20 gauge users, opinions please.

J

JamesM

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Bloomfield, New Brunswick
Looking at getting myself a new 20 gauge. I have an 870 express I've had for years but I'm considering an upgrade.
What I am asking for is actual owners opinions and experiences. At the moment I've got it down to a Baikal double SxS or O/U, Weatherby SA-08 or Benelli Nova. The Weatherby semi is an exceptional value for its price, is the pump comparable?
So what do you have and how do you like it. I enjoy my 20 for upland and ducks, not as my go to but I find myself reaching for it more and more.
 
I have a pair of 20 gauge shotguns.

My "baby" is my PA08 (wood stock) - I'm a huge Weatherby fan - now is it better/stronger/faster than my 870 Rem (12ga), no - are chokes readily available in Canada - not so much, but Carlson makes multi-mfg chokes that fit fine.

I sell guns and do I recommend the Wby over a 870 Rem, no - my opinion, you have to want a Wby to choose it over an 870 which is the best selling shotgun model of all time. A 870 Wingmaster is a decent "upgrade" over an express - and if you are happy with the express, otherwise, you would know how it shoots and would feel the same.

When I'm just plodding along "upland" hunting I carry my super cheap H&R, single shot, exposed hammer 20 ga. Bought that about 20 some years ago for 80 bucks brand new. Can still get them today, but might run you 250.

If you are looking at a semi, don't cheap out - the SA-08 (synthetic) is ok, but if you want something decent you are going to have to drop some serious coin. My impression when you hold a SA-08 (synthetic) in your hand is "cheap" (sorry Wby) - now if you are talking about a SA-08 "high gloss", with a price tag somewhat north of 1K, that IS a sweet shotgun.

I'm biased against Baikal - I remember them as "cheap junk" when most of their offerings were under 100 bucks (ok, that was while back) - always saw them as a "starter gun", not something you would upgrade to (but again, maybe just my bias).

If you are trying to keep your costs reasonable (as in sub 1K) for an over/under or a side/side, I would suggest you check out Tristar's (made in Turkey - but so are the Wby shotguns if that means anything). I haven't shot one (yet), but just recently acquired a few for sale. Look good (look like a high end gun) - fit/finish is excellent and they use Beretta chokes, so can source chokes without too much trouble.

So out of your short list, unless you are considering the high gloss SA-08, I would personally strike it from the list - the lower grade stock is "miles" lower.
 
I have a Nova pump in 12 gauge that has close to 10 000 rounds through it. Still runs flawlessly. IMO the Benelli pump is better quality than any of the current/recent Rem 870 offerings (sorry 870 Fanboys)
 
I own several 20 gauge SXS and O/U guns and love 'em!
Sorry I can't comment on your choices except that owned a 20 gauge Wingmaster years ago and it was a very reliable and good shooting gun.
Cat
 
I own several 20 gauges and IMO a primary reason for getting one is that it doesn't weigh and feel like a 12 gauge. This is the main reason (there are more) why I would exclude the Baikal doubles from the list. I have no experience in 20 gauge with the other guns you're considering.
 
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catnthehatt said:
I own several 20 gauge SXS and O/U guns and love 'em!
Sorry I can't comment on your choices except that owned a 20 gauge Wingmaster years ago and it was a very reliable and good shooting gun.
Cat
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There you go...Can not get a better opinion than that.
I tool foolishly sold a 20 g Wingmaster and regret it still.
And that is because I like the fit , feel and action of a Real 870 ....The Wingmaster.
Others will have a different opinion and feel free to have one too.
Rob
 
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i find pumps and semi's heavy for upland. i just got a single Baikal and it always goes bang, ask the rabbits in my freezer. my brother likes his nova for duck hunting but never seems to take it upland either.

ps the nova is a 12ga, but it works wonderfully.
 
