Recommendations for a Shotgun, other equipment.

Sometime in the next six months, I'm planning on picking up a shotgun for large bird (goose and duck, mostly, perhaps a bit of turkey if I have the time to travel) hunting. I could fall back on my parent's small arsenal of hunting weapons, but would prefer to start building my own.

Any recommendations for a good, basic, solid bird-hunting gun? Pump-action 12-gauge, preferably (a twenty wouldn't be bad, either). Sub-$350 also preferable, certainly no more than four-fifty.

Second question: Where can I get some sort of enhanced listening device, like a parabolic microphone? The few I've seen seem to be out of my price range, and I'm not quite up to building one myself (though I just might, if I can't get one for a reasonable price). I've seen 'em cheap before, but can't remember where. Catalogues? On-line?

Thanks,

Kurt Montandon

: have the time to travel) hunting. I could fall back on my parent's : small arsenal of hunting weapons, but would prefer to start building : my own.

: Any recommendations for a good, basic, solid bird-hunting gun? : Pump-action 12-gauge, preferably (a twenty wouldn't be bad, either). : Sub-$350 also preferable, certainly no more than four-fifty.

: Second question: Where can I get some sort of enhanced listening : device, like a parabolic microphone? The few I've seen seem to be out : of my price range, and I'm not quite up to building one myself (though : I just might, if I can't get one for a reasonable price). I've seen : 'em cheap before, but can't remember where. Catalogues? On-line?

: Thanks,

: Kurt Montandon

Six months from now will be just before small game season and Walmart, K-Mart, etc. will have a Remington Model 870, 12Ga pump on sale for about $200, if tradition holds true. You won't be able to beat that price with a stick. You won't be able to beat the 879 in price vs performance either.

samg

That would be my choice as well. The 870 is a well made shotgun that will never let you down. It can hold shells up to 3 and 1/2'- so, it can work well for any of the birds you mentioned.

mossberg 835 in 3 1/2' is perfect for geese and anything else you want to hunt with it. cost is about $350.00. They make a rifled barrel for deer hunting for it also. barrel is about $100.00 and very accurate.

I've had trouble with 2 different mossberg 500s with extractor failure, the extractor would slip off the rim of the case, leaving it in the chamber. I bought the guns due to their good reputation and because they have the safety on the tang (I'm left handed), but after having two different ones with the same problem, I will never buy another one. I'm back to using my

Do not forget to include the Ithaca pumps available in 12, 16 and 20 gauge. My favorite. Good Luck, William

For an inexpensive shotgun, the mossberg 835ulti-mag, the Remington 870 super mag, or the Benelli Nova. All three are 2¾-3½, I assume you would like the 3½ for big birds. The mossberg is a good gun, I personally dont like the safety on the top rear of the reciever, and the safety is plastic good action. The Remington is an all around good looking well built gun. Last, but not least the Benelli Nova, A flawless action, REALLY smooth, and a good buy. Comes w/5 choke tubes(I think the other two only come w/1) It works great, but I dont like the 'space gun'

I'd throw in the Browning BPS as another to consider. It's got a thumb safety and ejects out the bottom so it's ambidextrous and a very nice gun. The bottom ejection is also a nice feature if you reload or hunt from a boat. My favorite model is the Upland Special with the straight stock. Whatever you get, get screw-in choke tubes.

The listening device, One answer 'WALKER GAME EAR'