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The Best Duck Hunting Shotguns on the Market Today –

Best Shotguns As Voted By Our Fans…

There is no better time to explore a new duck hunting shotgun than before the season gets here. You will have plenty of time to get comfortable and familiar with it before duck season gets here, and plenty of time to review all of the different options out on the market today. In the world of duck hunting and duck hunting accessories, there is nothing more important than your hunting shotgun!

While there are plenty of great duck guns that could be used for duck hunting, not all of them are created equal. Waterfowl hunting is hard on shotguns, and only the toughest and most durable guns will be considered the best choices. The best shotgun for hunting will rely on a few deciding factors, like what you are looking for in a duck hunting shotguns, specs, features, and budget. So what are some of the best duck hunting guns? Let’s take a look so you can find the perfect duck gun before this season!

Remington 1187sp – The Ultimate Duck Gun?

The Remington 1187 is an autoloading shotgun that combines plenty of speed, reliability, and smoothness to give you a great hunting shotgun that you can use in any situation. It has a great overall quality for its price tag and is an absolute workhorse when it comes to a waterfowl shotgun. It is available in both 12 and 20 gauge and has a 4+1 capacity.  The 1187 is widely considered the best autoloading shotgun on the market.Remington 1187sp

The receiver is made of solid steel, and the self-cleaning gas system helps to reduce recoil significantly. This gives this gun a lot of versatility, and while it makes a great waterfowl gun, it could even be used for things like home defense or whitetail deer hunting. Remington makes some great shotguns, and this one is without a doubt one of them.  It’s another one of those voted best duck hunting shotguns by our fans.

Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 – Fan Favorite Waterfowl Shotguns

Benelli Super Black Eagle 3

The Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 is considered a complete redesign of the Super Black Eagle platform according to Benelli. Whether or not it is better than its predecessors is up to personal opinion, but there is no arguing that this shotgun was designed for duck hunting from the ground up. From its excellent ergonomics to its unmatched function and reliability, the SBE3 gives you the ability to find the perfect match for what you need. Options on stocks, finishes, barrel lengths, and grips really give you the feeling that you are using one of the best shotguns in the world, and to many people, you are! Even the stock on the gun had a complete redesign, incorporating a vertical shock-absorbing system to reduce recoil even further. Both the bolt and safety were made oversized, making them much easier to use when shooting in cold weather or with gloves on making it one of our best hunting shotguns.

Benelli Super Black Eagle 2 – One Of The All Time Best Semi Auto Shotguns

The Benelli Super Black Eagle 2 is the original 3 ½ semi-auto shotgun, and its popularity and performance speak for themselves. While Benelli does make other firearms, they are most well known for their excellent and high-quality shotguns. This shotgun singlehandedly set the standard for semi-auto hunting shotguns due to its excellent design, versatility, and high-end quality.

Benelli Super Black Eagle 2This shotgun also helped bring Benelli’s incredible Inertia driven operating system to the public spotlight, showing the world of its intuitive and forward-thinking design. Coming in 12 gauge with a 3+1 capacity, it usually comes in a matte black weather-resistant coating to give it even more durability. Barrel lengths can be either 26 or 28 inches and the gun is available in both left and right-handed configurations. For hunters looking for a true “do it all” shotgun, this is one to definitely take a look at!

Remington 870 Express Waterfowl Edition

The Remington 870 is perhaps one of the most popular shotgun platforms in the world, and this special edition makes a few upgrades to give it the perfect dependability and characteristics for being the ultimate duck hunting gun. Not only can it easily cycle any size of rounds, but the camo finish helps you stay hidden while waterfowl hunting.Remington 870 Express Waterfowl Edition

The pump action gives you the dependability you can come to expect from a Remington 870, and the overall finish of the gun helps you to blend in with your surroundings much better.

Add in the comfortable recoil pad and the versatility that you can come to expect from an 870, and you have one of the most reliable and functional duck hunting shotguns in the world and possibly the best 12 gauge pump shotgun period.

Stoeger M3500

Stoeger makes some excellent firearms, and the Stoeger M3500 features an inertia driven operating system to create a dependable, smooth shooting waterfowl hunting gun. The ventilated and stepped rib gives you a great sight picture, and the fiber optic sight gives you plenty of brightness to see your target no matter the conditions. This shotgun is also drilled and tapped in case you want to add an optic as well to increase your accuracy even more. It also comes with a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty, giving you peace of mind if something should go wrong with the shotgun that it is covered.

