Yup, it's official

[mdunc8]

I expect the real duck hunters to laugh at me, but I walked the river today and jumped up quite a few birds. They were awfully jumpy, but I did manage to get a few. I learned two things today. Don't waste your money on cheap guns. My POS 870 kept jamming, which cost me two mallards (I'll blame an addition three on myself). Also, leaving ducks in a vest for several hours results in birds not worth taking pictures of. I found out after the fact that golden eyes are considered trash birds by many and aren't too tasty. I'll give them a try, but I imagine those will be the last ones I shoot. Hopefully I'll have some decoys by the end of the week and can do some real hunting next weekend.

 

[Mudranger1]

very nice..went on my first trip last week..lots of shooting..one bird but a good time anyways

 

[Nemont]

I don't buy the whole "trash ducks" idea. I don't shoot coots but that is by choice. Congrats and don't be too harsh on the 870.

Keep after them.

Nemont

 

[mdunc8]

I've never had a problem with the 870 before today. However, I only used it for turkey. Now I'm gonna have to decide between a new bow or shotgun this summer.

 

[mtmiller]

Well done.

When I first started hunting waterfowl in MT I had a BPS and ran into the same problems with jamming issues (not the guns fault, lots of mud and water). I ended up spending more than I thought was necessary for a Benelli auto. It has done me well for about a dozen years and ended up being a good decision in my opinion.

Looking forward to more duck pics from you this season.

 

[Bowhuntrben]

Congratulations! I have only been duck hunting a few times with a friend when I was going to school in North Dakota. Lots of action and lots of fun!

 

[Big Fin]

Congrats. Some say those "Michigan Mallards" can be converted to table fare, with enough seasoning. Never tried them myself. Looks like fun.

 

[choc dogs]

Trash ducks just need to be cooked in bbq sauce in the slow cooker. If you've got roadkill handy you can add it, too. Serve on an onion roll with slaw, Nobody has to know.

 

[Summitthunting]

Calling an 870 a POS is like calling BigFin a road hunter, it just don't make sense. Over 10 million 870's have been sold, they work flawlessly if you:

A. Clean the gun every couple years.

B. Strip oil and dry lube if using in cold weather.

C. Don't short stroke it when pumping.

I have my dads and grandfathers 870 wingmasters and an express, they are extremely reliable.

How did the gun cost you the ducks?

 

[mdunc8]

Jumped a group of mallards. Shot the hen on the first shot, the gun jammed, and watched the three remaining birds fly away. I guess that's what I get for shooting the hen. Happened two other times today. I'll take the blame on several birds, but it's the gun's fault when the it doesn't go boom when I pull the trigger.

 

[Summitthunting]

Clean the gun, and I mean clean. Completely disassemble, check the locking lug recess and the bolt/firing pin for crud. If it jammed when pumping (two shells stacked on top of each other) your probably short stroking it. Crud in the locking lug recess will prevent the firing pin from coming fully forward, by design. Clean the gun, save your money, buy a bow.

 

[huntRme]

I wouldn't trade my mid 60's era field grade wingmaster for anything. I do remember a time when it occassionally fed two shells at once, and allowed a rooster to get away one of those times. Had it fixed. No problem since.

Goldeneyes are a trophy duck for most folks. They shoot one for a mount, then its back to the eaters. They couldn't taste worse than a sharptail.

 

[genesis273]

First, you messed up by giving waterfowl hunting a try! That trip will end up costing you more than you think! It`s very addictive and can be as costly as you want it to be!

Second, I agree with so many replies above. You can not beat the `ol 870! Especially for the money! I`ll second the cleaning part. Also, could you have been in a hurry for a second shot and short shucked it?

Third, golden eyes are one of the few birds I haven`t killed and tried to eat. Never seen one in my part of NC. But I will advise on one that you need never pull a feather off of, and thats a hooded merganser!!! Nastiest thing I have ever attempted to eat. Couldn`t spit enough to get that taste out! Shoot one to mount (drakes are beautiful) and let the rest fly!

 

[Big Slick]

The Benelli Nove is also a great choice if you like pumps. Both of my boys have these guns and they love them.

 

[belly-deep]

Calling an 870 a POS is like calling BigFin a road hunter, it just don't make sense. Over 10 million 870's have been sold, they work flawlessly if you:

A. Clean the gun every couple years.

B. Strip oil and dry lube if using in cold weather.

C. Don't short stroke it when pumping.

I have my dads and grandfathers 870 wingmasters and an express, they are extremely reliable.

How did the gun cost you the ducks?

I agree. 870s are probably the most reliable gun around unless there is a part on it that is defective or something. The 870 design is one of the best ever and certainly not prone to jamming.

 

[emrah1028]

Older 870's are great. I have a Wingmaster from (I think) 1981. I also had a '96 plain 'ol 870 Express that I stupidly sold. I bought a new one in 2006 and it was a huge POS. MAJOR extraction issues. And this was with regular old 7 and 8 shot upland loads. Nothing high pressure.

Apparently, Rem's recently (like, oh, past 10 freakin' years) been having these extractio problems. Easy to find gripes about it on just about any search you do on a firearms forum (or Google).

I called Rem customer service and talked to a tech. They suggested polishing the barrel extension area. He said the shell (or brass) swells and jams on the minor imperfections or rough spots. Well, I did not find any rough spots. I promptly sold that gun back to Gander and went to my local outdoor store and bought the good old '81 Wingmaster. It's lost some blueing and has minor pitting, but it is infallable.

I guess Rem quality has tanked just like many others. This extraction issue is apparently very common, and has continued this way for over 10 years.

Buy an older one and you're doing great. Buy a new one take your chances...

Emrah

 

[CabinFever]

I had the same thing with my 870 a few weeks back. First time thats happened in the 11 years I've owned it. I suspect the action needs cleaning as well...

 

[MThuntr]

I called Rem customer service and talked to a tech. They suggested polishing the barrel extension area. He said the shell (or brass) swells and jams on the minor imperfections or rough spots.

That's exactly what they told me when Black Clouds kept jamming in my gun. I polished with super fine emory which did help but continued. I quit using black clouds and problem solved.

Not to distract from the topic but if your 870 is newer remember to wipe it down with a bit of oil because they rust like nothing I've ever seen.

 

[mdunc8]

I was shooting Prairie Storms this weekend.

 

[MThuntr]

Prairie Storm? ...hope not for ducks cause those are the same as Black Cloud except with lead shot.