Pump-Action vs. Semi-Automatic: Waterfowl Hunting Shotgun Showdown

Who doesn’t love a shiny, new, lovely semi-automatic shotgun that provides duck hunters the most recent firearms know-how? I love them, however after utilizing a number of semi-autos and pump shotguns, I’ve discovered that one sort of shotgun is a lot better fitted to waterfowl searching. On this article, we’ll focus on why a pump shotgun is healthier for many hunters whereas a semi-auto is healthier for a number of others. Let’s get began.

Pump Shotgun

A pump-action shotgun is the most suitable choice for waterfowl searching, interval. Though I’ve used completely different manufacturers and gauges through the years, I nonetheless choose duck searching with a 12-gauge shotgun for a number of causes. 

Professionals

• Cheaper
• Extra dependable
• Extra sturdy

The very first thing I like about searching with a pump-action shotgun is how a lot inexpensive they’re than semi-auto shotguns. I’m powerful on my searching gear. I don’t have a pleasant soft place to hunt, so my gear will get moist, muddy, and bloody. Nonetheless, I don’t have to fret about maintaining my gear in pristine situation as a result of I didn’t spend $3,000 on a brand new shotgun. As an alternative, I spent about $800. 

Simply because pump shotguns are inexpensive doesn’t imply they’re much less dependable; in truth, in my expertise, they’re extra dependable. I’ve had fewer issues with pumps through the years than with semis. This additionally contains once they’re soiled. Everyone knows how messy a duck hunt can get, together with our weapons, however pump-action shotguns are extra dependable when soiled than semi-auto shotguns. So that you’ll bag extra birds when utilizing a pump as a result of it’s extra more likely to hearth.

Lastly, I’ve used (unloaded) pump-action shotguns, like an previous Remington 870, as a paddle when the boat motor failed to begin or to bust ice. Sure, a semi-auto may also do this, however it’s extra more likely to break due to the additional transferring elements. 

I’m a giant fan of maintaining issues easy, and it’s fairly obvious whenever you have a look at my gear choice, together with my duck searching shotgun, however that doesn’t imply I believe pump-action shotguns are good. There are a number of cons that you simply want to pay attention to earlier than shopping for a pump.

Cons

• Not fairly as quick as a semi-auto
• Your buddies assume you’re much less cool
• Folks on social media assume you’re poor

I can shoot and rapidly cycle shells by my pump, however it’s nonetheless quicker for me to make use of a semi-auto. That’s why I nonetheless use a semi-automatic shotgun on goose hunts, particularly snow goose conservation hunts.

One other draw back to utilizing a pump is your buddies considering much less of you. You’ve constructed a stable popularity with them, and whenever you present to the blind with a pump-action, they’ll have a look at you a bit bizarre as a result of “who hunts with a pump-action anymore?”

The final con is different hunters on social media will routinely assume you’re poor since you select to hunt with a pump-action as a substitute of a high-dollar semi-auto. This actually isn’t a foul factor except you’re obsessive about what different folks take into consideration you.

Semi-Automated Shotgun

As I discussed, I sometimes use a semi-auto shotgun for waterfowl searching as a result of this sort of shotgun has some constructive features.

Professionals

• Newest shotgun know-how
• Everybody thinks you’re a greater hunter than you actually are

Now, I do know I’ve been fairly crucial of semi-autos, however one factor I like about them is how they make the most of the most recent shotgun know-how. When you’re obsessive about staying up-to-date on the most recent applied sciences, then a semi-auto is the one shotgun for you. 

One other added good thing about utilizing a semi-auto is how different hunters routinely assume you’re duck hunter as a result of “solely one of the best duck hunters shoot a semi-auto.” Okay, possibly that’s what the gun producers need us to imagine, however they’ve achieved a fairly good job of convincing most hunters of that assertion.

Cons

The most important disadvantage to semi-automatic shotguns is their value. As I stated, I’m powerful on my gear, so I couldn’t think about taking a pricey shotgun to the blind and getting it muddy, bloody, and scratched. That is additionally why I solely hunt with an affordable over/below, not a high-dollar one. 

Possibly it’s as a result of they use new applied sciences that haven’t had each wrinkle ironed out, however I’ve all the time discovered semi-automatic shotguns much less dependable. I’ve had extra issues within the subject with them than with pump shotguns. If I’m spending that sort of cash on a gun, I need it to work 100% of the time; once I pull the set off, a duck higher be falling out of the sky. I shouldn’t hear a dreaded click on or expertise a malfunction. 

Parting Photographs

For some, the professionals of semi-auto shotguns outweigh the cons, and plenty of will nonetheless select to make use of them for waterfowl searching, however that’s the fantastic thing about this life-style. Neither method is incorrect. 

Now that you simply’ve learn this text, you’ll be able to determine which is healthier on your state of affairs. I’m blissful to share a blind with you, even in case you select incorrectly, as a lot of my buddies will vouch. 

However for actual, I’d a lot reasonably see folks having fun with the nice open air with a semi-auto than sitting at house, so go get after it!

Wes Littlefield

Wes is an avid outdoorsman from Oklahoma all the time on the hunt for the following journey. When he isn’t writing, he is most likely in his kayak reeling in a fish or attempting to trick waterfowl into trying out his unfold.