Wrkn4alivin
Posted Tue, Nov 17th, 2009 8:40 pm

Personal opinion...
If all he's doing is duck hunting there's really no need for a 3'' gun. With that said, if money is an issue get a synthtic stock 870. If he's been cutting yards all summer and has a little chunk saved to help then get him a Benelli M2. Easy to clean, simple contruction, no gas, and great line of sight when shouldering. Again just my opinion, good luck with the decision!

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Reeshard
Posted Fri, Nov 13th, 2009 1:30 pm

Shotgun Question
I collect shotguns and duck hunt with 12 ga Browning Golds and the Beretta Xtrema. But, for a good quality first duck gun at a reasonable price you can't beat the Beretta 3" synthetic 390, formerly called the Silver Mallard. Its a 3" 12ga automatic gas operated proven shotgun available most anywhere. You don't need a 3 1/2 for ducks and the Beretta auto is just as rugged as a pump for only slightly more. Don't start with a 20ga on ducks for several reasons: Less pellets in same shot size + less powder = less knock down power with fewer pellets in a 30yd pattern. 20g steel shells harder to find than 12ga in rural areas.

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Coot
Posted Fri, Nov 13th, 2009 12:58 pm

Agreed!
For the price you can't beat a Beretta 390. This is my gunsmith's favorite gun too. Walmart in Covington has them for under $600. That will be my next gun when my POS Browning Gold craps out on me again. My Browning has been nothing but trouble. I plan to buy my two sons 390's when they are old enough to move up from a 20 gauge to a 12.

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eprecht
Posted Fri, Nov 13th, 2009 12:21 pm

Beretta 390
If you look for a sale, you can buy a brand new Beretta 390 12 gauge for about $600 from Bass Pro Shops or Academy. It is a black, synthetic-stocked, no-frills, 3", gas-operated gun. They used to be marketed as the Silver Mallard. Now they have deleted the light engraving, magazine cut-off switch and recoil pad. The magazine cut-off is a non-issue. You can addd your own recoil pad and have the gun dipped if you want camo. I shoot an original Silver Mallard and bought both of my sons the 390. They are still young but they will have quality guns when they are ready to hunt with a 12 gauge. I bought theirs at Wal-Mart a few years back for around $530. I don't think they have them anymore. As far as 3" vs 3.5" goes, I don't see the need for the 3.5" guns unless you hunt a lot of geese. When I go on a combo duck/goose hunt, I shoot tungsten BB's or #2's. I can buy a lot of shells for the price difference between the 390 and an Extrema 2. Of course, the guys that shoot 3.5" guns will try to convince you that it is necessary. Get the birds close and make sure you hit them and you won't be disappointed. Let us know what you end up buying for your son. Good luck this duck season.

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boudinBOY33
Posted Mon, Nov 9th, 2009 8:45 am

benelli
i have a benelli nova pump action 20 gauge. great gun great price!

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swampwood
Posted Sun, Nov 8th, 2009 3:22 pm

The Best
Start him with a pump so he has to think thru those shots instead of instinctively pullin' da' trigger.

I was started with a single shot, definately made me pick the shot!

He probably should work his way up to the "Best", but thats just my opinion, thats what worked well in days of "old".

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SHEAUX-ME
Posted Sat, Nov 7th, 2009 11:04 am

Benalli M-2
Look at a Benalli M-2 in a 12 or 20 both shoot 2 3/4 and 3" shells,both have the comfortec system like the SBE2 and cost about 400 bucks less (how many 3 1/2" shells are ya gonna shoot)Darn good guns too

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dishragem
Posted Fri, Nov 6th, 2009 10:57 am

gun
i have 2 extrema2-a sbe benelli and a uricka 391 beretta-my son is 13 and we went shoot sporting clays sunday--he started with the 391 and shot the extrema and loved it--he says it is his now-this will be his first duck hunt tomorrow morning and he wants to shoot only the extrema 2 i think this is the best option for him-waterfowl-clays-geese-doves-etc-and might be the last one you will have to buy him.

