How many run a 10 gauge in the field?

[h2ofowlr]

I just was curious as to how many shoot the 10 gauge in the field.  I have the Browning BPS 10 and recently picked up the Remington SP-10.  I am setting it up for shooting the new Black Cloud 10 gauge shells.

[Bulldozer]

I have a BPS Stalker 10 with 30" barrel and a CompNChoke Full extended choke tube.

[banannaclip]

seems like alot of gun. do you use it mostly on geese? do have a greater range making longer shots? you probley dont shoot teal with  it huh?

[400out]

When I go out goose hunting in the field I take a old double barrel that my dad gave me it's heavy but fun!

[CP]

What’s the advantage over a 12g 3 ½” gun?

[HUNT]

Run a Browning 10 guage auto for geese......  Works like a charm!

[WAmuleyHunter]

Have a 10 as well.  its a stud for sure. and so perfect for geese in a field or picking off the cripples.  You become everyones best friend really quick lol.

[Skyvalhunter]

What are you hunting geese?

[Special T]

i think the main difference is about 3/8 of an ounce of shot. CP the velocities are similar and so are the payloads... I have a Mosburg 835 that shoots  the 3.5 and i don't think the difference is worth the extra$$$ Now i have a buddie that had an older 12 that only shot 2.75 he stepped up and got a 10 just for pass shooting and geese... he loves it...   is a 10 better than a 12 shooing 3.5... id say yes, would i buy one if i had a 3.5... not so much.  

[h2ofowlr]

It used to be a hands down difference.  When I started hunting we always packed out the 12 gauges with 2-3/4" shells and had a 10 in the blind with 3-1/2 copper plated lead mag bb's for geese.  You could kill a goose out to 100 yards or so it seemed.  Now with the new 3-1/2" 12 gauge shells, you don't see a ton of difference.  It has definitely leveled the playing field.  But, the 10 does throw more shot down range.  If choked right having said that, you should have more pellets on target.  With the new shells hitting the market, so far the 12 has more speed. 1700 fps vs. a max of 1500 fps for the 10.  That may change.  The biggest difference for most is the weight difference.  A lot of the 10 gauges are over 8lbs.  My SP-10 has to be in the 10lb range.  I don't notice the recoil, so that's a good thing..

[Whitenuckles]

 Ive never shoot a 10. But my dumb azz bought a box of federal 10 gauge turkey loads last year and have no use for them. 

[adam.WI]

Back in WI I use an old H&R 10ga, I believe it has a 36" barrel. My grandfather used it for years so it goes out in the field for him.

[Dustin07]

I've only personally really known snow goose hunters who use 10ga. especially down in Missouri.

[dbmickle]

10 ga. in my opinion is too much gun for decoying birds. When decoying geese, my wife shoots a 20 ga. What is your reasoning for shooting a 10? Longer range? If you are shooting at birds over 50 - 60 yards... They are out of range!

My opinion of course

[boneaddict]

I would have LOVED to use a 10 gauge on that coon the other night in my bird pens.  Unfortunately the 12 guage with 3 1/2 inch Tungsten Irons modified choke at 5 feet had to do.  


I was going to post a pic, but I had to censor myself as it wasn't appropriate for viewing.

[Dustin07]

I would have LOVED to use a 10 gauge on that coon the other night in my bird pens.  Unfortunately the 12 guage with 3 1/2 inch Tungsten Irons modified choke at 5 feet had to do.   

gross?

[CP]

I would have LOVED to use a 10 gauge on that coon the other night in my bird pens.  Unfortunately the 12 guage with 3 1/2 inch Tungsten Irons modified choke at 5 feet had to do.  


I was going to post a pic, but I had to censor myself as it wasn't appropriate for viewing.

I'd hate to have to clean up after that.

[magnanimous_j]

I would have LOVED to use a 10 gauge on that coon the other night in my bird pens.  Unfortunately the 12 guage with 3 1/2 inch Tungsten Irons modified choke at 5 feet had to do.  


I was going to post a pic, but I had to censor myself as it wasn't appropriate for viewing.

Is it weird that I kind of want to see it?

[boneaddict]

Not really CP, the ants and birds and wind did most of it. 

[TheHunt]

I had a SP10 with a 30 inch barrel and a Pattern Master choke tube.  I also hand loaded my shells.  I had goose loads and duck loads.  

I used this when the kids were in the blind.  They get to shoot first and I cleaned up when I could hit them.  As far as a goose killing,  that 10 gauge smoked them.  My longest clean up shot was a goose that was hit and I dropped it at 70 yards.  

Hand loading you can pick F shot, T shot.  From memory I think I loaded 54 pellets of F in one shell and 63 pellets of T shot.  This toasted the geese.  

I have since sold the entire package to buy a 12 guage so that all the shells are the same between my kids and myself.

[Happy Gilmore]

I would have LOVED to use a 10 gauge on that coon the other night in my bird pens.  Unfortunately the 12 guage with 3 1/2 inch Tungsten Irons modified choke at 5 feet had to do.  