Stoeger M3500

But with a Stoeger shotgun, you will probably not need it as this gun is a workhorse and will not let you down. An overall simple and basic design and look, this semi-auto shotgun has a 4 round capacity and comes with a shim kit to help customize it to its shooter.

Beretta A350 Xtrema – Close To The Top In “Top Shotguns” Category

Beretta specifically designed the A350 to be the perfect semi-auto waterfowl gun. It is gas-operated with a compensated exhaust valve that allows this shotgun to cycle a large variety of different ammunition.

Beretta A350 Xtrema

You can easily see Beretta’s attention to detail with this gun, all the way from the barrel to the stock. The synthetic stock comes equipped with an adjustable shim system that gives you the ability to customize the gun to you, ensuring that you have a shotgun that fits perfectly, points just right, and moves fluidly while shooting. The entire gun is coated in Realtree Max-5 camo to give a hunter maximum concealability while hunting, blending in perfectly with any natural brush. It also features a reversible safety and has a 4 round shell capacity. Beretta is making waves with their shotguns, and the A350 Xtrema is helping to do it. This gun is great for anyone looking for a dedicated semi-auto duck rig at a great price.

Yildiz 12 Gauge Auto – The Best Budget Shotgun?

For hunters on more of a budget, a great option to look into is the Yildiz 12 Gauge Auto shotgun. This company is relatively unknown, but they offer some great hunting guns at some very good prices.

Yildiz 12 Gauge Auto

Founded in 1992, this Turkish company has plenty of experience in producing great hunting guns. This shotgun is available in a few different configurations and is everything you could ask for in a semi-auto duck hunting gun. It features a manual safety, a basic front bead sight, and has a capacity of 4+1. Although this is a relatively unknown brand of shotguns, many hunters who use this duck hunting gun are extremely happy with it and have loved its durability and functionality. It has a very sleek and simple design and overall is a very clean and beautiful looking shotgun. If you want an autoloader for waterfowl hunting but don’t want to break the bank, take a look into some Yildiz shotguns and you may be surprised at what you find! While they may still be relatively unknown in the hunting community, it won’t be long until word gets out about their quality firearms.

Beretta A400 – Is This The Best Waterfowl Shotgun?

Another great offering from Beretta, the A400 comes in a wide variety of different camo patterns and is marketed as the world’s softest shooting waterfowl hunting gun ever designed. Beretta has done this by incorporating some of the technology they developed for competition shooting into a waterfowl hunting Beretta A400design, giving us the A400 platform. This shotgun features a step rib with a mid-bead, an ergonomic and well-designed stock, and Beretta’s reliable semi-auto action.

In addition to the actual internals working towards an almost 70% reduction in felt recoil, the butt pad on the stock has been engineered to minimize any other movement or recoil that might come through to your shoulder. Combine all of these small details together and you get a gun that seems to stand out among the rest for waterfowl shotguns. If recoil is a considering factor for your waterfowl gun, this is definitely one shotgun that you will want to check out!

Winchester SX4

Winchester SX4

The Winchester Super X4 is the next step in the evolution of Winchester’s waterfowl hunting shotguns and builds upon the popular SX3. This gun is designed to be the ultimate hunting firearm and comes in an all-black, matte finish to prevent any glares from spooking animals. All of the controls on the gun are much larger and easier to use than before, especially when using the gun in cold weather or with gloves on. A complete redesign of the grip also helps in this aspect, giving a hunter more control and comfort when shooting. A vent rib and fiber optic sight allow for precise shooting, and this gun is even available in 20 gauge in addition to the usual 12 gauge. It is also available in a different chamber and barrel lengths, giving you the ability to pick the best fit for you and your needs.

Mossberg 835 – Arguably The Best 12 Gauge Shotgun

Mossberg shotguns are some of the most reliable shotguns on the market, and the 835 pump action continuous to help Mossberg keep this reputation. This waterfowl hunting shotgun is very reliable, and the 3 ½ chamber can easily cycle any shell you put into it. This gives it a ton of versatility no matter what kind of waterfowl hunting you might be doing. Mossberg 835The ported barrel helps to drastically reduce the felt recoil and also works to minimize any barrel rise while shooting, especially when using large magnum loads. All of these small details help the 835 to be a great duck hunting gun, and its basic design is based on the famous Mossberg 500, well known for its durability and reliability. The top-mounted safety is easy to reach and use with either hand, and the simple design allows a hunter to easily field strip and clean the gun on the go. Finished off with a solid recoil pad and dual bead sight, the Mossberg 835 has set a high bar when it comes to pump-action waterfowl hunting shotguns.

