SwampWolf
Member
In your personal experience, what shotgun do you believe is the toughest, most durable and most reliable type/brand/model for hunting in the worst weather conditions imaginable (rain, sleet, cold, etc.)?
Best Gun for Waterfowl
- Thread starter SwampWolf
- Start date
- Status
entropy
Member
Any underlug SxS or O/U. (Stevens 311 and Browning Superposed would be my personal selections.) For pumps, Win, Model 12, Rem. 870 or Benelli Nova. For autos, Benelli Black Eagle/M2, Remington 11/87 a distant second, and the Beretta Urika.
I will say I have seen a Benelli Black Eagle fail, and it belonged to a gunsmith, yet. (Not me, the one I worked for, and I had to fix it.) But, he had hunted with it for many seasons and never cleaned it. (the mechanic's car gets worked on last...)
I will say I have seen a Benelli Black Eagle fail, and it belonged to a gunsmith, yet. (Not me, the one I worked for, and I had to fix it.) But, he had hunted with it for many seasons and never cleaned it. (the mechanic's car gets worked on last...)
Virginian
Member
Depends on the owner. I have shot a Remington 1100 in everything imaginable weather wise, down to minus 11 F, and never a problem. I have seen others have issues with Winchester Model 12s or Remington 870s on bluebird days in the 60s.
bannockburn
Member
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2007
- Messages
- 26,309
SwampWolf
Had a Remington Model 870 that was my all-in-one gun from upland game to waterfowl. In really inclement weather I used to wrap it up with some camo vinyl tape that kept most of the moisture out, then gave it a thorough cleaning the next day.
Had a Remington Model 870 that was my all-in-one gun from upland game to waterfowl. In really inclement weather I used to wrap it up with some camo vinyl tape that kept most of the moisture out, then gave it a thorough cleaning the next day.
cdb1
Member
In a semi:
Benelli
Beretta
Franchi
Winchester
Browning
FABARM
Remington
Today’s shotguns are very good. It is impossible to say which is the best or most reliable. I have seen or have personal knowledge of all failing. Most of them, all brands, never will.
Benelli
Beretta
Franchi
Winchester
Browning
FABARM
Remington
Today’s shotguns are very good. It is impossible to say which is the best or most reliable. I have seen or have personal knowledge of all failing. Most of them, all brands, never will.
tactikel
Member
Mossberg 850 pump. 3.5" Chambers allow steel shot, overbore barrel gives great patterns. For a great gun at an affordable price, with absolute reliability, it's my choice.
I think any of the common pump actions would be pretty close and give a very slight advantage if they had to work when absolutely filthy. I like the 870 best in a pump.
But quality auto's aren't that far behind. The old Browning A5 earned a reputation for being a good one. I have an older Benelli M-1 that is my personal pick. The gun has never let me down and I shoot it better than any other shotgun I've ever owned.
But quality auto's aren't that far behind. The old Browning A5 earned a reputation for being a good one. I have an older Benelli M-1 that is my personal pick. The gun has never let me down and I shoot it better than any other shotgun I've ever owned.
barnett
Member
The one that fits you and you shoot the best. Seriously, I've killed a lot of ducks with a Beretta 686 with 26" barrels. Just make sure to clean and oil, whichever gun you choose, after the hunt. Don't overthink it.
FL-NC
Member
My BIL is a die hard duck hunter. He told me the best duck gun is a 12 gauge pump like a Mossberg or 870 with a synthetic stock that you don't care if it gets banged up, wet, etc. (so, not an heirloom A-5 or vintage model 12) and a good can of spray lube.
John Joseph
Member
- Joined
- May 5, 2016
- Messages
- 1,441
Whatever you choose should have chrome lined bore(s) to handle steel shot.
I've seen the metal finish on too many old duck guns damaged by nebulous (if any) maintenance so, while there is nothing wrong with plastic stocks and exotic finishes, I tend to look at these advances more as a crutch enabling a convenience powered gun maintenance manifesto.
Having your gun in working order is even more critical with semis and pumps, which have easily accessed parts with a useful life expectancy---but you'll never see these parts unless you take your gun apart and give it s good cleaning.
I've seen the metal finish on too many old duck guns damaged by nebulous (if any) maintenance so, while there is nothing wrong with plastic stocks and exotic finishes, I tend to look at these advances more as a crutch enabling a convenience powered gun maintenance manifesto.
Having your gun in working order is even more critical with semis and pumps, which have easily accessed parts with a useful life expectancy---but you'll never see these parts unless you take your gun apart and give it s good cleaning.
bowhntr04
Member
Benelli Nova. I've owned numerous semi-autos. They are either finicky at the wrong moment, or action can freeze up or dirty up. I went pump a couple years ago and haven't looked back. Shoots 2 3/4 - 3.5 with no problems. 870 and Mossy 500 also good options. BPS is another but $.
