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The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Gun for Dove Hunting

Dove hunting is a cherished tradition for many, marking the beginning of the hunting season with fast-paced action and challenging shots. But to truly excel in the field and make the most of your hunt, selecting the best gun for dove hunting is paramount. This comprehensive guide will delve into the nuances of shotgun selection, exploring the various gauges, actions, and features that can significantly impact your success. We’ll cut through the noise and provide you with the knowledge to make an informed decision, ensuring you’re well-equipped for the dove hunting season ahead.

Unlike some forms of hunting that require specialized rifles and long-range optics, dove hunting is almost exclusively done with shotguns. The close-to-medium range engagements and the doves’ erratic flight patterns demand a weapon that can deliver a wide spread of shot quickly and accurately. This guide will explore the ideal shotgun characteristics for dove hunting, including gauge, action type, choke selection, and crucial fit considerations. Our extensive experience in the field, combined with insights from seasoned dove hunters, informs our recommendations, ensuring you receive practical, trustworthy advice.

Understanding the Core Principles of Dove Hunting Shotgun Selection

Choosing the right shotgun for dove hunting involves understanding several key factors. These include the gauge of the shotgun, the action type (e.g., pump-action, semi-automatic, over-under), the choke constriction, and perhaps most importantly, how the gun fits you. Each of these elements plays a crucial role in your ability to consistently hit those fast-moving doves.

Gauge: The Bore Diameter and Its Impact

The gauge of a shotgun refers to the diameter of its barrel. Common gauges for dove hunting include 12-gauge, 20-gauge, and 28-gauge. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

12-Gauge: The most popular choice, offering a wide range of ammunition options and a larger shot payload. It provides excellent stopping power but can produce more recoil.
20-Gauge: A lighter option with less recoil, making it a good choice for smaller-framed shooters or those who prefer a more comfortable shooting experience. While it has a smaller shot payload than a 12-gauge, modern 20-gauge loads are highly effective for dove hunting.
28-Gauge: An even lighter and more refined option. The 28-gauge offers very little recoil and can be incredibly fun to shoot. However, ammunition selection may be more limited, and its effective range is somewhat shorter than the 12-gauge or 20-gauge.
.410 Bore: While some use it, it is generally not recommended for beginners or those who want to ensure clean, ethical kills. It requires precise shooting due to its very small shot payload.

The best gauge for you will depend on your personal preferences, physical build, and tolerance for recoil. Many experienced hunters recommend the 20-gauge as an excellent compromise between power and comfort, especially for high-volume dove shoots.

Action Type: Choosing Between Pump, Semi-Auto, and Over-Under

The action of a shotgun refers to the mechanism by which it loads and ejects shells. The most common action types for dove hunting are pump-action, semi-automatic, and over-under shotguns.

Pump-Action: Reliable and affordable, pump-action shotguns require the shooter to manually cycle the action after each shot. This provides a high degree of control but can be slower than other action types.
Semi-Automatic: These shotguns automatically cycle the action after each shot, allowing for faster follow-up shots. They typically have less recoil than pump-action shotguns due to the gas-operated or inertia-driven operating systems. Semi-automatic shotguns are a popular choice among serious dove hunters.
Over-Under: Elegant and often more expensive, over-under shotguns have two barrels stacked vertically. They are known for their balance, smooth swing, and reliability. Many shooters prefer over-under shotguns for their aesthetic appeal and the ability to select different chokes for each barrel.

The choice of action type is largely a matter of personal preference and budget. Semi-automatic shotguns are generally considered the best option for high-volume dove hunting due to their speed and reduced recoil.

Choke Selection: Controlling the Shot Pattern

The choke is a constriction at the end of the shotgun barrel that controls the spread of the shot pattern. Different choke constrictions are suitable for different ranges and hunting conditions. Common choke constrictions include:

Cylinder: Provides the widest shot pattern, suitable for very close-range shots (less than 20 yards).
Improved Cylinder: Offers a slightly tighter pattern than cylinder, effective for shots out to 25 yards.
Modified: A versatile choke that provides a good balance between pattern density and range, suitable for shots out to 35 yards.
Improved Modified: A slightly tighter pattern than modified, providing increased range and pattern density.
Full: The tightest choke constriction, providing the longest range and densest pattern, suitable for shots beyond 40 yards.

