When it comes to duck hunting gear perhaps nothing is more essential to bagging game than a shotgun. Without a gun taking any birds would be near impossible (unless you are an expert markman with a slingshot or similar). On top of that, they are expensive so finding a good one is important. With that said, if you find a good, quality shotgun you likely have your shotgun needs satisfied for many years, if not decades. The quest for a great shotgun doesn’t have to be long and arduous, simply read this article and learn from my years of talking with other hunters, purchasing several guns myself and generally noticing what people think of their guns. With that said, here is our top rated shotguns for 2011.
Top Rated Semi Automatic Duck Hunting Shotgun 2011 – Beretta AL391 Ulrika 2 Synthetic
When it comes to semi-automatic shotguns and the conditions often present in the duck blind you have a serious situation on your hands. Inherent in duck hunting is foul weather, water (either from rain or simply the slough) and dirt. These are killers to a shotgun continually working properly if it is cycled automatically. For this reason I have found over and over again that the gas cycled shotguns are inferior in the field. Enter the mechanically cycled shotguns, which the Berettas are. I have yet to meet a Beretta owner who doesn’t love his shotgun. Along with a great quality reputation gained over years of excellent use, the Beretta shotguns are well balanced and shoot true. When it comes to duck guns I always go for killing prowess as opposed to beauty, hence the choice to go with the Synthetic stock. While it doesn’t look as nice as a quality wood stock, it sure holds up better in the field after years of being dropped in duck boats, getting rained on and so forth. The Beretta AL391 Ulrika is a quality shotgun that will serve you well for years. The price is north of $1,000 retail, but to me it is worth the expense. Other than the cost the biggest complaint I have heard from people is that the safety is in front of the trigger guard, not the standard behind the trigger guard which causes people problems if they are used to the latter.
Honorable Mention: Benelli M2 Field
When it comes to semi-autos the only other brand I would steer people towards is the Benelli M2. With its patented action, the M2 is the only other gun I have seen work after being through the ringer of a duck hunting blind. This is the other shotgun that I have not heard a single person complain about, other than the cash outlay. If you don’t like something about the Beretta’s this would be the gun that I would steer you towards. It is greatly balanced and has a quality name behind it. Many choose the Super Black Eagle, but I don’t think that 3.5” shells are necessary for duck or goose hunting, so the added expense from the M2 to the Super Black Eagle 2 simply is money that could be spent elsewhere.
Popular Models to Avoid: Browning Gold Hunter, Remington 11-87
The Beretta AL391 Ulrika in all of its glory
When it comes to popular guns you will see many hunters with the Remington’s and Brownings. Both of these semi-autos are cycled by bleeding off a bit of the gas from the shotshell and using it to run the action. This is a key problem in the field as it invariably leads to failure to cycle. Just when you are getting ready to jump up on those decoys mallards your gun is going to jam. Trust me I can’t even count all the times I have seen this over the years. In the case of the Reminton 11-87 I feel it is poorly balanced and clunky. The Browning has a great feel in the hand, so it shoots well (when it is functioning properly that is!).
Top Rated Pump Duck Hunting Shotgun 2011 – Benelli Nova Pump
In addition to a quality reputation for their semi-automatic shotguns, the Benelli Nova pump has filled the void of the need for a quality pump gun. Pumps are generally less expensive than their semi-automatic counterparts, so they generally are a great place to start for beginners. The first shotgun I purchased was a Remigton 870 special purpose which I still own and shoot at times with great results. Unfortunately Remington’s quality has dropped substantially
The Benelli Nova - ready to get in the duck blind
from what I’ve seen (more on the below). But back to the Nova, this gun has a great reputation among the masses as a quality gun at a good price. For those that don’t want to fork out the cash for a semi-auto, but still want a gun that will serve you well for years I would go with the Nova. Above all else it simply balanced great and will do a great job bring down ducks.
Honorable Mention: Browning BPS Hunter
When it comes to pumps the Browning BPS is well known as a quality gun. The shells ejecting out the bottom is what always gets me I guess. If you don’t like the Nova for some reason I would steer you in this direction.
Popular models to avoid: Remington 870
If I would have written this 10 years ago I would have swore up and down that you were an idiot if you didn’t choose the stalwart of many duck blinds (and my first gun) the Remington 870. Unfortunately the quality has gone to pot over the years and this is simply a poor selection. If you can find a used model in the vintage of the 1990’s or early 2000’s I would say go for it. For a new gun, avoid!
After a quarter century of duck hunting and talking/hunting with others that laud or complain about the iron they bring out into the boat with them, take my advice and find a quality shotgun from the get go. The shotguns I suggest above are well known to be quality guns and will last a lifetime. I have also detailed some guns to avoid, because in my opinion you will be fighting quality problems and other maladies much sooner than you ever should. What is your take on the best and worst duck hunting shotguns to own?