31 replies to this topic

[fishandhunt4ever]

Hi,I wanted to start this to see if anyone wants to share what they are doing to get ready for this coming up season.I will be posting some pics of a project I am doing with my 12 gauge once completed. I am still waiting on delivery an item.

[clampdaddy]

Like you I'm already itching for duck season and am doing some work to my gun. I've been dealing with SRM performance to make my Maxus the ultimate waterfowl gun. I had the gas piston sealed to make the gun run cleaner and to eliminate the problematic gas spring. I'm going to replace the recoil spring, tube, and follower with one of their stainless "sure cycle" systems. I'm also going to install their stainless magazine spring. The goal is to have the soft recoiling gas gun that runs as clean as an inertia gun and is as reliable as a glock.

[Jeff]

I'm anxious to get my new gun. I decided my 1187 isn't going to cut it anymore. It crapped out on me twice last year, and ultimately rusted all to hell on a salt free day (keep in mind, I hunted salt lots in the last two years and it never rusted). It's the third Remington (870 or 1187) I've personally seen rust beyond belief. I'm done with Remington.I'm having trouble deciding between the Maxus and the Xtrema 2. Other than that, I'm looking for a new jacket for this season and some new diver dekes. Then, saving up for a small boat for the following season to get out for more opportunities! It's going to come fast this year!

[clampdaddy]

Hey Jeff, check out the Winchester SX3. It feels a lot like a Remington and the safety is in the same location. I do like the bigger trigger guard on my Maxus but the flat rib took a while to get used to and the forward safety on the beratta was a deal breaker for me.I just made a post in the shotgun forum about the mods I made on my Maxus.

[dabob]

I have not hunted ducks or geese in over 15 years but I am planning on a goose hunt in January of 2012.My son Wes is going with me so I just bought a Berretta AL 391 Urika 3" to go along with my good old Rem 11-87 3". I am looking forward to it, I can't wait to try out some of my lead free coyote loads on some Snows and Specks.

[fishandhunt4ever]

Its torture driving by some parks here in Huntington Beach and seeing all the resident honkers and ducks.

[bzzrd feedr]

I'm getting ready for a work day that I'm in charge of in August at our club. We have drained and are flooding back up for an irrigation here shortly. As soon as the irrigation has dried we will do some discing, spraying etc. to manicure the marsh and try to eliminate some of the bad weeds like cockelburr etc. It's just duck farming. It looks like an awesome year shaping up with the local water situation good and the Canadian water situation the best in many years. Continuing on training the new dog. She got 164 retrieves last year and just finished her training yard work for hand signals. I'll keep working with her on the hand signal drills this summer but the real training is out on the marsh next fall.

[timmy]

What am I doing to prepare for the upcoming waterfowl season?Oddly enough, I'm still working on my boat. That Patrick wrecked the last weekend of LAST season..

[Jeff]

I forgot to mention, I am helping a property owner create blinds on his property for this season. It's one of the properties I have access to. Creek blinds, and hopefully he's going to purchase some pits for his pond. I get to be "construction manager" for the project. Oh, by the way, the property backs up to Vic Fazio.

[fishandhunt4ever]

Here is the project I was working on for my Nova. It didn't come out the way I was expecting it to. It sits higher up than I expected and would definitely be a burden on the neck. It is sitting on a saddle mount that I also picked up online. I know Burris makes the perfect set up of for shotguns, but I was not looking to spend around $200. The scope only cost me 34 bucks and I will be most likely save it for an AR build that I am working on.Does anyone know of a low cost, low-rise halographic red dot scope?

Attached Files

•  Project.jpg   16.89K   3 downloads

[clampdaddy]

I kinda doubt that anything is going to sit ad low as that burris speed bead. I'd be afraid to use one on a duck gun though. I just picture the lens being blotted with mud and rain drops.

[tinhunter]

I picked up a new Remington Versa-Max this year and will be picking up some new decoys.

[dabob]

Does anyone know of a low cost, low-rise halographic red dot scope? NO! If your shotgun fits you your eyeball is the rear sight. On birds you should be able to point and shoot without aiming if your shotgun fits you and you have your head on the stock.

[Bisley]

Are you trying to say that skill and practice can't be replaced by modern technology?! What are you, some kind of old fashioned hunter that knows what he's talking about and relies upon his talent and not the 5 pounds of battery run equipment on his guns? Because that's sure what it sounds like. For shame on you. Wish there were more like ya, we sure need it these days

[fishandhunt4ever]

Dabob, Bisley,I was having a Caddy Shack type feeling for a bit during the off season. I am sticking back with the basics though and I guess the only way to get more practice, is well to "FORCE" myself to get out more this season.

[dabob]

Shooting some rounds of Skeet or a few rounds of Sporting Clays is great practice to do before going hunting with your shotgun.

[Bisley]

I can see the red dot/holographic style sight on a slug gun. Makes a lot of sense actually (for that purpose) but dabob's definitely correct about anything flying being point and shoot skills. You really don't want to "aim" a pattern. Bad habit to get into. I know, it cost me a lot of birds last year before I realized i was doing it. And boredom can surely be our enemy sometimes in the off-season. Had many of those "seemed like a good idea" moments myself over the years . Anyways, good luck to y'all in the upcoming season.

