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scribe556

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hi Good Folks,

I'm looking for a primarily clays and skeet gun but might hunt with it as well. I got to hold and shoulder several Fabarms models at a shop. The Waterfowler True Timber Viper really caught my eye and I thought, whats the downside for skeet/sporting clays/trap/hunting all in one? Love the feel of how they shoulder and fill my grip!

The L4S in 28" is my other choice

Anything I should think about that would not make it ideal as an all-around use model?

The grip on the material is wonderful too.

Thanks in advance!
 
Never shouldered or shot a Waterfowler myself , but have not read or heard of a reason it couldn't be an all around gun. Matter of fact , being heavier and designed for pass shooting, it may be a better clays gun than the Hunter series.
 
Downside is ability to shoot light 1 oz loads. At last count, my Waterfowler would not reliably cycle them. Now after a few boxes of heavy goose loads from a spring snow goose hunt it may have loosened up a bit. If you stick to 1 and 1/8 ounce loads and above your plan is fine. I tend to like slightly raised ribs so prefer it from that aspect over an L4S. For a clays gun and for most upland I prefer wood and blued so I would go a different direction, but I've shot mine at clays for fun and generally in the fall before the early goose season kicks off.
 
That's no downside whatsoever for an all-around shotgun, particularly a gas-operated one where recoil is not a factor. The XLR5 Composite is the same way: if you want basic black and a flat rib.

Some folks prefer synthetic, for they feel that models like the L4S Deluxe Hunter are too pretty to hunt with. If you are over forty years old, you might feel that walnut is preferable for everything. However, if you are younger than forty years old, composite (okay, plastic) stocks may well be your choice. Certainly, although oars are made from wood as well, many duck hunters far prefer to paddle with plastic, and the walnut Automatic-Fives that were the "do everything" shotguns of yesterday are not the do everything shotguns of today.

My version of a "do it all" shotgun is a shotgun that you can have a good time on the clays course with, without getting beat up, yet works just as well in the duck blind, on the dove field, is "steel shot friendly," and isn't so ponderously heavy that you dread carrying it for wild pheasants, either. The Fabarm XLR5 Composite, well established throughout the world for several years, is that gun and is finally available in the United States.

It is the same situation with the XLR5 Waterfowler. Factory 1 oz. loads are identical in price to 1-1/8 oz. loads: you get more pellets to work with, which is never a disadvantage. Whether the 3 inch chamber L4S Hunter line or the 3 inch chamber XLR5 models, they are all perfectly reliable with slow 1-1/8 oz. loads or fast 1 oz. loads.

Some want a composite dedicated clays gun, as in the 2-3/4 inch chambered Gryphon. https://fabarmusa.com/xlr5-gryphon/ .

No 2-3/4 inch 12 gauge is my version of an all-around gun. If it is going to see the duck or turkey blind or the goose pit, you'll want a 3 inch chambered gun.


My example has excellent ejection with cheap, 1 oz., Federal Top Gun loads.
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
Patently Obvious said:
Downside is ability to shoot light 1 oz loads. At last count, my Waterfowler would not reliably cycle them. Now after a few boxes of heavy goose loads from a spring snow goose hunt it may have loosened up a bit.
I wonder if storing it with the bolt back for a few weeks would loosen the tight recoil spring?
I've done this with many new pistols to reduce the break-in time and increase reliability..

Thanks!
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
RandyWakeman said:
It is the same situation with the XLR5 Waterfowler. Factory 1 oz. loads are identical in price to 1-1/8 oz. loads: you get more pellets to work with, which is never a disadvantage. Whether the 3 inch chamber L4S Hunter line or the 3 inch chamber XLR5 models, they are all perfectly reliable with slow 1-1/8 oz. loads or fast 1 oz. loads.

No 2-3/4 inch 12 gauge is my version of an all-around gun. If it is going to see the duck or turkey blind or the goose pit, you'll want a 3 inch chambered gun.


My example has excellent ejection with cheap, 1 oz., Federal Top Gun loads.
Thanks Randy! I agree with you about wood vs synthetic. I've got other walnut shotguns
And enjoy them. So I usually use the bulk 1 1/8 oz bulk rounds for clays so it seems no issue there for me.
 
So..... I'm a dealer and only market the Fabarm brand. I usually specialize in the Grey Hunters L4S and the sporting model (black usually).
After hunting with a GH for while a good friend talked me into buying a couple of Waterfowlers
True Timber Viper Camo... 28".
It shouldered so well I sold my GH and brought a Waterfowler home. I will tell you I love WOOD, but the swing and sight pic of that gun is worth it. I think the extension of the rib closer to my eye and the competitive width of the rib makes a massive difference to ME. I would hand's down recomend one as an all around gun. That is the gun I grab for everything and yes I have an 18 year old 682 Beretta o/u that rarely gets touched. If you lived near Clearwater I'd let you shoot some clays with it.
After making a couple of runs to Tex duck hunting (3'' round count matters) I can assure you that you can run 1oz loads through it. You just have to find the right ones and make sure you've shot the gun enough.
Best of luck on your journey!

Image
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
sclagg said:
True Timber Viper Camo... 28".
It shouldered so well I sold my GH and brought a Waterfowler home.
-the swing and sight pic of that gun is worth it.
-I think the extension of the rib closer to my eye and the competitive width of the rib makes a massive difference to ME.
Image
This post of yours was spot on to what I was wrestling with, thanks!
 
Scribe, if the Waterfowler is as well made a gun as the Hunters (and I can`t for the life of me figure how it wouldn`t be ), I think you`ll be well pleased.
 
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