SwampWolf
Member
Thanks for the input but your response has nothing to do with the admittedly esoteric and quasi-subjective question. I've hunted ducks and geese all my life and have my own ideas, based on personal experience, as to which shotgun holds up best in terms of durability and reliability in the worst of weather, regardless of how well it fits me or how well I shoot it. I am just curious as to what other serious water-fowlers' experiences have been and the reasons they have for any attendant opinions about which gun is "best" in the narrow constraints of dependable durableness.
So far, pumps seem to have the edge but not nearly as dominate as I might have predicted. I fully understand that no one gun will ever "win" the contest; I'm just curious as to what other hunters think about what is a relevant consideration. After all, who among us that sit next to a shivering retriever, watching blocks heave up and down on white-capped waves as the stinging pellets of sleet assault our faces, wouldn't want a gun that works right, every time when those webbed feet are unfurled for landing upwind of the chop in front of our blind?
Guns which will work well in low temps rain sleet etc are many, but add wind blown sand or mud into the equasion it needs a special gun to keep on spitting them out reliable.
The side by sides and O/us are of course reliable in that second shots are at least generaly guaranteed, but with just a little mud or debris in the action frame hung up in the bite its a no go wont shut and function . So unfussy as they seem on the face of it they can and will give issues.
Now the drop of the barrels to reload is good in that you can check bore is not plugged by an acidental touch down in your shooting possition or hide. so checking is arguably more nessasary, OUs have a big gape need a fair old drop to get the bottom barrel, so again loading can be a pain holding an OU up in the air as you shut it too, whilst keeping your muzzles clear of hide net mud dogs hide poles is a task all in its self.
And to add to this sat low in a possition putting shells in the barrels tend to be angles slightly up hill shutting the breach involves lifting the breach but stock hulls do tend to want to fall out land in the mud water boat grass whatever and saltty mud eats chambers if your not careful about your gun hygiene.
I feel the SxS is the best in the double guns for fowling they have less gape for loading in tight areas are generally lighter to equivalent Ous. Now finding multichoked SxS guns in 3.5 inch is tougher than say Ous semi autos or pumps, but plenty of 3 inch and 2 3/4 inch SxSs around still able to be capable performers on waterfowl.
So in general i believe INLINE action designs rule, Pumps autos these have disadvantages checking for the previously mentioned mud plugged muzle is not as easy but loading is a synch muzle always faces up hill easy to load and unload, in fact pumps and semi autos are way eassier to unload in a seated rock pile on a shoreling or that mud hole on the green shore . pumps have the advantage of manual functioning where in a filthy contaminated gun a little bit more mussle power saves the day, the same with wind blown sand or snow blown in the port and froze up.
But semi autos do have built in lower felt recoil for big loads which might be of some value to some waterfowlers but not all.
So now makes and models, PUMPS. Model 12s win 1200 mosberg 500 *35 Moss/ mavrick 88 rem 870 all work ideal along with nova and supernovas, but personaly i would go portless with BPS or Ithaca Mod 37 these bottom eject less ingress of snow water debris and in pumps i think they are the way to go. My choice would be the BPS hands down. Not the slickest action but certainly tough and dependable at practical price point.
Semi autos, Now again many will pass muster and function up to a point in waterfowling, Berttas extrema A 400s all the 300 series 301 302 303 390s and the urekas outlanders etc all great guns, but i have seen them get sticky when the snow gets in them snow sorts the men from the boys out in a waterfowl gun, build quality is all well and good, but a helpfull amount of designed in slackness in the working parts is a destinct advantage in waterfowling semi autos. Here the Bereta range good as they are get to see jams when the sittuations start to get cold and bad, Next up and again my opinion Browning golds maxus Win sx2 sx3 sx4s These if lubricated and clean function great, but hang ups can happen , again they hate\ snow rain too and although a Browning fan myself i have to admit they do give issues probably more than expected in poor conditions.
Benelli Autos these are often claimed to be the best waterfowl guns, well made inertia opperated super tough, but in use they too give issues when it gets cold, and the benelli semi auto ranges generaly fussy lubrication requirements can start to bring about issues in the cold and for me at least inertia or not they get side lined because of this just like berettas brownings etc We must touch on the new A5 its inertia and it is a performer but as the benellis the short recoil inertia guns can give issues, but i would pick a new A5 over an SBE for reliability in poor conditions but i would pick a vinchi over all of those short inertia guns mentioned. .
