and probably has the best nose of my 3 adult dogs. Once she passes though I think I am going to stick with the pointers, they just sort of stole my heart I guess you could say.

airmedic1 · Post by **airmedic1** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 6:02 pm

I quit using my semi auto Benelli's and switched to SXS's. The bug bit hard last year with a Franchi Destino, a Grulla 209 HL 20ga and an Ugartheche Grade IV 12ga. I shoot them all very well and don't think I will ever go back to a semi auto for anything than maybe having to shoot steel shot.

jjoel · Post by **jjoel** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:29 am

Winchester 1300 in a 12 gauge. Cheap and does the trick.

Devils Creek · Post by **Devils Creek** » Sun Nov 08, 2009 10:35 am

My logic has always been....

if my dog points it, I want it dead...

Therefore my main gun is a '94 Remington 1187 with a 26" Light Contour barrel. It's lighter than quite a few o/u's, shoots light field loads dependably, and only been to the gunsmith once (mainspring this summer). It gently kisses my shoulder every time I pull the trigger, and I know I don't shoot a gun well if it weighs much under 7 lbs. It scales at 7 lbs 9 oz.

My backup is a '69 Remington 870 with upgraded stocks, 26" Imp Cyl (non tubed) barrel. It has also only been to the gunsmith once since purchased new in '69. I wore the ejector out after thousands of rounds.

Nebraska · Post by **Nebraska** » Sun Nov 08, 2009 11:07 am

If the weather's decent, I'm using my Weatherby Orion III.

If the weather's foul, my Rem 870 SPS-T a 21" IC get's the nod.....

birddog1968 · Post by **birddog1968** » Mon Nov 09, 2009 7:32 am

depending, Win 1300 pump 12ga, Browning B-80 12 ga, Moss silver reserve O/U 20 ga.

jbraun · Post by **jbraun** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 11:51 am

Franchi Alcione 12 gauge. Although I did buy a prewar Ithaca 16 gauge that I would love to give a try on birds, but sadly it has a full choke barrel. I cannot believe how light it is and how slick the action is.

tommyboy72 · Post by **tommyboy72** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 8:38 pm

I guess if you plan on using it as a "lookin" gun then by all means leave it full choke but if you plan on having a "huntin" gun then I would advise you to buy a bore choke which is similar to an expandable tap and bore it out to improved cylinder or modified choke measurements. That is what I did with a WInchester Model 1200 we bought for my wife. Worked real well.

JKP · Post by **JKP** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 2:08 pm

S x S...started with one and have stayed with it....first one I bought was a Browning BSS 20 gauge...for $229...new!!!