Let me start by saying this: I have had a couple dozen shotguns in my lifetime and have too many still. All the hunting I have really done is dove, quail, and most of all waterfowl. I’m by far no expert on shotguns but if you want to really want one nice gun don’t rule out an over/under. You can’t have but 3 shells in a gun legally and you don’t get 3 great shots at decoying ducks before they are out of range for a kill. I hunt everything with a O/U after decades of semis.
Ducks- nothing but a 12 gauge. Shell length need not be larger than 3”. Don’t fall for you need something that shoots 3.5” shells. You get no greater pattern and shells have no greater killing ability.
Doves- nothing more than very light loads needed. All shots are passing and honestly most hunters shoot too far away birds. Any shotgun that fits your eyes when mounted is the win. I prefer a gun that would be ideal for skeet.
I have had Ruger, Mossberg, Remington, CZ, Benelli, Winchester, Browning, and many others. In my opinion the best all around gun is one I have never owned. That gun is a Beretta 1301 Comp coming in at $1250.00. There is nothing you cannot use this gun for- skeet, sporting clay, 3 Gun, home defense, upland, and most of all duck hunting. The controls are bigger than any gun, The loading port is larger as well and made for faster loading and will be perfect with a set of gloves on in the bitter cold. I have a Benelli Super Black Eagle which is an inertia gun. I like it so much I have not used it in 20 years and is at my sons home. By a gas gun. By a Beretta. Consider the 1301 Comp.
www.beretta.com
). A friend of mine and I hunt a lot of waterfowl together and he bought a nice little 20 gauge Benelli. Last year he took it layout hunting for seaducks and even with Hevishot he was having a hard time. They are tough and noble birds and deserved better. He knocked a few down but they dived and left the scene to die later. He quit an hour into the hunt and switched to his 12. But he has no problem killing geese with the little 20.
