20 GA Grouse Gun

Lotro

Lotro

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Hey Folks,

I've been scouring the internet, and searching this forum, and I haven't found a clear answer, or maybe an answer that I like, so I thought I'd try posting. If I've missed a post that deals with this, I'd appreciate a point in the right direction, I swear I tried the search bar first.

I'm looking for an easy carrying/light-ish grouse/upland game shotgun for use this fall in Northeastern Ontario. I'd like it to have a 3 shot capacity (sometimes I stumble on a covey!) could be new or used, target price is under $1000.

I have a 20 GA Cooey 84, which I quite like, but sometimes I miss, and my reloading skills are slow.

I had, and sold, a Browning BPS Field in .410, and I thought about buying a new one in 20 GA, but even thought it's only 7lbs, I found it heavy after walking through the tangled brush all day looking for birds.

I've been searching high and low for an older Remington Wingmaster in a 20 GA, but apparently whoever has them doesn't want to sell (yes, I've seen the one on EE right now and spoken with olgrouser). I realize that it may be 7 lbs+ too but it's a classic and I'd like to have one.

I know everyone says Beretta Silver Pigeon or Browning Citori (I have 686 in 12 ga for sporting clays) but I'd like something a little cheaper and last I checked they're heavy.

So, if you've got a moment, and some experience with an easy carrying 20 GA grouse gun, I'd appreciate your recommendation. Comments on how available it is would be welcome too!
 
If you can find an older 20 gauge M37 Ithaca 2 3/4 inch chamber mine weighs 6.2 lbs empty.
Fixed IC choke of 26 inch barrel no rib.

Very much resembles your BPS.
Ithacas often weigh less than similar 870 of same gauge and barrel length.
One pound less means alot end of long day in the hunting fields.

As a used shotgun they are not that uncommon in the market place.
 
If you thought the BPS was heavy then you will be disappointed with the Wingmaster for carry.
But, if your willing to suffer knowing you are carrying the best pump action shotgun then that will make up for the heavy carry ;)
Try an auto loader in say an 1100 ;) or search out a good quality sxs with ejectors and Bob's yer uncle.
Good Hunting.
Rob
 
bluedcanoed said:
Older Ithaca 37 - probably the lightest 20 ga. pumpgun ever available here in volume.
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If he is lucky enuf to discover the M37 Ultralight versus Featherlight, these Ultralight receivers are made of a bullet of aluminum alloy versus a billet of steel.

Another pound knocked off. Right around five pounds and a touch more.
But they are harder to find on the used gun market.

I read on an American forum these Ithaca Ultralight M37s in 20 and 12 gauge can be shot enuf to become out of specifications. But that's years of rabid hunting/bird shooting.
Educated guess here, 5-7 years hard hunting with the same shotgun.
 
FLHTCUI said:
If you thought the BPS was heavy then you will be disappointed with the Wingmaster for carry.
But, if your willing to suffer knowing you are carrying the best pump action shotgun then that will make up for the heavy carry ;)
Try an auto loader in say an 1100 ;) or search out a good quality sxs with ejectors and Bob's yer uncle.
Click to expand...

I'm definitely interested in an 870 Wingmaster, just hard to find in a 20 GA. I'd probably suffer the extra carry weight to shoot one of these. All I know about SXS is that like O/U there's lots out there, and it can get pricey and quality is varied. Is there a brand(s) you're thinking off when you say "good quality sxs"?
 
Trivia, Ultrafeatherlight was shortened to just Ultralight 1982. The years of production this alloy model 1978-1990.
There was a straight grip English style stock offered 1982. In the eighties along came the M87 Ithaca. Just a newer M37 also in 3 inch magnum.
The earlier M37 Ultrafeatherlight had a ULT prefix to the serial number. When the M87 Ultralight introduced this prefix was dropped.

All the earliest Ultrafeatherlight were 2 3/4 inch chamber only.
If you view an Ultrafeatherlight or Ultralight at a gun show table, the black painted aluminum alloy frame very obvious compared to blued steel receiver.
If in doubt a handy pocket size fridge magnet could confirm the presence of steel or otherwise.
There never was any alloy gun offered in the 16 gauge. 12 and 20 only. I found several advert specs say the 20 gauge Ultrafeatherlight right at five pounds unloaded. Always shown with a vent rib barrel often at 25 inches length and a fixed choke this model. IIRC most of these in M87 model often was with again vent rib but removable chokes.
The first production run of 16s ended in 1973ish. In later years the 16 was reintroduced (?) maybe 2000?? But enthusiasts noted the newer 16 was heavier than the earlier gun.
 
