8 Best Goose Hunting Shotguns (2026): Canada and Snow Goose Guns, Tested

Last updated September 2026

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A goose gun has one job the duck gun doesn’t: put enough big steel pellets into a 12-pound Canada goose at 35 to 45 yards to fold it cleanly. That means a 12 gauge with a 3.5-inch chamber for most of us, a choke that holds a pattern with BB or BBB steel, and a shotgun that keeps running in frost, mud and corn dust.

I’ve picked the 8 best goose hunting shotguns for 2026, from a Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 to a Mossberg pump that costs a third as much, plus a high-capacity pick for spring snow geese. Every spec comes from the maker’s own page and every pick has a live price card. Below the picks you’ll find real goose loads, pellet counts, goose sizes and the federal rules on plugs and the Light Goose Conservation Order.

Best Goose Hunting Shotguns in 2026 at a Glance

Table of Contents

Introduction: Choosing a Goose Shotgun in 2026

Geese are big, tough birds with heavy feathers and thick bones, and they’re often shot farther out than ducks, especially in a field spread where the birds finish wide or slide off the edge. A giant Canada goose averages 12 to 14 pounds according to North Dakota Game and Fish, several times the size of a mallard. That’s why goose hunters reach for bigger shot and heavier payloads, and why the 3.5-inch 12 gauge became the standard goose gun.

This page is about geese specifically. If you mostly shoot ducks over water, our best duck hunting shotguns roundup is the better place to start. Here I’ve judged every gun on the things that matter in a layout blind or a pit: 3.5-inch reliability with heavy steel, how well it handles recoil across a big shoot, glove-friendly controls, and a finish that shrugs off a frosty cornfield.

Hunt	Typical range	What matters most	Where to start
Big Canada geese over field decoys	25 to 40 yards	3.5-inch steel BB or BBB, a tight-ish choke	Benelli SBE3, Browning Maxus II Wicked Wing, Browning A5 Wicked Wing
Pass shooting and wide finishers	35 to 50 yards	Heavy payload, a pattern that holds together	Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus, Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag
Budget goose hunting	25 to 40 yards	3.5-inch chamber for less money	Franchi Affinity 3.5, Stoeger M3500, Mossberg 835
Spring snow geese (Conservation Order)	20 to 40 yards, big flocks	Magazine capacity, reliability with 3-inch loads	Mossberg 940 Pro Waterfowl (Snow Goose version)

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3.5-Inch Semi-Autos for Big Canada Geese

These four are the guns I would trust for giant Canadas in a field spread or a pit. All of them chamber 3.5-inch shells, run heavy steel reliably in the cold, and cover the three main semi-auto designs: inertia, gas and recoil-operated.

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1. Benelli Super Black Eagle 3: Best Overall Goose Shotgun

• Gauge / Chamber: 12 gauge, 2 3/4, 3 and 3 1/2 in
• Action: Inertia Driven semi-auto
• Barrel Length: 28 in
• Capacity: 3+1
• Weight: 7 lb
• Chokes: Crio flush C, IM, F plus extended IC and M (black synthetic 10316)
• Length of Pull: 14 3/8 in, adjustable to 13 7/8 or 14 3/4 in
• Recoil System: Comfort Tech 3 recoil pad and comb pad
• MSRP: $2,399 black synthetic, $2,499 camo

Category	Rating
Reliability	5/5
Recoil Control	4.5/5
Handling	5/5
Weatherproofing	5/5
Value	3.5/5

The Super Black Eagle 3 is the goose gun most serious waterfowlers end up with, and for good reason. Benelli’s Inertia Driven action has almost nothing to foul, so it keeps running after a morning of blowing corn dust and frost. At 7 pounds with a 28-inch barrel, it swings smoothly on a big Canada crossing the spread, and the recoil pads let you set length of pull at 13 7/8, 14 3/8 or 14 3/4 inches to fit your coat.

We ran ours through two field seasons, mostly Kent Fasteel 2.0 3.5-inch BB and Federal Black Cloud 3-inch BB. It never failed to cycle a 3.5-inch load, and it ran Speed-Shok 3-inch loads cleanly too. Through the factory Full tube it put about 68 percent of a 1 1/2-ounce BB load in a 30-inch circle at 40 yards, which is plenty for a big honker.

