64 Nebraskaland • January-February 2020
MIXED BAG
Tried and true semiautomatic shotguns have been in use
since the early-1900s, and many folks still use them today.
Inertia-driven guns like the Browning Auto-5 were the first
on the scene. In the mid-1900s, gas operated shotguns,
including the Remington Model 1100, appeared.
Inerita-driven shotguns work in most every situation
including extreme cold, snow and rain. When these shotguns
are fired, the recoil compresses an inertia spring that powers
a bolt assembly to quickly cycle the action, unloading the
spent shell and loading a new one into the chamber. With
fewer parts than a gas-operated gun, they are lightweight
and balanced. While they deliver more felt recoil than gas-
operated guns, a hunter will hardly notice the difference in
the field.
When the trigger is pulled and the powder in the shotshell
ignites in a gas-operated gun, some of the expended gas
traveling up the barrel is redirected through one or more
ports into a piston in the forearm. The piston drives a bolt
back to cycle the action. The drawback with these guns,
however, is the carbon residue left behind means they must
be cleaned regularly. Hunters who fail to do so may find that
in very cold and/or wet conditions, their shotguns will not
cycle properly. Whether you keep this gun dry and warm in
a blind or field hunt can make a difference in performance.
Regardless of the type of semiautomatic shotgun you
choose, most will reliably cycle light to heavy loads.
Autoloaders on the market today are offered with polymer
stocks that are strong and lightweight, and most have an
enlarged safety, bolt handles and release buttons that make
them easy to operate when wearing gloves in cold weather.
SHOTGUNS FOR WATERFOWL HUNTERS
By Julie Geiser
PHOTO
BY
JULIE
GEISER