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I had a Stoeger 20 semi, it was pretty light, and was good, till it stopped cycling. I've got a mossberg 500 in 20 gauge, I find that one pretty handy and doesn't seem to be too heavy. Truth though, it's my cooey 20 that goes for long walks with me the most.
 
memaquay said:
I had a Stoeger 20 semi, it was pretty light, and was good, till it stopped cycling. I've got a mossberg 500 in 20 gauge, I find that one pretty handy and doesn't seem to be too heavy. Truth though, it's my cooey 20 that goes for long walks with me the most.
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I haven't actually BEEN grouse hunting in a few years, but in the 4-5 years leading up to that, I only really hunted with a 20ga. A large-frame Wingmaster to be specific. The experts here may correct me, but if I understand the story...when Remington first offered the 20ga Wingmasters, they built them on 12ga receivers. (called "large frame" Wingmasters) You can tell them, physically, by the point where the barrel meets the receiver-the barrel tapers DOWN slightly to the smaller 20ga size. Positive is, or used to be, that these guns were less $ than the proper 20s (LW) that followed. I didn't want to thread the barrel for chokes (was in new condition) so I sourced a spare barrel in the US for cheap, had it imported, then cut down to about 20" by a gunsmith and a bead added=no choke. In the Ontario bush I was trudging through, this open-choke gun seemed to have a knack for knocking them down. I have a pic somewhere of the gun beside it's last harvest. I still wish I had that gun actually, but it wasn't that light. Granted, I find the 84s heavy for what they are. (just sold my 20ga, model 84)

I would agree the 37 is a great choice, and, depending on the # of birds you shoot (From an ammo cost POV) a 16ga might be worth considering. Seems they appear here in the EE relatively often, and sit there. I've hunted grouse with a 16ga 37, nothing but good things to say.

I also am a Remington fan and have hunted with a 20ga Youth/Express model, and still love that gun for clays/barn pigeons. Smaller gun too, 21" VR barrel with a Remchoke barrel. (takes choke tubes)

I'm basically taking a long time to say what this^ post did though, a model 500 feels physically lighter than the options I've just mentioned, due to the aluminum receiver. (as part of it) Granted, I've never held/shot a 20ga model 37.

20ga Citoris are lovely too, especially the old ones. I know a guy with one built in 1979 and I've never shot a 20 I like more than that. On the other hand, I'd hate to have one of those out, be miles from the truck, and it starts raining. lol That's when you'd wish you had a Mossberg 500.

So yes, unless you're after a semi like an SA-20 (or bigger $ option) I'd say Mossberg 500 for the best combination of weight, price, quality, availability.
 
A 20 gauge 1100 or 11-87 isn't a particularly light gun, unless you get a Youth version.

I have one of those new Turkish semis in 20 gauge. There are multiple brands but they are all similar (I believe it is the old Beretta design). On the scale at 6 lbs 9 oz. Very sweet to carry. And I got it at a very special promo price I couldn't turn down.
 
Lotro said:
I know everyone says Beretta Silver Pigeon or Browning Citori (I have 686 in 12 ga for sporting clays) but I'd like something a little cheaper and last I checked they're heavy.
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For a reason or another, I always assumed the 686 was a 6lb gun (in 12G) :confused: The Winchester M59 is probably my lightest 12G repeater at 6.5lbs

How many shots do you need?
- A CZ Bobwhite (SxS) in 20G could fit the bill (another 6lbs gun)
 
Love bird hunting with my Franchi Instinct SL 20ga because it’s so light and easy to carry all day. But since you want 3-shot capacity, I also love my Franchi Affinity 3 20ga in the bush and its synthetic stock is a better choice for foul weather days or dragging through the thick thorny bush.
 
Franchi 48’s are quite light and make for a great upland gun if semis interest you. For a pump I personally would go with a moss berg 500 if weight was an issue, feel quite light in the hand compared to the other big names in my experience. Not the ###iest but very reliable.
 
Buy any one of Winchester M12, Ithaca M37 or Remington M31 in 16 gauge or 20 gauge. You want a 3 shot grouse gun, those are damn near perfect. And well under $1000.

Having said that, insisting on a three shot gun for grouse is a bit goofy. The third shot is for a financial success of the ammo company.
 
canvasback;[URL="[URL said:
tel:18134341[/URL]"]18134341[/URL]]Buy any one of Winchester M12, Ithaca M37 or Remington M31 in 16 gauge or 20 gauge. You want a 3 shot grouse gun, those are damn near perfect. And well under $1000.

Having said that, insisting on a three shot gun for grouse is a bit goofy. The third shot is for a financial success of the ammo company.
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Couldn't agree more especially with the model 12. The newer japanese models make awesome grouse guns with their vent ribbed 26" IC barrels! They are awesome to carry and point and swing fantastic.
 
canvasback said:
Having said that, insisting on a three shot gun for grouse is a bit goofy. The third shot is for a financial success of the ammo company.
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That’s why I asked if the OP was shooting birds on the ground or on the wing. On the wing, a third shot is unrealistic even if you flush multiple birds.
 
canvasback said:
Buy any one of Winchester M12, Ithaca M37 or Remington M31 in 16 gauge or 20 gauge. You want a 3 shot grouse gun, those are damn near perfect. And well under $1000.
Click to expand...

I agree wholeheartedly with Canvasback, with a preference for the 16. The Remington M31 is a particularly smooth action.
 
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