What's your price range?
goose guns
looking to buy a goose gun. Want to get some advice on a 10 gauge or 12
3/5.
3/5.
1 - 20 of 65 Posts
G
I have little experience with 10 gauge guns. I wouldn't mind purchasing one but the cost of 10 ga. shells is a bit overwhelming. If you've got tons of cash to burn, the Rem. Sp10 (semi-auto) is the way to go. Otherwise, I'd check out a GanderMtn or local sporting goods shop for a Browning pump. Then you're looking at about $500-600 new or $400 used. I have a Browning BPS 12 ga. (shoots 3 1/2) and while I think it is probably the smoothest of all the brands, I have a little difficulty "short-shucking" shells. That is, I often don't get the slide pumped far enough to eject the spent shell causing it to hang up. It's my problem, not the gun's, and it's probably b/c I am accustomed to the side eject guns as I grew up with Mossbergs.
Otherwise, you can try to pick up a Mossberg 835 (about $250), Remington SuperMagnum (just under $300), Benelli Nova (just over $300), Charles Daley (around $250), or Browning BPS (around $400, after the Browning mail in rebate for $75). These are the pump guns. I have had my share of problems with the Mossberg but have found Mossberg service pretty decent (but do you want to deal with service when you could be shooting birds!). As far as autoloaders, you have Winchester Super X2 for about $650, Browning Gold Hunter for about $850 (most of components on Browning and Winchester are same or similar--may have related mfr; I'm not sure; Winchester does not have magazine cut-off); Beretta (for about $900), Benelli Super Black Eagle (about $1,100--tried and true but with inertia ejection system so while a bit more reliable than gas, a bit more of a punch from recoil), and the Remington 1187 (probabaly high $600 or low $700 range). I do not have a 3 1/2" autoloader but I have heard the best about the Browning Gold Hunter (I have the 3" version--it's unbelievable; never had a jam) and the Benelli SBE. One of my die-hard Rem. buddies got rid of his 1187 after several problems and bought the Browning. I would say that he certainly has put the gun through all the paces and it has passed with flying colors.
Some of these guns are back-bored (or overbored). I think you get a bit more velocity and better patterning. The Brownings and Mossbergs use this; I'm not sure who else does (the Benelli Nova pump does not reference it and I do not believe that Rem products do either). It's a great feature; I would shop for that, too.
I like the versatility of a 12 ga. and the lower cost of shells. But if you do relatively little hunting other than waterfowl and cost is not an issue, go get yourself a 10 ga. Just keep in mind that if you're way up north or in Canada, your 10 ga. shells will be a bit harder to find so make sure you have a pretty decent cashe of shells.
Otherwise, you can try to pick up a Mossberg 835 (about $250), Remington SuperMagnum (just under $300), Benelli Nova (just over $300), Charles Daley (around $250), or Browning BPS (around $400, after the Browning mail in rebate for $75). These are the pump guns. I have had my share of problems with the Mossberg but have found Mossberg service pretty decent (but do you want to deal with service when you could be shooting birds!). As far as autoloaders, you have Winchester Super X2 for about $650, Browning Gold Hunter for about $850 (most of components on Browning and Winchester are same or similar--may have related mfr; I'm not sure; Winchester does not have magazine cut-off); Beretta (for about $900), Benelli Super Black Eagle (about $1,100--tried and true but with inertia ejection system so while a bit more reliable than gas, a bit more of a punch from recoil), and the Remington 1187 (probabaly high $600 or low $700 range). I do not have a 3 1/2" autoloader but I have heard the best about the Browning Gold Hunter (I have the 3" version--it's unbelievable; never had a jam) and the Benelli SBE. One of my die-hard Rem. buddies got rid of his 1187 after several problems and bought the Browning. I would say that he certainly has put the gun through all the paces and it has passed with flying colors.
Some of these guns are back-bored (or overbored). I think you get a bit more velocity and better patterning. The Brownings and Mossbergs use this; I'm not sure who else does (the Benelli Nova pump does not reference it and I do not believe that Rem products do either). It's a great feature; I would shop for that, too.
I like the versatility of a 12 ga. and the lower cost of shells. But if you do relatively little hunting other than waterfowl and cost is not an issue, go get yourself a 10 ga. Just keep in mind that if you're way up north or in Canada, your 10 ga. shells will be a bit harder to find so make sure you have a pretty decent cashe of shells.
The sp10 IS the only way to go :lol: I've had mine for 4 years now, once you get use to swinging the weight you won't know how you lived with out it.. People can talk about their 3 1/2 inch 12s, but when is put up with a 10 in killing situations they can not run with the BIG DOG !! My sp10 has had upwards of 4 cases of shells through it and it's still running strong. Let me know if you buy one I have a few tips for ya
G
Yoda:
I was just responding to the post that Bucci put on the chat section. I do not currently have a 10 ga. but am considering acquiring one. I would certainly be game for the tips you referenced in your post? Have you had any problems whatever with that Sp10?
