WaterfowlForum.Net

I am looking for a good "reasonably priced" gun for a first time duck hunter? Shell size? I am also presuming that shooting skeet is best way to practice?

Find yourself a lightly used Benneli Nova for starting out. That or a used Remington 870. Both are known for their dependency and low cost. Perfect for a beginner.

Olly wrote:Find yourself a lightly used Benneli Nova for starting out. That or a used Remington 870. Both are known for their dependency and low cost. Perfect for a beginner.

X2 on the Nova. That's what I started on and love it. And when it comes to ammo there is no need to jump in and buy 3.5s or even 3s. Cheaper ammo will kill ducks just as dead.

Anthony_Blitch wrote:I am looking for a good "reasonably priced" gun for a first time duck hunter? Shell size? I am also presuming that shooting skeet is best way to practice?

You're going to get several responses on this one. IMO there are only 3 options for a new to the sport guy looking at a "budget" gun. In no particular order:
1.Remington 870
2. Mossberg 500
3. Benelli Nova/Super Nova

Get at least a 3" chamber so that you have more options when it comes to buying shells. You don't want to show up to the store the night before a hunt to buy 2 3/4" shells and have nothing but 3" available. 3.5" isn't a bad choice to have, but 3.5" is not a requirement to kills ducks.

Skeet will help with your shooting, but I think that sporting clays helps more with shooting live birds, and trap is a better option that skeet as well. Any shooting will help, but Sporting Clays, and trap are going to present more flight patters that you will actually see than skeet will...

Do you already have a shotgun? If so, what kind? If not, Any of the above recommended would be a good starter gun. In your first couple of years, get in as cheap as you possibly can until you know if you're for sure going to stick with it then expand from there.

Or just keep your 870, because they don't break.

An 870 as mentioned would be my first bet, go with a 3" chamber.


I'll disagree about the skeet. The hard crossing targets are way more likely to be representative of the shots in a duck blind than the constant straight-away's offered in trap.

Sporting clays or 5-stand are both infinitely more valuable for getting your eye trained.

DeadEye_Dan wrote:An 870 as mentioned would be my first bet, go with a 3" chamber.


I'll disagree about the skeet. The hard crossing targets are way more likely to be representative of the shots in a duck blind than the constant straight-away's offered in trap.

Sporting clays or 5-stand are both infinitely more valuable for getting your eye trained.

My thought one skeet is that you know exactly where the target is coming from, and what it's going to do. Trap is a surprise...

But sporting clays is the way to go if it's an option.

I have been looking at the Remington 870, but will check the other options as well. "Feelin' Fowl" I have never heard of "trap" shooting before, but I like the sound of scattered type flight patterns. "Assateague" I like the fact that they are well built! I am the kind of person that if something treats me right I will use it as long as I can. "DeadEye_Dan" I never thought about that. It makes sense now that you mentioned it lol!

That's true, but learning what the lead on a crossing target looks like is the point, so the consistency is valuable.

I get bored with all the clays games pretty quick, though.

Feelin' Fowl wrote:

DeadEye_Dan wrote:An 870 as mentioned would be my first bet, go with a 3" chamber.


I'll disagree about the skeet. The hard crossing targets are way more likely to be representative of the shots in a duck blind than the constant straight-away's offered in trap.

Sporting clays or 5-stand are both infinitely more valuable for getting your eye trained.

My thought one skeet is that you know exactly where the target is coming from, and what it's going to do. Trap is a surprise...

But sporting clays is the way to go if it's an option.

I will have to check them both out. I don't believe to much practice is a bad thing lol!

Anthony_Blitch wrote: "Assateague" I like the fact that they are well built! I am the kind of person that if something treats me right I will use it as long as I can.

Look into getting an older 870. Some of the newer Remingtons aren't up to par with the older ones.

Benelli sbe2 or berretta a400

And don't ever listen to jehler, pretty much.

