Hottest New Waterfowl Shotguns for 2015

Italy's hottest new shotgun is the 828U. Utilizing space-age machining, this stack has a floating plate that locks breech with barrels: The designers say you can't wear it out, so give it your best shot. The top lever opens the gun and cocks the rifle-style strikers. A supplied tool that looks like a big paper clip lets you remove the trigger group for cleaning. The first double to have a shim-adjustable stock, the 828 is packed with features and handles and shoots with the best of them. Time to get out your wallet.

Price: $2,499

You can shoot 3½-inch turkey loads and not sweat the recoil from the A400 semi-auto; one reason it's fast becoming an icon. The Xtreme has hydraulic recoil buffers, plus a collapsing shock-absorbing chevron in the stock to take the sting out of heavy rounds (boosted by the fact that it's a softer-kicking gas gun to begin with). A rotating bolt head is the heart of the Blink feeding system that combines a smaller gas piston so you can miss with all three shots in less than a second. Clad in a corrosion-resistant camo skin with equally resistant internal parts that won't rust even if you never clean it.

Price: $1,900

When the venerable Auto-5 was discontinued in 1997, hunters pined for another, so Browning adopted the Kinematic Drive inertia operating system to its new, lighter A5. Guaranteed for 100,000 rounds or five years, the A5 will take lots of punishment before it gives up. Available in 3- and 3 1/2-inch models, the Browning Inflex II pad will tame hard-kicking loads. Additional innovations are the Invector DS choke tubes whose brass skirts keeps the dirt out of the choke threads.

Price: $1,760

An all-black receiver set off with gold birds gives you a friendly reminder of what a duck looks like on a blue-bird day. But, when birds are flying the Canvasback Gold double shoots like a dream, and the single selective trigger gives you an instant choice of chokes. For the women, CZ's Lady Sterling O/U ([imo-slideshow gallery=78],281) is a good fit. The high comb and increased pitch make shooting fun for her. A versatile shotgun for ducks and clays, she'll be beating the man of the blind in no time. The 28-inch vent rib barrels make this versatile shotgun at home in any situation.

Price: $827

Now owned by Caesar Guerini, the Fabarm 20-gauge Elos B is just the ticket for ducks over decoys. The time-tested Tribore barrel gentles the shot as it's blasted down the muzzle, providing excellent patterns through the five choke tubes that come standard. Elos B's classy case-colored action is reminiscent of grandad's Fox or Parker, and the oil-finished stock of semi-deluxe Turkish walnut — the Turks have some of the world's great gun wood — is checkered for a sure grip even on cold, icy mornings. A lot of fine shotgun for the money.

Price: $2,470

The Affinity is a great semi-auto for marsh or field. Using Benelli's inertia-driven operating system, the Affinity will shoot any load from 1-ounce target shells to 3-inch magnum goose thumpers. The receiver is lightweight aluminum reinforced with steel that will outlive your kids. Both 12- and 20-gauge (also available in a compact for junior) guns have stock adjusting shims for a custom fit. The action return spring is wound around the magazine tube and both 12 and 20 come with 26- or 28-inch barrels. Franchi has a seven-year warranty.

Price: $849-$949

First to partner with Federal in the development of the 3 1/2 inch load, Mossberg's snow goose gun was built on the reliable 930 3-inch frame. It comes ready to shoot with a 12-round extended magazine in all-white Kryptek Yeti camo, screw-in chokes and a shim-adjustable stock. The magazine and barrel are stabilized with a new barrel clamp and the beveled loading gate makes recharging fast and easy. The vent rib is set off with a fiber-optic sight, making for accurate early-morning shooting.

Price: $974

Last year we said the VersaMax was the best semi-auto Remington ever made. Well, now we have to retract that statement because of the V3. The V3 uses the same clever, clean and reliable Versa Port in-chamber gas porting, only with an extra port for a total of eight. But the real change is in the action. The action-return springs have moved into notches on both sides of the receiver making cycling ultra-reliable. And the rotating bolt head can be disassembled with no tools in less than a minute — provided you read the directions — and re-assembled in the same time. Keeping this baby clean is a snap.

Price: $995

Stoeger's line of Turkish-made semi-autos uses the same proven, reliable and clean-running inertia-driven system as the much more expensive Benellis. Keeping up with the times, many duck hunters have found the 20-gauge to be just right for decoying greenheads, and the Stoeger M3020 is tailor-made for that. The included shim kit allows for adjusting the stock for really accurate shooting. It comes with three chokes — IC, M and XFT for turkeys — and finished in black as well as camo choices to match your wardrobe and favorite hunting locale.

Price: $600

The new Syren Division of Fabarm is making fine Italian-made semi-autos especially for women. The XLR5 semi auto's stock is not a made-over man's, but built just for her. In 12 gauge, the stainless pulse gas piston cycles smoothly with less recoil, and the 28-inch Tribore barrel's tapered bore coupled with one of the five flush-fitting HP chokes ensures good patterns when the mallards decoy. The stock measures 13¾ inches with drop at the comb 1½ inches and at the heel 2¼. The stock is cast about 1/8-inch at comb and heel and the seven-inch pitch will nicely fit her curves.

Price: $1,995

The Weatherby Element hails from Turkey and incorporates an inertia-style operating system. Clean-running and ultra-reliable, the inertia seems to be the thrust of the future. Stocked in AA-Grade walnut finished to a high gloss that sets off the blue-anodized action and blued barrel; it's both attractive and rugged. These guns were shot extensively in the lab and in the dove fields of Argentina, and gobbled up more shells without a hitch than many hunters shoot in a lifetime. The barrels are chrome-plated for corrosion resistance and good patterning. Available in 12, 20 and 28 gauges.

Price: $1,100

Many waterfowlers prefer a pump-action for its reliability and bargain price. Winchester's SXP pump chambered for 3- or 3 ½-inch shells fills all those bills. The dual action bars coupled with the SXP's rotating bolt make shucking it super slick. The barrel is bored to .742 inches and chrome-plated for durability and great patterns with large shot. The exterior of the barrel, action and many parts are black-chrome coated for lasting durability and worry-free maintenance. The Inflex recoil pad really gentles recoil. Choice of 26- or 28-inch barrels topped with Invector-Plus choke tubes.

Price: $500