By the way, where do you do all your goose slaying?
Gooser
I was just responding to the post that Bucci put on the chat section. I do not currently have a 10 ga. but am considering acquiring one. I would certainly be game for the tips you referenced in your post? Have you had any problems whatever with that Sp10?
By the way, where do you do all your goose slaying?
Gooser
Gooser I wasn't knocking anything you said, it was very informative reading 8)
To date, I own a sp10 and have been hunting steady with 3 other people that own them, only one of those guns had a problem, (The newist one) bought last summer need to be sent back to Remington to get the gas ports opened up, it would not eject anything but Winchester shells, the other guns never had any trouble with anything you stuffed in the magazine, and after the one was returned from Remington it's the same way.
The only flaw that I see with the sp10 is in it's recoil spring tube located in the stock, if you ever buy one, pull the stock off. unscrew the recoil spring tube, clean it very well, steelwool the living **** out of everything but the threads, and then repaint it with a good quality rust-o-leum, because it WILL rust really bad if you don't, for the life of me I can't figure out why Remington has not made that part out of Stainless steel.
Also the first year of use keep a very good coating of "Rust Prevent" on the out side parts ie, Barrle, Receiver, something with their parkerizing process grows a rust film on exposed metal on the ride home from the field if you don't.
With all that said the only attention my sp10 gets during the season is a wipe down every so often, and if I spend a day in the rain with it the forend come off so the magazine tube gets a "Rust Prevent" wipe down also, otherwise nothing esle is touched, never had a jam with it, wait, I take that back, we had a week of dry dusty hunting in the clay, then it rained a few days, after that I had to break it all the way down, and clean the bolt and it's rails, every time I pulled the trigger, a spent hull flew out, and it tried to load a wet clay brick with the next loaded round going into the chamber, Been running fine ever since, and that was 2 years ago..So all all, after writing this little book., I'm a Goose Hunter, the sp10 is a Goose Killing Machine in the hands of someone that can handle the weight. I have seen to many leakers leaving the spread only to be dumped at 70, and 80 yards.. we have been killing over 100 Giant Canadain Geese each of the last 3 years, and I can tell you that the 10 does it was better than any factory 12 going 3" or 3 1/2"..
As for where we hunt, you might find us anywhere from "Champion" west of Marquette to Pickford. But mostly east of Newberry.... Where about you located ??.......... Good hunting Yoda :twisted:
To date, I own a sp10 and have been hunting steady with 3 other people that own them, only one of those guns had a problem, (The newist one) bought last summer need to be sent back to Remington to get the gas ports opened up, it would not eject anything but Winchester shells, the other guns never had any trouble with anything you stuffed in the magazine, and after the one was returned from Remington it's the same way.
The only flaw that I see with the sp10 is in it's recoil spring tube located in the stock, if you ever buy one, pull the stock off. unscrew the recoil spring tube, clean it very well, steelwool the living **** out of everything but the threads, and then repaint it with a good quality rust-o-leum, because it WILL rust really bad if you don't, for the life of me I can't figure out why Remington has not made that part out of Stainless steel.
Also the first year of use keep a very good coating of "Rust Prevent" on the out side parts ie, Barrle, Receiver, something with their parkerizing process grows a rust film on exposed metal on the ride home from the field if you don't.
With all that said the only attention my sp10 gets during the season is a wipe down every so often, and if I spend a day in the rain with it the forend come off so the magazine tube gets a "Rust Prevent" wipe down also, otherwise nothing esle is touched, never had a jam with it, wait, I take that back, we had a week of dry dusty hunting in the clay, then it rained a few days, after that I had to break it all the way down, and clean the bolt and it's rails, every time I pulled the trigger, a spent hull flew out, and it tried to load a wet clay brick with the next loaded round going into the chamber, Been running fine ever since, and that was 2 years ago..So all all, after writing this little book., I'm a Goose Hunter, the sp10 is a Goose Killing Machine in the hands of someone that can handle the weight. I have seen to many leakers leaving the spread only to be dumped at 70, and 80 yards.. we have been killing over 100 Giant Canadain Geese each of the last 3 years, and I can tell you that the 10 does it was better than any factory 12 going 3" or 3 1/2"..
As for where we hunt, you might find us anywhere from "Champion" west of Marquette to Pickford. But mostly east of Newberry.... Where about you located ??.......... Good hunting Yoda :twisted:
G
you want a tried and true foul weather,the dog knocked my shotgun over in the mud, and it still shoots!! everytime!!!,emergency boat paddle,oh my god ! that was a long shot, I love this thing!!!........ get a 12 gauge remington 870 sps 3 1/2" super mag. but here is the kicker...you have to shoot # 2 "heavy shot" and you need the" remington super full heavy shot" choke tube.I guide for western loudoun outfitters in purcellville,va and i have seen many 3 shots,3 kills with this combination, i am not out here to put anybody down all I am saying is... it works!.