Inertia as its merits but i believe we must travel back in time to a bygone age to get true inertia toughness and reliability, The old A 5 the long recoil king this gun just never failed to impress its tough reliable keeps on chunking away in blizards whatever and apart from the wooden stock on most examples are pretty much the perfect waterfowl semi auto for reliability certainly the longest lived and best made ever.
Big downside in the OLD a 5 is the need for turn screws to field strip these guns this aspect steals them of the crown in my eyes, and in long recoil semi autos i chose to own three in the Franchi 48 A magnum 3 inch these are technicaly inferior to old A5s but in magnum have steel action frames and pins to field strip and to be honest are quite close to perfect waterfowl guns let down only by woodwork and unavilably aftermarket synthetic furniture, some demand in an ultimate waterfowler.
So as we close we have missed out OH so many guns Stogers Hatsans older winchesters mossbergs 9200s 935s and others 935s are incredible waterfowl guns but low powered ammo typicaly used in decoying ducks can give issues in opperation on some 935s but they are indeed exellent and the 10 bore barrel may or may not be of interest to you.
So the winner for me in any case is the Baikal MP153 its cheap nasty crude ugly call it what you want but it keeps on going year in year out i have had one 15 years its yet to ever jam and its seen action in snow filth rain sand you name it its flawless functional perfection cycles 7/8th to 2 1/4 lead loads on one gas setting the highly toleration of debris action design and build mean dirt normally encountered change nothing in function it just spits them out regardless.
We all know there are better guns out there but the MP153 is like the AK47 its not a AR15 its not a presice tool its a functioning brute of a gun built to survive in the russian environment maintained with the minimum of tools and knowledge super simple super tough and Cheap. For me they are where 12ga waterfowl guns need to be to function in the cold harsh environments we chose to hunt in.
The side by sides and O/us are of course reliable in that second shots are at least generaly guaranteed, but with just a little mud or debris in the action frame hung up in the bite its a no go wont shut and function . So unfussy as they seem on the face of it they can and will give issues.
Now the drop of the barrels to reload is good in that you can check bore is not plugged by an acidental touch down in your shooting possition or hide. so checking is arguably more nessasary, OUs have a big gape need a fair old drop to get the bottom barrel, so again loading can be a pain holding an OU up in the air as you shut it too, whilst keeping your muzzles clear of hide net mud dogs hide poles is a task all in its self.
And to add to this sat low in a possition putting shells in the barrels tend to be angles slightly up hill shutting the breach involves lifting the breach but stock hulls do tend to want to fall out land in the mud water boat grass whatever and saltty mud eats chambers if your not careful about your gun hygiene.
I feel the SxS is the best in the double guns for fowling they have less gape for loading in tight areas are generally lighter to equivalent Ous. Now finding multichoked SxS guns in 3.5 inch is tougher than say Ous semi autos or pumps, but plenty of 3 inch and 2 3/4 inch SxSs around still able to be capable performers on waterfowl.
So in general i believe INLINE action designs rule, Pumps autos these have disadvantages checking for the previously mentioned mud plugged muzle is not as easy but loading is a synch muzle always faces up hill easy to load and unload, in fact pumps and semi autos are way eassier to unload in a seated rock pile on a shoreling or that mud hole on the green shore . pumps have the advantage of manual functioning where in a filthy contaminated gun a little bit more mussle power saves the day, the same with wind blown sand or snow blown in the port and froze up.
But semi autos do have built in lower felt recoil for big loads which might be of some value to some waterfowlers but not all.
So now makes and models, PUMPS. Model 12s win 1200 mosberg 500 *35 Moss/ mavrick 88 rem 870 all work ideal along with nova and supernovas, but personaly i would go portless with BPS or Ithaca Mod 37 these bottom eject less ingress of snow water debris and in pumps i think they are the way to go. My choice would be the BPS hands down. Not the slickest action but certainly tough and dependable at practical price point.
Semi autos, Now again many will pass muster and function up to a point in waterfowling, Berttas extrema A 400s all the 300 series 301 302 303 390s and the urekas outlanders etc all great guns, but i have seen them get sticky when the snow gets in them snow sorts the men from the boys out in a waterfowl gun, build quality is all well and good, but a helpfull amount of designed in slackness in the working parts is a destinct advantage in waterfowling semi autos. Here the Bereta range good as they are get to see jams when the sittuations start to get cold and bad, Next up and again my opinion Browning golds maxus Win sx2 sx3 sx4s These if lubricated and clean function great, but hang ups can happen , again they hate\ snow rain too and although a Browning fan myself i have to admit they do give issues probably more than expected in poor conditions.
