Your go to Waterfowl Gun?

[JTracyII]

I have a Stoeger M3500 I’ve used for several seasons and I’m thinking about going uphill on the next one. The current one has been a good gun. Just want to try something else. I’m considering Gas operated this time, but I’m open. What do your use and how do you like it? Browning Maxus anyone?

[orhunter]

My 50’s something A-5 Magnum. A bit on the heavy side and swings kinda slow but can’t beat 100% reliability. If I decide to exchange the heavy gun for a lighter one, it’ll be the modern A-5. They fit me and shotguns are all about fit.

[huntinmo]

Before I became an occasional waterfowl hunter, due to age and the baggage that comes along with it, I used a Winchester SX2 for many seasons and fed it a lot of different loads for practice and hunting with no issues. But with a gas gun you will probably have to pay a bit more attention to keeping it clean on a regular basis. Now as an occasional waterfowl hunter I use my Citori sporting hunter (model no longer in production) with 3.5 chamber, which swing like a club (probably something similar to "swings kinda slow" ), but that keeps me on target and swinging smoothly. Or, when I am expecting close shots my Benelli M1 20 gauge which has a pretty good reach with some of the more recent available ammo. Lots of choices for a gas gun though and as previous stated, fit and feel is really important.

[Dmog]

Remington V3 for me.

[Drahthaar1108]

Benelli SBE 12 gauge , or Remington 870 special purpose12 gauge or 870 wing master . Forrest

[AverageGuy]

I am using one of the current production A5 in 12 gauge with a 26 barrel in camo. One of the most natural shooting guns I have ever shot. From the first shot forward I have shot the gun well. Weighs 7lbs but feels and handles as though it is lighter. 100% reliable. 3.5 inch chamber but the recoil with 3.5 inch is horrible and I never use them. I use 3 inch tungsten when I want max firepower for late season giant honkers on the river. The Recoil with 3 inch is not something I even notice, in part because I wear soundgear electronic earplugs and when the noise is cancelled most felt recoil is also cancelled.

I shoot Patternmaster chokes in the A5 - Mid-range mostly and it is deadly to 50 yards but can still hit the close shots. Use a Long Range Goose Patternmaster for the late season giant Canadas.

[orhunter]

Kent: Do they still make the 3” version. Like you, don’t have any use for the 3.5”. “Most natural shooting guns I’ve ever shot.” Yup, just like the oldies. I shot one before they came on the market and was pleasantly surprised when there was no adjustment necessary. Best all around new gun on the market.

I’ve got a 26” from one of my old guns and I tried it one day Chukar hunting and it made the gun a little to quick. Have always had problems with guns of this nature like O/U’s. If a guy shot only one gun it wouldn’t matter once the learning curve was overcome. Folks have made plenty of comments over the years about packing that heavy old thing when Chukar hunting and I tell ‘em, If you ever shot one, you would too. A gun’s weight is the last thing to consider but too many shooters make it the first.

[AverageGuy]

Harvey, I like light and short.

Started with and still have my Dad's 196X Belgium Light 12 plain 26 inch IC barrel. Have a Beretta 1201F and a Benelli Ultralight both with 24 inch barrels and shoot them both well. Was using the Benelli on my Hun/Chukar hunt and shot 6 doubles for the trip. That new A5 has a 26 inch barrel and swings wonderfully. The receiver on a 3.5 inch auto is long enough I would not want anything longer than 26 inches is my preference. Which does not have to be anyone else's of course.

I laid off the public marsh over the weekend in large part due to the firearm youth season for deer. This morning I camo'd up, binos on my chest a few shells in my pocket and headed over to scout duck numbers with notions of an evening pack in decoy spread hunt. Was walking down the levy when what was surely the worst duck call my ears have ever suffered broke out from the marsh and I look up to see a GWT flaring out and coming down the levee towards me high and fast. I shoulder that "new" A5, swung well past the duck and continue swinging as I slapped the trigger and the duck rolls in the air, catches itself and flies on about 100 yards and then falls dead out of the air. It was a 45-50 yard top speed shot. Several hits to the chest when I cleaned the bird. Telling ya all, that A5 is sweet swinging, perfectly balanced and functions flawlessly. I do not know if they still make the 3 inch or not.

[JTracyII]

Thanks to all who have replied. I learned from other forums that Browning offers no warranty on their guns, which sort of concerns me. Whereas, Remington offers a lifetime warranty. Anyone have experience with the Berretta A400 Extreme Plus? A little pricey, but by selling a couple guns I could get there. Looking for a gas gun most likely. I know HDC used to shoot a Maxus and raved about it, but he has not been around for quite some time.

Remington V3 for me.

