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A Hunter’s Guide to The Best Waterfowl Shotguns
We tested three waterfowl shotguns at different price points and found the Franchi Affinity 3 to be the best overall value.
As a life-long hunter, I know the importance of picking out the right gear. Once you’re in your blind, you want to have confidence in the tools you’ve surrounded yourself with. That’s why I’ve compiled this waterfowl hunting shotgun buyer’s guide.
My favorite – the Affinity 3 – is inertia-operated, helping it shoot clean for more extended periods. The shotgun is a great shooter that’s easy to aim and always ready to go.
Of course, each hunter has their preferences. We’ve considered all these and compiled this waterfowl hunting shotgun buyer’s guide. Keep reading to learn more!
Waterfowl Hunting Shotgun Buyer’s Guide
When choosing the right waterfowl shotgun, a buyer must consider multiple aspects. While some features are simply a preference, some will significantly impact the performance of your shotgun.
Let’s take a look at some of these features.
Gas vs. Inertia: What are the Advantages?
This hotly debated topic has raged in gun circles for years. Let’s start by looking at how the two systems operate.
Gas-operated shotguns bleed off gas after your shot, moving the bolt toward the back of the gun and ejecting the spent shell. The following shell is loaded when the bolt returns forward.
Inertia-driven guns hold their bolt place by a spring. When you pull the trigger, the charge from the shotshell overwhelms that spring, forcing the bolt backward. The shell is then ejected, and the bolt returns forward, loading the next shell.
Gas-operated shotguns can outperform inertia guns at lower temperatures. Bulky winter layers can keep the buttstock of inertia-operated guns from properly recoiling, which is needed to cycle the shell.
Alternatively, inertia-operated guns require less maintenance as they do not give off gas upon firing. In many cases, inertia guns can go a year or longer without cleaning.
How to Choose Your Shotgun Gauge
The most common shotgun gauges are 12 and 20-gauge. The smaller the gauge number, the larger the shotgun bore. A 12-gauge shotgun is traditionally for hunting as it gives you the most power from the furthest distance, which is a crucial factor when hunting waterfowl.
There are times when a smaller gauge is desirable. That’s due to their corresponding shotguns being lighter in weight and providing less recoil. If you’re strictly shooting clays, a younger shooter just starting, or an experienced hunter dealing with poor shoulders, a smaller gauge could be your best option.
Gauge sizes are not interchangeable in the same shotgun.
Your Choke Options
Chokes are interchangeable tubes threaded into a shotgun’s barrel. These are popular with fowl hunters and competitive shooters because the size of the choke can improve the range and accuracy of a gun.
The three most common choke sizes are improved cylinder, modified, and full. For waterfowl, a modified choke performs best as an all-around choice, while an improved cylinder is best for closer range, and full is most effective for pass shooting.
The Importance of Weight and Barrel Length
You’ll be shooting at waterfowl from longer distances. Longer barrels, generally 28 inches, will help even your swing. A smooth swing can be the difference between your limit and coming home empty-handed.
Most waterfowl shotguns will have 28 or 30-inch barrels. Some manufactures produce smaller barrels, but 26-inch is as small as you’ll want. Anything less will render your muzzle too light. Additionally, shorter barrels are extremely loud.
Extra weight from your shotgun can help absorb the recoil from the action. Considering that you’ll generally have the shotgun stowed or over your shoulder, the excess weight shouldn’t bog down your hunt. The optimal weight for waterfowl shotguns is between seven and eight pounds.
Function Over Fashion: Consider the Stock and Finish
Synthetic stocks are the best option for waterfowl shotguns. Your gun will be exposed to all the elements, and this will be messy. Between mud, rocks, and all your modes of transportation, you want your shotgun to quickly clean up. Wood isn’t going to hold up to these conditions. Instead, synthetic stocks will always be an easy-to-clean option.
Though the bluing finish has a long tradition in waterfowl shotguns, matte and camo finishes are now easy to find and beneficial to the hunter. You want every edge possible while hunting and nothing should catch the eye of ducks you’re working. Stick to flat, neutral finishes.
Waterfowl Shotgun Reviews
We tried three different models of waterfowl shotguns to find the best guns for any hunter.
This versatile, inertia-operated shotgun shoots well, swings with ease, and feels perfect on your shoulder. With a 50% recoil reduction, you get all the inertia benefits without the sore shoulders because the Franchi Affinity is built with parent company Benelli’s high-performance action.