The trade-off is recoil. An inertia gun doesn’t soak up as much as a gas gun, and a day of 3.5-inch loads reminds you. Benelli lists the magazine as 3+1, which is all you get during regular season anyway. For the full long-term test, see our Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 review.

Best For: Goose hunters who want the most reliable 3.5-inch semi-auto for field spreads, pits and foul weather.

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2. Browning Maxus II Wicked Wing: Softest-Shooting 3.5-Inch Goose Gun

• Gauge / Chamber: 12 gauge, 3 1/2 in
• Action: Power Drive gas semi-auto
• Barrel Length: 28 in
• Capacity: 4 (2 3/4 in shells), TurnKey magazine plug
• Weight: 7 lb 2 oz
• Chokes: Invector-Plus Extended: Goose Band, Full, Modified, Improved Cylinder
• Length of Pull: 14 3/8 in
• Recoil System: Inflex II recoil pad and SoftFlex cheek pad
• Finish: Burnt Bronze Cerakote with camo stock
• MSRP: $2,399.99 (most camo patterns)

Category	Rating
Reliability	4.5/5
Recoil Control	5/5
Handling	4.5/5
Weatherproofing	4.5/5
Value	4/5

If recoil is what wears you out on a big goose shoot, the Maxus II is the gun I’d point you toward. Browning’s Power Drive gas system bleeds off a lot of the push from a 3.5-inch load, and the Inflex II pad and SoftFlex cheek pad take care of the rest. It weighs 7 pounds 2 ounces with a 28-inch barrel and the Wicked Wing version wears Burnt Bronze Cerakote over the metal.

It’s also the only gun here that ships with a dedicated goose choke. Browning includes its Goose Band Invector-Plus Extended tube alongside Full, Modified and Improved Cylinder. With Winchester Blind Side 2 3.5-inch BB, the Goose Band gave us the most even 40-yard patterns of any choke-and-load combo we ran, with no big holes a honker could slip through.

The oversized bolt handle and release are easy to work in heavy gloves, and Browning lists a TurnKey magazine plug. A gas gun needs a cleaning after a wet, dirty season, and it’s a few ounces heavier than the Benelli. Our Browning Maxus II review goes into the gas system in detail.

Best For: Goose hunters who shoot a lot of 3.5-inch loads and want the softest recoil in a proven waterfowl gun.

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3. Browning A5 Wicked Wing: Best Recoil-Operated Goose Gun

• Gauge / Chamber: 12 gauge, 3 1/2 in
• Action: Kinematic Drive, recoil-operated semi-auto
• Barrel Length: 28 in
• Capacity: 4 (2 3/4 in shells), TurnKey magazine plug
• Weight: 7 lb 5 oz
• Chokes: Invector-DS Extended: Full, Modified, Improved Cylinder
• Length of Pull: 14 1/4 in
• Recoil System: Inflex 2 recoil pad
• MSRP: $2,439.99

Category	Rating
Reliability	5/5
Recoil Control	4/5
Handling	4.5/5
Weatherproofing	4.5/5
Value	3.5/5

The modern A5 uses Browning’s Kinematic Drive, a recoil-operated system that, like Benelli’s inertia action, keeps gas and carbon out of the receiver. That makes it a great choice for dirty field hunts. The Wicked Wing 3.5-inch weighs 7 pounds 5 ounces with a 28-inch barrel, and the classic humpback receiver gives a long, flat sight plane that a lot of goose hunters swear helps them stay on a crossing bird.

Browning backs the A5 with a 100,000-round or five-year guarantee, and it ships with an ABS case and three Invector-DS Extended chokes. Our A5 ran every 3.5-inch steel load we fed it, including a few boxes of Drylok Super Steel BB after it sat in the truck overnight at 12 degrees.

It kicks a little more than the gas-operated Maxus II, and it’s the most expensive gun on this list. If you like the look and want low-maintenance reliability, read our Browning A5 review.

Best For: Hunters who want a low-maintenance recoil-operated gun with the classic A5 look and a long guarantee.

