The early goose season is coming up fast. So, those wanting to partake in one of the earliest wingshooting opportunities of the year need to be getting ready. This means gathering up calls, decoys, waders and, of course, shotguns. And since locations can be hard on guns, and geese can tough to bring down, hunters need to put some thought into the goose slaying shotguns used.
Goose shotguns need to be reliable and powerful. This means a bare minimum of a 3-inch, possibly a 3.5-inch, chamber and a fairly tight choke to create a good enough pattern to flop Canadas down to the ground. Some hunters want the speed of semi-autos, while others prefer the reliability of pumps. It’s mostly personal preference, but some shotguns are just known for working on waterfowl, particularly hard to kill Canada geese.
Mossberg 940 Pro Waterfowl Shotgun
Upgraded from the 930, the 940 includes improved ergonomics and reliability. It comes with a redesigned buffer tube, boron-nitride coated internal components and a stainless-steel return spring. It also comes with cerakote on the receiver and barrel. Additional features include an oversize bolt handle and bolt release, as well as an enlarged loading port for easier reloads. Mossberg also included a magazine release button for quick unloading when the hunt is over, as well as an adjustable stock for length-of-pull and drop at comb changes. The 28-inch, vent-rib barrel is chrome lined and comes with a HIVIZ CompSight fiber-optic sight. The Mossberg 940 is also available in a snow goose version with higher magazine capacity.
Mossberg 940 Pro Waterfowl Shotgun Specs:
- Action: Semi-auto
- Gauge: 12
- Chamber: 3”
- Capacity: 4+1
- Barrel Length: 28”
- Overall Length: 48.75”
- Length of Pull: 13” to 14.25”
- Weight: 7.75 lbs.
Savage Renegauge Prairie Shotgun
With a patented D.R.I.V. (Dual Regulating Inline Valve) gas system, the Savage Renegauge can handle everything from the lightest target loads up to heavy waterfowl rounds. This new gas system releases excess gas through vents before driving the bolt back for consistent reliability. This reduces felt recoil and creates a fast cycle rate for extremely quick follow-up shots. With adjustable length-of-pull, comb height and drop of heel, the Renegauge fits almost every shooter. The Savage Renegauge Prairie model comes with Cerakote covered action in desert sand and True Timber Prairie camo stock and forend, as well as a red fiber-optic sight for low-light situations.
Savage Renegauge Prairie Specs:
- Action: Semi-auto
- Gauge: 12
- Chamber: 3”
- Capacity: 4+1
- Barrel Length: 28”
- Overall Length: 49.5”
- Length of Pull: 14.25” to 115.07”
- Weight: 8.075 lbs.
Remington 870 Shotgun
Introduced in 1951, the Remington 870 has been a wingshooting icon for more than 70 years. It has probably taken more game than any other shotgun available to hunters because the 870 is both reliable and affordable. The silky action of the Remington 870 is available in a variety of models, including an upgraded waterfowl specific model that features Cerakote on the receiver and barrel, synthetic camouflage stock and forend, and fiber-optic sights. Of course, the black-and-wood Fieldmaster version works quite well for its very reasonable price.
Remington 870 Specs:
- Action: Pump
- Gauge: 12 (Also available in 20
- Chamber: 2.75”, 3”, 3.5”
- Capacity: 4+1 (3+1 in 3.5” chamber)
- Barrel Length: 28”
- Overall Length: 48.5”
- Length of Pull: 14”
- Weight: 7 lbs.
Benelli Super Black Eagle 3
Since its introduction, Benelli has made the Super Black Eagle 3 lighter and slimmer. This inertia drive shotgun provides extreme reliability and, despite its light weight, the felt recoil isn’t too bad with its ComforTech recoil reduction system. It also features oversized bolt release and safety for easy manipulation while wearing gloves, along with an easy loading system for keeping the gun running during hot action. Another reason that the Super Black Eagle 3 popular with waterfowlers is that it is available in left-hand models.
Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 Specs:
- Action: Semi-auto
- Gauge: 12
- Chamber: 3.5”
- Capacity: 3+1 (4+1 in 3”)
- Barrel Length: 28”
- Overall Length: 49.5”
- Length of Pull: 14”
- Weight: 7 lbs.
Browning BPS 10-Gauge
While 12-gauge shotguns rule the waterfowl world today, there was a time with hunters preferred larger bore guns, such as the Browning BPS 10 gauge. The Browning BPS comes with a forged and machined steel receiver, top-tang safety and oversize trigger guard. It also features bottom loading and ejection, making this shotgun ambidextrous for both right- and left-hand shooters. In addition, the BPS comes with a floating rib, which allows the rib and barrel to move independently to prevent point of impact shifts caused by the barrel heating up when birds come in hard and fast.
Browning BPS 10-Gauge Specs:
- Action: Pump
- Gauge: 10
- Chamber: 3.5”
- Capacity: 3+1
- Barrel Length: 26” and 28”
- Overall Length: 47.25”
- Length of Pull: 14.25”
- Weight: 8 lbs.
Related Articles: The Early Goose Season Provides Early Opportunities
Related Articles: Relic Remington Shotguns – Sixty Years Later and We Still Love Them
About Author