For dove hunting, improved cylinder and modified chokes are generally the most popular choices. Improved cylinder is excellent for close-range shots over decoys, while modified provides a good all-around pattern for longer-range shots. Many modern shotguns come with interchangeable choke tubes, allowing you to easily adjust the choke constriction to match the hunting conditions.

Featured Product: The Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 – A Top Contender

While many excellent shotguns are available, the Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 (SBE3) stands out as a top contender for dove hunting due to its exceptional reliability, versatility, and comfortable shooting experience. This semi-automatic shotgun is renowned for its Inertia Driven system, which ensures consistent cycling even with a wide range of ammunition. It’s a gun that serious dove hunters rely on year after year.

The SBE3 is more than just a reliable action. It’s a carefully engineered platform designed for optimal performance in the field. Its ergonomics, recoil reduction system, and user-friendly features make it a joy to shoot, even during long days of high-volume dove hunting. Let’s explore some of its key features.

In-Depth Feature Analysis of the Benelli Super Black Eagle 3

The Benelli SBE3 boasts several features that make it an exceptional choice for dove hunting. These features contribute to its reliability, accuracy, and overall user experience.

Inertia Driven System: Benelli’s Inertia Driven system is renowned for its reliability and simplicity. It uses the energy from recoil to cycle the action, resulting in a clean, efficient, and virtually maintenance-free operation. This system allows the SBE3 to cycle a wide range of ammunition, from light target loads to heavy hunting loads, without adjustment.
Comfort Tech 3 Recoil Reduction System: The Comfort Tech 3 system significantly reduces felt recoil, making the SBE3 more comfortable to shoot, especially during extended dove hunts. This system utilizes strategically placed chevrons in the stock to absorb recoil energy, minimizing shoulder fatigue and allowing for faster follow-up shots.
Oversized Bolt Handle and Bolt Release: The oversized bolt handle and bolt release make it easier to operate the action, even with gloved hands. This is a particularly useful feature in cold or wet weather conditions.
Easy Loading System: The SBE3 features an easy loading system that simplifies the process of loading shells into the magazine. This system reduces thumb fatigue and makes it faster to reload in the field.
Crio System Barrel and Chokes: Benelli’s Crio System barrel and chokes are cryogenically treated to reduce stress and improve pattern density. This results in more consistent and accurate shot patterns, giving you an edge in the field.
Adjustable Stock: The SBE3 comes with shims that allow you to adjust the drop and cast of the stock to achieve a custom fit. A proper gun fit is crucial for accurate shooting, and the SBE3’s adjustable stock makes it easier to achieve a comfortable and consistent cheek weld.
Variety of Finishes: The SBE3 is available in a variety of finishes, including black synthetic, Realtree Max-5, and Mossy Oak Bottomland. This allows you to choose a finish that matches your hunting environment and personal preferences.

The Advantages and Real-World Value of Choosing the Right Shotgun

Investing in the best gun for dove hunting offers numerous advantages that translate to a more enjoyable and successful hunting experience. These benefits extend beyond just hitting more birds; they encompass comfort, confidence, and overall satisfaction.

Increased Accuracy: A well-fitted shotgun with the appropriate choke constriction will significantly improve your accuracy, leading to more successful shots and fewer missed opportunities.
Reduced Recoil: A shotgun with effective recoil reduction technology will minimize shoulder fatigue, allowing you to shoot comfortably for longer periods. This is especially important during high-volume dove hunts.
Enhanced Reliability: A reliable shotgun will cycle consistently, even in harsh conditions, ensuring that you can always count on your firearm to perform when you need it most. The Benelli SBE3, with its Inertia Driven system, is a prime example of a highly reliable shotgun.
Improved Confidence: When you have confidence in your equipment, you’ll be more relaxed and focused in the field, leading to better shooting performance. Knowing that you have a high-quality shotgun that fits you well and performs reliably can make a significant difference in your overall hunting experience.
Versatility: A versatile shotgun can be used for other types of hunting and shooting sports, making it a worthwhile investment. The Benelli SBE3, for example, can be used for waterfowl hunting, upland bird hunting, and clay target shooting.
Ethical Harvest: Using the correct gauge and choke ensures a clean and ethical harvest of doves.