I have four 20 gauge shotguns, a Citori 725 Sporting clays, a Citori 625 Feather ,a Winchester Model 23, and a Wingmaster. The 20 gauge is my second favorite gauge for pheasant and upland hunting, after my 28 gauge. I find that I am shooting my 12 gauge guns less and less these days.
 
stubblejumper said:
I have four 20 gauge shotguns, a Citori 725 Sporting clays, a Citori 625 Feather ,a Winchester Model 23, and a Wingmaster. The 20 gauge is my second favorite gauge for pheasant and upland hunting, after my 28 gauge. I find that I am shooting my 12 gauge guns less and less these days.
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Seeing how the 20gauge is your SECOND favourite gun, I'll do you a favour and take that M23 off your hands-you don't like it anyway- do you??( grin)
Cat
 
I owned SA-08's in 12 & 20 synthetic, sold them both and bought SA-08's with wood. Very nice shotguns. Didn't pay near $1000 either. They were on sale at WSS for something like $565 + Tax. Nothing wrong with the synthetic ones either, but I saw my chance to have wood at a reasonable price. I probably hadn't fired 100 rounds out of the 12 and maybe 40 out of the 20.
 
I have a Browning Silver in 20 gauge that's as light a shotgun as I need. Its got the speed loader feature like my Maxus and with its decent looking wood, alloy receiver and blued barrel, its a very nice little shotgun. I use it for busting clays in both sporting and skeet , and I tried it for a few rounds of trap too. The little yellow shells are so much lighter and smaller than big 12 gauge,which is important when you're heading out on a 75 shot sporting clay course. The best reason for owning it is hunting though, I can carry it all day much better than most 12 gauges. I think it was around 900 new a few years ago at a local gun store.
 
CV32 said:
Savage (Rizzini) Milano 20 GA O/U here. Its a keeper.
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Your Milano is actually a FAIR built Savage, not exactly a Rizzini but the owners are members of the Rizzini family.
The family split up in 1972 and Isadoro Rizzini started FAIR then.
Super quality gun for the price , for sure!!
I grab every one I see just to sell to friends who are looking for a good quality Italian gun for a low price!:dancingbanana:
Cat
 
catnthehatt said:
Your Milano is actually a FAIR built Savage, not exactly a Rizzini but the owners are members of the Rizzini family. The family split up in 1972 and Isadoro Rizzini started FAIR then. Super quality gun for the price , for sure!! I grab every one I see just to sell to friends who are looking for a good quality Italian gun for a low price!:dancingbanana: Cat
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F.A.I.R. = Fabbrica Armi Isidoro Rizzini :p
 
If you can't find the weatherby sa-08 in stock if that's what you choose the mossberg sa-20 semi is pretty much the same gun with Mossberg on the side instead of Weatherby. If you're not worried about having the weatherby name on the side you can try to find a sale somewhere on either one.
 
CV32 said:
F.A.I.R. = Fabbrica Armi Isidoro Rizzini :p
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I realize that as I have said, Isadoro started the FAIR in 1972, but there are 4 different companies that the Rizzini family operate and none are connected to the other.
I have a Rizinni sporting clays gun in my vault that is an E. Rizzini, and four shotguns built by FAIR, of who Isadoro's son Luca now operates.

Benardo used to build B. Rizzinis , and after he married Barbara Fausti , the the B. Rizzinis were built in the Fausti factory but they have since dissolved that and the B. Rizzini guns are now being made as Faustis, the B. Rizzini label being dissolved.
This is why it is very important to specify which gun a person has, there are so many different Rizzini family manufacturers, and they do not interchange parts.
One musn't get the various companies mixed up.
Cat
 
catnthehatt said:
I realize that as I have said, Isadoro started the FAIR in 1972, but there are 4 different companies that the Rizzini family operate and none are connected to the other. I have a Rizinni sporting clays gun in my vault that is an E. Rizzini, and four shotguns built by FAIR, of who Isadoro's son Luca now operates. Benardo used to build B. Rizzinis , and after he married Barbara Fausti , the the B. Rizzinis were built in the Fausti factory but they have since dissolved that and the B. Rizzini guns are now being made as Faustis, the B. Rizzini label being dissolved. This is why it is very important to specify which gun a person has, there are so many different Rizzini family manufacturers, and they do not interchange parts. One musn't get the various companies mixed up.
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I appreciate and understand all that. Which is why identifying the shotgun as a Savage pre-empts any such confusion.
 
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