Good beginner duck gun?

[SigMan1980]

Any opinions on those "combo" guns they sell? The ones with, for instance, a 26" field barrel and a 24" slug barrel that you can swap out? Do these have shortcomings that mkae them a bad deal, or are they acceptable?

[Lycanthrope]

Originally Posted by SigMan1980

Any opinions on those "combo" guns they sell? The ones with, for instance, a 26" field barrel and a 24" slug barrel that you can swap out? Do these have shortcomings that mkae them a bad deal, or are they acceptable?

Those are nice for upland birds, turkey and jump shooting. They shoot just as far as the 28"-30" guns, but many prefer the longer barrels for pass shooting, that's all.

Really just a matter of preference.

Lycanhandlesomethrope

[bt-99]

I would point you towards a semi-auto 12 ga with three inch chambers. Lots of flexibility with loads for all different applications.Often for sale on the forums.
This will be fine for everyting from doves to clays to geese to deer.
The 10 ga and the 3 1/2" 12s are just a little more than i would recomend for a start, They weigh too much to tote around and they pack a wallop.Shotguns can pack a kick compared to many rifles and you don't want to get discouraged.
Get something you will really like shoting.
I like 28" barrels on an auto loader but 26" is fine also. Go to a store and look at several and see how they swing and how they feel to you.

[timbrfrmr25]

I've had an 870 for ten years now and i got the combo. 28" ventilated rib with interchangable choke tubes and the cantelever rifled slug barrel. It has done everything i've ever asked it to. I use or have used it for deer, turkey, ducks, geese, doves and the occassional groundhog. It chambers 2 3/4 or 3" and takes only a very simple barrel swap for deer. Best thing about the cantelever barrel is once the scope is sighted in its always on b/c its on the barrel not the gun. its just about the cheapest option for hunting almost everything in Pa. Mossberg also sells this type of combo and is just as good and most likely a touch cheaper. tim