Buying a bird gun, what kind? Update!!

[txswinner]

Re: Buying a bird gun, what kind? Update!!

Interchangeable chokes are great. And really consider the 20. If you get a gun with removable chokes, you MUST remember to keep them tight when firing. After you shot 10 or so times, let gun cool and I stick my finger in barrel and twist to keep tightened.<br /><br />My buddy did not know and lost a choke and scarred the threads. Good luck from your Left Wing Liberal Demo Bird shotting fool. Remember bird hunting is highly contagious.

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Buying a bird gun, what kind? Update!!

twswinner,<br /><br />Liberal, conservative, I just like the banter. And I have never experienced a site with such diverse knowledge and opinion. I value your opinion whether you agree with me or not. It's no fun talking with someone who agrees with you on all subjects. But I am really looking to trying out this type of hunting and it will give my golden retriever a chance to fulfill her potential. Can't wait.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Buying a bird gun, what kind? Update!!

I have one of those Maverick 88s I bought a while back for cheap. It is full length, choked, all that jazz. I have been shooting the heck out of it, target & skeet and such. It has proven quite reliable. Any bird pro's have a reason why I couldn't do a bit of birdin' with it this fall? I know it isn't optimal, but it gets the pellets down range, is pretty darn accurate, and its what I have. I have hunting buddies that keep pestering me to go hunting, and since I am a hunting novice (for animals, I am pretty good at hunting people ), I don't want to go spending money I don't have quite yet. Thanx...

 

[DJ]

Re: Buying a bird gun, what kind? Update!!

Pumps and autos are too long, IMHO, (length) for bird hunting, especially in cover and moderate to tall corn.<br /><br />I use a Winchester 101 O/U (mod/imp. cyl.) and a Ruger Red Label O/U (mod/imp. cyl.).<br /><br />Both are light, with an easy swing. They can also be shot by either a right hander or left hander.

 

[FSHKPR]

Re: Buying a bird gun, what kind? Update!!

i just bought a new england firearms 12 gauge pump. with walnut stock. for 149 bucks at sportsmans wharehouse. it was on sale and i think the normal price is 179. i am also a newbie at this but i have shot clays with it two times now and it seems to be just as good a gun as my one buddies mosburg. and shoots just as straight as the other ones benilli. i still need lots more practice but i cant see where a more expensive gun is gonna help me improve.

 

[mrloring]

Re: Buying a bird gun, what kind? Update!!

There are only two reasons a more expensive gun will help you shoot better.<br /><br />1. Your cheap gun doesn't shoot straight, which can happen with about any gun.<br /><br />2. Your cheap gun doesn't fit you correctly, which is more common. A gun that fits someone that is 5'6" will not fit someone that is 6'6".<br /><br />At any rate if you can hit the target with what you got you are doing good. My first .22 was an old Stevens. Bolt wasn't smooth, trigger pull felt like it broke at 20 lbs, but I learned to live with it and took lots of game with it.

 

[Ron G]

Re: Buying a bird gun, what kind? Update!!

I love my ithica 12 will kick i use for guai and rabbit been shooting it for 25 years second gun is 20 1100 also great gun first gun i ever shot the old lady uses it now for skeet im looking into the mossburg mavrick for her let me know what you decide on and how it is.

 

[JB]

Re: Buying a bird gun, what kind? Update!!

DJ makes an important point.<br /><br />The best bird guns do not make the best all-round gun. A "bird" gun is short, light, fairly open choked and fast handling. I believe that a 20 or 28 ga. is better than a big bore and much better than a magnum big bore. A double or O/U fits the bill very well.<br /><br />I mis-named my Browning Citori. It is an "Upland Special". It weighs about 5.5lb and is almost as quick as a handgun.<br /><br />The pumps, semi-autos and other magazine guns make better waterfowl and general purpose guns. . . long, choked barrels, big bore and long chambers. They need to be fairly heavy to soften recoil. They are the crescent wrenches of shoulder guns.<br /><br />Skeet guns are like bird guns, trap guns are like duck and goose guns. Neither is particularly good for the other's purpose.<br /><br />A great bird gun will make a good wing shooter or skeet shooter better. <br /><br />Now, that said, you are looking for a cheap gun. That rules out a "proper" bird gun in favor of a general purpose gun. I am strongly prejudiced in favor of guns designed by John M. Browning or Bill Ruger. That includes, by the way, The Winchester 101 that DJ uses. I still recommend the Ithaca 37, though the Remington 870 would come in second.

 

[pjc]

Re: Buying a bird gun, what kind? Update!!

JB, I'll stick to my M37 Featherweight pump for upland birds (ruffed grouse). It is short and sweet, the slickest pumper i've handled. Fast to mount and follow through target. 12 ga 7 1/2 1 oz. field loads w/ improved modified choke tube. Very reasonable recoil. While the o/u is popular, and dead reliable, that extra bbl is extra weight. But that extra weight does help to encourage follow through of the shot.