Benelli Autos these are often claimed to be the best waterfowl guns, well made inertia opperated super tough, but in use they too give issues when it gets cold, and the benelli semi auto ranges generaly fussy lubrication requirements can start to bring about issues in the cold and for me at least inertia or not they get side lined because of this just like berettas brownings etc We must touch on the new A5 its inertia and it is a performer but as the benellis the short recoil inertia guns can give issues, but i would pick a new A5 over an SBE for reliability in poor conditions but i would pick a vinchi over all of those short inertia guns mentioned. .
Inertia as its merits but i believe we must travel back in time to a bygone age to get true inertia toughness and reliability, The old A 5 the long recoil king this gun just never failed to impress its tough reliable keeps on chunking away in blizards whatever and apart from the wooden stock on most examples are pretty much the perfect waterfowl semi auto for reliability certainly the longest lived and best made ever.
Big downside in the OLD a 5 is the need for turn screws to field strip these guns this aspect steals them of the crown in my eyes, and in long recoil semi autos i chose to own three in the Franchi 48 A magnum 3 inch these are technicaly inferior to old A5s but in magnum have steel action frames and pins to field strip and to be honest are quite close to perfect waterfowl guns let down only by woodwork and unavilably aftermarket synthetic furniture, some demand in an ultimate waterfowler.
So as we close we have missed out OH so many guns Stogers Hatsans older winchesters mossbergs 9200s 935s and others 935s are incredible waterfowl guns but low powered ammo typicaly used in decoying ducks can give issues in opperation on some 935s but they are indeed exellent and the 10 bore barrel may or may not be of interest to you.
So the winner for me in any case is the Baikal MP153 its cheap nasty crude ugly call it what you want but it keeps on going year in year out i have had one 15 years its yet to ever jam and its seen action in snow filth rain sand you name it its flawless functional perfection cycles 7/8th to 2 1/4 lead loads on one gas setting the highly toleration of debris action design and build mean dirt normally encountered change nothing in function it just spits them out regardless.
We all know there are better guns out there but the MP153 is like the AK47 its not a AR15 its not a presice tool its a functioning brute of a gun built to survive in the russian environment maintained with the minimum of tools and knowledge super simple super tough and Cheap. For me they are where 12ga waterfowl guns need to be to function in the cold harsh environments we chose to hunt in.
GooseGestapo
Member
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2003
- Messages
- 6,154
I’m going to throw in this.
Depends on your waterfowling. If you are shooting a few passing mallards or jumping woodys off creek banks, most any pump 12ga will work.
If you are decoying geese in the extra season where you’ll be shooting several boxes of heavy goose loads in a morning, a solid quality semi-auto that will soak up some of the recoil is a definite need. I had enough 12ga MAGNUM headaches to have a strong opinion on this.
My longtime favorite is a Remington 1187 Special Purpose camo 12ga. Of the dozen or so shotguns I’ve waterfowled with, it’s the one that stuck. #2 is a pawn shop 870 that someone dove hunted with once, disassembled and lost parts. I replaced the missing parts and replaced the plastic stocks with wood I refinished with a dark walnut oil stain.
I have 4 barrels I’ve aquired for the 1187, and 3 for the 870.
Almost as “accessorize” as a AR15 or 10/22.
Depends on your waterfowling. If you are shooting a few passing mallards or jumping woodys off creek banks, most any pump 12ga will work.
If you are decoying geese in the extra season where you’ll be shooting several boxes of heavy goose loads in a morning, a solid quality semi-auto that will soak up some of the recoil is a definite need. I had enough 12ga MAGNUM headaches to have a strong opinion on this.
My longtime favorite is a Remington 1187 Special Purpose camo 12ga. Of the dozen or so shotguns I’ve waterfowled with, it’s the one that stuck. #2 is a pawn shop 870 that someone dove hunted with once, disassembled and lost parts. I replaced the missing parts and replaced the plastic stocks with wood I refinished with a dark walnut oil stain.
I have 4 barrels I’ve aquired for the 1187, and 3 for the 870.
Almost as “accessorize” as a AR15 or 10/22.
Blue Feather
Member
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2018
- Messages
- 97
I’ve been hunting for 47 years—-started at age 7. I’ve been and intense duck hunter since 1997.
For the money, you can’t beat and 870 Express. 12 gauge. The first thing you do to is to strip it down to the pins and soak that Express finish with a can of Breakfree CLP. Take a day to do it ——-Repeating as needed. Then the finish will bead water like Carnuba wax.