[fishandhunt4ever]

I am glad this thread is active again, with the season coming up. During the off-season I was just thinking of way too many ways to perfect my shooting. I didn't have the time or money to really get out and shoot clays this off season. Bottomline is hunting is suppose to fun with off course skill mixed into it. I am really not that horrible of a shot, unless the sun is shining that day (ha ha ha).The halo-dot scope is going to go on my AR once I am done building it, and I am keeping my bird gauges to factory weight only.

[Bisley]

Sit in the back yard and practice shouldering and following dove, crows, and sparrows. That's what I do in between (the firs) dove season and quail/chukar season. You end up getting to the point where you can shoulder, point, and be right on at dove behind you just by hearing that "squeak" they make when they fly. But it helps for all birds obviously, including waterfowl. And no matter how tempting, make sure it's unloaded first

[fishandhunt4ever]

Thanks for the advice, but I live in Huntington Beach, so by no chance can I play in the back yard with a shotgun. As much as I want too by the way.What I usually do is follow the line where the ceiling meets the wall around the living room.Hey Bisley, so do you head out to SJ and Wister for ducks/geese?

[Bisley]

No, or should I say, not yet. I have hunted upland and dove for as long as I can remember, but haven't done the waterfowl yet. My hunting partner has on a handful of occasions, and I may have to get my feet wet (pun intended) soon. Especially since he now resides in Kern Co and has a few really good "contacts". Hoping this year may be the year I try it. Kind of ironic since my go-to shotgun (two decades now) for birds is an 1100 remmy with a magnum receiver, 3" chamber, and full choked 30" barrel. It was "the setup" years ago. You know, back when it was legal to use lead for waterfowl (guess you're not supposed to use full choke now with steel ). I almost forgot how bad HB was too. Our shop was based in Fountain Valley, and did lots of work in HB. It's one of those cities where you can drive around with a surf board in your car blocking your entire view of any traffic and it's O.K.. But wear a camo hat and you're gettin pulled over

[ShooterJohn]

Bisley, just send the barrel off to have chokes installed. It isn't very expensive and you can still use your favorite gun.

[Bisley]

Bisley, just send the barrel off to have chokes installed. It isn't very expensive and you can still use your favorite gun.

You know, I plum forgot about reading that on here a while back. I had actually been looking at barrels (semi-seriously) and realized I could buy a new pump for what they want for 1100 barrels . And they don't seem to have the 30" one I've grown so fond of over the years. I will definitely look into it. Now, you wouldn't by any chance happen to know the name of the machinist off the top of your head would you? If not, no sweat, I'm an insomiac with lots of time to search for it tonight. Thanks again SJ.

[ShooterJohn]

I sure do it's R&D Custom Barrel a subsidiary or Ameriachoke. http://www.americhoke.com/Ask clampdaddy about his shotgun he had done there. Great price and excellent work.

[Bisley]

Thank you again SJ, you are both a scholar and a gentleman. As much as I LOVE buying new guns, there's just something about the "one" you've carried for years and years. If I had to start leaving her at home I might have had to

[Frank]

Bisley, I had / have a Remington Wingmaster, fixed choked barrel shorten'd (for quail) and had Briley choke tubes installed m a n y years ago. It handles & patterns GREAT. Bolsa Gunsmithing in Westminister did the work. No idea how they would compare to R&D, but is at least another possible option. If you call them, MAKE SURE you speak to Jason only.I sure do miss that shotgun, as my youngest son TOOK it over about 20 years ago. Frank

[clampdaddy]

I sure do it's R&D Custom Barrel a subsidiary or Ameriachoke. http://www.americhoke.com/Ask clampdaddy about his shotgun he had done there. Great price and excellent work.

And a very quick turnaround as well. I had my barrel back the same week I sent it off. I can't say enough about how pleased I was with their service. If I remember right it was about $67 to get the job done. And remember to send a choke tube with the barrel. They won't ship the barrel back without a tube installed because after reaming the muzzle is really thin and easily damaged. Make sure to mic the o.d. of your barrel first to determine whether or not you can use standard remchoke tubes or if you'll need to go with a thin walled tube.

[Bisley]

Thanks again to all . I think this is definitely the perfect answer for me. And best of all, Americhoke is only 15 minutes away from me. Frank, Bolsa and aren't on speaking terms at the moment (long story) But thanks for for the info on a local shop also. And I feel ya on the "loss". I'm afraid that's what's going to happen to my 1100 after letting the nephew use it for dove I also have an old Winchester shotgun of grampa's that has a win-choke setup. You think I should have them thread my Remington for win-choke tubes?! Or is just knowing that more than you can handle?

[Frank]

I just broke out in a cold sweat... Thanks a lot, Bisley

[bzzrd feedr]

Next Weekend it all starts. Wife isn't happy but she gets over it after a few weeks. After 30+ years she has basically given up on me during duck season.