 

[BLU LUNCH]

Re: Buying a bird gun, what kind? Update!!

Still using a Browning Sweet Sixteen I bought in high school I think it's a late 1950's model.I also have a 1947 H&R Gamester 16 ga. with a adjustable choke just twist and you have imp. choke to full in seconds.....

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Buying a bird gun, what kind? Update!!

Just curious - since there's not many(any?) 16 ga. made anymore, do you have any trouble finding shells for it in different shot sizes, powder loads, etc.?

 

[troska]

Re: Buying a bird gun, what kind? Update!!

BoatBuoy - there are plenty of 16's still made. Most major manufacturers still include them in their line, the good one's are built on a 20g frame. <br /><br />Pointer94 - I don't know where these guys have been hunting pheasants, but you will find more pumps and auto's in the fields hunting pheasants in WI, MN, SD and ND, than you will doubles. MANY people rec'd a 12g for pheasant, as a late season pheas is a tough bird. <br /><br />I myself use an o/u 20g, but that is because most of my hunting is for grouse - where a quick handling gun is appreciated. <br /><br />You would be well served to pick up a used 12g pump that fits you. You can use that gun for most any game in WI - waterfowl, pheasant, grouse, deer.<br /><br />Tim

 

[Peter J Fraser]

Re: Buying a bird gun, what kind? Update!!

I have used a REM 870 Express Light Contour for many years and love its reliability.<br />It is accurate and easy to point and they are the biggest selling pump gun made.<br />It has had 1000's of shells through it and is smooth as silk.<br />I reload my own shells as well but nothing trick.<br /><br />Peter

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: Buying a bird gun, what kind? Update!!

ok pointer i'll put in my 2c here also <br /><br />i'd recommend a used Remington 1100 if you can find the right price. i got mine for 2bills but it was from a good friend. it hasn't jammed a single time since i've had it, and i've put 10+boxes thru it in the last 3yrs. it has held up to rough weather well. and its ez to disassemble & clean IMHO.<br /><br />i used a 20g imprvd-cyl 1100 when growing up quail/dove/rabbit hunting. that was 25+yrs ago, and we only had to replace a rubber oring in all that time. my brother used it on the dove field until this yr, when he got a used winchester 1400 auto 20g mod-c<br /><br />what i use now is 12g mod-choke 28"barrel. i've used other more expensive guns, but haven't seen a good reason to move away from the 1100. its an auto. alittle heavier than a pump, but i prefer an auto for hunting.<br /><br />just make sure what you get has the correct fit to your shoulder. you can add a buttpad to lengthen, if needed. get a cleaning kit at same time.

 

[pjc]

Re: Buying a bird gun, what kind? Update!!

also, good upland practice is shoot clay birds from whatever you can. I have an old Trius Trap clay bird thrower that I use on occasion to shoot while drinking beer. Just kidding. If ya do shoot clays where ever you can to maintain or learn skills, have yer bud throw doubles for you. Treat it as a missed bird for the second clay, or whatever. The intention is to train you to follow through, work the action of a pump, or trigger on an auto, double, the hand eye deal. You will have fun shooting trap, but it is just a single clay your shooting at. Buds have been werking me over to go sporting clay shooting, just aint interested yet, but is another discipline that builds scatter gun skills imo.<br /><br />Pat

 

[Ron G]

Re: Buying a bird gun, what kind? Update!!

My girlfreind has gotten into clays she loves it.her and her friend will go through a case of shells easy,and shes gotten to be a d*m good shoot too,thats why i want to get her a gun of her own my poor 1100 is still holding up good with her but thats a gun i want to pass on to my future son or daughter it'll be in the family 4 GEN.I still say tne 1100 or the 12g ithica.

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: Buying a bird gun, what kind? Update!!

i've used pop's ithaca featherlight(pump) 12g dove hunting. it kicks 2x what the 1100 does. but it is a lot lighter to carry.

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Buying a bird gun, what kind? Update!!

Well since the outing I was invited to is next friday, I purchased a Benelli Nova, 12 gauge with two chokes one of them is a modified. It is in like new condition based on my neighbors estimation, and paid $245. I hope this is a good buy. I want to get out tommorrow and give her a whirl.<br /><br />It has a 28" barrel and is capable of 2.75" or 3" or 3.5" shells. It is completely cammo colored which I don't like but it was the best deal I thought.<br /><br />Thanks for all your feedback and let me know what you think of this gun! Thanks guy's.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Buying a bird gun, what kind? Update!!

Pointer I think you done good. A buddy has a Nova and he loves it. Brags on it all the time I seen that gun knock the heck out of some geese. I think he paid around 375$ new.