your ideal 12 , 16 or 20 gauge upland shotgun

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sp-10

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I am going to soon start looking for a light upland gun. I could go either 12, 16 or 20 gauge. I will be getting a semi auto. What are your ideas of the ideal upland gun that fits these specifications? I want something that ill have for a long while. I will pick up a sweet 16 if i can find one. I have also thought about a browning gold or a used beretta. My friend has a franchi and i shoot that pretty good i might consider one of them. what do you guye think. post any pics if you have them.

sp-10
 
Although you have already have your mind set on a semi, personally, a side by side or over under would be better suited for upland game. I have a side by side 20 ga, with a straight grip stock and 24" barrels and it is ideal for upland game. Its a Stoeger Uplander with removable chokes and I got it used in excellent condition for 300$.

Just my $0.02
 
If it has to be a semi, it will not be my idea of an Ideal upland gun. My ideal upland gun is a SxS, but I have used and like O/U's too.
 
I just picked up a Sporting LT 20 Rem 1100, with Briley chokes.I shot it for the first time at the skeet range yesterday and it shot very well. The 1100's seem to fit me quite well. I will use this as my upland gun when I go to Manitoba for my annual waterfowl/upland hunt. I had a AL391 20ga Beretta that just didn't fit me at all, especially when I started to shoot some skeet with it, the comb is a little high & kept hitting me in the cheek. It was not comfortable for me, the 1100 is a better fit. Go to a shop and test fit them before making your purchase and get what is right for you. Good luck

Scott
 
sp-10 said:
I am going to soon start looking for a light upland gun. I could go either 12, 16 or 20 gauge. I will be getting a semi auto. What are your ideas of the ideal upland gun that fits these specifications? I want something that ill have for a long while. I will pick up a sweet 16 if i can find one. I have also thought about a browning gold or a used beretta. My friend has a franchi and i shoot that pretty good i might consider one of them. what do you guye think. post any pics if you have them.

sp-10
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Oh, and for the e record, my preferred gauge is a 28, but I would make do with a 20!:D
Cat
 
catnthehatt said:
Oh, and for the e record, my preferred gauge is a 28, but I would make do with a 20!:D
Cat
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Upland I presume also means Pheasant's. In my opinion the 28ga. is a little light for these big birds.
The big advantage of a SXS is you are able to pick your Choke also they swing so nice, with 28" Barrels. My pick would be a 16ga. The power of a twelve with the weight of a 20.
 
MY fave upland gun is my Citori Lightning 20G 26"
A semi is just not really an upland gun but if I were to get another, I would consider the 1100 LT in 28 or 20, or a Browning Gold Upland Special.
I had a browning gold upland special, got it for a great price, I liked it but didn't have the heart to cut the stock to fit me so I sold it. I wasn't sure if I liked a straight grip and didn't want to ruin the resale value by chopping it. That;s how I got my Citori so cheap, nobody wanted it, it was too short! got it for half the going rate!

The only issue I have with the 1100s is they are maintenance heavy, gotta clean the gas system all the time. My Citori gets a wipe down once in awhile and always if it is wet.I rarely do anything more to it and it will shoot any 20 gauge shell I can find.
 
I prefer a light 12 gauge sxs for upland but in a semi-auto my choice for upland hunting would be either the Benelli M2 or the Beretta 391 in 20 gauge.
 
Partial to pumps

I've always been partial to pumps myself. Just picked up an older mossberg 500 in verygood condion with a 3" reciever and 28in barrell with modified choke. I plan on using that for my partridge. and whatever else crosses my path thats in season. I've been looking for a few months. Passed up on a couple of sxs for under 300.00 at the end went back to a pump. I still want to get a sxs eventually. I also like the modified fix choke for loading up cocktails of 00buck, ssg's, and slugs for deer in shotgun only areas.
 
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Win/64 said:
Upland I presume also means Pheasant's.
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...And may include sharptail, that are equally tough birds. In my opinion, a single gun for all upland hunting would have to be a 12 or 16 gauge SXS or U/O. Either way, it should be equipped with double triggers for instant choke selection.

Fit, of course, is important for any shooting sport, but never more so than with upland bird hunting. The majority of shots in the uplands tend to be "snap" shots, requiring a fast and instinctive mount.

There are a wide variety of suitable SXS and U/O shotguns for dry land game birds. The one that can be touted as best for the purpose, is the one that fits you best. If you can borrow a variety of makes/models to try in the field, you should be able to identify those that fit you. If you don't have that luxury, try throwing the guns to your shoulder in the store with your eyes closed. When you open your eyes, you can judge how well the gun fits you by how close you are to where you thought you'd be when you opened your eyes.
 
My ideal upland shotgun is a light weight 28 gauge.The Franchi 48 AL in 28 gauge is a good choice.Light,low recoil and dependable in 28 gauge.
 
Blunderbuss ....... :D

Used one a long time ago. The area was teeming with Black Partridge and Red Jungle Fowl and we carried no firearms that day. Upon enquiry if somebody owned at least a ML Shotgun, the ancient looking village headman cheerfully produced an equally ancient one. Despite my father's strong disapproval, my brother and I proceeded to use that loaded with small pebbles :p....the old geezer (headman) was suggesting small nails!
 
4Horse said:
Blunderbuss ....... :D

Used one a long time ago. The area was teeming with Black Partridge and Red Jungle Fowl and we carried no firearms that day. Upon enquiry if somebody owned at least a ML Shotgun, the ancient looking village headman cheerfully produced an equally ancient one. Despite my father's strong disapproval, my brother and I proceeded to use that loaded with small pebbles :p....the old geezer (headman) was suggesting small nails!
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Not sure how to respond to that post. Are you the long lost Little Lord Fauntleroy? Did you have someone carry that Blunderbuss for you? Did you get your limit?
 
I love the 20ga for upland, but be warned, there is quite the learning curve compared to "point in general direction and squeeze trigger" 12ga...

I know you want a semi, but look hard at the Browning BPS Upland Special. very light weight and points instantly. the bottom eject is fantastic for cleaning up after the shot (I like leaving as little trace as possible)

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