G
Yoda:
I broke down and bought a Browning 10 ga.--Stalker Light. B/c my Browning Gold has been flawless, I went with another Browning. I have already been berated by my hardcore Rem. friends. Oh well, I hope that it works out fine.
As for the Rem Super Mag with #2 Hevi, I am sure that that gun works fine. I have shot the cheapest Winch. X-Pert BB out of a Mossberg 835 and routinely slaughtered geese out to 60 yards. I do think that the 10 ga. takes the cake though.
I am about 5 minutes south of the Wisc. border in IL. Goose killing is okay; it's certainly no Southern IL and hunting spots are hard to come by.
Thanks for your 2 cents.
Tear 'em up,
Gooser
p.s., you named several cities; what state do they pertain to?
I broke down and bought a Browning 10 ga.--Stalker Light. B/c my Browning Gold has been flawless, I went with another Browning. I have already been berated by my hardcore Rem. friends. Oh well, I hope that it works out fine.
As for the Rem Super Mag with #2 Hevi, I am sure that that gun works fine. I have shot the cheapest Winch. X-Pert BB out of a Mossberg 835 and routinely slaughtered geese out to 60 yards. I do think that the 10 ga. takes the cake though.
I am about 5 minutes south of the Wisc. border in IL. Goose killing is okay; it's certainly no Southern IL and hunting spots are hard to come by.
Thanks for your 2 cents.
Tear 'em up,
Gooser
p.s., you named several cities; what state do they pertain to?
G
Yoda:
I didn't know you guys had Canadas that far north!!! In any event, you wouldn't happen to know about ATV trails up in the U.P., would ya'. I have been going to the U.P. on the average of about once per year in the early spring to backpack in the Porkies. But I recently picked up an ATV and like getting muddy (I also use it to drag my trailer full of decoys out into muddy fields; beats pissing off farmers when you put huge ruts in their no-till bean fields!).
And where abouts in the U.P.?
Gooser
I didn't know you guys had Canadas that far north!!! In any event, you wouldn't happen to know about ATV trails up in the U.P., would ya'. I have been going to the U.P. on the average of about once per year in the early spring to backpack in the Porkies. But I recently picked up an ATV and like getting muddy (I also use it to drag my trailer full of decoys out into muddy fields; beats pissing off farmers when you put huge ruts in their no-till bean fields!).
And where abouts in the U.P.?
Gooser
Gooser we've put 128 Canadians and 2 Snows feet up in the Decoys so far this year, there is 300 that are setting on a field right now that are going to get a suprise of their life about 0745 tomorrow morning :twisted:
The SP 10's been speaking load and carring a BIG stick the whole season, I'm located in the Eastern U.P. around the Soo
The SP 10's been speaking load and carring a BIG stick the whole season, I'm located in the Eastern U.P. around the Soo
G
I agree with Yoda- do yourselves a favor and check out the Rem SP10. Wonderful shotgun with virtually no, and I mean no, recoil. Ive shot a Benelli SBE for years now- there is no comparison on the recoil front. Yes, the weight is a *****- Im guessing 10.5-11lbs dry but this is not a pheasant or 'wade-n-shoot' type gun. The 'SP' stands for 'special purpose'; Im guessing that 'purpose' must ential some sort of situation where you dont have to carry the gun for significant lengths of time. It is very different from most guns and mounting it does take a little getting used to... However, Im shooting it with the patternmaster tube and finding it very effective at 60-65yrds with tungsten. For me, the weight helps with follow-through; its funny how easily you follow-through when you're swinging 12lbs of shotgun/shells.
There is no need for hevishot if the geese are decoying right. Yes there is a huge difference in penetration but if you hit the geese a little closer in with steel it will kill them just as dead. Probably a little cheaper too.
If you are having to skybust those snows, That hevishot will work wonders.
If you are having to skybust those snows, That hevishot will work wonders.
G
I am also interested in entering the realm of the 10 gauge world. However, I have run into a rather large problem-a definite lack of money. Being a college student tend to be a little harsh on a person's hunting budget. This being the case, I don't have loads of cash to dump on a top of the line auto. I don't have a problem with this, as I function fine with my Mossberg pump now. I have read previous reply on this subject only to come up lacking answers. My question to you is where can I find more info on that Mossberg 835, or other somewhat inexpensive 10 gauges. Mossberg's higher-ups must want to keep the whole 10 ga. theory a secret, because the only mention of one is to talk up their 12 ga. 3 1/2". Any info is would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys !!
I think the reason you can't find any writing on a Mossberg 835 10ga is they don't make one, the 835 is a 3 1/2 12ga. About the only pump made in the 10ga is the Browning BPS, If you can handle a pump gun the Browning would be the way to go, you should be able to pick up a Stalker for around $550, about half the price of the SP10 and Browning Gold 10
Hi all I am new to this board and this is my first post I currently use a Mossberg 500 and its done a good job put I am looking for an upgrade. Does anyone have or ever shot a marlin M55 (I call it the goose canon) :twisted: I have shot one before but it has been a long time. Any thoughts?
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