Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: willisco021 on August 21, 2009, 09:14:02 PM

Title: Shotgun refer wanted
Post by: willisco021 on August 21, 2009, 09:14:02 PM: I am looking to buy a 20 guage shotgun for upland hunting. I have looked at almost every price range. I currently am using my dads gun, but he told me a few weeks ago he wanted it back. I am hoping to get some background on brands to look at due to their reliability and performance. I am leaning towards a semi-auto or over under. I have a pump beast I use for duck/goose hunting, but carrying that thing would need a 6 month workout routine.
Title: Re: Shotgun refer wanted
Post by: jackelope on August 21, 2009, 09:15:16 PM: how much do you want to spend?

so many answers without a price range to work with.
Title: Re: Shotgun refer wanted
Post by: KillBilly on August 21, 2009, 09:17:37 PM: I just saw a good used Rem 20. ga. pump in the pawn shop last night. Out the door for $200.00
Title: Re: Shotgun refer wanted
Post by: willisco021 on August 21, 2009, 09:19:26 PM: Quote from: jackelope on August 21, 2009, 09:15:16 PM
how much do you want to spend?

so many answers without a price range to work with.

I think the wife will kick me out if I spend more than $1200
Title: Re: Shotgun refer wanted
Post by: jackelope on August 21, 2009, 09:22:25 PM: i'd be looking for a browning...citori, maybe a broadway.
the berettas are nice too, 686 i think.
Title: Re: Shotgun refer wanted
Post by: jackelope on August 21, 2009, 09:23:32 PM: why do you want a 20 gauge?
Title: Re: Shotgun refer wanted
Post by: willisco021 on August 21, 2009, 09:40:43 PM: Quote from: jackelope on August 21, 2009, 09:23:32 PM
why do you want a 20 gauge?

My grandpa carried a 20 guage, my dad carries one, I guess I want to continue the family tradition.
Title: Re: Shotgun refer wanted
Post by: JoshT on August 21, 2009, 09:56:45 PM: If your grandpa had buck teeth...

and your daddy had buck teeth...

are you saying you'd avoid the orthodontist just to "carry on the tradition"?

Get a 12 gauge man... I don't know why they make anything else anymore.
Title: Re: Shotgun refer wanted
Post by: BigGoonTuna on August 21, 2009, 10:35:15 PM: nothing wrong with a 20, as long as you can shoot :chuckle:

don't know much about autos, so i'll recommend the old standby 870 wingmaster. should be able to pick up a used one fairly cheap, they weigh about a pound less than the 12.
Title: Re: Shotgun refer wanted
Post by: Huntbear on August 22, 2009, 12:06:40 AM: Quote from: BigGoonTuna on August 21, 2009, 10:35:15 PM
nothing wrong with a 20, as long as you can shoot :chuckle:

don't know much about autos, so i'll recommend the old standby 870 wingmaster. should be able to pick up a used one fairly cheap, they weigh about a pound less than the 12.

x2 with the added bonus of excellent reliability... they just never break.
Title: Re: Shotgun refer wanted
Post by: Bean Counter on August 22, 2009, 03:11:10 AM: The next hunting gun I buy will be a bird gun, for sure.

I had in mind a nice over under 20 gauge. It would primarily be for grouse and phesant. I'm curious if some people find the 12 a bit overkill and the 20 just right to still hi tthe bird.
Title: Re: Shotgun refer wanted
Post by: AWS on August 22, 2009, 07:47:51 AM: Get the 20 it will do 90% of the things a 12 will do and you have a history with 20's so you will not be disapointed with it. I shoot 20's in a LeFever SxS, SKS SxS, Browning Superposed Lightning, Rem 870 and Charles Daly auto. The Browning and LeFever are my grouse guns, The Browning goest to the duck blind for shooting over decoys and the SKS is my late season pheasant gun, The 870 was for ducks on the salt but is going to my grand daughter next month and the CD will take it's place.

Get a gun that fits and your comfortabe with the way it opperates. Browning, Berreta, Franchi or Benelli all make great 20's. The little CD youth auto has been a suprise, I have about 400 rounds through it without ha hiccup yet, both lead and steel target loads.

AWS
Title: Re: Shotgun refer wanted
Post by: BigGoonTuna on August 22, 2009, 10:44:15 AM: if you can only own one gun, you can't beat a 12. however, variety is always good, and like i said, a 20 is usually going to be lighter than a 12.

hopefully someday i'll be able to afford a nice O/U 20 for anything that involves a lot of walking.
Title: Re: Shotgun refer wanted
Post by: Wacenturion on August 22, 2009, 04:28:44 PM: Get a nice light 20 gauge with a 26 inch barrel and choke tubes....one that fits well and most important one you like. Open the choke up....most shots are 15-30 yards. Less pellets in the 20 with an open choke means less risk of have your target rendered worthless as far as table fare appeal is concerned.....and more importantly, makes you a better shot.

Avoid getting sucked into the 12 gauge mentality for upland birds.....gun is too heavy, shells are heavier, and it's like swinging a fence post. Of course I use 28 gauges on upland birds, so a 12 would feel like a fence post to me...lol. :chuckle:
Title: Re: Shotgun refer wanted
Post by: Bean Counter on August 22, 2009, 05:25:50 PM: Quote from: Wacenturion on August 22, 2009, 04:28:44 PM
Get a nice light 20 gauge with a 26 inch barrel and choke tubes....one that fits well and most important one you like. Open the choke up....most shots are 15-30 yards. Less pellets in the 20 with an open choke means less risk of have your target rendered worthless as far as table fare appeal is concerned.....and more importantly, makes you a better shot.

Sounds like good thoughts. Thanks!
Title: Re: Shotgun refer wanted
Post by: h2ofowlr on August 24, 2009, 06:33:52 PM: I would just get a 20 gauge O/U if you want reliability and ease of cleaning. The O/U are typically set for rising birds a 80/20 pattern and they work great. You don't have to worry about getting powder in your eye which semi-auto's can do from time to time. Look at the Brownings, Berretta, or there are lesser ones along the Mossberg range.
Title: Re: Shotgun refer wanted
Post by: Intruder on August 25, 2009, 10:16:54 AM: 20 g O/U or Auto is a great upland gun! You don't really need anything else. The Brownings and SKBs are nice and in your price range... a used Red Label is a pretty good value. I've been handling some of the autos lately... thinking of getting 1 for my daughter. Man, there are some really nice handling ones out there these days. If I remember, Berreta has one that I really like for about 800-900, I think.
Title: Re: Shotgun refer wanted
Post by: Jburke on August 25, 2009, 12:25:09 PM: At the lower end of your price range are the mossbergs and some of the charles dalys. Both are pretty god guns for the money. Remington 1187s are also a great gun and the old lady wont kick you out for it either.
Title: Re: Shotgun refer wanted
Post by: jeff100 on August 25, 2009, 12:34:30 PM: Benelli Montefeltro. It's one of my favorite shotguns. It's my favorite semi auto.

I'm a big fan of Franchi O/U shotguns (Veloce, although it's out of production now) as well.

Both of these are within your 1200.00 budget limit.
Title: Re: Shotgun refer wanted
Post by: jackelope on August 25, 2009, 12:36:24 PM: I have an SKB built Ithaca model 500 featherweight 20 gauge O/U that i love. i just wish it had choke tubes. it is fixed mod over full.