I have seen positive reviews on this shotgun, specifically. I grew up shooting an old Remington 1100 for years and still have it, but moved on. I have a Browning Silver Hunter in wood for upland use, and like it. There have been rumblings that Remington quality has been sub par in recent years, as I am sure your aware. What has your experience been with the V3?

[AverageGuy]

Fake news! 100,000 rounds or 5 years warranty on A5. Which more than enough use to know if a gun works or not.

My Brother has the Beretta you asked about. Over a pound heavier than my A5 and the forearm is Huge! I have shot a couple of ducks with it. Not a gun that interests me but he likes it. It functions properly.

[Drahthaar1108]

Unless Remington changed its warranty is the last couple years , they have a 2 year warranty . sent a 870 back to them and it was out of warranty .
Remington 870 wing master AT 1 TIME was the finest duck gun made, Remington has really gone down hill.
And yes I like the A5 too. Forrest

[JTracyII]

Fake news! 100,000 rounds or 5 years warranty on A5. Which more than enough use to know if a gun works or not.

My Brother has the Beretta you asked about. Over a pound heavier than my A5 and the forearm is Huge! I have shot a couple of ducks with it. Not a gun that interests me but he likes it. It functions properly.

I should have clarified that the A5 does have a warranty as you pointed out, but not many of their other guns is what I have read. The V3 has a lifetime warranty as far as I know. I am not a big fan of a larger forearm either. I like the feel of the maxus due to it having a slimmer one.

[Willie T]

I have an older A-5 and love it. I have also spent some time shooting a newer A-5 and liked it equally well. It is lighter than the old model. I have also spent some time shooting a wood stocked A 400 and although I hit well with it, the dimensions did not fit me as well as the browning A-5’s. I would go with the one that fits you best and not worry about reliability of either. I would actually consider a heavier shotgun an asset in a waterfowl gun that I intended to feed a diet of full house waterfowl loads. It is for good reason that it is common advice from serious high volume shotgunners to get a “B” gun.

Willie

[Dmog]

I have seen positive reviews on this shotgun, specifically. I grew up shooting an old Remington 1100 for years and still have it, but moved on. I have a Browning Silver Hunter in wood for upland use, and like it. There have been rumblings that Remington quality has been sub par in recent years, as I am sure your aware. What has your experience been with the V3?

I have two Remington V3's and they have a limited lifetime warranty. I bought the first one all black with 26" barrel for my wife and daughter to shoot clay and limited hunting. Shoot that gun and I really liked it. Bought a 13.5" lop stock from Remington for $32 delivered to fit my girls better. This gun cycled the low recoil AA loads flawlessly as well as 3" Kent Faststeel BB. It has about 600 rounds through it without one hiccup. Liked it so much that I bought a used camo 26" one for duck hunting. I have about 400 rounds through it problem free, dont know the round count before me. I cant say the same for my new Stoeger M3020 as I have had the dreaded "Benelli Click" with it on three occasions duck hunting, bolt wasn't fully engaged and ducks of course decoying nicely. I also had trouble with it on 3" Golden Pheasant loads FTE. Changed out to the Benelli extractor and spring, problem solved. I love this Stoeger Burnt Bronze for upland hunting when walking alot but also like my dependable Franchi Affinity 12 gauge. Both are light but being inertia guns, felt recoil is more than I like for volume shooting. The V3 is light recoil and is a little heavier than the Affinity but not bad, certainly not as heavy as the Versamax. It shoots like the 870 Wingmaster I grew up shooting. I like it a lot but prefer not to carry it on field hunts but would do so with confidence if other options were not available. Liked it so much I sold both my Benelli Nova 3.5" goose gun(problem free over 1000 rds) and the girl's Mossberg SA-20 Bantam(Constant jambs on cheap ammo that is finicky what you feed it and feed ramp needed tweeted but was a great dog training gun). The best part is I paid less than $500 for each of the V3's. I dont see those good of deals anymore but there was a run of wood stock ones for $550 that I thought about as Remington had a $50 rebate at the time, but my Franchi and M3020 are wood so I have that covered. The V3 is not the quality of the A400, Benelli, or the Franchi, but is of higher quality than the Stoeger or Mossberg I owned/own. It is a meat and potatoes gun that has eaten everything I feed it, light recoil, and not too heavy. I have passed up selling the camo one for a profit after loaning it out on two occasions already. Best part is that even though I am partial to it, I lose it in the marsh, no big loss. I've dropped it once off the marsh seat already...

[JONOV]

Benelli SBE.

For the longest time it was my only gun and as such, it’s the one I grab when I’m feeling the least whimsical about the hunt and most serious about bagging game.

I rarely shoot 3.5 inch shells but at the same time I don’t want a duck gun that can’t take 3.5 inch shells, should I find myself in a bind where that’s all that’s available or the superior choice.