jkb88's Profile
Never hunted birds before, whats better a 16ga. or a 12ga. & what loads?Im soon to aquire a 1947 model 37 16ga. and not sure if I should just put in the gun case & buy somthing newer. I haven't seen it yet but am told its in mint condition. Probably a collector gun Im thinking.
Hunting Ducks and Geese
Moderator: ripjack13
19 posts
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 Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 6:22 pm
Never hunted birds before, whats better a 16ga. or a 12ga. & what loads?Im soon to aquire a 1947 model 37 16ga. and not sure if I should just put in the gun case & buy somthing newer. I haven't seen it yet but am told its in mint condition. Probably a collector gun Im thinking.
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 .270 WIN
Posts: 422
Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2012 5:21 pm Location: phila pa |
Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 8:45 pm
16 is a great upland bird gun .quail ,pheasent,rabbit etc
it would work well i'm guessing for ducks in timber with the right ammo. typicaly people who hunt geese and ducks go with 12G-10G with 3"-3.5" shells mainly cause the shots are longer and the 3"-3.5" shells throw more lead. if your looking for a duck gun from ithaca look for an older mag12 or a newer gun in 12G or a waterfoweler because they all use 3" shells. if you want to use 3.5" shells look for a mag 10 |
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Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 1:35 am
Also remember that for waterfowl you are required by law to use non tox shot like steel or one off the more expensive metals. Your gun was not designed to get asking with steel shot and you could hurt it by shooting steel. There are other metals available but they are expensive even in 12 gauge.
Now 16 gauge shells in lead are expensive enough but in no tox, oh my goodness. Buy a newer 12 gauge, even a newer Ithaca. I wouldn't take the chance on bulging that barrel. |
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 Vendor
Posts: 967
Joined: Fri Sep 09, 2011 5:06 am Location: Mobile, AL |
Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 4:27 am
Sage advice, Col. As great as 16s are, 12 are more versatile. --Jim
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Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 3:54 pm
Thank you sir. The 16 gauge is my all around favorite. But with todays restrictions some times a 12 is just better.
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Vendor
Posts: 967
Joined: Fri Sep 09, 2011 5:06 am Location: Mobile, AL |
Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 4:23 am
It is!!! And I am thrilled to say that more and more people are starting to take a good look at 16s and 28s as viable shooting options. Unfortunately, thanks to the non-tox shot requirements, you need to use those mortar rounds, so it is either 10 or 12 gauge. --Jim
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.270 WIN
Posts: 422
Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2012 5:21 pm Location: phila pa |
Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 9:04 am
people overlook the mag 10 anymore.
when i was a lad in the 70s no goose hunter was without a mag 10 if he called himself a waterfoweler. i really don't hunt geese , but it didn't stop me from getting a 10. its really the only gun i own that i have no need for other then being a B.A.G. ok i secretly admit that i'm hoping the japanese will attack us again... i'm convinced that i could shoot down zeros with the thing |
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Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 6:24 pm
TO, I have never hunted waterfowl at all. But from all I've read on the subject I believe if I ever did start hunting those geese I would look at the 10 gauge rather than a 12 gauge roman candle. It just makes more sense to me.
That said for 99.9% of my hunting a 20 or a 16 is perfect with the 16 probably being more versatile. Now don't tell that to my 12's because they ain't going anywhere. |
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Vendor
Posts: 967
Joined: Fri Sep 09, 2011 5:06 am Location: Mobile, AL |
Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 7:54 am
I'm, not a waterfowler either, but if I did, I would seriously consider a 10. Or should I say a 10 and a good recoil pad. --Jim
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Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 11:54 pm
Amen!
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Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 3:53 pm
As one who has shot upland and waterfowl for over 50 years I would say if you are going to have only one shotgun it should be a 12ga. 3in.
For years all I used for geese was my M37 with 2 3/4 in. shells and did very well. Of course that all changed with the non tox. reg. From what I see the 10ga. is falling out of favor in favor of the 3 1/2 in. 12ga. One gun can do it all. If you'r a good shot non tox. can turn out to be cheaper then steel. When you can hear the steel hitting the bird and it flies away it's not a good thing. Buy that 16ga. then a 12ga. T.W.K. |
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Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2012 12:54 am
The 16 is a great gun. I use mine often to hunt ducks with, as well as everything else. The 12 in the end is the ultimate choice for everything across the board, but with the advancements in the Non-Tox, hevier than lead loads, the 16 is capable of pulling off some amazing jobs out in the field.
Chad H
Hevi-Shot |
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Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2012 9:05 pm
I hunt pretty much nothing but waterfowl and you can get by quite effectively with a 12 gauge 3" for 95% of your needs. This even counts for steel with geese if you get good quality loads and decent ranges.
With that said, I primarily hunt with a 10 gauge and love it. The problem is the 3.5" 12 gauge is causing a slow death to my favorite gauge, even though the performance is not as good (from what I have read). This weekend I dropped a Sand Hill Crane with my 10 and it was out cold. Geese are easier with the 10 as well. Good luck and hope you bag a bunch. Look to my coming at first light on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the East.
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Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 10:42 pm
Up here in BC Canada we have had the steel shot rule for years so we have tried the whole works for hunting ducks and geese. I do have a Mag 10 but shells are too expensive. Most everyone here uses 12gauge and do quite well. I have used 37s in 16g and 20g but dam you have to be good to get anything. There has been about 300 ducks and about 50 geese taken out of our farm this season, so far. We have a waterfowl problem and it is hard to get enough hunters to keep our fields clear. We live in the city so we also have to deal with the bird lovers, and the police that don't now anything about hunting. The crows, starlings and pigeons keep us sharp for the duck season. Donald
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Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 1:22 am
Your shotgun is really awesome... I really love hunting with my baby mooseberg 500 shotgun.. newbie here... "A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.
Steve Martin " |
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 Copper BB
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2013 10:37 pm Location: 1801 Fourth Ave., North, Birmingham AL 35203 
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Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 12:36 am
I love hunting and I used 16 gauge, but my 16 gauge is damage and I need a new one.. Can somebody guess me a good shotgun for hunting?
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Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 4:52 am
I would recomend a new Ithaca Featherweight, or a vintage Ithaca Featherweight. Either way you'll have the best repeating shotgun made. Welcome aboard! |
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Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2014 1:58 pm
Just a little input from Alaska here, I hunt with a 12Ga model 37chambered for 2-3/4, My wife hunts with a 20Ga model 37. She shoots 2-3/4" she usually drops more critters than I. It points quicker and patterns better. The problem I have with the 3-1/2" 12Ga, I see people shooting at ducks flying at over 100yards away. 20Ga is just as effective as a 12Ga. Just my 2 cents.
Live life to its fullest, for time is but a fleeting moment!!!!
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Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2014 9:54 pm
But don't you know that 12 gauges hit harder and shoot farther?  Just kidding. I rarely hunt with anything but my 16's or 20's. But I've been told the above by folks who don't know better. I was the only man in a sporting clays squad to make the shot on a target with the thrower set 60 yards out throwing straight up and falling to the left. When the clay was at its highest point you had to be 4ft low and 4ft to the left to break it. All the 12 gauge guys missed, I broke it with a model 37 20 gauge, modified choke, 7/8 oz of 7.5 shot. It was nice. |
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