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fishnmoney
Posted Fri, Nov 6th, 2009 9:50 am

Gun
BERETTA!!!
Hey Admiral is back :)

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The Bill Collector
Posted Fri, Nov 6th, 2009 9:43 am

Remington 1100
The Remington Model 1100 autoloading shotgun has earned a solid reputation worldwide on the range and in the field for over four decades and continues today to be the most popular autoloader in the marketplace.

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dwr3533
Posted Fri, Nov 6th, 2009 9:19 am

New gun
I own a Browning Gold, a 3&1/2 BPS,a 3&1/2 Browning Citori, and a Super Black Eagle. With that said, check out the new Remington mdl 887. It is a 3&1/2 in pump with new corrosion protection plating on it and supposedly has a state of the art recoil pad. I looked at one and was impressed. It will also cost about a third of the price of a Super Black Eagle or Beretta Extrema(both great guns). It has Remingtons proven slide action ala the 870.

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BIRD DOG
Posted Fri, Nov 6th, 2009 8:04 am

shotguns
Well I have to say I am shocked @ how many of you "Americans" dont buy American!And then we wonder why we are in the shape we're in.....

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Cajunsim
Posted Fri, Nov 6th, 2009 6:22 am

Fit
Make sure the gun fits him properly. I watch kids shoot skeet with guns that range from 200 to 2000 dollars and it boils down to proper fit. Good luck this season.

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gunrunner
Posted Fri, Nov 6th, 2009 5:26 am

Gun
Certainly a Beretta or Benelli are great choices, so you can't be wrong by purchasing either of the two. If you have the bucks, that is. I personally prefer the Browning line, but that is just me.

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Big-Bear
Posted Fri, Nov 6th, 2009 1:58 am

vinci
i just got the new benelli vinci...it is a man amongst men if all your gonna be doing is duck hunting. doesnt shoot 3 1/2" only 3 ". smoothest shooting fastest action gun on the market HANDS DOWN!

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Admiral Rabbit
Posted Fri, Nov 6th, 2009 12:09 am

"Wild Bill Hiccup"
...Moonshiners back of Kiln/Picayune autobahn used flat head V8 Fords... I somehow associate them w/Stogers...let him buy the fancy dude gun later...cheers

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BIRD DOG
Posted Thu, Nov 5th, 2009 10:25 pm

shotgun
Buy American!BROWNING is the only way to go.No need for 3 1/2 in unless he will be shooting geese however nowadays they shoot either.

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hebert81
Posted Thu, Nov 5th, 2009 10:21 pm

gun
buy a stoeger 2000 they are like $500 and its a 3" best gun i ever owner and its made by benalli

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JIMMY W
Posted Thu, Nov 5th, 2009 10:16 pm

gun
Beretta!

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southnboy
Posted Thu, Nov 5th, 2009 10:09 pm

Modified choke is modified
Modified choke is the same circle with 2 3/4, 3 inch, or 3 1/2
All 3 1/2 does is put a longer strand of shot in the air. Its no wider and typically no more dense.

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RLOUQUE
Posted Wed, Aug 5th, 2009 12:14 am

Beretta!
Buy him a Beretta and you won't have to buy him another one!

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Copperhead_23
Posted Tue, Aug 4th, 2009 11:16 pm

Benelli
I love my Benelli Nova. It shoots great, doesn't kick too hard and I have not had the first problem with it. I would recommend anyone to own one. Get it with the camo pattern. Of course they are not cheap, but a good gun can't be looked at as a cost, it is an investment.

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PoGreenHead
Posted Tue, Aug 4th, 2009 10:27 pm

Pumps Are good For Kids
As far as guns go, there's no doubt the 870's today are not the 870's of the past. I hunt with a newer model 870 express and its no wingmaster, but also have a 16 gauge beautiful wingmaster! I never use it ha ha...