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4. Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus: Best Gas Gun for Pass Shooting

• Gauge / Chamber: 12 gauge, 3 1/2 in
• Action: Gas-operated semi-auto, rotating bolt head
• Barrel Length: 28 in, Steelium Plus, Optima Bore HP
• Chokes: Optima Bore HP extended (OBF-HP)
• Recoil System: Kick Off stock with MicroCore 20 mm pad
• Sights: Fiber-optic front bead, mid-bead
• Model: J42XD18 synthetic, J42XS18 Max-7
• MSRP: From $2,149 synthetic, $2,249 Max-7

Category	Rating
Reliability	4.5/5
Recoil Control	5/5
Handling	4.5/5
Pattern Quality	5/5
Value	3.5/5

The A400 Xtreme Plus is Beretta’s dedicated waterfowl gun, and it’s the one I’d take for long pass shooting. Beretta pairs its gas system with the Kick Off hydraulic recoil reducer in the stock and a 20 mm MicroCore pad, and the result is the softest-feeling 3.5-inch gun here after the Maxus II. The Steelium Plus barrel with Optima Bore HP is designed to pattern steel shot evenly, and in our testing it did.

At 45 yards with Federal Black Cloud 3.5-inch BB, our A400 printed the most consistent patterns of the gas guns we ran, and it stayed that way across a full afternoon of shooting as birds trickled off a roost. The fiber-optic front bead and mid-bead make it easy to check your head is down on the stock before you pull on a high bird.

A gas gun needs cleaning after a wet, muddy season, and Beretta starts the synthetic version at $2,149. Our Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus review covers the Kick Off system and the long-term cleaning schedule.

Best For: Goose hunters who pass shoot or take longer shots and want soft recoil with excellent steel patterns.

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Best Value 3.5-Inch Goose Guns

You don’t need to spend $2,000 to hunt geese well. These three chamber the same 3.5-inch shells for a fraction of the price, including one pump that will outlast most of us.

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5. Franchi Affinity 3.5 Waterfowl Elite: Best Value 3.5-Inch Semi-Auto

• Gauge / Chamber: 12 gauge, 2 3/4, 3 and 3 1/2 in
• Action: Inertia Driven semi-auto
• Barrel Length: 28 in
• Capacity: 4+1
• Weight: 7 lb
• Chokes: Extended Close, Mid and Long Range
• Length of Pull: 14 3/8 in, shim kit included
• Recoil System: TSA recoil pad
• MSRP: $1,699

Category	Rating
Reliability	4.5/5
Recoil Control	4/5
Handling	4.5/5
Weatherproofing	4.5/5
Value	5/5

Franchi and Benelli are both Beretta Holding brands, and the Affinity 3.5 uses an Inertia Driven action too. For hundreds less than an SBE3, you get a 7-pound, 28-inch 3.5-inch gun with a Cerakote finish, a 4+1 magazine and three extended chokes labeled by range: Close, Mid and Long. That naming is handy on a goose hunt, because you think in yards, not constrictions.

Our Affinity ran Kent Fasteel 2.0 3.5-inch BB and Federal Speed-Shok 3-inch BB without a hiccup through a cold November field season. With the Mid Range tube it held tight enough patterns for decoying Canadas at 35 yards, and the Long Range tube tightened things up for birds that wouldn’t commit.

The TSA recoil pad helps, but 3.5-inch loads still kick in an inertia gun this light. Franchi includes a shim kit and a counterweight so you can tune the fit. Read our Franchi Affinity 3 review for more on the platform.

Best For: Goose hunters who want Benelli-style inertia reliability and a 3.5-inch chamber for much less money.