I was going to post a pic, but I had to censor myself as it wasn't appropriate for viewing.

I'd hate to have to clean up after that.

Birds like picking at fresh meat- leave a dead one in a pen and they'll peck the meat off the bones.

[teal101]

Last years opener my 12 was malfunctioning so I went with my dads 10...



All birds taken with the 10, those teal are hard to hit swinging that pig around

[macattack2]

There is no reason anybody needs to shoot a 10 ga. If you need a 10 ga. than you are not a hunter,you are a shooter and should stay home.

[Special T]

Big talker for your first post there tuff guy! If we were shooting lead like the old days i might agree... But since they outlawed lead i've been shooting more birds with kevlar vests.... or the steel passes right through them and they fliy 1000yrd off and dye never to be seen again...

[macattack2]

12ga  T & F is all you need to kills geese,have even killed them with 2"s when there in the decoys.The new law about hunting with 2 doz. decoys is the best thing to happen on fir Is.With only a 5 % hatch on snows this year it will be very interesting

[Special T]

I think the new rule may be a good one, but what does that have to do with the price of tea in China?
If there were less Elmer Fuds hunting i'd limit out more days... But there is always that one A$$ hat that wants to shoot at my bird on the swing... Maybe the 10 Gauge is to pepper the people set up in my hip pocket that showed up at 20 min till light?

[h2ofowlr]

There is no reason anybody needs to shoot a 10 ga. If you need a 10 ga. than you are not a hunter,you are a shooter and should stay home.

I think you are confused or a new hunter.  Every great goose hunter of the day that could afford one, seemed to carry a 10 with them into the field.  That was also the day of the 2-3/4" shells vs. the 10's 3-1/2" shell.  New modern loads and the 3-1/2" 12's have leveled the playing fields in many ways.  I would say the true leveling took place about 8 years ago when steel shot performance started hitting acceptable standards by most waterfowlers.  I have several Benelli SBEII, Beretta Extrema 2, and other 3-1/2" inch shooting guns.  I have ran all levels of shot through them and still enjoy taking the 10 out into the field.  The 12 -3-1/2" still doesn't carry the same pellet payload as the 10- 3-1/2.  Main dislikes is weight of the guns, but there's something to be said for very little felt recoil.  Educate yourself before you stick you foot in mouth macattack2.  I think I use enough gun to be an ethical waterfowl hunter / shooter.  

[macattack2]

It will get rid of most of the ones that drive around and chase the geese and most of them are shooting 10s.Maybe you won't have as many setting up next to you.

[ICEMAN]

There is no reason anybody needs to shoot a 10 ga. If you need a 10 ga. than you are not a hunter,you are a shooter and should stay home.

mac, we usually try not to insult fellow members on here. Give it a try.

[Gutpile]

There is no reason anybody needs to shoot a 10 ga. If you need a 10 ga. than you are not a hunter,you are a shooter and should stay home.

What a stupid thing to say.


I have a ten gauge but I don't use it much. Ammo selection is poor and it's hard to find chokes for it. It also weighs a ton. With the payload a 12 ga. 3 1/2" you really don't gain much from a ten gauge except for maybe better patterning due to the bigger bore diameter.

[teal101]

There is no reason anybody needs to shoot a 10 ga. If you need a 10 ga. than you are not a hunter,you are a shooter and should stay home.

What a stupid thing to say.


I have a ten gauge but I don't use it much. Ammo selection is poor and it's hard to find chokes for it. It also weighs a ton. With the payload a 12 ga. 3 1/2" you really don't gain much from a ten gauge except for maybe better patterning due to the bigger bore diameter.

They usually have longer barrels and a higher pellet count as well.  I know pass shooting geese at Stratford I've killed geese with a 20 gauge shooting #2's and a 10 Gauge shooting F's.  Use what ya got.  I know that 10 puts a wallop on them geese.

[macattack2]

Sorry guys,didnt mean to upset anybody.Its just that in 46 years of hunting i never saw a need to go to a bigger gun,when steel came along we just changed our lead and let them get closer.40 years have been with the same 3inch 12ga. 870.

[h2ofowlr]

Snow's like to glide when hit and with all the BS on the island, if your set up on deeks they glide to the next set and get dropped.  If hunting the dike area they turn to the bay.  I like to break both wings and kill them at the same time.  They drop like rocks.  Picked up a case of Black Cloud 10 gauge loads.  They worked great last year.  Nearly no cripples.  The 3-1/2" Rem. 870 sits in the closet, I now use the auto loaders for shooting the 3-1/2" or 3" as the loads have increased speed which have also increased the kick.  No need for bruised shoulders.

[CP]

Off topic but –

Last year I hit a snow that glided into the set next to me and they down it (they probably expended ten bucks worth of ammo doing so).  I wrote that bird off and went on with the hunt.  Later when I was packing out one of the hunters from that field pulled up and offered me the wayward bird. 

Just goes to show that not everyone hunting the island is an a-hole.

[Big10gauge]

Of course I do, Been using one or another 10 ga for over 30 years, Maybe some guys just don't have the strength to swing one I guess.