Beretta A300

The Beretta A300 is a gas-operated, semi-auto shotgun that is one of the most popular and affordable duck hunting guns in the world. With a 3 inch chamber, this gun comes with Beretta’s attention to detail and unquestionable reliability, which is great when you are in rough or nasty conditions. This gun helped to set the bar and bring light to Beretta’s line of hunting shotguns and has seen use all over the world. It is particularly popular because of its ability to customize the stock by using spacers that you can take out or insert between the action and the grip. This, in addition to a reversible safety, makes this gun extremely versatile and gives hunters the ability to set it up to fit their needs perfectly. The A300 is very light and comes in at around 7.5 pounds. At a great price and an even better value, it is easy to see why this gun is so popular. While Beretta has since released newer models building upon the success of the A300, this gun is still one of the best possible duck hunting shotguns in the world.

Beretta A300

Final Thoughts

For waterfowl hunters, there are so many different options out on the market today that making a decision can sometimes be a challenge. There are many amazing companies out there, all producing what they perceive to be the best duck hunting guns in the world. Ultimately the best duck hunting shotgun will come down to things like personal preference and budget, but hopefully, now you have an idea of some of the best guns for duck hunting that you can try out.

The members our the Duck Hunting Fanatics crew have spoken on their favorite guns.  If you’d like some additional opinions on the who, what, when of the best duck hunting shotguns, then visit our friends over at the Firearm Blog and you’ll find plenty more discussions.

 

What gauge shotgun is best for duck hunting?
What gauge shotgun is best for duck hunting?
20-gauge
Within reasonable range, the 20-gauge can be a good waterfowl gun, particularly with some of the premium nontoxic pellets such as Bismuth, Federal Tungsten Iron, Kent Impact, and Remington Hevi-Shot. With steel pellets, the 20-gauge is more range-restricted, but with a beginner, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
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Is a pump shotgun good for duck hunting?
Is a pump shotgun good for duck hunting?

It’s another part of the duck hunter’s day. Generally, a pump gun will shoot a modern duck load quite comfortably, and as with any shotgun, while there is recoil, it is not attention getting. Thirdly, there is reliability. … Clear the barrel and then fire away.


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Is a 20 gauge shotgun good for duck hunting?
Is a 20 gauge shotgun good for duck hunting?

For ducks, though, the 20gauge is nearly perfect, especially in the early season when smaller, fast-flying ducks, like teal, are numerous and before the regular goose season has begun. The 20gauge shotguns are light, usually weighing one or even two pounds less than their 12-gauge counterparts.Sep 22, 2015


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What is the best 12 gauge shotgun for hunting?
What is the best 12 gauge shotgun for hunting?

So, here is an eclectic Top 10 list of ideal hunting shotguns for all.

 

  • CZ-USA SCTP Sterling. …
  • Benilli Super Black Eagle 3. …
  • Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus 12-gauge. …
  • Winchester SXP. …
  • Remington Versa Max. …
  • Winchester Model 12. …
  • Remington 870. …
  • Mossberg 500.

•Nov 16, 2018
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What is the best shot size for ducks?
What is the best shot size for ducks?

 

SPECIES IDEAL RANGE SHOT SIZE
Small Ducks 15-40 yds 4, 5, 6
Large Ducks 10-40 yds BB,1, 2, 3
Geese 10-45 yds T, BBB, BB


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What is best choke for duck hunting?
What is best choke for duck hunting?

For ducks and geese that are close, improved cylinder or even skeet constriction choke work well. If the birds are farther out, a modified choke tube is better.Jul 22, 2018


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What is the best all around shotgun to buy?
What is the best all around shotgun to buy?

Best All Around Shotguns

 

  • Remington – 870 Express Shotgun.
  • Browning A5 Ultimate Shotgun.
  • FN SLP MK I Semi-Automatic Shotgun.
  • Benelli – M3 Tactical Shotgun.
  • Kalashnikov – KS-12T Shotgun.
  • Beretta 1301 Tactical Semi-Automatic Shotgun.

Nov 1, 2019
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What is the best gun for bird hunting?
What is the best gun for bird hunting?