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6. Stoeger M3500 Waterfowl Special: Best Budget Semi-Auto for Geese

• Gauge / Chamber: 12 gauge, 2 3/4, 3 and 3 1/2 in
• Action: Inertia Driven semi-auto
• Barrel Length: 28 in
• Capacity: 4+1
• Weight: 7.8 lb
• Chokes: Extended IC, M, XFT, Close-range and Mid-range
• Length of Pull: 14 3/8 in, shim kit included
• Extras: Recoil reducer and paracord sling included
• MSRP: $999

Category	Rating
Reliability	4/5
Recoil Control	4/5
Handling	4/5
Weatherproofing	4/5
Value	5/5

The M3500 is the cheapest way I know into a 3.5-inch inertia gun. Stoeger is another Beretta Holding brand, the M3500 is an Inertia Driven gun, and the Waterfowl Special comes with Mossy Oak Original Bottomland on the stock, Patriot Brown Cerakote on the metal, a recoil reducer, a sling and five extended chokes, including Close-range and Mid-range tubes. Stoeger lists it at $999.

At 7.8 pounds it’s the heaviest semi-auto here, and that extra weight actually helps on recoil. Ours had two failures to eject with light 3-inch loads in the first box, then ran clean through the rest of the season on 3.5-inch Kent Fasteel 2.0 BB. Run a couple of boxes of heavy loads through a new one before opening day.

The fit and finish are rougher than the Franchi’s, and the trigger is heavier. But for a first goose gun or a backup that lives in the truck, it’s excellent value. If you’d rather save even more with a 3-inch gun, see our Stoeger M3000 review.

Best For: Hunters on a budget who want a 3.5-inch semi-auto with a full choke set and a weatherproof finish.

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7. Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag Waterfowl: Best Pump Shotgun for Geese

• Gauge / Chamber: 12 gauge, 3 1/2 in
• Action: Pump
• Barrel Length: 28 in vent rib, overbored to 10-gauge dimensions
• Capacity: 5+1
• Weight: 7.75 lb
• Chokes: Accu-Mag choke set
• Length of Pull: 14 in
• Sights: Fiber-optic front
• Model: 63521
• MSRP: $661

Category	Rating
Reliability	5/5
Recoil Control	3/5
Handling	4/5
Weatherproofing	4/5
Value	5/5

A pump never cares what load you feed it, and the 835 Ulti-Mag is the pump built for 3.5-inch goose loads. Mossberg overbores the barrel to 10-gauge dimensions for its whole length, which is meant to reduce felt recoil and help steel shot pattern evenly. The Waterfowl model has a 28-inch vent rib barrel, a 5+1 capacity, a fiber-optic front sight and Mossy Oak Shadow Grass Blades camo, and Mossberg lists it at $661.

Ours ran every shell we tried, from Speed-Shok 3-inch to Winchester Blind Side 2 3.5-inch, and it’s the gun I’d leave in a truck or a muddy pit without worrying. The overbored barrel threw good, even patterns with Kent Fasteel 2.0 3.5-inch BB at 40 yards.

The downside is recoil. A 7.75-pound pump with a 3.5-inch, 1 5/8-ounce load pushes hard, and follow-up shots are slower than with a semi-auto. For more on the trade-offs, see our pump vs semi-auto shotguns guide.

Best For: Hunters on a tight budget who want a bombproof 3.5-inch goose gun that runs any load.

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Best Shotgun for Spring Snow Geese

Spring snow goose hunting under the Light Goose Conservation Order rewards capacity and soft recoil more than a 3.5-inch chamber. This pick is built for that.

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8. Mossberg 940 Pro Waterfowl: Best for Spring Snow Geese

• Gauge / Chamber: 12 gauge, 3 in
• Action: Gas-operated semi-auto
• Barrel Length: 28 in
• Capacity: 4+1 (Snow Goose model 85167: 12+1)
• Weight: 7.75 lb (Snow Goose model: 8.25 lb)
• Chokes: X-Factor extended
• Length of Pull: Adjustable, 13 to 14.25 in
• Sights: Fiber-optic front, optic-ready receiver
• MSRP: $1,281 (85174 Bottomland), $1,358 Snow Goose

Category	Rating
Reliability	4.5/5
Capacity	5/5
Recoil Control	4.5/5
Handling	4/5
Value	4.5/5

Spring snow goose hunting under the Conservation Order is a different game: huge flocks, lots of shooting and, in most states, no three-shell limit. Mossberg built a version of the 940 Pro Waterfowl for exactly that. The Snow Goose model (85167) holds 12+1 with a long magazine tube, weighs 8.25 pounds and wears TrueTimber Viper Snow camo with a Battleship Gray Cerakote barrel. The standard Waterfowl model on the card is a 4+1 gun at 7.75 pounds.

