shepp Posted October 12, 2013 Report Share Posted October 12, 2013 Hopefully going to slay some ducks in the morning! I'll report back after :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sketch Posted October 12, 2013 Report Share Posted October 12, 2013 Can't. Sleep waiting for daylight just a few hours!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shepp Posted October 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 Lots of birds flying just couldn't entice them into the decoys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sketch Posted October 13, 2013 Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 Same here and a bunch of degenerats sky busting!!! Same ol every year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shepp Posted October 15, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2013 Hope to shoot some grouse this weekend :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrtmasp Posted October 16, 2013 Report Share Posted October 16, 2013 I've been giving a lot of thought on getting into duck hunting the last few years. Any thoughts, as far as type of shotgun/barrel length, so forth, I should be looking for as a beginner? I have absolutely no experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
planeflyer21 Posted October 16, 2013 Report Share Posted October 16, 2013 (edited) You don't need a Marlin Goose Gun, with a 36" barrel. Most waterfowlers like a 28"-30" barrel. It seems to help with swinging through the target. Shoulder/cheek/length-of-pull are most important, followed by action type. When you bring the shotgun up to your shoulder, you should be able to have your cheek directly against the comb of the stock with no scrunching down or hunching your shoulder, with your eye aligned with the bead on the end of the barrel. The entire bead should be visible without seeing the top of the barrel or rib. You want the trigger far enough out to pull it without your arm being nearly folded. Action is entirely up to you. Over/unders and side-by-sides have been popular for a couple of hundred years for a reason. Pumps are reliable but lots of people get "duck fever" and have pumping problems. Some semi-autos have "extreme environment" issues. Here's a low-end semi-auto, the Tri Star Viper...pretty darned impressive test! http://www.gunblast.com/TriStar.htm And the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVInopUELnU I have a Tri Star Viper that I bought because it was NIB for $250...about $150 off retail around here. When you pull the trigger it goes BLAM every time. Uses Beretta/Benelli chokes, which are all over now. Five round magazine, plugged to three for migratory game bird compliance. Edited October 16, 2013 by planeflyer21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sketch Posted October 16, 2013 Report Share Posted October 16, 2013 My first was a mossberg pump full choke. 20 in bought for 250$ My next was a beneli semi auto 28 in comes with multiple chokes 1600$ Only issue was freezing action in sub degree weather due to using the wrong oil ;) Start small and see if you like freezing your ass off before you dump money into a 12 ga. Don't forget the gun is a small part when it comes to gear!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shepp Posted October 17, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2013 (edited) I've got a Winchester 1300 with a "bird" barrel not sure on length think 26", been to hell and back thru the marsh. This summer I picked up a Remington 1187 semi auto with a custom 24" ported barrel. Go by jons advice:) and go find somewhere to shoot trap I've never had a problem "pumping" while blasting at ducks , I will agree auto loaders can be finicky . Remember you get what you pay for Edited October 17, 2013 by shepp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrtmasp Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 Thanks for the advice guys...lots of good tips. I have a family member that has gone a few times and would lend me his shotgun, which might be the best and cheapest route to make sure I enjoy it and want to pick it up on my own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLKSHEEP Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 My go to shotgun for the past 28 years is a 12 ga. Remington 870, w/26" modified choke. An 870 is hard to beat, it isn't fancy but does the job well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
planeflyer21 Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 I was thinking about this last night, reminded me of a couple of retail customers. This pair of young and dirt poor brothers used to come in, shopping for guns and ammo. They lived way out in the desert and hunted for food out of necessity. They first bought some sort of inexpensive .22 rifle, then moved up to a NEF single-shot centerfire rifle. When they were ready for duck hunting they bought a single-shot NEF shotgun, because they were so impressed with the rifle. Also used to get the people who didn't really have money for a new gun come look at "duck guns", because that's what their friend/brother/uncle told them they "need" to hunt duck. Most times they already had a Mossy 500 or Remmy 870 that only needed another choke tube. Same with turkey hunters. I always used to ask "What did your grandfather use to hunt them?" But if you got the cash, get it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washguy Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 "Shoulder/cheek/length-of-pull are most important, followed by action type. When you bring the shotgun up to your shoulder, you should be able to have your cheek directly against the comb of the stock with no scrunching down or hunching your shoulder, with your eye aligned with the bead on the end of the barrel. The entire bead should be visible without seeing the top of the barrel or rib. You want the trigger far enough out to pull it without your arm being nearly folded." Planeflyer is right on the money! couldnt be said any better! remember.....you dont aim a shotgun you point it...so fitting it to you is so very important. If you shoot rifles a lot its hard to get out of the habit of aiming....you must look past the bead to the flying target...thats why fit is so important....its gotta shoot where you are looking when you throw it up yo your cheek......a skeet field is your friend before you go shoot a flying bird....but ive seen true beginners do great because they arnt busy thinking too much about the bird.....instinct shooting at its finest! also follow thru....just like a golf swing no follow thru no hit :) Wash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
