Shotguns I use for bird hunting
For dove hunting I use a 12 guage Benelli sport. The Benellis
are light, handle well for pass shooting, and being recoil
operated, are very reliable. I also like the sport because the
chokes can be quickly changed by hand without a choke wrench.
For quail and pheasant, I use a 12 guage Weatherby Athena.
I like over/unders for this type of quick shooting because they come more quickly to the shoulder, being about four inches shorter for the same barrel length as a semi-auto or pump.
However I seldom go less than 28 inches on the barrels for an over/under because the shorter barrels tend to wobble with me.
Also the longer barrels on an upland gun put more weight foreward, which tends to help my shooting. I do not currently have a 20 guage, although that's my wife's choice for quail and pheasants. I prefer to use 20 guage loads in 12 guage guns, when a 20 guage load is all that's required. A 7/8 ounce load in a 12 guage gun will give more consistent patterns because of the larger 12 guage barrel, and the recoil is less in the heavier 12 guage gun. For ducks, geese, and turkeys, I use a Browning
10 guage 3-1/2 inch magnum. I like the extra reach, particularly
with steel shot. Also, the 10 guage, with its larger barrel has a shorter shot column than a 12 guage 3-1/2 inch, making a more
efficient gun for long range pass shooting, in my opinion. The barrel is 28 inches long. For turkey hunting, I have a second 24
inch barrel for the 10 guage, with an extra full turkey choke.
Well that about covers my shotguns for bird hunting.
Best regards,
Alwby
For dove hunting I use a 12 guage Benelli sport. The Benellis
are light, handle well for pass shooting, and being recoil
operated, are very reliable. I also like the sport because the
chokes can be quickly changed by hand without a choke wrench.
For quail and pheasant, I use a 12 guage Weatherby Athena.
I like over/unders for this type of quick shooting because they come more quickly to the shoulder, being about four inches shorter for the same barrel length as a semi-auto or pump.
However I seldom go less than 28 inches on the barrels for an over/under because the shorter barrels tend to wobble with me.
Also the longer barrels on an upland gun put more weight foreward, which tends to help my shooting. I do not currently have a 20 guage, although that's my wife's choice for quail and pheasants. I prefer to use 20 guage loads in 12 guage guns, when a 20 guage load is all that's required. A 7/8 ounce load in a 12 guage gun will give more consistent patterns because of the larger 12 guage barrel, and the recoil is less in the heavier 12 guage gun. For ducks, geese, and turkeys, I use a Browning
10 guage 3-1/2 inch magnum. I like the extra reach, particularly
with steel shot. Also, the 10 guage, with its larger barrel has a shorter shot column than a 12 guage 3-1/2 inch, making a more
efficient gun for long range pass shooting, in my opinion. The barrel is 28 inches long. For turkey hunting, I have a second 24
inch barrel for the 10 guage, with an extra full turkey choke.
Well that about covers my shotguns for bird hunting.
Best regards,
Alwby
