Auto or O/U?

Interesting... and I don't know a thing about Duck Calls ....

I did see Starks Champion of Champions Trophy when I was in Stuttgart at the club he was guiding for. He hung around the club for dinner and a little bs after the hunt and guns, etc - but he didn't say too much ( and we were all from out of town ...)..... but he was an easy guy to be around.

I sold one of his buddies a 10ga Browning BPS that I decided I didn't even want to carry home ....(its a long story - but I thought I needed a 10ga pump gun / and realized quickly I was out of my mind ...) and was happy to unload it.
 
There is also a wide range of choices and prices- I assume the $350- 400 guns aren't probably that good and the $1,500 plus guns are likely all pretty good. What about some of the in between choices? Any recommendations?
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Check CDNN and Bud's along with other sites and you should be able to find a nice Beretta or Browning O/U, or possibly a SKB for your price range. With proper care in a marine environment, they'll last you a lifetime of hunting
 
If you get the ducks in the decoys----a 20 gauge 3" magnum or 12 gauge 2-3/4" is sufficient.

Dave I would not rule out a 3" 20 gauge over and under. Forget the machismo many men with the little you know what syndrome will give you. A 20 Gauge O/U is cheaper to shoot and they handle like a dream. 3" 20 Gauge Bismuth is deadly on ducks at decoy range. When you take birds with something less than a 12 gauge ultimately you are respected.
 
BigJim:

If you see one of those old Olts at the neighbor's yard sale for $2 or 3$, snap it up. They are no longer made and fetch from $40.00 to $200.00 on eBay depending on the condition. The ones in a box in great condition with the instructions usually go for $150.00 to $200.00. They are the most misunderstood call made. Learning to use one is awful----you will faint it takes so much air to get them to buzz but once you get it, they are easy to operate.
 
Well, I'm not adverse to a 20 gauge, as I understand it all shot travels at about the same speed regardless of gauge, the only advantage of a larger gauge is more pellets per shot BUT if a 20 gauge patterns such that it puts more shot in a 30" circle than a 12 or 10 at the same range, then the 20 is the more killing. The 20 would definitely be better for upland game like pheasant. Do very many of you hunt ducks with a 20?
 
I will keep an eye out for one Samilspec ... and I'll make you a deal on it, if I fine one ... ( better in your hands than mine ..).

20 vs 12 for waterfowling .... I'd stay with a 12 / and balistically you can make a 12ga behave like a 20ga with 7/8oz of shot if you want. Shells for a 12 and 20ga, in my area, cost about the same - so cost of shells isn't a big factor. But Samilspec is right, if you have a good caller and they are working over decoys - you don't need a 12ga / but pass shooting is different and a 20ga isn't going to handle it ( although I agree that a gun chambered in 3" is plenty).

I would use a 20ga for early pheasant season only / or if I was hunting over pointers that were holding the birds close. If I'm hunting over a flushing dog like a Labrador - then I stay with a 12ga and adjust my choke accordingly. And you can make a 12ga perform like a 28ga too - if you can find shells in 3/4 oz - but a 28ga is perfect for me on Quail over good pointers.

It sounds to me like this is one of your first guns - so I would stay with a 12ga for now / add a 20ga later if you want one ... and a 28ga and a .410 ... ( and welcome to our madness ..) - and some reloaders .....
 
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