Dove hunting with home defense shotgun?

[iwantoneofthose]

I'm fairly new to shotguns, and recently picked up an used Mossberg 590. Haven't had the chance to shoot it or do anything with it yet, and a buddy of mine asked if I wanted to join them to go dove hunting. It'll be my first time, and from the research I've done it seems like the barrel is too short (18.5") to be effective at dove hunting. Has anyone tried hunting with a shorter barrel with reasonable success, or should I just leave the 590 at home and borrow one of his?

[kenpoprofessor]

I'm fairly new to shotguns, and recently picked up an used Mossberg 590. Haven't had the chance to shoot it or do anything with it yet, and a buddy of mine asked if I wanted to join them to go dove hunting. It'll be my first time, and from the research I've done it seems like the barrel is too short (18.5") to be effective at dove hunting. Has anyone tried hunting with a shorter barrel with reasonable success, or should I just leave the 590 at home and borrow one of his?

Take it, but be sure to have him bring the other along with you guys just in case. It's not "too short", it's just not as effective at the longer ranges. Later, you can buy a longer barrel for it and swap it out when you go next time. Make sure you're using game load this and not buckshot


Have a great, gun carryin', Kenpo day

Clyde

[Suck My Glock]

Kenpo is correct. A longer barrel makes for easier aiming as you swing with the bird in flight, so it requires a little more skill on your part. But it is entirely possible. Many years ago when the only shotgun I had was a Remington 1100 riot gun, I was invited to hunt doves out in the Harquahala Valley on the edge of a farm where they grew cantaloupes and melons on contract for Del Monte. The doves were so thick and in CLOUDS it was almost impossible to not limit out, even if you were a horrible shot. I decided to only focus on individual birds that were difficult shots, and I was still done in 15 minutes. Granted, I have extensive history and experience dove hunting, but I was in no way ill-armed with that riot shotgun.

[YNOTAZ]

CAUTION

Make sure it is plugged. For dove hunting it can only hold 3 rounds. If you are questioned by G&F for any reason, they will check capacity, and you will get a ticket.

"Migratory game birds may be taken only with a 10-gauge or smaller shotgun capable of holding no more than three shells (two in the magazine and one in the chamber). unless it is plugged with a one-piece filler, incapable of removal without disassembling the gun, so its total capacity does not exceed three shells."

[iwantoneofthose]

Thanks everyone! I'll give it a shot (ha!) and see how it goes, worst case I get some practice with it. And yes my buddy told me about the 3 rd capacity, that's on the to do list. Looks like a 1/2" wooden dowel cut to fit does the trick.

[brandonsmash]

Wooden dowel is fine for a tube plug, for sure. I have seen G&F out several times when I've hunted at more popular spots and they DO check licenses, capacity, and catch.

A shorter barrel will have a massive spread -- particularly if you don't have a choke -- so your shots are going to be limited to shorter range. To compensate for this you might try using a slightly heavier shot. Normally for early season dove I'll use #7.5 or #8 shot with an IC choke on a 22" or 24" barrel depending on which shotgun I grab. If I were trying to hunt with an 18.5" open barrel I'd probably try #6 shot; you'll have fewer pellets on target but the individual pellets will carry more energy. With your barrel setup I wouldn't think that #6 would damage the meat too much.

Happy hunting!

[iwantoneofthose]

Wooden dowel is fine for a tube plug, for sure. I have seen G&F out several times when I've hunted at more popular spots and they DO check licenses, capacity, and catch.

A shorter barrel will have a massive spread -- particularly if you don't have a choke -- so your shots are going to be limited to shorter range. To compensate for this you might try using a slightly heavier shot. Normally for early season dove I'll use #7.5 or #8 shot with an IC choke on a 22" or 24" barrel depending on which shotgun I grab. If I were trying to hunt with an 18.5" open barrel I'd probably try #6 shot; you'll have fewer pellets on target but the individual pellets will carry more energy. With your barrel setup I wouldn't think that #6 would damage the meat too much.

Happy hunting!

that's a good point, thanks for the insight!

[Ballistic Therapy]

Are you serious about killing doves or do you just want to see how your guns works ?
If you are serious about killing dove , I would use a longer barrel.
If you just want to try out your gun , go for it . it will still be fun.

As stated above you need the plug.
One other thing to think about is that now , if you have x amount of dead birds , you better have x amount of spent shells on you.
If you don't they will ticket you for littering ( which I think they should ) .

[iwantoneofthose]

Are you serious about killing doves or do you just want to see how your guns works ?
If you are serious about killing dove , I would use a longer barrel.
If you just want to try out your gun , go for it . it will still be fun.

As stated above you need the plug.
One other thing to think about is that now , if you have x amount of dead birds , you better have x amount of spent shells on you.
If you don't they will ticket you for littering ( which I think they should ) .

probably a bit of both. First time hunting, so it'll be an experience regardless. Did the plug with the wooden dowel, seems to have done the job. Pretty confident I'll have more spent shells than dead birds Will be bringing trash bags and a container for spent shells, really hate when people leave trash behind.

[blasternaz]

Good on you! Enjoy the experience and leave the fields as you found them. Great start.

[XJThrottle]

Meh, I do pretty good with clays using my KS-12 and it's 18.25" barrel, and I'm always chasing someone else's shot.

[brandonsmash]

So, how did it go?

[iwantoneofthose]

So, how did it go?

It was way more fun than I expected! I got one dove with the 590, but I was having difficulty getting the spent shell to extract (spent shell stuck in chamber), so that's something I have to figure out. Comes out fairly easy with a pocket knife, so hopefully it's not something major. After a while gave up on it and switched over to my buddy's Benelli Supernova and got 3 more...out of approximately 60 shells so I've got work to do

[BigNate]

My son's first dove hunt was with my 590... he took birds... He used it long enough to figure out that he liked hunting birds, and then bought a cheap bird gun. He's since upgraded that to something "not cheap"...

[brandonsmash]

Dove is not exactly a cost-effective meat per pound, but the hunting is a good time!