The Affinity is a 12-gauge and has a 28-inch barrel along with a 3-inch chamber. It comes with three standard chokes and has an oversized bolt handle and bolt release. Stock adjustment shims come with the shotgun to customize your length of pull. Those interested in using slugs will enjoy the gun’s capacity to attach scope mounts.
The lightweight synthetic body and slim frame make for an easy point of aim. Additionally, the gun has a red fiber-optic front bead near the vent rib barrel. Its aluminum receiver is drilled and tapped.
Franchi has been a trusted name in firearms for years, but now that their parent company is high-end gun manufacturer Benelli, the value in craftsmanship makes the Affinity 3 a steal based on the price. Some guns do certain things better, but you’d be hard-pressed to find one that does everything as well as the Affinity.
Pros
- Ideal weight and length of the barrel
- Great fit on the shoulder
- Fifty percent recoil reduction
Cons
- Not the best option for light target loads
- Initially stiff trigger
On the cheaper end of the inertia-operated spectrum is the CZ-USA 1012. This shotgun has been put through its paces and revealed itself to be a sturdy workhorse. The 1012 was put through 5,000 rounds without oil or cleaning during testing and experienced no malfunctions.
All 1012 models come in 12-gauge with 3-inch chambers. The barrel is 28-inch with 8mm flat ribs, and the shotgun has a single white bead and five extended choke tubes. The layout features a bolt release button on the right side, a shell drop lever on the right front of the trigger guard, and cross-bolt safety.
The shotgun also features an hourglass-shaped bolt handle. Unlike inertia guns with a C-shaped bolt handle, the CZ design is lighter and easier to grasp and control. It also pulls free from the bolt easier during disassembly.
From low recoil target rounds to 3-inch magnum loads, the CZ-USA can handle your needs from the shooting range to the blinds. This reliability is made all the more enticing by the agreeable price tag. You won’t find any more bang for your buck than with the CZ-USA 1012.
Pros
- Approachable price point for an inertia-operated shotgun
- Quick, predictable trigger
- Durable and can take a beating
Cons
- Extremely lightweight
- Chokes from a third-party manufacturer
Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus – Best Gas-Operated Shotgun
As the priciest shotgun we tested, the Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus is our “buy once cry once” option. The initial price tag should be tempered by the expectation that this gun will last a lifetime – and might be something you pass down through your family one day.
The A400 is a 3 ½ inch chamber, 12-gauge, gas-operated waterfowl hunter’s dream. Just one shot reveals that this is one of the softest 12-gauges you’ll ever experience. The softness is partly due to their Kick-Off3 system, which offers a spring-loaded steel rod in the grip of the stock, which helps to buffer the bolt movement. That, coupled with rubber recoil pads on the buttstock, helps mitigate the action.
Though gas-operated Beretta’s have taken a hit in the past for being difficult to clean, the A400 line is much easier to maintain. The barrel and gas pistons easily slide out, and the bolt assembly disassembles by depressing the rotating bolt head.
The A400 has a three-spring hydraulic system in its stock that softens its recoil. With a cycling time clocking in 36% faster than competitors and highly accurate patterning, this waterfowl hunting shotgun is a great shooter. With this type of accuracy, there are no holes for fowl to maneuver through. Covering your target all but guarantees a kill.
Pros
- Three-spring hydraulic system softens recoil
- High level of accuracy
- Fast cycling
Cons
- Cycle issues with lighter loads
- High price point
Parting Shot
The Franchi Affinity 3 comes out on top of our waterfowl hunting shotgun shopper’s guide. This Italian-crafted shotgun is a versatile and rugged option that shoots cleanly and accurately.
The Franchi Affinity 3 comes from a company that values quality and craftsmanship. There is no overstating the importance of how a gun feels. You feel that quality the moment it hits your shoulder.
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Old Yeller and Quails
Quail hunting takes practice and skill. With the added benefit of using dogs, the odds of finding and catching quail become higher. Using dogs to hunt quail is common and has been done for many years. These dogs, often called bird dogs, are not the ordinary house dogs but those that have been trained particularly in hunting game birds. Commonly used breeds for bird hunting include the English setter, Red setter, German shorthair pointer, Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever, Britanny and other pointing breeds duly trained.