Whether your quarry is pheasants, quail, or grouse, any of these shotguns will get the job done.

 

  • Remington’s 870 Wingmaster. Remington 870 Wingmaster. …
  • Savage STEVENS 555. Stevens 555. …
  • Winchester SX4 Upland Field. …
  • Mossberg 500 Classic. …
  • Franchi Affinity 3. …
  • Browning Silver Field. …
  • FABARM L4S Initial Hunter. …
  • CZ Upland Ultralight.

Sep 17, 2019
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Can a 3.5 inch shotgun shoot 3 inch shells?
Can a 3.5 inch shotgun shoot 3 inch shells?

Shooting a 3.5 inch shell in a 3 inch chamber, the shell should fit fine but the crimp will be restricted. This will equal some added pressure which COULD cause problems but what it will do 99% of the time is make your shotgun a 2 shot wonder. That crimp will open and jam the shell in the chamber.


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Should I get 12 or 20 gauge?
Should I get 12 or 20 gauge?

12 gauge is much more common, is very flexible in loads, and is a better choice for both waterfowl AND upland birds. … So as a lighter weight shotgun with less recoil, but much more appropriate for use on game than 410, the 20 gauge could be the choice for you.May 14, 2016


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Is a 20 gauge shotgun good for home defense?
Is a 20 gauge shotgun good for home defense?

At close range, 20 gauge buckshot is typically just as effective as 12 gauge, but it can have a lot less recoil. … But even so, I don’t usually recommend a 20 gauge shotgun over a 12 gauge for home defense. And not because it isn’t powerful enough.Feb 26, 2018


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How far will a 20 gauge shoot?
How far will a 20 gauge shoot?

40 – 50 yards

 

As a general rule, a 20 gauge with a full choke barrel shooting shot charges can be effective out to a maximum of 40 – 50 yards. A slug fired from a 20 gauge set up for slugs may be effective out to about 100 yards.


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Will a 12 gauge slug kill a grizzly bear?
Will a 12 gauge slug kill a grizzly bear?

Sure. At close range, 12 gauge shotgun slug will kill just about any animal that ever walked the Earth. … 12 gauge pump shotguns are preferred bear defense guns by many knowledgeable people living in areas with high grizzly densities. They are definitely adequate grizzly defense guns.


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Why are shotguns good for home defense?
Why are shotguns good for home defense?

The primary advantage of using a shotgun for self-defense is that it fires multiple projectiles every time you pull the trigger. That’s something no other gun can do – at least not effectively. The reason that’s an advantage is not because the pellets spread out so that you don’t have to aim.Jun 9, 2016


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What is the best shotgun shot size for home defense?
What is the best shotgun shot size for home defense?

12 gauge

 

Most experts agree that reduced-power 00 buck shells in 12 gauge are the best overall choice for home defense. Slugs – These are essentially oversized bullets designed to be fired from a shotgun. They offer the advantage of tremendous stopping power.


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Is 4 shot good for ducks?
Is 4 shot good for ducks?

Common shot sizes used for waterfowl (from smallest to largest) are No. 4, 3, 2, 1, BB, BBB and T shot. Naturally, smaller shot sizes are best suited for ducks, while the larger shot is better for geese and swans.


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Is 2 shot good for home defense?
Is 2 shot good for home defense?

#2 steel shot is a good overall choice for large birds, medium-sized mammals and home defense. The less dense and environmentally safer steel is quite popular, with the only downside being the loss of penetration with steel due to lead being heavier.


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Where do you aim to shoot a duck?
Where do you aim to shoot a duck?

Aim slightly below the bird, raise the gun up into its flight path, and pull the trigger when the gun barrel blots out the bird. Or, if the duck is descending to land, aim at its feet and shoot. By the time the shot charge gets on target, the duck will have dropped into the middle of the pattern.Oct 30, 2013


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Can I shoot steel through a full choke?
Can I shoot steel through a full choke?

Full chokes and steel shot don’t mix, except when they do. Full and steel damage barrels, except when they don’t. Full chokes and steel produce blown patterns, except when they don’t.Aug 10, 2016


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Should I use a full choke for duck hunting?
Should I use a full choke for duck hunting?

Always pattern your shotgun with the choke and ammo you plan to use to identify any issues before you go hunting. Using a full choke for decoying ducks will result in more misses and inedible ducks if you do manage to hit them. Stick to small shot sizes like #6, #4, and #2 if you must hunt ducks with a full choke.Apr 1, 2019


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Can you shoot slugs through a full choke?
Can you shoot slugs through a full choke?