Both are 3-inch guns, and for snow geese that’s the right call. You’re shooting smaller birds at closer range, lots of times, so a 3-inch 1 1/4-ounce steel load in #2 or BB is plenty and far kinder on your shoulder over 100 shots. The gas system runs fast and soft, the length of pull adjusts from 13 to 14.25 inches, and the receiver is cut for a small red dot.

It isn’t a 3.5-inch gun, so if you also hunt giant Canadas at longer range, pair it with one of the guns above or use heavier 3-inch loads. Keep it clean; a gas gun full of spring field dust will eventually slow down.

Best For: Spring snow goose hunters who want high capacity and soft recoil for long days under the Conservation Order.

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Goose Loads by the Numbers

Here’s what the shells actually carry, taken straight from the makers’ own product pages, including Federal’s Black Cloud FS Steel and Winchester’s Blind Side 2 pages. I’ve included a budget load, premium steel in 3 and 3.5 inches, and two 10 gauge loads for comparison.

Load	Gauge / Shell	Shot	Payload	Muzzle velocity
Federal Speed-Shok	12 ga, 3 in	Steel BB	1 1/4 oz	1,450 fps
Federal Black Cloud FS Steel	12 ga, 3 in	Steel BB	1 1/4 oz	1,450 fps
Federal Black Cloud FS Steel High Velocity	12 ga, 3 in	Steel BB	1 1/8 oz	1,635 fps
Kent Fasteel 2.0	12 ga, 3 in	Steel BB	1 1/4 oz	1,500 fps
Kent Fasteel 2.0	12 ga, 3 1/2 in	Steel BB or BBB	1 3/8 oz	1,550 fps
Federal Black Cloud FS Steel	12 ga, 3 1/2 in	Steel BB or BBB	1 1/2 oz	1,500 fps
Winchester Drylok Super Steel	12 ga, 3 1/2 in	Steel BB	1 9/16 oz	1,300 fps
Winchester Blind Side 2	12 ga, 3 1/2 in	Hex steel BB	1 5/8 oz	1,400 fps
Federal Black Cloud FS Steel	10 ga, 3 1/2 in	Steel BB	1 5/8 oz	1,375 fps
Winchester Drylok Super Steel	10 ga, 3 1/2 in	Steel BB	1 5/8 oz	1,350 fps

The line that jumps out is the bottom three. A 3.5-inch 12 gauge Blind Side 2 carries the same 1 5/8 ounces of BB as a 10 gauge load, and it leaves the muzzle a little faster. That’s the whole story of why the 10 gauge has faded: the 3.5-inch 12 gauge matches its payload in a lighter, more versatile gun.

The other trade-off is speed versus pellets. Federal’s High Velocity 3-inch load drives 1 1/8 ounces at 1,635 fps, while Winchester’s Drylok 3.5-inch pushes 1 9/16 ounces at 1,300 fps. Faster pellets hit harder; more pellets fill the pattern. For big Canadas over decoys, I’d take the heavier payload.

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How Many Pellets Are in a Goose Load?

Kent publishes pellet counts for its Fasteel 2.0 loads, which is rare. These show how quickly the count falls as the shot gets bigger.

Shot size	1 3/8 oz	1 1/4 oz	1 1/8 oz	1 1/16 oz
BBB	85	–	–	–
BB	99	90	81	76
#2	172	156	141	132

A 1 3/8-ounce load of BB carries 99 pellets. The same weight of #2 carries 172. Bigger pellets carry more energy and penetrate better on a big Canada goose, but you get fewer of them, so the pattern thins out. That’s why most goose hunters pick BB or BBB for giant Canadas at 35 yards and beyond, and step down to #2 or #1 for smaller geese or close decoying birds.

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Match the Shot to the Goose

Geese vary more in size than most hunters realize. According to North Dakota Game and Fish, Canada geese range from cackling geese of about 3 pounds to giant Canada geese averaging 12 to 14 pounds. North Dakota lists the snow goose at 6 pounds and Ross’s geese at 3 to 4 pounds.

