The comradery surrounding duck hunting brings friends and family members together. You can even bring the family dog to retrieve your game while you drink a hot cup of coffee. The sport has a special place for outdoors people, and having a top-notch rifle can make a world of difference.
These are some excellent firearms that will add to your enjoyment when the smell of powder fills the air.
Remington Model 870
There have been more than 11 million of these tried and true Remingtons in circulation since 1950 for good reason. The pump-action ranks among the best and most reliable, bar none. Hunters put a great deal of faith in the 870s. They are easily customized, and run in a wide range of gauges and options. These include 12, 16, 20 and 28 and have been a tactical go-to gun for law enforcement. For duck hunters, the camo style with 3.5-inch chambers are steady and inexpensive shotguns that last.
Benelli Super Black Eagle III
The original SBE hit the market in the 1990s, and was met with considerable enthusiasm. The 2017 model III has gotten very favorable reviews from waterfowl hunters. The Italy brand has trimmed some weight, improved on the ComforTech stock cushion and lessened the recoil. The big bolt semi-auto may seem counter-intuitive to steadfast pump-action hunters, but the first two incarnations of the SBE changed plenty of minds and the No. 3 has only improved on the popular line. The 12-gauge, 26-inch barrel version weighs only 5 pounds and the 28-incher comes in at a trim 7.2 pounds. This is a fairly high-end rifle worth every penny.
Browning Wicked Wing Series
The 2017 additions of the A5 and Maxus Wicked Wing waterfowl shotguns are trending. Both autoloaders are styled in Cerakote Burnt Bronze camo. The A5 utilizes a Kinematic Drive System. The Maxus works a PowerDrive gas system and the pair are ready to customize and adjust to suit. Duck hunters favor the smooth action and soft trigger. You can get either 12-gauge in 3.5- or 3-inch models.
Ithaca Model 37
This classic pump-action waterfowl shotgun enjoys a long and storied hunting history. It also has a bumpy manufacturing story. The Ithaca Gun Company designed the Model 37 after the Winchester Model 12 hit the market. The Ithaca went on sale in the late 1930s, and sportsman embraced the bottom loader. The Model 37 ran strong for about 50 years with a name tweak to Model 87 for a short time after the company was sold. It resumed the 37 label during the 1990s, and fell out of production altogether in 2005. The firearm enjoyed a variety of incarnations over the years and went back into production in 2016. New or old, this walnut stock, 12-gauge is a piece of history and one heck of a duck gun.
Mossberg 930 Pro-Series Waterfowl
This gas-operated semiauto 12-gauge provides the durability and handling a serious duck hunter requires. Styled in Mossy Oak Shadow Grass Blade from stock to muzzle, it sports a vented 28-inch barrel and holds five shells. The gun-maker uses anti-corrosive materials such as coated nickel and stainless steel. This also makes it easy to clean. But at the end of the day, the Mossberg 930 is a point and shoot joy to hunt with.
Winchester SX4
Winchester is the name that started it all. From the lever-action repeater that “Won the West” to the hammer-pump Model 12 shotgun, Winchesters are legendary. The SX4 builds on its waterfowl hunting tradition and the household name-recognition Winchester deserves. This 12-gauge rivals the Benelli SBE series in every area except cost. The SX4 slimmed down the grip and maximized its cold-weather efficiency. They made it easier to handle with gloves basically. And that matters what it’s time to make your shot. It comes in either classic walnut or synthetic stocks. The barrel lengths run 26, 28 and 30 inches and it enjoys remarkably soft recoil.
~ Firearm Daily