As far as pumps go for kids, there maybe 2 sides of the story. For me, startin from day 1 my old man told me not to sky bust birds and wanted to raise me right. I was given 2 shells, 1 in the chamber and 1 I had to keep in my pocket I could load after I shot...I absolutely hated him for doing that to me as a kid, but now I'm thankful, I have becomed a more disciplined shooter who picks the right shots and keep a pretty dam near 75% plus kill ratio...Although I know the old phrase, you'll miss a 100% of the shots you don't take, there is something to be said for teaching the youngsters to shoot well and right and help them avoid sky busting!

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Old No. 7
Posted Tue, Aug 4th, 2009 9:59 pm

Coonass
I have an 870 express super mag adn shoot 2-3/4 shells all the time. Not sure what Coonass is talking about. I have never had any complaints. I think everyone should own one. I am going to buy a super black eagle for duck season this year. You can't beat it for a semi auto. Also I want to keep my remington in better shape to pass down to my kids some day. The saltwater did a number on my barrel this year.

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duck_slayer_25
Posted Tue, Aug 4th, 2009 9:31 pm

guns
i have owned wingmasters all my life. was raised shooting them. I have 2 old 870 2 3/4 shotguns and one new model 870 wingmaster that shoots from 2 3/4 to 3 1/2. I also have a 870 express super mag that i will never buy new again i know 6 people that all had the same thing happen to there guns as i had with my express. Internal parts dont last to long in them. they have a problem with not wanting to shift a shell and you have to change your arms out in the gun.I also have a beretta extrema that shoots from 2 3/4 to 3 1/2. and both of my brothers have the browning silvers that shoot from 2 3/4 to 3 1/2. we have never had any problems with any of those guns and we use them and abuse them during duck season. if i had a son coming of age to start hunting i will never buy him a gun that was a pump b/c we all know that when you a kid you are trigger happy and you want have to be always shifting for another shell. if i had a choice it would be a browning silver duck blind camo and shoot from 2 3/4 31/2u will never know when you will need the 3 1/2. i shoot a case of that a year if not more during duck season. but i shoot ducks high that fly from one hole to another.

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DownshiftAndFloorIt
Posted Tue, Aug 4th, 2009 9:30 pm

hmm...
If your either going benelli or berretta, I'd go benelli. If you're open to anything I'd go 870 wingmaster 3"

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LIVE BAIT
Posted Tue, Aug 4th, 2009 9:24 pm

Benelli
I for one forked out the money and bought the superblack eagle II. It is the best gun on the market hands down it shoots all sizes of shells. I have made shots with this gun in front of friends that they thought were WAY TOO FAR. So either buy a cheeper gun and get good performance or shell it out and get the best gun you will ever own.

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McCainsPnd
Posted Tue, Aug 4th, 2009 9:10 pm

Remington
I would recommend a 870, i shoot a wingmaster and have all my life. I have a 3.5, but good luck finding one, they are the nicest smoothest gun u can own. Spend the money u won't regret it($500-600).

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COONASS101
Posted Tue, Aug 4th, 2009 8:57 pm

remington baby!!!
i have a REMINGTON 870 express super mag. it doesnt shoot 2 3/4 though. almost all of the 3 1/2in guns dont shoot 2 3/4. all that i shoot is 3 in anywayz. i would get him a 3 in. just my opinion. when i have a son, the 1st gun i get him will be a remington 870 express 3in!

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BIRD DOG
Posted Tue, Aug 4th, 2009 8:54 pm

shotguns
You asked for opinions so here it is.Buy the boy a BROWNING GOLD,if you dont want to spend that much buy him a BROWNING BPS,you will not regret it.As far as what size shells if you go with the Browning it will shoot either however there is really no need to shoot 3 1/2" shells @ ducks.If he will be shooting geese also then he will need it.

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