Hey all. I need some help with my set-up. I have a Benelli Nova 12ga. that I plan on using a my primary bird gun (all brands of waterfowl/upland/etc). Do I need a specific Benelli limiter plug for the magazine or will any brand work? Whats the best choke setup for waterfowl? I bought a long-range choke last year, took it out to the clay range and busted like 10 clays out of a box of 90. I think the pattern was too tight for my novice ariel engagement skills. Also its all black now, any huge benefit to giving it a nice shadow grass pattern (I have pretty decent way to DIY one in an afternoon)? I'll be hunting in MI fields and wetlands if that makes a difference in any of this (most likely does).
Any thoughts and insights are more than welcome.
Also I have a case Winchester Expert Steel 3in. 12ga. 1550fps for ammo this year.
Not familiar with Benelli but, you MAY be able to make a plug.
I have done this for my Mossberg 500 and also for my Remington 870.
As far as I know, there arent any manufacturers of plugs, just the gun makers.
I used a modified cylinder choke in my guns.
What size shot is your ammo? I use BB with pretty good results.
VRMN
Here is the thing about a Nova and putting in a plug.
Last year I purchased a store bought plug that says "fits most shot guns". When I put in the plastic plug, I put the spring retainer cap flush with the top of the magazine. I put the magazine cap back on and thought all was good after testing. Through the course of our early season, the spring retainer pushed up into the magazine cap about 1/4 inch or so until one day I noticed I had loaded three 2 3/4 shells into the magazine
. I called it quits for the day and ran to the hardware store and cut a wooden dowel to the correct length.
In short, when you take the magazine cap off, take note of where the spring retainer cap sits and go from there.
Choke set up will depend on what day you're hunting. Some days you take long passing shots, others you take short ones as the drop into your decoys. I carry a modified and Improved with me in my bag. My personal and short experience, is that early in the season you take more passing shots and once it gets cold around here with more ducks and less open water I take closer shots.
meh.....i have forgotten about a plug and made it to the duck blind before without one. cut a piece of cane and that worked just fine. legal too
What size dowel did you use, seems like that would be easier then what happened with the one size fits most plugs out there.
Thanks for the info.
In a pinch a pen or tire pressure gauge will work for a plug too, as a buddy found out at the dove field this year.
As far as the finish of your gun - I don't think it matters much if it is black or camo. I have hunted with both, and been in pits and blinds with an assortment of finishes and not noticed any difference.
