Ten gauges in your opinion
 

I need help. I want to purchase a ten gauge. What is best in price and quality or is it even worth it to replace the 12

RE: Ten gauges in your opinion
 

A 10 guage can't do a whole lot more than a 12 guage, in my opinion. If you are really hurtin for more shot in each load, just use 3.5" shells. If you arewanting more long range performance, I would look into a tighter choke and better-performing long range shells such asBlack Cloud and maybe aPatternmaster chole tube. But really there is no more practical and versatile shotgun than the 12 guage. Also, you will also find that ammo for the 10 is more expensive and not as available as for a 12. I'm sure there will be different opinions, so good luck in whatever you choose.

RE: Ten gauges in your opinion
 

I have a Remington SP-10 Magnum and except for a few minor problems, like the front bead coming off, I really love it. The gun, with a wood stock,has a real solid feel to it and is actually a pleasure to shoot, evenwith 3.5 inch magnums. It has much less felt recoil than a 12 guagewith waterfowl loads. Thisis due to both the design of the gas system and the weight of the gun, 11 pounds. SAAMI regulations restrict commercially sold 10 guage ammunition to the same pressures as 3.5 inch shells in a 12 guage so the 10 guageloads are ballistically similar to those in a magnum 12 guage. However, the 10 guage will pattern better and do it with less feltrecoil. In addition to waterfowl, it is a superior weapon for turkey hunting.

The SP-10 Magnum is not cheap, a new one will cost $1200 to $1300 but is gun thatcan takevery difficult conditions inthefield and cycle flawlessly every time. The weight of the gun is a problem for some people but I have gotten used to it and actually feel that even if I don't get any ducks or geese, at least I got a good workoutcarrying it around. One problem with the 10 guage is that ammunition is not as widely available as 12 guage ammunition and is more expensive. Toreach the maximum potential of the SP-10 you would probably want to hand load. The SP-10 Magnum is so strong and robust that you could probably shoot hand loads with it that you would not want to try in any other 10 guage. I have seen some sites on the internet with details of hand loads for the SP-10 Magnum that substantially increase the range and lethality of the weapon. I would not try this with any 10 guage other than the massiveSP-10 Magnum.

I know there will be plenty of posts critical of the 10 guage in general and the SP-10 in particular but I like mine so much I even use it for hunting upland gamebirds like pheasant.

Caldoc

RE: Ten gauges in your opinion
 

I agree with this 100%!

RE: Ten gauges in your opinion
 

The ten will just hurt your sholder a lot more!![&:]:D

RE: Ten gauges in your opinion
 

I love my bps 10 this year I went hunting with my 12 with 3” #2s had a duck come swim in from 200yards to 50 I shot 3 times and the duck just flu away. The next time I brought my 10 same scenario except the duck was 65 yards away I killed 2 ducks with one shot.

RE: Ten gauges in your opinion
 

I agree with Crow. I'd buy a 3.5 inch 12 gauge before a 10. It don't kill them any deader.

RE: Ten gauges in your opinion
 

I have a Browning Pump Shotgun - 10 gauge and it will out shoot the best 12 gauge 3 1/2 inch magnum you can show me.

It doesn't try to shoot a 10 gauge load through a 12 gauge barrel - so the patterns are not long and stringy. They are tight and circular like a 12 gauge trap load through a skeet barrel.

It's great for reaching out for ducks and geese that arebeyond the rangeof your 12 gauge shotguns.

RE: Ten gauges in your opinion
 

I used to own a 10ga, but then traded for a 3.5" 12. I loved the 10ga and loved shooting it, but the 12ga gave me more options at refuges.

RE: Ten gauges in your opinion
 

The 10 guage is not necesssary for ducks.. I regularly hunt them with my 20.. The cost of the gun will not be as significant cost as the cost of shells.. If your having trouble hitting the ducks, try more practice.. It will be cheaper than the gun or shells..

RE: Ten gauges in your opinion
 

Agreed! 10 gauges are for skybusters.

RE: Ten gauges in your opinion
 

Skybuster or whatever.... If I could use claymores... I would, I hate my 835... I hate steel shot even more... Ive killed with 2 3.4 shells and Ive killed with 3.5 shells...
Difference..... When I shoot... I know its gonna die.
I'll buy a 10 guage just to shoot geese with it....

RE: Ten gauges in your opinion
 

i have a browning bps stalker 10 gauge pumpand i love it.. i use it for geese, ducks, grouse, turkey, deer.. i love it. i would buy 2 more if they still made them. but my dad bought the automatic and it was a really expensive single shot.

RE: Ten gauges in your opinion
 

In the town I live in all the good ol' boys hunt with a "Big Ten". They swear by 'em, and I've seen geese killed at a witnessed 100 yards.

RE: Ten gauges in your opinion
 

I think it's a matter of what you prefer, sure a 10 gauge would work, but so would a 12. I don't have any need to use anything more than my 12 gauge, but I don't take 100 yard shots. Honestly, I'd rather shoot decoying ducks and geese at 20-30 yards than shoot a 10 gauge at passing birds at 100.You might shoot more birds if you tooklong pass shots, but what fun would that be?In my opinion getting the birds to work and set in is half the fun.

