Your Dream Waterfowl Shotgun - What Features Would You Include?

EM0N1X said:
Hi everyone,

I'm curious about what makes the ideal waterfowl shotgun in your eyes. If you could build the perfect waterfowl shotgun with all the best features and components, what would you include?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the following aspects:

  1. Gauge and Barrel Length
    • Gauge: Which gauge do you prefer for waterfowl hunting and why? How do different gauges affect your shooting experience and effectiveness?
    • Barrel Length: What barrel length do you find offers the best balance between maneuverability and shot pattern? Do you prefer shorter barrels for quick handling or longer barrels for better accuracy and range?
  2. Materials and Finish
    • Materials: What materials do you think are essential for durability and weather resistance? (e.g., stainless steel, synthetic stocks, carbon fiber)
    • Finish: How important is corrosion resistance to you, and what finishes do you prefer for protection against the elements? (e.g., Cerakote, blued finish)
  3. Weight and Balance
    • Weight: What is the ideal weight for a waterfowl shotgun to ensure it's not too heavy for carrying but stable enough for accurate shooting?
    • Balance: How do you prefer the shotgun to be balanced (e.g., more weight towards the muzzle or the stock)? How does balance affect your shooting performance?
  4. Chokes
    • Types of Chokes: What types of chokes do you consider essential for waterfowl hunting? Do you prefer specific constrictions for different hunting scenarios?
    • Interchangeable vs. Fixed: Do you prefer fixed or interchangeable chokes, and why? How often do you change chokes in the field?
  5. Action Type
    • Action Type: What action type do you prefer for waterfowl hunting: pump-action, semi-automatic, or another type? What are the pros and cons of your preferred action type in terms of reliability, ease of use, and maintenance?
  6. Stock and Ergonomics
    • Stock Materials: What stock materials and designs do you find most comfortable and functional? (e.g., wood, synthetic, adjustable)
    • Ergonomic Features: Do you prefer adjustable stocks for customizing fit, and if so, what adjustments are most important (e.g., length of pull, comb height)? How do these adjustments impact your shooting comfort and accuracy?
  7. Sights and Optics
    • Sights: What type of sights do you find most effective for waterfowl hunting? (e.g., bead sights, fiber optic sights)
    • Optics: Are there specific brands or models of optics that you trust for enhancing your shooting accuracy and target acquisition?
  8. Accessories and Modifications
    • Essential Accessories: What accessories do you consider essential (e.g., slings, recoil pads, shell holders)? How do these accessories enhance your hunting experience?
    • Aftermarket Parts: Are there any modifications or aftermarket parts that you think significantly enhance performance? (e.g., extended magazine tubes, custom triggers)
  9. Trigger
    • Trigger Pull: How important is the trigger pull weight and feel to you? What is your preferred trigger pull weight for optimal control?
    • Trigger Features: Do you prefer any specific trigger features or brands that provide a smoother or more consistent pull?
  10. Bolt Release and Small Parts
    • Bolt Release: How important is the design and placement of the bolt release for you? Do you have preferences for ease of access and operation?
    • Small Parts Sizing: What are your thoughts on the sizing and ergonomics of small parts like the safety, bolt handle, and magazine release? How do these impact your overall handling and ease of use?
  11. Innovative Features and Technologies
    • New Technologies: Are there any new technologies or innovative features you would like to see in a waterfowl shotgun? (e.g., integrated rangefinders, smart shot counters)
    • Tech Integration: How important is the integration of modern technology in traditional shotguns for you?
  12. Brand Preferences
    • Preferred Brands: Do you have any preferred brands for the different components or the shotgun as a whole? What experiences have led you to prefer these brands?
    • Brand Loyalty: How does brand reputation and customer service influence your choices?
I'm eager to hear your thoughts and experiences. What would your dream shotgun look like, and why?

Thanks in advance for your input!
Click to expand...
Dream waterfowl shotgun or not, a realistic budget affects the decision-making process (compromises), so affordability should be factored in, but that's just me.
 
Well, I split my hunting between my H&K Benelli SBE with Lyman Marsh Max choke and a Beretta 686 sporting with IC/M chokes over decoys.

Daughter uses a Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon Vittoria over decoys, also IC/M.

She sometimes complains about that 3rd shot, but sometimes that 3rd is a waste, anyway.
 
I bought a 1187 sportsman supermag several years ago. I might catch some grief but it performs just as well as any other benelli or beretta I own lol. It's killed a lot of birds from turkeys down to doves.
 
