My 35 year-old shotgun (Win Mod 1400 23/4" 12 ga) was great for waterfowl when I could shoot lead. I've been waterfowl hunting this fall and can knock the ducks down okay (so far 1 duck for every 2 shots) but the geese just flip me the bird and keep going (15 shots using steel BB shot, 1 dead, no apparently wounded). I'm not shooting my F-in-Law's Remington 870 (12 ga 3") worth a flip so I'm giving it back. It's a fine gun but it just doesn't fit into my shoulder and cheek comfortably.

So I'm thinking about buying a new shooter exclusively for waterfowl. I'm looking for a gun that gets to the shoulder quickly and tracks smoothly. My shooting is that I rarely pull the trigger 3 times on a target and probably shouldn't pull 2 times. I drop a bird in 1 shot or I usually miss. I'm considering nearly anything at this point. I grew-up with that 12 ga and also 20 ga double (Stevens). I also shot a Browning auto-loader -- recoil operated. It would go Kowang! I couldn't get used to the high step up to the receiver. I'm thinking it was a model A-5, maybe? I'll Google it just to know. I have shot a Browning O/U (40 years ago) that was sweet and way out of my price range back then. But I could shoot traps with that gun -- 20 doubles straight and it was a one-day loaner from a wonderful woman. Doubt I could do that now with a fully automatic shooter!

10 ga bolt action?

What do you say?

B

Can't ignore this one.

http://www.securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/1900/1937.htm

My uncle hunted geese with a 10 ga that had a barrell that made the gun taller than he was (it seemed) at about 5'-4. I suspect he would have said a 12 ga was too light.

Tom W

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Sounds like the old Marlin 10 ga with the 36" barrel. It could sub as an artillery piece.

Stop shooting rubber bullets.......Heavy Shot.

Duh-oh!

People try to compensate for misses with bigger guns which usually makes the problem worse, 10 or 20 gauge a pellet in the vitals is a kill. If you are shooting steel my guess is you are hitting the birds but not killing them because steel shot sucks, use Heavy Shot or an equivalent HS is more expensive but you'll use less ammo and bring home da birds.

Too bad you can't use the old 4 or 8 gauge guns anymore. Now those could knock down the waterfowl!

Yeah, I thought we were clear on he hevi shot thing.

I've been shooting mostly 2 3/4" #2s s steel this year (out of 3 1/2" capable gun) because I had a lot of them and the birds have been landing in the decoys because of the late cold front. Too warm last weekend but should be good for my final weekend coming up.

I will say though, that Browning does make the BPS in a .10 ga and of course the best is the Ithaca autoloader which I use when goose hunting in MD out of lay outs. Alot of guys in your area hunt specks with those, but I would feel a little silly shooting one during teal season. Plus the regular shells are more than Hevi Shot for the gun you have.

Yeah, I remember your advice but then my F-inLaw gave me the 12 ga 3" pump gun and I thought the extra shot and powder would do the trick but it turns-out I can't shoot the gun worth a poop so I went back to what I know etc. While I was at the local Academy I looked for one of those alternatives and they didn't stock it. I'll go to the (considerably) more expensive Lafayette Shooter's and buy a box if they have it.

The other thing I need to do is figure out how to range the dang things. A suggestion that sounded pretty good was to cut-out life-size silhouettes of birds and mark-off distances from the target, then point the gun at the target to get the relative size of the bird to the barrel diameter at each range. Sounds like a pretty effective method. I forgot to mention that to the Goose Whisperer (formerly known as Duck Guy). He may even have life-sized models. He is a crazed man.

B

A sheet of newspaper is what I have historically used to pattern my shot guns....then you draw the bird on the paper. If you use a sillouette (without a background) you don't get a good idea of the total pattern.

If your 1400 is a fixed full choke, you probably shouldn't shoot steel or hevi shot out of it--you may want to ask a gunsmith.

Also, you can get a "cheek piece" that attaches to the stock which is malleable foam--my buddy shoots a Rem 11-87 that had a low comb and he shoots great with the piece added.

edit: I see what you are trying to do now by 'ranging' the birds to the bbl. size, but I think you will get better mileage out of patterning.

ps you can order the silhouettes from mack's prairie wings and probably cabelas too.

Modified, in the win autoloader. The Remington is machined for choke sleeves and has one in it. Probably a modified just comparing the muzzle to my Win. For what, $70, I can buy a set of inserts and a tool on eBay. But that doesn't address the poor shouldering of the weapon, though your cheekpiece suggestion might.

I dunno, I'll go the Laf Shooters and see if they have the fancy-schmancy shot. If that's all it takes that is the best of all solutions. My wife loves you for not letting me spend a grand on a new shooter.

B

Saiga

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How much goose does that leave?