Five Shotguns For 2011

January 24, 2011 By Ben OBrien

A look at some of the different scatterguns seen at the 2011 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, NV

By Aaron Decker

The 2011 SHOT Show was recently held in Las Vegas, NV and there were a couple of new shotgun offerings that are hitting the market this coming year that might be of interest to the waterfowl hunter.

The Remington Versamax

REMINGTON VERSAMAX
The Remington Versamax will reliably shoot 12-gauge rounds from 2 3/4 to 3 1/2 magnums. The Versaport gas system regulates cycling pressure based on shell length. Tired of a 12-gauge kick? The shotgun also reduces recoil of that of a 20-gauge. The Remington Versamax is available in black, Mossy Oak Duck Blind Camo and Realtree AP HD Camo. MSRP starts at $1599.99

CONTACT: Remington.com

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Browning Maxus All-Purpose, Mossy Oak Break Up Infinity

BROWNING MAXUS ALL-PURPOSE, MOSSY OAK BREAK UP INFINITY
The Browning Maxus All Purpose, Mossy Oak Break Up Infinity is designed to be an all around shotgun that can be used for multiple pursuits...deer, turkey, waterfowl and upland shooting. The gas-operated autoloader features a 12-GA 3 1/2 chamber and offers a power drive gas system that reduces recoil and cycles a wide range of loads. The shotgun comes with four Invector-Plus choke tubes (XF Turkey Tube included), HiViz 4-in-1 fiber optic sight set, Inflex Technology recoil pad, ivory front bead sight and one 1/4-inch stock spacer. The Dura-Touch armor coating should stand up to extreme elements. MSRP $1,600.

CONTACT: Browning.com

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Mossberg 510 Mini-Pump

MOSSBERG 510 MINI-PUMP
The Mossberg 510 Mini-Pump is now available in a camo version and would make a fine first shotgun for the youth hunter in your life. The 510 Mini weighs five pounds and available in 20 GA and .410. The shotgun features a Super Bantam adjustable stock and a 18 1/2-inch vent ribbed barrel.

CONTACT: Mossberg.com

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BENELLI SUPER VINCI
Benelli has toughened up its Vinci line by offering the Benelli Super Vinci, a 12-GA, 3 1/2 that features the Benelli In-Line Inertia Driven System. The "Super Sized" shotgun comes standard with a full set of Crio Choke tubes and offers a beveled magazine loading port. The In-Line Inertia Bolt-return system reduces movement during recoil, resulting in less muzzle climb for quick follow up shots. The Super Vinci configurations include black synthetic, Realtree MAX-4, and REaltree APG. MSRP starts at $1649

CONTACT: Benelliusa.com

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Stoeger M3500

STOEGER M3500
Like the Super Vinci, the Stoeger M3500 is a new 12-GA, 3 1/2 offering that serves up several of the features the Benelli Super Vinci has, but for less than half the price. The M3500 features the Inertia Driven action that is contained primarily in the receiver offering a more centered balance and swing. Each shotgun comes with five choke tubes, red-bar front sight, recoil reducer, shim kit and a weaver scope base. Finish options are Realtree APG, Realtree Max-4, and black synthetic. MSRP starts at $629.

CONTACT: Stoegerindustries.com

Teal Appeal

Gear

Teal Appeal

Skip Knowles and Jim McConville visit the rice fields of Louisiana for early season teal hunting with Rob Hansen of Leg Iron Outfitters. They are joined by waterfowling legend Terry Denham of MOJO Outdoors.

Gear

It Was a Setup

Gear

It Was a Setup

Skip Knowles and Jim McConville are in the rice fields of southern Louisiana hunting early season teal with waterfowling legend Terry Denham of MOJO Outdoors. Terry discusses motion decoys and their best use and practices while everyone gets humbled by fast flying teal.

Gear

The Right Stuff

Gear

The Right Stuff

Skip Knowles and Jim McConville from Wildfowl magazine are hunting early season teal with Rob Hansen of Leg Iron outfitters in the Louisiana rice fields. They get a chance to pick Rob's brain about how to best setup a blind and decoy spread for teal, and get into some good afternoon action once the birds are on the move.

Gear

Decoy Spread

Gear

Decoy Spread

Skip Knowles and Jim McConville from Wildfowl magazine wrap up their hunt in the rice fields of Louisiana chasing early season teal. They delve deep into the nuances and intricacies of a proper spread for decoying ducks and pick their outfitters brain about all things teal.

Gear

Crane Hunting in Saskatchewan

Gear

Crane Hunting in Saskatchewan

Skip Knowles and Jim McConville head north to the Canadian province of Saskatchewan to chase sandhill cranes from the endless agricultural fields. This is Jim's first time to hunt decoying sandhill cranes and he has come with all the tools required for such a hunt. From his shotgun and loads to even night vision. Jim is ready for his first experience with the “Rib Eye of the skies”

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Boom Boom Boom

Gear

Boom Boom Boom

Skip Knowles and Jim McConville are in Southeastern Saskatchewan hunting specklebelly geese and mallards from the farm fields that spread from horizon to horizon. This is their first chance at big ducks in the fall of 2024 and strong winds have the birds on the move.

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Bismuth vs Steel

Gear

Bismuth vs Steel

Skip Knowles and Jim McConville from Wildfowl magazine are in the fields of Saskatchewan chasing sandhill cranes with Christian Hogg from Fiocchi ammunition. Having an expert in the blind leads to all sorts of insights about waterfowl loads and the best way to hunt using either bismuth or steel depending on the situation. It's action packed and information packed as well.

Learn

Cleaning and Eats

Learn

Cleaning and Eats

About the only thing Skip Knowles like as much as chasing wild game is eating it. Especially when that game is a rare treat like sandhill crane-known to hunters as the “rib eye of the skies”. Skip puts together a nice plate of sandhill's using the basic ingredients around camp, and gives Jim McConville and Fiocchi's Christian Hogg a taste of all their efforts on the hunt.

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It's All About Those Benelli's

Gear

It's All About Those Benelli's

The adventure moves on to Michigan and the big marshes of Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay. Skip Knowles and Jim McConville hit the big water in brushed in boats in search of big ducks, and they take a look at what their shotgun loads are actually doing with a day on the range.

Learn

That's a Wrap

Learn

That's a Wrap

Skip Knowles and Jim McConville look back on the first season of Inside the Blind and all the adventures they shared across North America. From the rice fields of southern Louisiana, the marshes of Lake Huron, and the endless fields of Southeastern Saskatchewan, it's been a full season…Inside the Blind.

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Fiocchi's New Duck Busters

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Fiocchi's New Duck Busters

New tools in your toolbox for duck and goose hunters: Fiocchi shares exciting news for waterfowlers with their new Golden Waterfowl Bismuth, available in all major gauges, including 28 gauge 3” #4s, developed working with Benelli. Also up, a new early season load for duck hunters, Speed sTEAL, a plated steel load that comes in #4s and #6s.

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Migration Strike

Gear

Migration Strike

Waterfowl funnel through North Central Kansas in big numbers when the cold weather hits, and timing is everything. Join WILDFOWL Editor Skip Knowles as he teams up with Northern Wings Outfitters to bullseye the duck migration on a torrid gadwall hunt and test how Browning's stunning new Auric waterfowl camouflage pattern helps boost their odds.