Whatcha Using For The Dove Opener?....

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Dave McCracken

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Season's almost upon us, I flushed a couple dove today at work, here in downtown B-More.

So what are you using for the opener.

If I get to go, still up in the air, I'll use the SKB 600. It's a 20 gauge O/U, nimble but not twitchy and a good performer in days past. Choked M/F, it's more than I need up close but has a bit moe reach if I need it.

Loads will be 1200 FPS, 7/8 oz of 8s. My reloads, of course, with premium components and extra hard shot.

Are you using a dedicated "Dove Gun" or a GP shotgun?

Thanks....
 
Dave,

I stumbled into an 1100 in 28 ga with factory chokes after my last extra territorial jaunt. I'm thinking the Mod with Fiocchi Dove Loads (3/4 oz, #8 @ 1200 fps) will be the ticket.


Jack
 
If I can secure a place to hunt, it will be with a LH 12ga Wingmaster sporting a 30" tube. Loads will be my skeet loads (7/8 8.5 about 1225fps.) Not the ideal setup, but I gifted my 20ga to my nephew last winter and haven't replaced it.
 
Hello friends and neighbors // Opening day is always the 1976, Wingmaster , 28" VR MOD. (As you say if I can get out)

Even though it is 12ga. as my first gun , a gift from my parents when new, it goes to the sunflower fields before any other.

Next I want to use a 1948, Remington 31, this is 16ga. with the aluminum receiver also 28".
Very easy to carry and swing all day.
I'm just not the best with the round barrel, more used to a VR, 870 WM or the Stevens 311 full rib.

The 31 is too smooth to stay out of the line up this year!

It should be a good year on our hunting land too.
We tried to plant for Dove, Quail and Deer.
There are barely enough Quail but the Dove and Deer numbers are going up.

Hope you let the fellow next to you get one from time to time.:D
 
At my farm, my 20 ga 1100 and mod barrel and 7 1/2s, at the public area, the same gun, the skeet barrel and steel 7s.
 
Over tanks, probably be hunting a tank, not sure, my fave is my SxS 20 gauge Spartan coach gun. Scoff if ya want, but it's fast and deadly. I shot 1 for 2 with it last year which is about as good as I can shoot with anything on doves. I do like my Winchester 1400 12 gauge 28" for those longer, follow through shots pass shooting, but the little 20 is fast and deadly. I choke the twice pipe I/C-Mod and Mod in the autoloader. Inside 30 yards with that I/C barrel, dead bird, and the Mod reaches out far as I need it to.

I might try a hunt with my new to me 535 Mossberg. I really didn't buy it with doves in mind, was thinkin' more about waterfowl/geese and, well, I mainly got it because it was 170 bucks at a pawn shop and I couldn't leave the place with it sitting on the rack for someone else to pounce on. :D I've only fired a few rounds from it to function test it, sorta like to put a few more rounds through it in some dove action.

My default gun if I don't know the conditions is the 20 gauge coach gun. It will reach out there when I'm on my game with it. Does take some concentration on follow through, but I can shoot it even on those long passing shots.

Oh, I shoot 7.5 target loads, 7/8 ounce in the 20, one ounce in the 12.
 
Normally, it would be an Auto5 Light12, with 1oz handloads. This year, if I can make it at all, it'll likely be a Montefeltro 20ga that I'm having fitted....
 
I dunno what it is. My parents won it at a Ducks Unlimited dinner and I use it on Dove while fine results. 12ga SxS M/F choke, I think, and whatever #7 1/2 or #8 shot is on sale. Nothing fancy, but it works and it was free. And it has good heft. I like a gun with heft.
 
Already know I wont be able to hunt the Sa opening day But will hunt on Mo.
Plan on taking both of my Rem 11-48's. One is a 28" mod and the other is a 26" with a poly choke. Will be using my reloads # 8 and 7 1/2's loaded to1250 fps.

Hope everyone has a safe and great day hunting
 
I'll be using my 20 gauge Browning BSS, choked IC/Mod, on opening day - I've used that gun most every opening day since I was 13 years old. I'll shoot other guns through the season, including an Light 12 A-5 and a Citori, maybe even break out the AyAs, but tradition makes me bring the BSS out first.

I don't see much on the BSS, but it's a fast. handy and pretty gun in 20 gauge. I always felt the 12 gauge was a bit of a pig though. Either way, it's served me well for over twenty years and my dad before that.
 
I'll be heading back out with my ('60-'61) 870 16GA. Wingmaster. I was in the market this year for a new 1187 12 Supermag but budget constraints are postponing that purchase until next year.
 
What gun I will choose depends on where I hunt. I will likely shoot the Mossberg 500 imp cyl with Estate #9 shot. Hope I can limit out before the doves start flying higher.
 
Using the ol' Ithica M37 12, has a modified choke, but just purchased a used ithica 37 in 16 a couple of weeks ago and will be taking it along as well. My group hunts SW Oklahoma and we go for 2-3 days. Last year missed the hunt because of a shoulder injury. This year had a knee surgery, but before I'd agree to have the work done, I made sure I would be up and running before opening day. First week of therapy started today.
 
I’m not exactly overloaded with shotguns at two but I’ve put 3K more through the Vinci this year than the SuperNova, the Vinci’s lighter and faster, so that’s probably what I’ll use. Guess that makes me a GP shotgun user.

I missed last year (can’t remember why) so I’m looking forward to this year. Hopefully it’ll be a good year for them.

I’ve got a mix of Remington 7.5’s and 8’s at 1 1/8oz and 1oz respectively. Both are right around 1200fps.
 
Winchester Model 12, 30" Full choke. Erupting 7 1/2 shot pushed by 18.0 gr Alliant Red Dot. I use my trap loads.
 
Haven't gone in a few years but have been accumulating shotguns. So I gotta put them to good use. Taking a benelli M2 12gauge and my wifes Remington 1100 Lt20 I bought for her ha ha ha .
 
I was just asking myself this question this weekend. If I can find some suitable 16ga shells I'll be using my ithaca model 37. If I can't find 16 gauge shells I'll be using my beretta 391 urika in 12ga or my 20ga Remington express.
 
Buying me a new syntetic stock Weatherby SA-08 12 ga. tomorrow for my new all around gun. Gave my dad's Mossberg auto to my nephew (his grandpa) to remember him by. Will see how it does on the doves!
 
The same as I have for the last several seasons. My Baikal IZH-43 SxS in 28 ga. fixed chokes in I/C and Mod. Bad medicine early in the season!
 
Dove opener

Several choices here, RI is the only New Eng state with a dove season, and there are plenty around. I like a franchi 48AL 12ga with AA 8's. Also have a Win 101 20ga skeet/skeet, and a SKB 100 28" mod/full. Been surfing the web for new recipies also. Dove breast in white wine got me going.
 
Thanks, folks. A note in passing.....

Do you note the variety here? Everything but 10 gauges, bolt actions and single shots.

Most frequently, the small bore 1100 is mentioned.

Next, seems to be 870s followed by 37s. All good choices.

Some guns that have done well with me for the species in question include divers 870s, that SKB O/U and my main clays gun,a Beretta White Onyx Sporter 12 gauge with 32" barrels.That last is not as nimble as the SKB, but is not as loggy as some target guns.

IMO, if there's a best action type for dove guns, though, it's a SxS.

However, "Run what ya brung" works also. A good dove gun is one YOU shoot good at doves with. I'd avoid extremes, no 10 gauges or 410s, no cylinder bores or turkey chokes, but anything close to the median YOU shoot well will work.
 
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