Every off-season, the waterfowl community comes together to share new gear and kick off the season the right way. This annual event is DUX, hosted by Ducks Unlimited. Hosted this year in Memphis, near the heart of flooded timber country, we knew it was one we couldn’t miss. So we packed up our bags and camera gear and made our way to DUX. As the show kicked off, we scoured the floor, looking for the best new guns and ammo for the upcoming season. Here is what we found.
New Guns From DUX
Retay Ace
The Retay Ace is a budget-friendly shotgun with many premium features. It comes in two models, a traditional receiver shape and a raised receiver shape. In addition, the Ace features oversized controls, including the safety. This updated model also comes with the same tool-less, removable trigger system. In the field, this means you can easily disassemble and clean the trigger system if any dirt or mud gets in there. With the traditional receiver, it retails just under $1000, and the raised receiver comes in right over $1000.
Beretta A400 Extreme
While the A400 Extreme and A300 didn’t get any major hauls this year, new color offerings were revealed at DUX. Specifically, original Mossy Oak patterns. Now hunters can get the same Beretta performance and reliability in the original Shadowgrass and Bottomlands.
Banish Whisper
One of the most exciting new products at DUX was the new Banish Whisper. While not a gun, Banish has been making premium suppressors for hunting rifles for some time now. This year, they released their first shotgun model. The intuitive design features a cutout on the top of the suppressor. As a result, hunters get a clear sight picture and a quiet shot. For waterfowlers looking for another solution for hearing protection, this may be the best solution.
Weatherby Element II
Weatherby is known for making reliable guns, and the Element II is no different. This budget-friendly gun starts at just $649, a real bargain if you ask us. Don’t let the price fool you, because it still features an inertia action and oversized controls. On top of that, waterfowlers get a redesigned stock and a shaved lower receiver to make loading easier. If you’re looking for a budget duck gun that can take a beating, consider the Element II.
Mossberg 940 Pro and Silver Pigeon Reserve
The Mossberg 940 Pro Waterfowl edition is designed with seasoned hunters in mind. For starters, it features oversized controls, which seem to be standard these days. It comes with extended chokes and a thumb safety rather than a trigger safety. It comes fully cerakoted with a stock wrapped in Mossy Oak Bottomland. It’s also worth noting that it comes optic cut, so hunters can add a red dot to it for turkey season.
Otus Arms SMX12
Otus Arms is a new company in the waterfowl space, and their 12-gauge SMX12 caught our eye. In many ways, it resembles a Benelli SBE3, so much so that parts are interchangeable. It does have some unique features that stood out, like full carbon stocks and forearms. In addition, it features a patented recoil management system to help cut felt recoil. This gun will set you back roughly $1800.
Benelli AI Barrels
While Benelli didn’t debut any new guns at DUX, they did have their new AI barrels on display. AI stands for Advanced Impact and that’s exactly what these barrels are designed to do. The proprietary design results in patterns htiting with 50% more penetration. For waterfowl hunters, this means more lethal loads and dead birds.
New Ammo From DUX
Winchester Ammo
At DUX, Winchester debuted three new shotshells for different types of hunting. The first and most expensive offering is Last Call. This is a stacked TSS/Steel blend, meaning half the pellets are TSS and half are steel. For added range and knockdown power, this is the shell to go with. Winchester also released its Magnum Dove load in 7 1/2 shot as well as Final Pass, a stacked steel shell for waterfowlers looking for an affordable performance load.
Boss Shotshells
With a bismuth shortage plaguing the country, a lot of manufacturers are turning to new loads this season. One of those is Boss, with their new copper loads. These shotshells are 100% pure copper and has a 94% pattern at 40 yards. In addition, Boss is creating unleaded dove loads and steel target loads.
Migra Funeral Pack
One of the most exciting shotshells we came across is the new Migra Funeral Pack. It’s built in collaboration with 24.7 Hunt and features some impressive new tech. For starters a dry lubricated wad helps imporve patterning at range. These shells also feature Migra’s new primers which have been tested and perfomred at 100% efficiency at temps as low as -40 degrees.