Sld1959
Ronin
Well, best is debatable, but I think that most birds are taken with a shotgun, especially if shot on the wing.
The shotgun, with bird shot, is not considered a truly long range weapon. I see you are from England and I do not know your laws and what is available to you.
Generally a shotgun in the largest Guage you can shoot comfortably with a long barrel and a relatively tight choke will give the longest distance for birds. Action type, semi auto, pump, single shot, bolt is of course personal choice.
The shotgun, with bird shot, is not considered a truly long range weapon. I see you are from England and I do not know your laws and what is available to you.
Generally a shotgun in the largest Guage you can shoot comfortably with a long barrel and a relatively tight choke will give the longest distance for birds. Action type, semi auto, pump, single shot, bolt is of course personal choice.
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HansGruber
Ronin
Single barrel 10ga with a 36” barrel.
HayesGreener
Ronin
I am a lifetime bird hunter and skeet shooter. There is such a wide range of quality and specialty in shotguns that it is impossible to answer without more information. On the pricier end, I shoot skeet with a Krieghoff K80 O/U, which is as good as it gets for quality, but not practical to carry that weight around the field all day. For Upland birds (quail, pheasant, dove) I use a Browning Citori Superlight Feather O/U 12 ga with English stock. It is really a fast handling gun and the shorter barrel is handy when handling a dog. Citoris of various barrel lengths are in the $2k price range. For general purpose work Remington Model 870 pumps and 1100 semi autos, and Browning BPS shotguns with changeable chokes provide a wide range of capabilities. Here you are in the $500-$750 range or less if you find a used one but prices have spiked since Remington went bankrupt. Benelli also makes some superb semi-auto shotguns-I favor the Supersport (around $2k) as an all around shotgun. Those are just a few, once you decide on purpose and price point you can start to zero in. If you are going to hunt in inclement weather finish can be a factor. Most manufacturers make models with weather resistant and/or camo colors. A good quality shotgun will last a lifetime and will retain its resale value. Cheap guns, not so much.
One thing to keep in mind is that there is a tradeoff between weight and recoil management. You can get a really light weight gun but in 12 gauge with hunting loads it will pound you. Semi autos take up a lot of the recoil.
And the final note of advice I can give is gun fit, which is perhaps the most important and often overlooked. Gun fit is extremely important in terms of your ability to shoot it accurately and recoil management. I cannot count the number of novice shooters I saw who got discouraged and quit because they were trying to learn on a gun that did not fit them. Shotgun stocks are made to fit the "average" human but what is average? Most gun shops do not have a clue about proper gun fit. If you don't have a gunfitter in your area you can find advice from EXPERIENCED competitive shooters on most trap and skeet and sporting clays ranges. If you are going to hunt in cold weather your gun should be fit accounting for the thickness of your coat/vest.
Good luck on your quest.
One thing to keep in mind is that there is a tradeoff between weight and recoil management. You can get a really light weight gun but in 12 gauge with hunting loads it will pound you. Semi autos take up a lot of the recoil.
And the final note of advice I can give is gun fit, which is perhaps the most important and often overlooked. Gun fit is extremely important in terms of your ability to shoot it accurately and recoil management. I cannot count the number of novice shooters I saw who got discouraged and quit because they were trying to learn on a gun that did not fit them. Shotgun stocks are made to fit the "average" human but what is average? Most gun shops do not have a clue about proper gun fit. If you don't have a gunfitter in your area you can find advice from EXPERIENCED competitive shooters on most trap and skeet and sporting clays ranges. If you are going to hunt in cold weather your gun should be fit accounting for the thickness of your coat/vest.
Good luck on your quest.
SaltyMonkey
Professional
Size of bird matters. 12 gauge is good all around but big birds and long distance really need a 10 gauge. You better be able to take a punch.
the obsrver
Master Class
As said it depends on a lot of things. Are they in flight? If so a shotgun is really your only choice. Are you in town? If so a air rifle or bb gun is really your only choice. If you can catch them on the ground and are not in town a 22 to the head is best. If they are a game bird, it is nice to not have a bunch of bb's from a shotgun to contend with when cleaning and eating.
I once saw a guy take a few shots at geese (that were on the ground) with a 7mm mag. Granted they were over a half mile away. He did not hit them, so I have no idea what it would have done to them if he had. I think he remembered being better with a rifle then he was. Lol.
I once saw a guy take a few shots at geese (that were on the ground) with a 7mm mag. Granted they were over a half mile away. He did not hit them, so I have no idea what it would have done to them if he had. I think he remembered being better with a rifle then he was. Lol.
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