Quail Hunting
Quail hunting has become particularly difficult because of the decline of quails over the past few decades. This makes hunting for quail in public lands a lot more difficult. The best alternative is to get permission to hunt on private lands including private property, state approved property, or ranches.
Knowing where Quails are located increases the chances of a successful hunt. Quails often found on a combination of open land and woody cover. Look for fields that contain diverse vegetation wherein seeds that Quails feed upon are numerous. Knowing the habits of a Quail is also a factor in successful hunting. It is good to know that Quails feed on seeds in fields during the day, rest under woody cover by mid-day, are back in the weedy field areas in the late afternoon, and often sleep in weedy, grassy areas at night.
Quail Hunting with Dogs
There are many things to consider when bringing a bird dog to a hunt, both for the hunter’s success and the dog’s safety. First of all, only good bird dogs should be brought with the hunter on a hunt. Most hunters bring along two dogs to effectively flush out the Quail into the air instead of allowing it to run on the ground. These dogs should be bought from a reputable bird dog breeder and should be trained by a hired professional. Lastly, hunters should never take a shot at a low flying Quail because this would mean that the hunter lower his or her muzzle below a horizontal plane with the ground. This type of shot can be dangerous because it will likely hit the dogs instead of the Quail.
Bringing along a bird dog can be extremely helpful. Many hunters have testified that they weren’t able to find that many birds without bringing along their dogs.
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Safety in the Field
Safety is extremely imperative during outdoor activities such as hunting. Those who love hunting frequently are known to spend their time with dangerous weapons, but they are nevertheless included when practicing safety measures. Hunters should always be a step ahead with their actions, as a result, those who are well experienced are encouraged to introduce safety trips to new hunters, who are coming along for the hunt. Here are a few basic rules that hunters should follow at all times.
First of all, hunters should treat their disarmed gun or bow with the same respect that they would with those which are loaded. In addition, hunters should assume that their weapon is always armed. Keeping this in mind can help prevent accidental shooting accidents. Next, hunters should never point their crosshairs at anyone when unloading their weapons. This is simply because accidents can happen anytime and anywhere.
Never to Safe
The third rule applies to the actual hunt. It is important to have the presence of mind and keep an eye on the target. That is not the time to be jittery and unsure when handling the weapon. Fourth, hunters should clearly identify their target before taking it down. This is important since there are a large number of individuals and animals that are mistakenly shot by game hunters every year.
The fifth thing you should think about is ear safety. Many hunters will sacrifice their hearing just to hear animals coming. Hunters should put a soft protective earplug in the ear which is closest to the hunter’s weapon.
Lastly, always keep your gun clean and well maintained. When unloading the weapon make sure to leave the chamber open. Then, check for any foreign materials inside the barrel. In the event that the weapon is accidentally dropped, automatically dismantle, clean, and put it back together to prevent mishaps from happening. As with any piece of hunting gear, a clean weapon is a functional weapon.
![Snipe Hunt]()
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SNIPE HUNT
The two men launched the long flatboat at the shallow ramp on the north end of the lake. As they loaded the gear the Marine watched as he always did the way things were done. He took pride in the training he had received and he wore it as a yardstick on his sleeve to measure against the way the world did things. Both men were children of the outdoors, they wore knee-high rubber boots, shorts, long sleeves, and wide-brimmed hats and they were both paying back a debt they owed to the sun and wind.
You could see it in their faces, the Marine looked older than the tall one, his debt was greater- it was a debt created by years of disregard for his body. Years of pursuing fish and fowl and the bottle and the fairer sex and that was truly a case mistaken identity that both men were guilty of making.
The tall one was navigating and they shoved off as the one lung kicker sputtered to life. The seat of the pants is all he could go on, the directions he received to their destination were marked by small reedy bays and even smaller openings in the tall brown giant grasses that lead to the backwater creeks. That twisted and turned until they would reach a large flooded cow pasture that doubled as some of the best snipe hunting habitat that Florida could provide, but first they had to find it.
The Trip from Haven Above
This was his trip – HE was taking the Marine somewhere, he was guiding and he was the one providing the sport and the fun. He was happy the Marine was with him and that it was just the two of them. He felt he had a debt with the Marine who shared so much of himself with him. He was worried about the Marine, he had a lot to chew on, the death of his father, the generally idiotic way the world behaved that irritated him. So, and the damned predatory behavior of those fucking bitches that he had let into his life. But the tall one could not fix all that but he could be a friend and that is what they were.
