I'm not sure how others will respond, but I use different gauges and different barrel lengths for different species, as well as different chokes and loads. I should tell you that I only shoot over-and-unders and side-by-sides with fixed chokes. I don't own an autoloader, although I do think about it now and then. Here's what I shoot...
Quail, Doves, Snipe, Pheasant, Grouse & Huns:
20 gauge, Mod/IC or Mod/Mod or Full/Mod, 26" barrels
Ducks & Geese:
12 gauge, Full/Mod or Full/Full, 28" barrels
The shotshell load varies with the species.

If you're looking for an all around gun to use for both doves and ducks, it seems to me the primary issue to address is what kind of shooting you'll be doing the most of...if it's waterfowl I'd go 28" and if it's doves I'd probably go 26". Then you should know what size shotshell the gun will chamber and whether or not it has screw-in chokes. You'd probably do well with a 12 gauge that has choke tubes and that will chamber up to a 3" magnum shell. That way, you can use the more open chokes (Mod/IC or Mod/Mod) and 2-3/4" shells with a light load for doves, and then go up to tighter chokes (Full/Mod or Full/Full) and 3" shells with heavier loads for ducks.

There are a lot of experienced hunters in RTF, so I'm confident you'll get a variety of opinions. Good luck!

 

Both my favorites are 30 inch. Reminton 11-87 and Ruger Rad Label sporting clays model.

 

get a beretta xtrema I or II with and 26" barrel. they will cycle any load you put in 'em.

 

This is all good information.


What other guns do you suggest. What about the Sig shotgun 12 gauge,
28" barrel. Any anformation on that?

 

I shoot an old Bennelli SBE. If it was stolen or lost, I would replace it with either a SBE2 or a Beretta Extrema 2. Unless you want to shoot a double barrel, they are the best duck guns out there IMO. You also might look at the Browning Gold Hunter. You need to shoot what feels good to you and what handles well in your hands. Gun fit is of extreme importance. Get your gun fitted to you by a gunsmith. Better yet, go to a good gunsmith before you buy and have him tell you your length of pull and drop. Then you can look at which guns match that best. Also, if you are short and need to have the stock shortened, you may want to avoid the SBE2 and Extrema2 and get something with a wood stock instead so you can cut it shorter to fit you.

 

It is all about the shooter. With modern shot shells (faster burning powder than years ago) and with modern chokes, there should be no difference in how the gun shoots from a 24", 26" or 30" barrel. Understand that if you hunt with other people in a duck blind you will be more likely to blow their ears out with a 24" barrel. Typically, you are more likely to swing a longer barrel better, while you may be more likely to point a shorter barrel (big difference). With doves and ducks you are much better off swinging the barrel. Not sure about quail as I've never done much of that, but people tend to shoot shorter barrels for quail so I would guess that you are more likely to get away with pointing the gun on quail.

I am a fairly tall guy AND I need all the help I can get in swinging the gun properly, so I shoot a 28" barrel and my stock has been extended to fit me better as well. If I use an extended choke I can't even get my gun in a soft case because of the overall length. A shorter person may find a 28" barrel a little ungainly. I asked a dealer about getting a 28" SBE 2 and I was told that they would have to order it for me because there was much more demand for the 26" FWIW.

 

I have a Super Black Eagle Max4 Camo with a 26 inch Barrel. I use the open choke for everything from Doves, Chukars, Phesants, Flyers for test and ducks. When I am goose hunting I switch to the pattern master choke and shoot 3 1/2 T shot 1oz. 1/2. I have no trouble dropping birds with that 26 inch barrell.


When I start shooting behind some I will switch to my Ithica 10 ga. Semi Auto with a 32 inch barrel. I will use that for a couple hunts then I am back on with my SBE.

I have 6 12 ga. in my gun cabinet and only 1 has been out to play in the last 4 years and that is my SBE. Browing A5 looks good and feels good. But have to keep it to clean. 3 Remington 1100's all 3 jam. They all have 30 inch full choke barrel. I have already blew the barell up by shooting steel through it. These guns did not cycle low brass shells good and had to be cleaned after every use. Another is a Mossberg. I hate the ported barrel it rings everybodys ears. I dont even like hunting with people that use them. I tell them they have to bring another gun or might not be asked back. Also had a 1187 got rid of that one. It jammed all the time.


My SBE only gets cleaned 2 times a year and have cases and cases of shells shot through it. I have never had a problem with low brass sheels either.

I have also heard good things about the Xtrema.


If you hunt around salt water get the camo.


But it comes down to how much do you want to spend?
________
Depakote Lawyer

 

My skeet O/U are 28 inch bbl and nowadays 30 in is the norm for clay games. but as far as an auto like my 1100 prefer a 26 because it balances better with the longer receiver, much easier to shoot flyers with the shorter gun but with wide open skeet chokes..

 

Without a doubt, a Benelli Super Black Eagle for 3.5" shells. Most I've seen have a 26" barrel. Next is 28".