planeflyer21 Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 Forgot something too. Unlike pistols and rifles, you don't focus on the bead (like we do on the front sight) but instead focus on the target. My shotgunning sucked big butt until I got that down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sketch Posted October 19, 2013 Report Share Posted October 19, 2013 I still have trouble with my lead sometimes but I think it was Tom knapp that said to cover the birds head with the bead I'm guessing his shots were near or under 30 yds after that practice practice !! My little bird dog!! This was a few stills from a go pro head cam last season you can see the shot so I'm thinking he was hit with a few spread out bbs fun times :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubbasks Posted October 19, 2013 Report Share Posted October 19, 2013 Season starts in the morning tomorrow. I always go shooting on sat morning so i got pished out of the blind till sun. Damn it! Oh well aint got shiz for weather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sketch Posted October 19, 2013 Report Share Posted October 19, 2013 Tons of fog here going to the range in the am Sunday is d day hope the dumbshyts stay home!! My most fun hunts were in the fog they come in close cause they can't see either!! A good call is the way to go in the fog! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rsquared Posted October 19, 2013 Report Share Posted October 19, 2013 Just like going to the range. The worse the conditions.......the more I usually enjoy it. Mainly cause the lack of sheeple. They don't usually like being wet or cold. laughing to myself...................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washguy Posted October 19, 2013 Report Share Posted October 19, 2013 Guys another tip....my coach for sporting clays would say after I would miss a long crossing clay simulating a duck or whatever would bop me on the head a say "dont cold trail the damn bird..shoot it" translation..... we shoot clays from a low gun position...so your muzzle is following the same speed and arc/direction as the bird as you are bringing the gun up to your cheek/shoulder....when the gun touches your cheek fire the gun...dont be following the bird for any length of time after that...guaranteed miss but clays going 35/45 mph are a lot smaller than a duck coming in to decoys...so they should be easier to hit. Another thing folks tend to underchoke rather than overchoke thinking their pattern will be bigger out where the target is.... not necessarily true...a lil more choke is better imho . Alway always eyes to the target not the end of the shotgun. follow thru ...just as in golf.dont stop the swing ....there are several ways to establish your leads....there is the pass thru..starting from behind and getting lead(pass thru)...the maintained lead...and the pull away lead but for the beginner...instinct will do the trick......swing with the target as you put the gun to your cheek ...see the bird and hit the bird....easy peasy...but no cold trailing...lol :) Wash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubbasks Posted October 19, 2013 Report Share Posted October 19, 2013 Ive always followed the saying butt,bird, beak, bang. Workd well sofar haha now that im the clays instructor i pass that advise on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washguy Posted October 20, 2013 Report Share Posted October 20, 2013 Hi Guys all this duck talk shotgun talk got me hot n bothered...soo we were going to go shoot steel today and I thought hmmmm the rifle range has a new sporting clays field..sooo I asked Char if she had ever shot a shotgun? Nope never even held one she sez...game on...I havnt shot sporting clays since the mid 90''s....the sporting guns havnt seen a field since then and only have seen the light of day twice a year when I clean em. reached way back and pulled out the beretta 302,found my sporting clay bag,and the chokes....threw 200 rds in the trunk along with the 308's and 6.8's and the handguns....Whew! We get there and the range was full..no spots to shoot,but the clay field was empty..Oh boy! I havnt shot clays since 95 and was worried I had forgot how to smack a bird.so char and me just picked out different stations...ended up me shootin 80 out of 100...daaamn couldnt believe it....these new knees worked like a champ walking the course....no problemos..sooo then it was lesson 1 for Char I found her a station where it was a trap type bird going away...her first 10 shots misses but she was paying attention to my coaching....next 4 birds in a row she smoked....this girl can shoot anything! One staion is right by the office and its a rabbit.....we are walking back and the owner comes to meet us and sez try this rabbit ...its hard and hardly anyone hits this bad boy.....I hit 3 in a row.....he sez so much for the hard rabbit ...lol Okay guys im going back to the tournaments.....not....lol great day ...thanks for the duck huntin thread ! got me off my azz :) Wash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubbasks Posted October 20, 2013 Report Share Posted October 20, 2013 A teal, drake mallard and 2 spoonies this mornin. Ill head back out tonite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubbasks Posted October 20, 2013 Report Share Posted October 20, 2013 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washguy Posted October 20, 2013 Report Share Posted October 20, 2013 bubba bluebird day huh? looks very nice! :) Wash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubbasks Posted October 20, 2013 Report Share Posted October 20, 2013 Yeah no weather whatsoever. Oh well just got back out to the blind for round 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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