The Small-Bore Revolution - Duck guns get smaller. That’s a good thing for retailers.
By Phil Bourjaily
Waterfowlers have always believed “bigger is better.” Until now. Small-bore duck and goose guns have become the surprise trend in shotgunning. Sixteen-, 20-, and even 28-gauge guns, and the occasional .410 have become popular among hunters. The announcement of a 3-inch magnum 28-gauge a couple years ago created even bigger interest in little guns.
The 12-gauge isn’t dead. It’s still the best choice for hunters who want to shoot only steel. But, with better (albeit pricier) ammo alternatives, like bismuth and tungsten-iron out there, more and more duck and goose hunters are hanging up their 12s for smaller gauges. They can kill birds just as well, but with smaller, lighter guns, and often with less recoil, too. Americans have always loved small-bore guns. They are undeniably fun to hunt with. Small gauges have conquered the turkey woods, and now they’re marching on the duck blind. Here’s what you need to know about selling small-bore guns and ammo to your waterfowling customers.
Selling Small Bores
When you sell a duck gun, you aren’t just selling it to one person. Waterfowlers hunt in groups, and groups think alike. Sell the right small-bore duck gun to one hunter, and chances are good their friends will be in the market for one, too. Here are five points to keep in mind when someone comes into your shop looking to hunt ducks with a small-bore gun.
- Keep a good selection in stock. Small-gauge guns sell themselves if you can put them in a customer’s hands so they can feel their light weight and trim lines. Carry waterfowl-specific models. There are quite a few available now, with camo or camo/Cerakote finishes and the enlarged controls popular among duck and goose hunters.
- Educate yourself and your staff on non-toxic shot. The small-bore boom resulted from improved waterfowl loads and some are effective even at longer ranges, if the customer is willing to pay for the performance. Steel, bismuth, tungsten-iron, pure TSS, and “stacked” loads of mixed pellet types and sizes all have their pros and cons. Non-toxic shot is expensive; you have to be able to make the case for it to the customer. Steer hunters on a budget to stacked loads combining steel and denser, premium loads. Brands worth stocking include HEVI-Shot, Federal Premium, Apex, Remington, and Winchester.
- Waterfowl hunters like aftermarket chokes. Keep a selection on hand for the guns and gauges you sell. Kick’s is a well-regarded brand that makes chokes in all gauges. MOJO Outdoors, Carlson’s, and Trulock are also in the hunt.
- Bismuth shot is the solution for hunters who want to bring older small bores back into the blind. It’s the only non-toxic pellet guaranteed not to damage older gun barrels made of soft steel. HEVI-Shot offers its HeviBismuth in every gauge from 10 to .410.
- If a customer wants a small bore and isn’t set on a particular gauge, sell them a 20. There’s a wide variety of ammunition available, and that ammo is often more affordable than 16-, 28-gauge and .410 shells made in smaller runs. In addition, a 3-inch 20-gauge shell can hold an ounce of steel shot, so it’s a good choice for someone who wants a smaller gun and doesn’t want to pay for expensive premium ammunition for every hunt.
Some Guns to Consider
- Browning A5 Sweet 16: Browning’s Sweet 16 A5 comes in waterfowl versions, including the top-of-the-line Wicked Wing with camo stock and bronze Cerakote metal. It’s a very light, 5 ¾-pound inertia gun.
- Benelli Super Black Eagle 3: The original 3½-inch 12-gauge semi-auto now comes in 3-inch 20-gauge and in the new 3-inch 28-gauge. The 28 weighs just 5½ pounds, yet is a very capable waterfowl gun if you load it with HEVI-Shot.
- Beretta A400 Xplor: Beretta scales down its popular A400 to 3-inch 28-gauge for those who prefer the even softer recoil of a small-bore gas gun. This gun comes dressed for the uplands with a wood stock and silver receiver, but it will shoot in the duck blind, too.
- Browning Citori: Available in four gauges, and in occasional special runs of 16s, Browning’s Citori is a proven performer. Last year, the chambers on all 28-gauge Citoris were lengthened to three inches. If you want an O/U for the blind, the basic Hunter makes a solid choice.
- Winchester SXP: Winchester’s SXP pump is affordable and extremely slick due to its rotary bolt design. The Waterfowl model comes in a variety of camo patterns.
- Winchester SX4: The SX4 is a great buy in a semi-auto gas gun. It’s soft-shooting, reliable, and it offers much of the performance of top-of-the-line guns for hundreds of dollars less. The 20-gauge version comes with a 26- or 28-inch barrel and in a variety of camos, including old-school Woodland, which stands out in a gun rack.
- Mossberg 500: The most popular pump gun ever made, it comes in 20-gauge and .410 models. The .410, while the worst choice among small bores, can still perform surprisingly well at close ranges when loaded with HEVI-Shot or TSS.
- Franchi Affinity 3: The 20-gauge Affinity 3 inertia-operated semi-auto makes up into a nice lightweight duck gun in a range of camo and camo and Cerakote choices. Most hunters know Franchi is owned by Benelli, and that its semi-autos make a viable, lower-cost alternative to an M2 or SBE3.
- TriStar Viper: A low-priced gas gun that delivers reliable performance, the plain walnut-stocked version of the Viper comes in 16-, 20-, and 28-gauge, and in .410. Currently there is no 3-inch 28-gauge Viper, but any of the other three can be capable waterfowl guns.
- CZ Drake All-Terrain: A very affordable, rugged 20-gauge O/U configured for waterfowl, the Drake features matte walnut, extended chokes, swivel studs, and an olive Cerakote metal finish. It also has tiny rare-earth magnets in its extractors to keep shells from falling out when you open it muzzles-up in a blind.
