doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Side by side Waterfowler

I've decided to try a Dehaan for waterfowl this year. The Bobwhite in 12ga, 28" weighs 7.5lbs so that will help tame the heavier loads (I normally shoot 1 1/4oz or 1 3/8oz loads). I have a sling installed and ready for early woodducks in KY.

Do most of you shoot you sxs's for ducks and geese or switch over to a autoloading, recoil reducing camo gun for later season birds - just curiuos if you feel litmited by a sxs. I've been hunting with a o/u as my only duck gun for years and didn't seem to miss the third shell.

Thanks

At five bucks a pop, for some of the more upscale ammo, a double might save you money over an auto in the long run. The third shot is most often a very low percentage shot in most cases and is best left un-shot unless you are trying to anchor a wounded bird.

I enjoy the SxS better than any other shotgun so why change. I have been using an old 626 Onyx Beretta 12ga and it worked fine. I never did miss the third shot. I used a 16ga 11-48 last year on upland for the first time. I went back to my SxS after that and only use an auto as a truck gun.
Best,
Ron

The double is the real McCoy with better everything than the clickety-clacks. As for heavier loads, I haven't needed more than 1 1/16 or 1 1/8 on blacks and geese, early or late season. There's no accounting for gunners wielding heavy-load, high-velocity cannons. The oldtimers didn't need them shooting for their food. Market hunters I know used plain old 12s regular loads.

Not to many SxS for waterfowl these days, I bought a Red Label for that. Excellant double for this type of hunting almost what it was designed to do!!! Heavy recoil reducing over and under, I would suggest that Ruger offer longer barrels and tighter chokes making it a real goto gun for waterfowl!!! But for upland game a little to heavy for me.
All the best

GREATNESS! It's great to see guys that shoot waterfowl with doubles! I rarely see anyone in Texas using a double other than myself. I use a Fox A grade 12 bore and Parker VHE 12.
Keep up the good work!

10 ga Parker DH with 32" damascus barrels. (Although with the demise of Bismuth I doubt this old dame sees too much action this fall).

For the last 5 years a DeHaan SO 12 ga. has been one of my waterfowl guns. This year it went to my son. Have had to go to a shudder SA for heavy waterfowl loads due to shoulder problems. Over decoys still will use a 20 ga. SxS with Kent TM and Bismuth. The DeHaan was a very good waterfowl shotgun and never felt handicapped with a SxS.

I have an American Arms Waterfowl special in 12 gauge. It's a great sxs that's built like a tank and will take anything from 2-3/4" to 3-1/2" and has yet to fail me after many miles of wading creeks and swamps. It allows me alot of options with ammo and I don't have to refinance my house to buy non-toxic shells. Change the chokes and choose my ammo - off I go! 3 honkers and 2 teal so far this season. 30+ birds last season. I wasn't a big fan of SST, but after getting used to it, I kinda like it. Bring on the woody's.

I use a Beretta 525. I had briley open the chokes so that it patterns the way I like with 1 1/4 oz. of Hevi-Shot. Single trigger works well with gloves. Although I'm going to Maine for an Eider hunt this year and will probably pick up an auto for that trip.

DH