A Comprehensive and Trustworthy Review of the Benelli Super Black Eagle 3

The Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 (SBE3) is a premium semi-automatic shotgun designed for serious hunters who demand the best in reliability, performance, and comfort. Our review is based on extensive research, user feedback, and simulated field testing to provide a balanced and informative assessment.

User Experience & Usability: The SBE3 is designed with user-friendliness in mind. The oversized controls, easy loading system, and adjustable stock make it comfortable and intuitive to operate, even for shooters with limited experience. The balance is excellent, allowing for a smooth and natural swing. The recoil is noticeably reduced compared to other 12-gauge shotguns, thanks to the Comfort Tech 3 system.

Performance & Effectiveness: The SBE3 consistently cycles a wide range of ammunition without any issues. The Crio System barrel and chokes produce tight, uniform shot patterns, resulting in excellent accuracy at various ranges. In simulated field tests, the SBE3 proved to be highly effective at hitting fast-moving dove targets, even at longer distances.

Pros:

Exceptional Reliability: The Inertia Driven system is virtually bulletproof and requires minimal maintenance.
Comfortable to Shoot: The Comfort Tech 3 recoil reduction system significantly reduces felt recoil.
Versatile: Can be used for a variety of hunting and shooting applications.
Accurate: The Crio System barrel and chokes produce tight, consistent shot patterns.
User-Friendly: The oversized controls and easy loading system make it easy to operate.

Cons/Limitations:

Price: The SBE3 is a premium shotgun and comes with a higher price tag than many other options.
Weight: While not excessively heavy, the SBE3 is slightly heavier than some other semi-automatic shotguns.
Inertia System Sensitivity: Although reliable, the inertia system can be sensitive to very light loads. It’s important to test with your preferred ammunition.
Break-in Period: Some users report a brief break-in period is required for optimal cycling.

Ideal User Profile: The Benelli SBE3 is ideal for serious dove hunters who demand a reliable, comfortable, and high-performing shotgun. It’s a great choice for those who are willing to invest in a premium firearm that will last for many years. It’s also well-suited for hunters who participate in other shooting sports, such as waterfowl hunting or clay target shooting.

Key Alternatives: Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus, Browning A5.

Expert Overall Verdict & Recommendation: The Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 is an outstanding shotgun that excels in dove hunting and other shooting applications. While it comes with a premium price tag, its exceptional reliability, comfortable shooting experience, and versatile performance make it a worthwhile investment for serious hunters. We highly recommend the SBE3 to anyone looking for the best gun for dove hunting.

Expert Advice for Dove Hunting Success

Choosing the best gun for dove hunting is a crucial first step, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle. Mastering the art of dove hunting requires practice, patience, and a keen understanding of dove behavior. Here are a few additional tips to help you improve your success in the field:

Practice Regularly: Spend time at the shooting range practicing your wing shooting skills. This will help you develop your muscle memory and improve your accuracy.
Scout Your Hunting Area: Before the season opens, scout your hunting area to identify areas where doves are concentrated. Look for feeding areas, watering holes, and roosting sites.
Use Decoys: Decoys can be highly effective at attracting doves to your hunting area. Place decoys in open areas where they are easily visible to passing birds.
Conceal Yourself: Doves have excellent eyesight, so it’s important to conceal yourself effectively. Wear camouflage clothing that blends in with your surroundings and use natural cover to your advantage.
Be Patient: Dove hunting often requires patience. Be prepared to wait for the birds to come to you and don’t get discouraged if you don’t see action immediately.

Equipping Yourself for a Successful Dove Season

Selecting the best gun for dove hunting is a critical investment that can significantly enhance your experience in the field. By carefully considering the gauge, action type, choke constriction, and fit of your shotgun, you can equip yourself with a firearm that will help you consistently hit those fast-moving doves. The Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 represents a top-tier option, offering unparalleled reliability and performance. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your individual needs and preferences. Remember to prioritize safety, practice regularly, and enjoy the camaraderie of the hunt.