A standard full choke with standard lead slugs is safe. Don’t matter if they are fixed chokes or interchangeable tubes. You probably won’t get good accuracy. The new sabot slugs or solid copper, really anything but lead, should probably not be used in full choke guns.Apr 3, 2011


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Which is better Remington 870 or Mossberg 500?
Which is better Remington 870 or Mossberg 500?

Conclusion. Both the Remington & Mossberg are super popular and reliable pump action shotguns. Mossberg has the ambidextrous safety, double-extractor, nicer shell lifter, tons of upgrades, and is used by the military. While Remington has the smoother action, steel receiver, and better pistol grip setup.Dec 22, 2019


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Are Benelli shotguns worth the money?
Are Benelli shotguns worth the money?

True generally, though some people are lucky enough to actually do the high-volume wingshooting that makes a Benelli worth its price. They’re popular in Argentina as loaner guns, because they keep going and going, without cleaning or fixing.Jul 19, 2006


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Who makes the best shotguns in the world?
Who makes the best shotguns in the world?

5 Best Shotguns in the World (Winchester, Remington and Beretta Make the Cut)

 

  • Winchester Model 1897. …
  • Recommended: The M4: The Gun U.S. Army Loves to Go to War With.
  • Remington 870. …
  • Beretta 1301 Tactical. …
  • Benelli M2 Tactical. …
  • Mossberg 500 Series. …
  • Recommended:

Dec 29, 2017
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What is the best gun for grouse hunting?
What is the best gun for grouse hunting?

A 16- or 20-gauge pump with 26- or 28-inch barrels is a wonderful grouse gun, as is the iconic Winchester Model 42.Aug 29, 2014


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What gauge shotgun is best for bird hunting?
What gauge shotgun is best for bird hunting?

For most birds, 12 gauge and 20 gauge are the go-to options, with . 410 (actually a caliber, not a gauge) being the preferred choice for young hunters who are still learning.Sep 12, 2019


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What is the lightest 12 gauge shotgun?
What is the lightest 12 gauge shotgun?

Benelli Ultra Light Semi-Auto Shotgun -The Ultra Light shotgun is an upland hunter’s dream. This is the world’s lightest semi-auto shotgun, offered in 12-, 20-, and 28-gauge.


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Can buckshot kill you?
Can buckshot kill you?

Size, penetration, and energy all make buckshot more lethal than birdshot. Most people arming themselves against violent criminals prefer lethality. Even law enforcement officers typically choose 0 or 00 buckshot for close encounters with dangerous human beings.Nov 6, 2019


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Do you really need a 3.5 shotgun?
Do you really need a 3.5 shotgun?

If you can handle the recoil, 3.5-inch shotgun shell (top) offers better performance over 3-inch shotgun shell. … Part of the reason is that non-toxic ammo is much better today than in the early days of steel shot, making 3-inch shells plenty effective for most situations. But the bigger issue is recoil.Apr 1, 2014


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Can you shoot a 2.5 shell in a 3 inch chamber?
Can you shoot a 2.5 shell in a 3 inch chamber?

Yes. Chambered in 3shells indicates that shells of any length at or below 3 inches (measured fired) are safe to use and will work just fine.Apr 13, 2010


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Can a 20 gauge kill a human?
Can a 20 gauge kill a human?

Shotgun slugs will kill you. Shotgun shells loaded with rock salt won’t likely kill you unless you are shot at point blank range but it will hurt like hell. There is not realy a simple answer to this question because there are may types of commercially manufactured 20 gauge shells available, both lethal and non-lethal.


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Can a 20 gauge kill a bear?
Can a 20 gauge kill a bear?

A 20 gauge shotgun is roughly . 62 caliber so either a slug or a load of buckshot ( 00 or 000) would be good choices to use for bear hunting. … 62 caliber slug hits with around 2,000 ft/lbs. ( different manufacturers have slightly different numbers).


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Are 20 gauge shotguns good?
Are 20 gauge shotguns good?

On the other hand, 20gauges are great guns for young hunters or new hunters. They will experience less recoil and presumably be getting used to a lighter gun. The shotgun shells are slightly smaller, lighter and shoot a higher density, which is good when targeting faster birds.Mar 28, 2019


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