EM0N1X said:
Hi everyone,

I'm curious about what makes the ideal waterfowl shotgun in your eyes. If you could build the perfect waterfowl shotgun with all the best features and components, what would you include?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the following aspects:

  1. Gauge and Barrel Length
    • Gauge: Which gauge do you prefer for waterfowl hunting and why? How do different gauges affect your shooting experience and effectiveness?
    • Barrel Length: What barrel length do you find offers the best balance between maneuverability and shot pattern? Do you prefer shorter barrels for quick handling or longer barrels for better accuracy and range?
  2. Materials and Finish
    • Materials: What materials do you think are essential for durability and weather resistance? (e.g., stainless steel, synthetic stocks, carbon fiber)
    • Finish: How important is corrosion resistance to you, and what finishes do you prefer for protection against the elements? (e.g., Cerakote, blued finish)
  3. Weight and Balance
    • Weight: What is the ideal weight for a waterfowl shotgun to ensure it's not too heavy for carrying but stable enough for accurate shooting?
    • Balance: How do you prefer the shotgun to be balanced (e.g., more weight towards the muzzle or the stock)? How does balance affect your shooting performance?
  4. Chokes
    • Types of Chokes: What types of chokes do you consider essential for waterfowl hunting? Do you prefer specific constrictions for different hunting scenarios?
    • Interchangeable vs. Fixed: Do you prefer fixed or interchangeable chokes, and why? How often do you change chokes in the field?
  5. Action Type
    • Action Type: What action type do you prefer for waterfowl hunting: pump-action, semi-automatic, or another type? What are the pros and cons of your preferred action type in terms of reliability, ease of use, and maintenance?
  6. Stock and Ergonomics
    • Stock Materials: What stock materials and designs do you find most comfortable and functional? (e.g., wood, synthetic, adjustable)
    • Ergonomic Features: Do you prefer adjustable stocks for customizing fit, and if so, what adjustments are most important (e.g., length of pull, comb height)? How do these adjustments impact your shooting comfort and accuracy?
  7. Sights and Optics
    • Sights: What type of sights do you find most effective for waterfowl hunting? (e.g., bead sights, fiber optic sights)
    • Optics: Are there specific brands or models of optics that you trust for enhancing your shooting accuracy and target acquisition?
  8. Accessories and Modifications
    • Essential Accessories: What accessories do you consider essential (e.g., slings, recoil pads, shell holders)? How do these accessories enhance your hunting experience?
    • Aftermarket Parts: Are there any modifications or aftermarket parts that you think significantly enhance performance? (e.g., extended magazine tubes, custom triggers)
  9. Trigger
    • Trigger Pull: How important is the trigger pull weight and feel to you? What is your preferred trigger pull weight for optimal control?
    • Trigger Features: Do you prefer any specific trigger features or brands that provide a smoother or more consistent pull?
  10. Bolt Release and Small Parts
    • Bolt Release: How important is the design and placement of the bolt release for you? Do you have preferences for ease of access and operation?
    • Small Parts Sizing: What are your thoughts on the sizing and ergonomics of small parts like the safety, bolt handle, and magazine release? How do these impact your overall handling and ease of use?
  11. Innovative Features and Technologies
    • New Technologies: Are there any new technologies or innovative features you would like to see in a waterfowl shotgun? (e.g., integrated rangefinders, smart shot counters)
    • Tech Integration: How important is the integration of modern technology in traditional shotguns for you?
  12. Brand Preferences
    • Preferred Brands: Do you have any preferred brands for the different components or the shotgun as a whole? What experiences have led you to prefer these brands?
    • Brand Loyalty: How does brand reputation and customer service influence your choices?
I'm eager to hear your thoughts and experiences. What would your dream shotgun look like, and why?

Thanks in advance for your input!
Click to expand...
Benelli M1 Field in 20 ga 28" and solid camo pattern with (5) chokes.
Rem 1100 Mag 28" with Poly Choke 12Ga -Camo Stock & Fore Arm and High Gloss Bule steel.
 
Ithaca 10-Mag here, 28 inch tube with IMP/MOD choke just because I'm Old School and it knocks the Stew outta everything.

If I update sometime, it'll definitely be the 28 ga route with TSS.
 
Started waterfowl hunting pretty young but when they banned lead shot, I put the shotgun down and picked up a bow and never looked back. Steel shot was pricy and it was like starting all over learning how to shoot it. The bigger issue was that they lowered the number of ducks you could harvest at some point and pretty much made setting deks and blind prep almost not worth the trouble when you could only kill a couple ducks. The Browning A5 was my choice then. Original Belgium 12 ga magnum. Loved that gun but it was too pretty to be in the rain and snow and mud that always accompanied duck hunts. The last few years I took up waterfowl hunting again. Pulled the Ole trusty A5 out of the safe and put it to use. Unfortunately it was slow to eject and performed poorly. Rather than taking it to a gunsmith for a tune up, I did what I thought was the best choice. Bought a new Browning A5 Wicked Wing. Impervious to weather and water. Handles 3.5" ammo and feeds and cycles flawlessly. Much lighter as well and inertia driven rather than recoil operated. I'm sure a shotgun choice is more of an opinion than anything but having an A5 in the past made the decision for me. This year will be my first time hunting with it. Beretta, Benelli and Browning were all in the list so my decision came from my experience with the original humpback of the past. I'm sure recoil will be a bit more than the other two companies but it'll be less than what my old A5 was. I have a pattern master Code Black choke tube at the end of a 26" barrel. Winchester Blind side and Super- X Xpert steel #2/#3.
 
Goose: Beretta 686 Silver Pidgeon 12 ga
Everything else: Ruger Red Label 28 ga. If I cannot kill it with 7/8 ounce of shot from a 28 gauge, odds are I would have fared no better with 1-3/8 ounces from a 12 gauge.
 

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