What's your best bet for a hunting gun?
Paul Smith outlines and pros and cons of the options available
So you’re going to buy a new shotgun. Don’t you think it might be an odd time of year to spend money on a shooting iron?
No, not me, because you can make good use of the summer months and long days to get yourself tuned in to the feel of that new scattergun. Shotgunning is more intuitive than rifle shooting, more about the feel and the fit of the stock to your shoulder.
Because one shouldn’t aim a shotgun, but rather point and shoot, practice is paramount if you want to be a decent wing shooter. And speed is of the essence, both in reloading and split seconds to the shoulder.
FIRST SHOTGUN
I bought my first shotgun when I was just 16 years old.
I didn’t know much. Ignorance aside, after months, actually years, of looking at the shiny blued irons in those oldschool mail-order catalogues, I ordered myself a new gun, paid for out of my very first paycheck from my very first job. I think I was a boy with my priorities set just right. Oh, I did read the duck hunter’s bible to educate my decision.
And I had good taste, choosing a Remington model 870 Wingmaster. The name has a ring to it, yes indeed, a classic shotgun to this day, and still in production.
It sells for $1,300 today. I paid $280 in 1976. I bet I could more than double my money.
Not likely. Not ever. It’s one of my most prized possessions. One of my grandkids will own it someday.
PUMP-ACTION – WHY?
I chose a pump-action as my first shotgun. Why, I wonder? Let's try and figure it out because I’m not even sure myself looking back nearly 50 years.
I used it waterfowling for three decades before switching to a semi-auto when I bought a Beretta AL391 about 20 years ago. Through my hunting years, I’ve also dabbled in double barrels quite a bit. And I’ve also shot my share of murres with my Dad’s old single-shot.
I like the simplicity in that harsh saltwater environment. So I’ve used them all, and lots. What’s my favourite? No idea. It depends, like most complex issues in life. I can only speak to the pros and cons of each. And that depends on your hunting circumstances and philosophy of use.
SINGLE-SHOT
Let’s look at the old tried and true single-shot break action for starters. My dad had two of those and I still have them in my cabinet.
They are basic and reliable. There isn’t much to break or go wrong, maintenance is easy because there isn’t much in the way of moving parts to maintain and lubricate.
The action is totally enclosed, and little dirt or water finds its way inside. They are light to carry and straightforward to use.
Finally, they are very inexpensive.
The obvious downside is the one shot before having to reload. Although with practice and nimble fingers, you can learn to reload pretty darn fast.
I’m going to work my way along from the simplest to the most complex. That seems like a rational order to me.
DOUBLE-BARREL
The double-barrel shotgun is every bit as reliable and operationally simple as a single shot, except it has two barrels. They may be mounted either side by side or over and under. One versus the other is another complex topic for another day.
So now we have two shots without reloading and the potential for four shots in short order if you can get quick with your loading fingers. That’s pretty darn impressive and has a lot of firepower. Good.
DIFFERENT CHOKES IN EACH BARREL
In addition, you can have each barrel choked differently. This can be a huge advantage in many hunting situations. You can utilize a more open choke for the first shot at a closer range and a tighter choke for the follow-up bang at a longer range. I hunted hares with hounds and a side-by-side for years and it was wicked.
Double guns can take a lot of abuse in harsh conditions and keep on smiling. There are not a lot of exposed moving parts to get messed up.
I’ve done a bit of duck hunting with doubles as well. You can’t go wrong with a double.
But well-balanced and nicely finished ones are expensive. There are some down-to-basics great buys. Check out the Stoeger lineup, particularly the long-fowler.
PUMP-ACTION
Next is the pump-action, my choice in 1976, still a good choice, and probably the most popular choice for a hunting shotgun through every decade since.
There are a lot of them around. You get three shots without reloading. Wow, but follow-ups beyond that might be slower.
Let me explain something before I move on. Nearly all pump actions and some semiautos hold more than three shots, but they must be plugged so that they are limited to a capacity of three. This is because of hunting regulations and not a limitation of the firearms themselves. Pumps are a popular choice for military and law enforcement folks and they take advantage of higher capacity.
RELIABILITY
The pump-action shotgun is reliable considering the moving parts and exposure to the elements, but they must be maintained and cleaned regularly.
Dirt, debris and water can get inside the action and must be cleaned out after every hunting trip. You have to do extra cleaning for the extra shot.
The guns themselves are also longer than a double-barrel of equal barrel length. But all things considered, they are dandy shooting irons. And the price points are quite attractive.
PRETTY AND TOUGH
I mentioned my Wingmaster sells for $1,300 nowadays. That’s because it’s the top-tier Model 870. Its action is as smooth as silk due to highly polished steel and the trigger group had no plastic parts.
It still functions flawlessly after endless wettings in both fresh and saltwater. It’s been dragged endlessly through marshes and woods.
I stripped it down and cleaned it after every outing. Not sure if the lesser 870, at less than half the price, would pull through the same, but still a great gun I’m sure.
For looks, the Wingmaster is also blued to a lustrous metal finish and the stock is beautifully finished American walnut. It’s a pretty gun with a tough disposition.
SEMI-AUTO
Finally, we get to the semi-auto shotgun.
I suppose nowadays, it's the most popular choice for serious waterfowl hunters. You have three very quick shots at your disposal.
It’s faster than a pump, no matter how good you think you are with one. It’s the most firepower you can legally take to a goose or duck blind.
That said, there are lots of moving parts. If you don’t maintain this gun, it will give you grief for sure – and the cheaper ones will give you more grief.
The good, flawlessly-functioning ones are expensive. The latest from Beretta sells for $2,500 at Cabellas. That’s a lot of coin. Whether it’s worth it or not is up to you.
WHAT'S THE BEST CHOICE?
So the best choice depends, just as much today as in 1976.
For me, I love shotguns, and I’m always thinking about trying something different.
I’ve been shooting an A400 Beretta over the past few seasons but I’m thinking I might want to go double barrel. I just love the simplicity, compactness, and robustness of double guns.
Maybe I’m just getting weary of stripping down shotguns and cleaning all those moving parts.
What do you think? The Browning Cynergy Wicked Wing is appealing to me.