Back up Duck Gun?

EliteContent · Sep 11, 2017

First question, how many out there hunt with a backup gun.

I hunt a Beretta A300 outlander synthetic, and have had no issues.

Going on a few more hunts this year, and started thinking I need a backup pump.

Also, where can I find a cheap, cheap pump.

I am talking used beater. No more than 150.

rseymorejr · Sep 11, 2017

I just bought an A300, don't tell me that I'll need a back-up gun too!

EliteContent · Sep 11, 2017

Bob, you will love this gun!

rseymorejr · Sep 11, 2017

EliteContent said:
Bob, you will love this gun!

I can't wait to take it trap shooting and I'm going pheasant hunting with my son in October!

EliteContent · Sep 11, 2017

Good hunting Bob! Let me know when you go for trap.

I will try and join you. (No promises, both sons made lacrosse clubs this year, so weekends are tight) just let me know.

I will be duck hunting October 7th in VA.

rseymorejr · Sep 11, 2017

EliteContent said:
Good hunting Bob! Let me know when you go for trap.

I will try and join you. (No promises, both sons made lacrosse clubs this year, so weekends are tight) just let me know.

I will be duck hunting October 7th in VA.

Good luck to you too, Ed!

fabsroman · Sep 11, 2017

I have rarely ever needed a backup gun. Only needed one once in my hunting career, and that was when a piece of shot fell out of a reload while dove hunting. Somehow, it worked its way into the trigger mechanism on my Benelli and stopped the trigger from working. I took the gun apart in the field and a spring shot out. So, the SBE became a single shot. Went and pulled out the Beretta 3901. That was back in the day when I really cared about getting a limit. Nowadays, I think I would be alright with putting the broken gun down and picking up the camera instead. However, if it isn't a hassle, I'll still bring the 3901 along. Just don't expect to use it very much.

You guys will really like your Berettas. I bought an A400 Explor Action in 28 gauge for my son, but I have not had the time to send it out and get the stock work done to it. Have not run into a Beretta yet that is a dog. However, with those gas guns you really need to make sure you keep the gas ports clean. That is the only drawback with a gas gun. Otherwise, they are softer shooting than the inertia driven Benelli, etc.

K31 · Sep 12, 2017

EliteContent said:
First question, how many out there hunt with a backup gun.

I keep a Mossburg 500 in an ankle holster.

EliteContent · Sep 12, 2017

Thanks fabsroman, and funny k31.

I am on 3 hunts that are guided this year, and am getting a little paranoid.

You are right.

I have never had an issue while hunting last year, to shooting trap.

BenL · Sep 12, 2017

I didn't used to, until one hunt (a paid, guided hunt), my 11-87 sh!t the bed.

Now I take a SBEII and an M2 as a backup. I have to take two different shells (3" and 3 1/2"), but I'm not going to get hosed again.

fabsroman · Sep 12, 2017

EliteContent said:
Thanks fabsroman, and funny k31.

I am on 3 hunts that are guided this year, and am getting a little paranoid.

You are right.

I have never had an issue while hunting last year, to shooting trap.

If I was going on a guided hunt, I think I would be taking a 2nd shotgun. It would really depend on how special the trip was. I used to hunt so much that missing a day of shooting because of a broken gun would not have been a big deal. However, I still brought a back up gun. lol

fabsroman · Sep 12, 2017

BenL said:
I didn't used to, until one hunt (a paid, guided hunt), my 11-87 sh!t the bed.

Now I take a SBEII and an M2 as a backup. I have to take two different shells (3" and 3 1/2"), but I'm not going to get hosed again.

You know you don't "have" to take two different shell lengths with you. The SBE can shoot 3" shells. Also, there isn't much advantage from a 3 1/2" shell anyways other than a longer shot string that allows you a scintilla more error in your swing. Of course, I shoot 3.5" shells out of mine because I like the back pain they cause.

Now, with turkey hunting, a 3.5" shell is a plus over a 3" shells because it puts more pellets on target because the bird is not flying through the shot string and the gun is not moving when the shot is fired.

BenL · Sep 12, 2017

fabsroman said:
You know you don't "have" to take two different shell lengths with you. The SBE can shoot 3" shells. Also, there isn't much advantage from a 3 1/2" shell anyways other than a longer shot string that allows you a scintilla more error in your swing. Of course, I shoot 3.5" shells out of mine because I like the back pain they cause.

Now, with turkey hunting, a 3.5" shell is a plus over a 3" shells because it puts more pellets on target because the bird is not flying through the shot string and the gun is not moving when the shot is fired.

Why do I use 3 1/2" shells? Because they don't make 4".

I usually start off with 3 1/2" (I'll take every advantage I can get; sometimes that "scintilla" is the difference between a bird in the boat and a diving cripple you never see, again), but if we end up doing a lot of shooting, I'll usually switch to 3" by 11am.

fabsroman · Sep 12, 2017

BenL said:
Why do I use 3 1/2" shells? Because they don't make 4".

I usually start off with 3 1/2" (I'll take every advantage I can get; sometimes that "scintilla" is the difference between a bird in the boat and a diving cripple you never see, again), but if we end up doing a lot of shooting, I'll usually switch to 3" by 11am.

Yeah, if Benelli or Beretta made a 10 gauge, I would buy it. There, the additional payload has a vast benefit because the shot string itself can be made denser.

You know there is a limit on how many ducks and geese you can kill. Shooting better means you have to shoot less. Just ribbing you.

tallen702 · Sep 13, 2017

I always take a backup for pheasants. Never know if a malfunction will occur. Other issues can present themselves as well. Is it extra cold that day? Do you have on 4 layers due to a -13*F wind-chill? The length of pull is going to be all wonky now, perhaps you have a second shotgun with a shorter stock that would work better, etc.

I actually take two most of the time. One shorter "brush" gun and a longer "fowling" gun (30" bbl vs upland 26") just to have all my bases covered. Only drawback is playing eeny-meeny-miney-mo at the start of the hunt.

Melnic · Sep 13, 2017

If I saw a used pump for $150 I would have already bought it and I don't fowl hunt.
Only thing I ever see in the $150 range are single shots.

BenL · Sep 13, 2017

fabsroman said:
Yeah, if Benelli or Beretta made a 10 gauge, I would buy it. There, the additional payload has a vast benefit because the shot string itself can be made denser.

You know there is a limit on how many ducks and geese you can kill. Shooting better means you have to shoot less. Just ribbing you.

Yeah, yeah.

I'm surprised the interest in 10 gauge dropped as fast as it did; my hunting partner swears by his SP10 (which Remington will no longer support.) Ammo is getting harder to find and the selection is dwindling. It's too bad- 10 gauge is great for Canadas.

byf43 · Sep 18, 2017

I've taken a back-up gun on a hunt, once.

1989. Northern Ontario, Canada - black bear.

I took my '06 and for back-up took my 870 Wingmaster with a Hastings 26" fully rifled barrel and 3" BRI sabot slugs.

The 870 only came out of the case when it was declared, going into Canada.

I've always been a "one hunt - one gun" hunter.

lazarus · Sep 23, 2017

So, do you ankle carry your backup goose gun? My 2 cents are any kind of out of state hunt if ANYTHING I’d pack a backup gun, even if it was a crappy one. Preferably in seperate cases if flying (no idea if you could do seperate cases flying or not as I’ve never flown with a firearm).

Racer Doug14 · Sep 26, 2017

Having a back-up would be nice also for friends to use. I'd just upgrade and the A300 would become the back-up.

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