Finally, after a run wide open a little outside the shoreline of the lake, what seemed to be the correct bay appeared off to their right and the tall one swung the bow of the boat. In, it was not big as bays go- more like an indent in the heavily grassed water line, it was not a shoreline but very shallow marsh water. He followed this around a short distance until an opening appeared that showed the way to a canal made almost like a tunnel by the 10 and 12-foot high reeds crowding in on either side.
They idled along with gliding beneath the brown canopy with only the slightest gimps of blue sky above, the nose of the long flat boat broke out into a wide canal 20 feet across that ran north and south. The northern route lead to their destination, the tall one swung the nose left to the north and they made their way throttle wide open over the glassy surface. Which was occasionally broken when a large gar or turtle or most likely an alligator scuttle beneath the surface out of their way.
The Anticipation was Growing
It was exhilarating, moving along this water track at speed, the sun in their faces with the wind pushing gently against them. There is a lightness that overcomes you when moving over water the way they were. The green and browns of the shoreline passing by so close, your face just a few feet above the water and almost eye level with the shoreline. Watching the animal life retreating as they approached, this simple feeling of euphoria, of gliding past the world as a grand spectator was what it was all about, and it was free.
Soon they could see a change in the water depth ahead and a headwall of shoreline that cut off the canal. The water track picked up and continued on to their left but first, they would have to portage over a small sand bar barely visible under the surface. The tall one decreased the throttle just as the skiff pushed up on the bar, their wake heaving the boat up to another foot or more.
The Marine went over the side at the bow, without being asked, grumbling under his breath, “Danny, you didn’t say anything about having to carry the boat.” He said in mock horror without looking back. “Don it’s only a short way and I know we won’t have to pick it up. I’ve done it a bunch of times, it’s the only way to get in if ya don’t have an airboat.” They both bent down and grabbed a rail, the bar was made of tight white sand and felt firm under their feet.
The Light at the End of the Tunnel
The Marine struggled with his right arm, it worked alright, well sort of alright, he had been in a fight, one of many and this one was with an 800-pound motorcycle that had fallen over on him. He wasn’t going to leave it lying there like that and he figured since he had put it there he ought to be the one to pick it up, the result was a grizzled bicep that bulged from the very top of his right arm. It was detached from the bottom and would not allow him to extend his arm fully, but there was plenty of power there it just looked funny when he used it.
But it didn’t bother the Marine, there were too many other things to worry about, after all, he did have another one and this arm could still hold the mellow brown liquid he loved so much with just a touch of lime the way he liked it over ice, it was a good arm after all.
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Select the Best Shot for Quail Hunting
The kind of shotgun that is best for Quail hunting depends on a number of factors. These include the type of Quail as well as the location of the hunting grounds. However, the most important factor is the comfort the hunter feels when handling the gun. Despite these different concerns, there are common characteristics that contribute to which shotgun is best for Quail hunting.
Characteristics for Choosing the Best Shotgun
The first characteristic for the best shotgun is one that is easy to carry. Portability is key because hunting birds involves a lot of walking and it will also help the hunter draw and shoot more quickly. An ideal shotgun for hunting upland birds such as Quail is 7 lbs. However, the size and overall strength of the hunter will determine whether he or she is comfortable carrying a larger gun. It is also important to note that the lesser a gun weighs, the more kick or recoil it will produce.
The second characteristic for a best shotgun is the proper length. The ideal length for a shotgun for upland bird hunting is no longer than 4 feet. However, the size and strength of the hunter also plays a key to how long the shotgun a hunter can carry.
The third characteristic is to use the proper gauge. Gauge use may vary for different hunters. Most hunters are successful with Quail hunting using gauges from 28 to 12. The most popular gauge used, however, is the 16 gauge. This particular gauge helps give an adequate shot pattern, and is ideal for shooting quick birds on the fly and at medium ranges.
Lastly, keep in mind that for shooting upland birds such as Quail, it is best to use shotguns that can shoot rounds very quickly. Therefore, shotguns with repeaters are recommended. The balance of the gun can either be muzzle light, neutral or very slightly muzzle heavy. When it comes to choke, any choke, for any range, on any game bird will do especially for a tubed gun.
The success of Quail hunting depends not just on the type of shotgun used but also the ability of the hunter. So aside from choosing a shotgun, whether from these tips or from personal preferences, practicing with it until one is comfortable is still the best way to successfully shoot some upland birds.