I confine my hunting to flooded timber and sloughs in Arkansas. I don’t take long shots. My current and probably final shotgun is a 3” 12 gauge Benelli M2 in MOBL camo with a 28” barrel and a Kicks High Flyer Full Extended Choke. I shoot Winchester Dry Lok #2 3” 12 gauge shells.
I’ve have a couple of 3.5” 12 Gauge Winchester SX3’s that are very good. The only thing I’ve noticed is this: sometimes it’s hard to load the third 3.5” shell.
I boresnake and spray down any shotgun I use with BF CLP after every hunt. The Benelli is light and requires very little maintenance to operate.
The most important aspect of a Water Fowl shotgun after dependability is fit. If it doesn’t fit, you will miss ducks.
I strongly advise at least a 28” barrel. As you get older, your eyes need it and it forces you to follow through. Shooting behind ducks is the number two reason people miss. The number one reason is shooting way behind ducks. Good hunting.
For the money, you can’t beat and 870 Express. 12 gauge. The first thing you do to is to strip it down to the pins and soak that Express finish with a can of Breakfree CLP. Take a day to do it ——-Repeating as needed. Then the finish will bead water like Carnuba wax.
I confine my hunting to flooded timber and sloughs in Arkansas. I don’t take long shots. My current and probably final shotgun is a 3” 12 gauge Benelli M2 in MOBL camo with a 28” barrel and a Kicks High Flyer Full Extended Choke. I shoot Winchester Dry Lok #2 3” 12 gauge shells.
I’ve have a couple of 3.5” 12 Gauge Winchester SX3’s that are very good. The only thing I’ve noticed is this: sometimes it’s hard to load the third 3.5” shell.
I boresnake and spray down any shotgun I use with BF CLP after every hunt. The Benelli is light and requires very little maintenance to operate.
The most important aspect of a Water Fowl shotgun after dependability is fit. If it doesn’t fit, you will miss ducks.
I strongly advise at least a 28” barrel. As you get older, your eyes need it and it forces you to follow through. Shooting behind ducks is the number two reason people miss. The number one reason is shooting way behind ducks. Good hunting.
Last edited:
There's no such thing as the ultimate shotgun, but from an empiric point of view my Benellis (mainly Supersport and M3) have been through a lot, literally hundreds of full days of hunting and functioned flawlessly. So well that now, after refurbishing them both I retired them to fair weather upland fowling only and got a second-hand synthetic Beretta 1201F for waterfowling and extreme weather duties.
Pretty much the same gun as Benelli Super Black Eagle, except for using M4 frame and small (Montefeltro-style) barrel ring. It takes Benelli/Beretta/Stoeger/etc. Mobilchokes, which I've accumulated plenty over the years.
I may be a bit biased towards inertia driven guns but they've always worked for me and I really like their lighter weight in fast-paced hunting situations. A well practised, solid swing is a must, there isn't much weight in the gun to correct user-induced errors, though. If you're on a budget and willing to do some DIY polishing to the action, Stoeger M2000 and M3000 are quite a bit better than their reputation. YMMV.
Bwana John
Member
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2004
- Messages
- 2,960
Which ever shotgun can hold its breath the best, and doesn't mind getting dressed up in Krylon spraypaint.
A Winchester 120 Ranger 12 ga has worked well for me.
The swamp is not a good place for fancy guns.
A Winchester 120 Ranger 12 ga has worked well for me.
The swamp is not a good place for fancy guns.
midland man
Member
a good singleshot 12 gauge in 3 1/2in chambering will do!!
Kingcreek
Member
Before I gave it up I used a Winchester SX2 synthetic. My hard core waterfowl buddy uses a Benelli SBE. Neither ever failed us.
SwampWolf
Member
midland man
Member
lol you gotta be toughTouch one of them off and you'll feel worse than the goose.
Chuck R.
Member
For years I was a died in the wool pump guy when it came to waterfowl.
All it took was a couple seasons of hunting out of layout boats and blinds to change that. A pump can be a PITA in awkward positions on crossing targets. I now drink the Benelli coolaid (SBE).
All it took was a couple seasons of hunting out of layout boats and blinds to change that. A pump can be a PITA in awkward positions on crossing targets. I now drink the Benelli coolaid (SBE).
Last edited:
Blue Feather
Member
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2018
- Messages
- 97
I got my first Benelli Semi-Auto this past season—-an M2 American—-made in Italy in MOBL w/28” barrel but no comfort tech furniture. Came with one choke and a cardboard box. The first morning with it, first group of ducks in the AR Flooded Timber, I doubled: Sold. I had only shot it at static targets the day before —— no clays. Mine hates the new Federal Black Cloud and will jam on it. It inhales Winchester Dry Lok 3” 12 gauge Magnum #2’s.
- Status
