guns?

[Z-man2002]

I'm looking at getting another 12 ga. for the upcoming season. I shoot mostly ducks and pheasants but, would like to try turkey and goose. I currently have a rem. 870 express magnum (3 in.) but, a guy I know has a browning bps (3 in.)w/choke tubes for $200.

Next gun is a benelli nova (3 1/2in.)black or little bit older camo one for $250ea. one choke tube w/each. I know the browning is a higher end gun then my rem. express, but it's so similar to it: both 3 in. 30" barrel wood guns. Which would you buy and why?

Any other guns I should look at around the $300 price range?

Do I need the 3 1/2in.?

Maybe I should look for some used decoys and just use the 870 this year.

thanks

Z-man2002

[frabillfisher]

If you want to go for turkeys and geese i would go for the 3 and half inch imo it deff has the advantage of added killing power...I have the benelli nova and love it,depends on what shape the used novas are in I would look at paying extra 50 bucks or so for a new one

[FOOT]

Z-man, I think the 3 1/2 inchers are highly over rated.

Since 1969 I have shot a Remington 1100 2 3/4 inch 12 ga. for ducks, pheasants, geese, turkey, deer, grouse, quail - you name it. I have found it to be extremely adequate at killing game. I do own a 3 inch Ruger Red Label and shoot 3 inch shells in it but find no difference between the 2 guns.

It's more about the shooter then it is about the gun. Practice, Practice, Practice. Go to the range, join a trap/skeet league.

[jlm]

I would have to agree, I too believe they are over-rated. If you can get that BPS for 200 bucks, I would say jump on it for sure! You can't get much for 200 bucks these days! Good luck!

[eyepatrol]

I've got a Winchester Super X2 that holds 3 1/2 inch shells and for me, I'll never go back to 2 3/4 or 3 inch shells. The 3 1/2 inchers just seem to take down the bluebills, cans and big northern mallards and geese a lot better than the smaller shells. Many times with a 2 3/4 or 3 inch shell I'll hit the geese and they'll go down wounded. I end up getting the geese after I go and put a kill shot in them, but the 3 1/2 just seems to do a better job of killing birds than the smaller shells. Don't get me wrong here, I'm not sky-busting. In fact, I HATE sky-busters. Most of my shots are in the 30yd to 40yd range on geese and the bigger shells just seem to do a better job.

Just my opinion though.

[shae1986]

I don't understand why you can say a 3 1/2 inch is over rated. Go to the range and test them, better patterns and better penetration at distances, but is a 3 inch good enough, you bet, but for goose hunting, i wouldn't want anything else other than a 10 gauge. But you can also look at it that i am 19 years old and have grown up shooting 3 1/2 and not much 3 inch. Best of luck too all of you this upcoming hunting season.

Andrew

[magnumthunder]

Buy the decoys! If you cant knock them down with the 870 You should buy lots of shells and practice! I buy cheap shells for me and my kid ($6.50 a box). just let the birds come in closer. We have no problem getting birds over decoys. A bigger gun can miss the target like a cheap small 1 can! I can roll a turkey with a 3" extra full at 45+ yards. PS. If you like to shoot different loads for ducks and geese the BPS is a pain to quick change shells in and suck for trap shooting. Put a shell in the mag then pump it unlike the remington with the open action method! Just my $.02.

[knoppers]

I would go for any gun that is camo, and I also believe 3 inches is plenty. I have a beneli camo, and this gun has done much better for me than my 870 wingmaster non-camo.

[gethanet]

One thing I have heard about 3.5" guns is that there is to many bb's for the bore diam. They tend to string alot worse. Sure at the range they pattern good but at a moving target there is alot less bb's getting to the target at the same time. It might be that guys with 3.5"s are more confident that they can hit somthing with the more bb's therefore they are just making better shots.

But for still shots like turkey they are better. But the stringing doesn't spread the pattern out like with a moving target.

For goose I would go with 3" #2's heavy shot. They cost abit more but I got 8 geese with a box of ten. All were stone dead buy the time they hit the water. With steal I have had many a goose at 30 yards hit the water only to waste half a box chasing it down. With heavy you will flip them over backwards at 40-50 yards and they arn't going anywhere. I quess last year made me a believer in heavy shot.

[set the drag]

you will never be desapionted with the nova i have had mine for 4 seasons and not a problem. the thing that i like best about it is i shot trap in the summer and i can shoot the light load, and shoot the magnums during the season with no problem on getting either shell to eject. even though it tends to get heavy on long walks it makes up for it when i shoot because there is little recoil. just my 2 cents

[beretta]

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is barrel length for turkeys. I love a short barrel on a turkey gun. Mine has a 24" barrel. To me a short barrel is extremely important as it doesnt hang up on branches when your walking through the woods...just one more thing to think about

[Ely Lake Expert]

Zman,

I have been shooting a BPS 12 gauge for 10 years now and I haven't found a reason to buy anything different yet. 3" shells are enough IMO. I use it for Ducks, Geese, Pheasant, and grouse. The only place I have ever felt the need for a bigger gun is a Lac Qui Parle in the southwestern part of the state, but by the time of year I am there it is nothing but skybusting cause the geese are too smart. So anyway, I really don't think you can go wrong with the BPS.

Ryan

[Bauer and Standke]

if i were you I would not buy a different gun stick to the one you have the BPS may be a higher quality gun but it will shot the same as the one you got. and dont get the nova it is a cheap built gun you will not like it. I would look into decoys instead

[Z-man2002]

Thanks for all the info. I bought a new black Benelli Nova 5-year warranty,chokes,and they threw in a new gun case for $280 I could'nt resist. The Benelli seems to fit me better than my Rem. Now I have to start looking for some cheap goose decoys.

Z-man2002

[frabillfisher]

Nice decison!....i would bet you'll like the 3 and a half inchs extra power...and the reliability of the nova