 

Just a point of info, synthetic stocks can be cut down. I had my M1 cut down a half inch when I had a limb saver recoil pad put on.

 

Thanks. Good to know. I thought the little brackets inside with the screw holes for the buttpad would be lost if you cut it down.

 

If you are serious about your shooting, do what every single person who shoots for money does, practice your gun mount until it gets consistent, then get your stock fitted, and shoot the longest barrel you can handle. I shoot 32" and 34" in an OU, and 30" in autos, and I am not a big guy at all. From your original post, I personally would go with the 28". Don't believe folks who say you can't handle long barreled guns in pits and boat blinds, I have done it for years. DO BELIEVE people who say 24" barreled guns are murder on everyone's ears.

 

DO BELIEVE people who say 24" barreled guns are murder on everyone's ears.

A 24" barrel on a long-receiver semi-auto or pump isn't nearly as obnoxious as one on a SxS or pump, so it's really a question of overall length. And while length seems to make little or no difference in perceived report to the fellow behind the gun, a two inch difference can be literally shocking to those beside it.

While my blind's "Head-banger Of The Season Award" usually goes to someones ported "turkey" barrel, this 10ga stage coach special ran away with it last year:

Nice folks, but that booger had me grabbing my ears and diving to the bottom of the blind as I called shots.

 

My picks.

870, nova, Stoger 2000 max-4 auto,Browning gold hunter.
As far as a over/under Traditions waterfowler II 3 1.5
All these guns i have found to hold up well. For the money the stoger is a great gun for a auto.
Good Luck.

 

My upland gun is a Browning Citori over/under in 20 gauge / 26" barrels with fixed chokes of IC & MOD. It's extremely lightweight and simple to use. I can carry it all day and all I need for pheasants, quail and grouse.
My waterfowl gun is a Beretta Xtrema2 wth KO stock in 12 ga. 28" barrel. I use a Mossberg 835 12 ga. 28" pump whenI know its going to be really muddy and sloppy.
I highly recommend the Browning and Beretta.

If want one gun to do everything - you can't do any finer than Remington 870 pump.

 

No matter what you buy, the guns has to fit, and allow you a smooth swing.

I shoot mostly my 28" O/U 20ga CZ Canvasback for dove/teal, and 12ga Browning Satin Hunter for duck/geese.

I also own, but seldomly shoot, a 26" Rem 1187 12ga in a synthetic stock with Briley extended chokes.

The OUs fit me better, allowing for a smoother more consistant swing.

 

The 28" barrel will help get the noise further away from your dog. This may help with hearing loss.

 

In general, I prefer a 28" barrel for most hunting. However, in my Benelli SBEs (or any autoloader with a 3 1/2" chamber), I prefer a 26" barrel. The added length of those guns results in a gun with a 26" barrel being as long as, and swinging like, a gun with a 28" barrel. Of course, for doves, I still like my Browning XS Ultra .410 with 30" barrels.

 

As far as shotguns a lot of personal preference is involved. Advice with shotguns is best when mechanical factors are presented. Which guns jam or don't cycle light loads. Which guns malfunction under the constant pounding of 3.5" shells. My preference is an SBE with a 28" barrell. If they come out with a 30 or 32" I will buy one of those.

The best advice is to go to a well stocked gun store. Pick up and swing every shotgun you are considering. Most people then KNOW which gun is right for them.

Mark L.

 

This is all good information.


Thanks

 

Berretta, AL391 Eureaka, 3", 28" brl.

Been a pump man all my life until I shot one, Love It!

I still take my pump if it gets super freezing weather though.

 

I've got 26 inch barrels on my 10 and 12 guage shotguns. Whenever I trade in the 10 guage I have now I might go to a 28 inch barrel but I've made shots with it that people couldn't believe. Done the exact same with 12 guages though. The sbe 2 with comfort tech stock is a fine gun but it will kick like a damn mule. Weighs half a pound lighter than a youth model 20 guage pump from Remington. Too light. Other than that, I've got no problems with it. I've shot Browning Golds for years. You must clean them after every hunt to keep the shells ejecting quickly but the recoil isn't a problem. Looking @ the Extrema 2 as it's suppose to have the best recoil of them all. If the sbe 2 didn't kick like it does, I wouldn't give thought about another gun.

 

Put a Limb Saver pad on that SBE 2 and you won't look back.

 

The Hiviz recoil pad is actually the most efficient, but ya can't use it on a sbe 2.

 

Hence the reason I suggested the Limb Saver.

 

Was just throwing out the Hiviz recoil pad info. Put a limb saver on my 10 (Browning). The butt on it was too hard. Didn't kick too much, just making it even more "User friendly".

 

I bought and Extrema2 last year and absolutely love it.

 

Other than the random 870 and mossberg pumps from highschool, all my shotguns from the last 10 years have been Beretta. Couple O/Us with 28in barrels and an Extrema II with 26in.

It will take something pretty extraordinary to get me away from Beretta shotguns.

SM