What GA on the Remington 870 would be best? I assume 20GA, but you know what happens when people assume. Lol.

12 gauge

Can't go wrong with an 870. Beat the hell outa mine and it never skips a beat. Any steel shell will kill ducks. I like the Kent fasteel, and I like 3" shells compared to the 2 3/4" shells. Keep your shots inside 30 yards and if your on you'll nock em dead with just about anything.

rebelp74 wrote:12 gauge

12 for sure. 20 works but doesn't pack the punch a 12 does.

assateague wrote:And don't ever listen to jehler, pretty much.

Especially because this is the greenhorn forum and I know he's respectful enough to keep the jokes outside of this one forum that is meant for honest help for new duck hunters...



Anthony, just get a 12g and don't worry about needing one that takes 3.5" shells.

Come on, the bguns are hands down the best waterfowl guns available. The only cost as much as a dozen trips to the bar and they don't spoil. Silly to throw good money after bad on a lousy pump

NuffDaddy wrote:

rebelp74 wrote:12 gauge

12 for sure. 20 works but doesn't pack the punch a 12 does.

20 packs as much punch as a 12, just not the volume of shot

How big a guy is Anthony? A 20 can be a more effective killer than a 12 for smaller framed guys, recoil is a big player in shooting performance

jehler wrote:Come on, the bguns are hands down the best waterfowl guns available. The only cost as much as a dozen trips to the bar and they don't spoil. Silly to throw good money after bad on a lousy pump

Browning does make some damn good guns.

Anthony_Blitch wrote:I have been looking at the Remington 870, but will check the other options as well. "Feelin' Fowl" I have never heard of "trap" shooting before, but I like the sound of scattered type flight patterns. "Assateague" I like the fact that they are well built! I am the kind of person that if something treats me right I will use it as long as I can. "DeadEye_Dan" I never thought about that. It makes sense now that you mentioned it lol!

Dan's right. But unless you've shot before, you'll wanna start out on those straight away shots and gradually move out increasing your angle. Then move on to sporting clays for sure

The Duck Hammer wrote:

jehler wrote:Come on, the bguns are hands down the best waterfowl guns available. The only cost as much as a dozen trips to the bar and they don't spoil. Silly to throw good money after bad on a lousy pump

Browning does make some damn good guns.

damn fine, wouldn't hesitate to buy one of those, but not owning one I don't feel right making the recommendation

My niece's boyfriend was in the same place you are last year. He asked me to help him get set up and we shopped around for a gun and settled on a Baikal mp153. Its was affordable at ~600$ and I was very impressed. Very solid, very affordable semi-auto and he killed a lot of ducks with it.

jehler wrote:

The Duck Hammer wrote:

jehler wrote:Come on, the bguns are hands down the best waterfowl guns available. The only cost as much as a dozen trips to the bar and they don't spoil. Silly to throw good money after bad on a lousy pump

Browning does make some damn good guns.

damn fine, wouldn't hesitate to buy one of those, but not owning one I don't feel right making the recommendation

Mine is still pretty new but can't complain yet.

I guess the questions nobody asked are what price range do you consider reasonable, would you want an auto for less recoil or are you fine with pump guns, and do you have stores close to you that you can go see if these guns fit you before buying? Fitment is probably a bigger issue than brand. Most will go bang at least 90+% of the time when you pull the trigger if you maintain them, but if it doesn't fit you it's not going to shoot where you are trying to point it.

sent from a phancy fone

Welcome Anthony. Maybe a trip to the nearest clays range is in order? You would do well to actually shoot a few guns before you bought one.



Blog- http://www.ksducks.com

Olly wrote:

assateague wrote:And don't ever listen to jehler, pretty much.

Especially because this is the greenhorn forum and I know he's respectful enough to keep the jokes outside of this one forum that is meant for honest help for new duck hunters...



Anthony, just get a 12g and don't worry about needing one that takes 3.5" shells.

Sounds good to me.