Ok, so I have been a rifle shooter for 40 years. But in that time, I've never really had the urge to pick up a shotgun. I'm starting to notice the local club members are more and more shotgun shooters and us rifle people are dwindling in number. Maybe I have been missing out on something (which is what those people keep telling me). Also, I'm starting to accept that grouse can be killed with something other than a .22 (or a stick). So...what are the recommendations for a nice, light field gun; thinking 12ga (for ammo availability and versatility), O/U or single shot. Also not too keen on buying Turkish at the moment over the whole Sweden/Finland NATO thing. I was thinking something like a Winchester 101 - is that overkill for an old guy field gun?
Advice for the shotgun curious
- Thread starter elghund
- Start date
No, its not overkill. Are you talking old 101 or new 101? I would suggest getting an aluminum receiver if you are looking for a true field gun, as weight is a consideration for those age-challenged. There are lots of good manufacturers these days - Franchi, Bettinsoli, Fabarm, Rizzini, Fausti, etc., as well as the traditional B guns.
The 101 is a great gun. The older ones will likely be fixed chokes and depending on what you want may be fine. For skeet and flushing grouse more open chokes are preferred. If shooting trap and ground swatting grouse the tighter factory chokes will be fine
The newer 101s have choke tubes as well as the classic doubles version of the 101
As mentioned there are many brands out there. It's best to try a sample if you can. If not try to shoulder as many as you can. Italians tend to have a swallower reciever which some prefer. Others like the deeper actions of the browning
The newer 101s have choke tubes as well as the classic doubles version of the 101
As mentioned there are many brands out there. It's best to try a sample if you can. If not try to shoulder as many as you can. Italians tend to have a swallower reciever which some prefer. Others like the deeper actions of the browning
Research shotgun fit, unlike a rifle, you don't use sights on a shotgun, so fit is very important, not just lop, but drop at comb, and cast as well. You will discover that Beretta and Browning are pretty much opposites, fit wise, and you will need to see what fits you. For a field gun that will be carried a lot, light is good, but for a clays gun, heavier is more comfortable recoil wise, which is a factor, after a couple of boxes And be prepared to try and learn to shoot with both eyes open, and not trying to use the beads like rifle sights, when wingshooting.
sillymike
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Nothing wrong with the 101 if that's what you like... seems like the most commonly encountered are the 28" F/M... They're not the lightest option out there, than again, 7lbs isn't the end of the world.
- It just depends on how $ you want to through at this new-hobby-venture
Are you expecting to be buying new or used?
- It just depends on how $ you want to through at this new-hobby-venture
Are you expecting to be buying new or used?
Go to a few gun stores and handle as many as you can. Close your eyes and pick out something on a wall slightly above eye height. Mount the gun quickly. When your looking at whatever you picked on the wall as you open your eyes, that would’ve the gun I’d buy. You also don’t need a 12. 20 and 28 are more than adequate, especially with the new ammunition available! Reason you see older shooters leaning toward smaller gauge guns. Just my opinion. PS the highest average skeet shooters generally use 20 gauge in the 12 gauge division. Fit is everything
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That closed eye thing is good advice I hadn't heard before. Thanks!
I'm open minded. There isn't a lot of choice locally: it's either really low end stuff or on the eye watering high end. Probably like that everywhere. I will keep my eyes open for something decent. The 101 caught my eye only because in seemed decently priced compared to some of the others, and I saw the older ones were Belgian made. Being very familiar with the C1A1, I have a soft spot for anything by FN.
blasted_saber
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- A blue part of Ontario
Buy yourself the "nice" gun for sure, but dont pass up a Cooey single shot in 20g if you find one.
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
Regardless of the type of action you choose if you’re planning on doing any small game hunting I’d look at something that has screw in chokes, it really make things more adjustable and versatile when it comes to patterns. Nothing wrong with fixed chokes but if they were still the standard we wouldn’t have things like removable chokes.
The older 101's were made in Japan. The newer ones are made in Belgium, or nearby. There is a nice older 101 Lightweight with Winchokes on the upcoming Switzers auction ( I have no affiliation with the gun)
This is a good way to determine if the shotgun is pointing where you are looking. As you open your eyes, the rib should be centered left to right, and you should be looking along the rib, not down on it. The lop is a factor in fit, but if the shotgun is at least pointing where you are looking, you will at least be able to hit with it.
To someone who has very limited experience with shotguns, that process will not be that helpful. For that process to work he would need a reasonable knowledge of gun mount and how to position his body. And an experienced shooter does not need to close his eyes to determine if a gun fits. Spending some time with someone with some shotgun shooting knowledge is what is needed here.
The OP has a 40 years of rifle experience, so he is better off than the average newbie. I think SJ's advice is beneficial in this case. However, for the typical new shotgun shooter, gun fit appears to be the least criterion, based upon what I see at the shotgun range. Short, mean looking and cheap seems to be the main focus...
The OP has a 40 years of rifle experience, so he is better off than the average newbie. I think SJ's advice is beneficial in this case. However, for the typical new shotgun shooter, gun fit appears to be the least criterion, based upon what I see at the shotgun range. Short, mean looking and cheap seems to be the main focus...
And that unfortunately is true these days. At both my present and past club, it was common to have people to show up for skeet with a tactical shotgun, and get frustrated when they couldn't hit much, and they were beat up after a couple of rounds of target loads. One guy endured four rounds with a folding stock 870 clone, but was so beat up. he never came back. We offered to lend him other shotguns, but he was too stubborn to accept the offers.
sillymike
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I'd guess we see plenty of removable chokes because of
- Marketing
- People liking to try stuff
- People wanting to have one do it all shotgun (and shoot steel)
For chassing birds, I'd guess many 'new' hunters are using too much choke
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
I’m sure some of that is true, gun makers always need something to sell and turn a profit but you can’t deny screw in chokes are the standard now. For whatever reason they exist they make a shotgun barrel more versatile over a range of hunting situations and ammo types, hell I’ve noticed pattern density change between ammo brands.
As for too much choke for birds, I guess that depends on how and where and what birds you hunt. Come shoot grouse in the interior mountains like we do in my area, you’re not going to want the same setup as if you’re on the prairie or in northern Ontario where you have opportunity to wing shoot a flushing bird. I’ll take a tighter choke any day over a more open one, it just doesn’t work as well for how we see them. They flush and most times are gone down the mountain, or they disappear into the steep timber. I don’t waterfowl nor do I have a trap or skeet field locally so mod to full are my chokes of choice.
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