RE: Ten gauges in your opinion
 

I have both 12&10 ga. the 10 is a 10sp i love it. although, I find that I carry the 12 on most occations. I'll use the 10 if I'm huntn' big water or field huntn' geese. Generally the 12 w/ 3.5 bb's or 2's with a pattern master will be plenty of punch.

P.S. I read that pattern master is advising not to shoot "black clouds" through their chokes. Any one else hear about this?

RE: Ten gauges in your opinion
 

Ok, guys. I hunted ducks with a 410, 20 , and a 12 gauge, and even shot a 10 gauge once. But unless you are a sky busting foul, you really don't even need the 12 in 3.5 magnum. It's more fun to have the ducks right there in front of you like 10 to 20 yards, than it is to bust a bird out of the sky at 65 to 75 yards, and even if you do reach out that far and 1 out of 10 birds you shoot at falls down, how many have you crippled to die else where. Now if you aren't hitting them at close range then try a more open choke like the IC or IC Mod, and get some practice at a range not for skeet. That doesn't help much, try sporting clays thats the ticket. The 10 gauge is a nice gun but for what most hunting you would do a 12 or 20 gauge would do just fine. Unless however you just want the gun to show it off that you have one. Then by all means go for it, but for me, I'll take my birds at 20 yards with my 12 or 20 gauge all day long.

RE: Ten gauges in your opinion
 

Ideezy, i've seen your show on the hunting channel, you really blast them. Why are you even considering changing anything about your set up. It appears to me that you could use a slig shot and still fill your bag. YOUR A GAME HOG! Happy Huntings.

RE: Ten gauges in your opinion
 

I use a 12 guage. If a guy wants to use a 10, let him use it. I don't care what someone uses as long as it's legal. But for all the skybusters taking 100 yard shots, you should be kicked in the nuts and have your license taking away for a few years. Skybusting waterfowl is as bad as taking an unethical shot on a 6 point bull or a trophy buck! You just shouldn't do it. If you see someone else doing it you should let them know how unethical it is!!

RE: Ten gauges in your opinion
 

I don t think a 10 gauge would be needed when hunting waterfowl unless you are regularly shooting geese from long distances!

RE: Ten gauges in your opinion
 

It seems that some one here has opened up a can of worms. Most of all skybusting is not illegal but all you are doing is making the birds more wise to the rest of the other hunters. Most hunt clubs don't allow it and will boot you out of the club. It is comparable to taking an unethical shot at a trophy buck, and then not track it down. That is one of my pet peeve. I hate it when someone takes a long shot at a bird and just barely hit'em then brags about it. Not that I can't do it, but it's not my style of hunting. Like most ethical hunters out there bring them in close and then cut'em down. That's the fun in waterfowl hunting, not past shooting or skybusting. Stick with the 12 or 20 it's alot better and cheaper to shoot.

RE: Ten gauges in your opinion
 

I have a Browning Pump Shotgun - 10 gauge and it will out shoot the best 12 gauge 3 1/2 inch magnum you can show me.

i agree!!!:):)

RE: Ten gauges in your opinion
 

Used a 10 ga in the past (has a Browning Gold 10 auto). The last 7 or 8 years I've been using a 12 ga (3 1/2's) - Win Sx2. I have not really noticed any drop off myself in performance. I also feel that the 12 ga is a bit more universal as well...

RE: Ten gauges in your opinion
 

kinda funny how this thread changed into people who own 10gauges are skybusters.
If you get your jollys off by using a single shot 410 with 71/2s thats cool too...im just foolin around haha....


but really....Do you really need a 10gauge( thats like saying do you need a 28gauge for upland game)...no....are they big and bad and friken cool..? Heck yeah! if you wanna some smoke honkers or ducks and do it in a ethical way with a 10gaby all means.


thats my 223.

RE: Ten gauges in your opinion
 

Got the Browning auto 10 gold 1st year out.
It was a very heavy gun and had a problem shooting the second and third round???
Sold it within 3 seasons, enough B.S. and missed waterfowl!
I currently have the Benelli super mag, semi-auto and love it.
It lines uo perfect and I also started using it for upland game. This Benelli replaces, or I should say sidelines, my Browning upland special over and under.
That's how much I like the Benelli.
The 12 ga. super mags are almost comparable to the 10's and you can use it for more than goose huntin'.

RE: Ten gauges in your opinion
 

The wads that federal uses in the black clouds are the reason why you are not suppose to shoot them out of a pattermaster. I am pretty sure they are the flight control wads. The pattermaster is a great tube though my buddy shoots onewith hevi-shotit is a deadly combination on ducks.

RE: Ten gauges in your opinion
 

I too have the 10 Guage Browning Gold,I bought it new in 1999, haven't have a lick of problems with it. I will cycle shells as quick as you can pull the trigger. Rain, Snow, Ice and even falling in the mud has never jamed it. In fact the only time I had a jam was when I stuffed a 12 gauge 3.5 into it. Yep it fired but the brass expanded and stuck really good. lol If I remember right I killed a goose with that shot too. It was a good lesson learned. That was the last time I took two different (guns) gauges into a goose field. I had oneon each side, my thought was for ducks, I would use the 12 and geese I would the 10. Ya dumb move in my part, likeI said I learned from it!

RE: Ten gauges in your opinion
 

dont sound too smart to me!!! breakin the law in my state.. as well as saftey issues