Goose	Typical weight	Shot we use	Notes
Giant Canada goose	12 to 14 lb average	Steel BB or BBB, 3 or 3 1/2 in	The bird that justifies a 3.5-inch gun
Smaller Canada geese	Varies by race	Steel BB or #1	Decoy close and #1 steel works well
Cackling goose	About 3 lb	Steel #2 or #1	Duck-sized; big shot just thins the pattern
Snow goose	About 6 lb	Steel #2 or BB	High-volume shooting, 3-inch loads are plenty
Ross’s goose	3 to 4 lb	Steel #2	Often mixed in with snows

Weights are North Dakota Game and Fish figures. Washington’s WDFW puts snow geese at 6 1/2 to 7 1/2 pounds, which gives you an idea of how much individual birds vary. If you’re hunting a mixed flight, carry BB and pick your birds.

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Federal Rules Every Goose Hunter Needs to Know

The three-shell limit and your plug

Under 50 CFR 20.21, you can’t take migratory game birds with a shotgun that holds more than three shells unless it’s plugged with a one-piece filler that can’t be removed without disassembling the gun. Every semi-auto and pump on this list needs a plug fitted during regular goose season. Browning lists a TurnKey magazine plug for the Maxus II and A5; for the others, check your gun has one before opening day.

The same federal rule sets 10 gauge as the largest shotgun you can use on migratory birds, and it requires approved nontoxic shot, such as steel, bismuth-tin and several tungsten blends, for geese. Every approved shot type must contain less than 1 percent residual lead.

When the plug can come out

Federal law lifts the three-shell limit in two cases. The first is a light-goose-only season, for greater and lesser snow geese and Ross’s geese, when all other waterfowl and crane seasons are closed. The second is a September season only for Canada and cackling geese in the Atlantic, Central and Mississippi Flyways, subject to the conditions in the regulation.

The Light Goose Conservation Order

The Conservation Order, now at 50 CFR 21.180, covers greater snow, lesser snow and Ross’s geese. It allows new methods of take, shooting hours that end a half hour after sunset and no daily bag limit, and it can only run when all waterfowl and crane seasons are closed. That’s why snow goose hunters carry high-capacity guns like the 940 Pro Snow Goose in spring. States decide whether to take part and set their own dates, so read your state’s rules before you pull the plug.

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Is a 10 Gauge Worth It for Geese?

For most hunters, no. As the load table shows, a 3.5-inch 12 gauge now carries the same 1 5/8-ounce steel payload as a 10 gauge, in a lighter gun that also shoots 3-inch and 2 3/4-inch shells. Browning’s BPS 10 gauge pump was one of the last common 10s, and every BPS model on Browning’s site is now marked discontinued. We also couldn’t find a new 10 gauge semi-auto at any of our trusted retailers when we built this list.

If you already own a 10 gauge and love it, keep shooting it. But if you’re buying one gun for geese, a 3.5-inch 12 gauge makes more sense. Our shotgun shell sizes guide explains gauges and shell lengths in more detail.

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Chokes for Goose Hunting

Steel shot doesn’t deform like lead, so it patterns tighter through the same choke. That’s why most waterfowl chokes are extended tubes built and marked for steel, and why a dedicated goose tube like Browning’s Goose Band or Franchi’s Long Range is worth trying. Always check the maker’s markings before you shoot big steel shot through a tight choke.

For decoying geese inside 35 yards, a Modified or the maker’s close or mid-range tube gives a wider, more forgiving pattern. For pass shooting or birds that finish wide, step up to the maker’s long-range or goose tube, and pattern it with your chosen load at 40 yards before the season. See our shotgun chokes explained guide for the basics.

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How We Picked These Goose Guns

We started with the guns that show up most on goose and waterfowl lists, then checked every spec against the maker’s own website and dropped anything discontinued or not in stock at our trusted retailers. Every pick has a live price card, and you can compare more than 200 retailers with our gun price check tool. For other birds, see our best duck hunting shotguns and best turkey shotguns roundups, and our guide to the best guns for hunting.

Frequently Asked Questions