A strong argument exists for having a single shotgun and rifle for all your hunting needs. By limiting the number of firearms, the shooter becomes intimately familiar with the gear they have and mastering the ins and outs. Moreover, using a single shotgun for small game and waterfowl hunting and one rifle for big game pursuits is a smart and economical choice, allowing you to make the most of your investment. 

Many gun manufacturers however, including Winchester Repeating Arms, create shotguns and rifles engineered for specific game and types of hunting, and there is an absolute advantage to using different guns for different pursuits. Our SXP line, for instance, is a testament to this. From the versatile Field model to the Waterfowl, Turkey, and Defender models, there is an SXP for every hunt and situation, ensuring you’re always well-equipped. Best of all, the SXP line — from top to bottom — hits a price point that doesn’t break the bank. When you have a gun lineup that promises performance without costing too many Benjamins, you can add more guns to the safe that will improve game-specific quests. 

Picture this: it’s spring, and in many locales nationwide, massive blobs of snow geese are migrating from the Southern U.S. and Mexico back to the Arctic tundra. While most regular duck and goose seasons are closed, the Spring Light Goose Conservation Order is in full swing, making these flights of white huntable in many states. 

This season, legalized in 1999 to help control snow goose numbers, allows for some specialties. Electronic calls are legal, there are no bag or possession limits, and shooting hours extend from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Unplugged shotguns are also permitted. Add all of this together, and it’s easy to see why so many waterfowl hunters are obsessed with chasing snows throughout the spring. 

Of course, spring snow goose hunting means navigating wet, muddy grain fields, marshy reservoirs, and other environments that can pose challenges for a firearm. 

Enter the reliable, tough-as-nails SXP Waterfowl Hunter. Available in multiple camo options, this pump-action shotgun comes in 12- and 20-gauge makes, with barrel lengths of 26 and 28 inches. 

Built to take punishment, we like the 12-gauge with the 3-1/2-inch chamber when spring snows are on the menu. The composite stock and forearm are bulletproof, and the TRUGLO^® fiber-optic sight stands out in all lighting conditions. 

A trio of Invector-Plus choke tubes (F, M, IC) give you patterning options right from the box. Swivel studs allow for quick attachment of a sling, which every waterfowl hunter needs on their shotgun. 

When hunting springtime snows, you’ll cheer the Speed-Plug System. Just remove the magazine cap, push in on the spring retainer holding the spring in place, and twist and remove the adaptor. In seconds, the now “plugless” magazine will hold four 2-3/4-inch shotshells, allowing you to go boom more times before you reload. When a tornado of white is descending upon you, this is a feature you will be thankful for. 

At an even 7 pounds, the shotgun isn’t too light, nor is it too heavy. It swings gracefully, and if you opt for the 28-inch barrel and select winning ammunition like Winchester's Xpert Snow Goose, you’ll crumple birds close and far.

The Chrome-Plated Chamber and Bore make internal surfaces resistant to wear and tear while providing superior rust protection. Back-bored technology, combined with the Invector-Plus choke tubes, means pattering perfection because the bore isn’t too tight on the pellets, and the tubes ensure remarkable shot-to-shot pattern consistency. 

A Drop-Out Trigger Group means quick and easy cleaning, and the Inflex Technology Recoil Pad absorbs post-shot recoil like a sponge. If you're looking for a reliable waterfowl shotgun that wears an under-$500 price tag and will fill the freezer and the photo album, select the SXP Waterfowl and go to work.

Built to be hellish on springtime noisemakers, the SXP Long Beard features two 12-gauge models and one 20-gauge build option.  

If you’re a sub-gauge fanatic, the 6-pound, 14-ounce, 24-inch barrel, 20-gauge SXP Long Beard is an excellent choice. If you’re looking for a 12-gauge, the 3-1/2-inch and 3-inch chamber models with 24-inch barrels are ready to handle any springtime job you can dream up. 

Multiple features make the SXP Long Beard a gobbler-getter, but none make it stand out more than the pistol grip stock. When sitting against a tree or in a blind chair with your shotgun on your knee or a set of shooting sticks, a pistol grip is far more comfortable than a traditional shotgun stock. The pistol grip also enhances the hold and promotes effective trigger pull.

The stock has spacers for easy length-of-pull adjustment, and because the SXP Long Beard comes with a pair of interchangeable comb pieces, customization is offered in spades. 

The shotgun has front and rear fiber-optic sights, but the alloy receiver is drilled and tapped for scope bases. Another win is the included Long Beard choke tube. Too often, turkey hunters find a shotgun they love but spend oodles of time and money testing and tinkering with various custom chokes. This Extra-Full turkey tube has a fluted body, knurled friction ring, and camo front band. It patterns like a dream. Though the tube was specifically designed to create remarkable patterns with Winchester's LongBeard XR turkey ammunition, testing proves this choke puts lead, tungsten, and bismuth pellets from other shotshell brands on the mark.

Other must-note features of the SXP Long Beard include the rotary bolt with four massive lugs for added strength and lockup, the crossbolt safety, and the black chrome protection on the bolt and other components, which lasts longer than traditional bluing. 

You can learn more about all the excellent features of Winchester SXP shotguns here.

Depending on the SXP Waterfowl and Long Beard models you choose, you could get both springtime slayers for under $1K. If you opted for the highest price point, you would be just over $1K. That's remarkable, considering you get shotguns as reliable as the day is long with a storied history of undeniable performance.