Well, the wife is not happy, yet again! Apparently her 12 gauge browning bps is "too heavy and awkward" to carry through the bush grouse hunting while she's training our Chessie pup. So...I'm on the search again for something lighter with a shorter barrel. Any suggestions? I'm thinking a youth synthetic 20 gauge (she's 5'2 so a youth gun fits her well). Something like the browning micro or the mossberg 510 as it has the adjustable stock. Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?
20 gauge Question.
- Thread starter buckowens
- Start date
20 guages
As mentioned, a 20 guage side-by-side might be one solution. Since she is used to the Browning BPS, then see if a local gun shop has one that she can try. Browning also makes an "Upland Game" BPS with a 22 inch barrel and English style straight stock.
The Mossberg 500 series pump guns are also something to investigate. Probably a lot more available than the Browning.
Most 20 guage shotguns are constructed on a smaller frame, but some are not and they use the 12 guage frame size. Also, look at a 26 inch barrel, vent rib, with interchangeable choke tubes. The balance should be a lot better, and the slightly shorter barrel will not give a great velocity loss. It will be a LOT handier and easier to carry and swing in heavier cover.
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As mentioned, a 20 guage side-by-side might be one solution. Since she is used to the Browning BPS, then see if a local gun shop has one that she can try. Browning also makes an "Upland Game" BPS with a 22 inch barrel and English style straight stock.
The Mossberg 500 series pump guns are also something to investigate. Probably a lot more available than the Browning.
Most 20 guage shotguns are constructed on a smaller frame, but some are not and they use the 12 guage frame size. Also, look at a 26 inch barrel, vent rib, with interchangeable choke tubes. The balance should be a lot better, and the slightly shorter barrel will not give a great velocity loss. It will be a LOT handier and easier to carry and swing in heavier cover.
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Definitely look at a Youth gun! I have a 20 ga. 11-87 (23" barrel, shortened stock, for my daughter) which feels like a toy to me. It must be under 6 lbs, carries like a dream.
Remember, you can't just take a full sized gun and cut off the stock. It will be VERY muzzle heavy, and youth/ladies don't have the arm strength for that. The barrel MUST be significantly shorter.
Remember, you can't just take a full sized gun and cut off the stock. It will be VERY muzzle heavy, and youth/ladies don't have the arm strength for that. The barrel MUST be significantly shorter.
I love mine, BPS Upland 20ga. very light, comes to the shoulder fast, and swings very quick. the forearm rattles a little, but that's the only fault I have with it.
buckownes, there are several sXs's in the EE section right now.
Two Brownings in 20gauge that range in price from $1400.00 to 1600.00 and change.
There is also a Beretta 409 as well that is less money and still a sweet gun.
So, are they reasonably priced ? That Sir is the million$$ question.
Then again it might be a good enough reason to spend a load of cash on a new gun for her.
One suggestion is to look for a WingMaster 870 in 20gauge as they are made on a scaled down frame and a pound or so lighter than the full sized 12 gauge.
Just more food for thought,
Rob
I bought my stepson a Mossberg youth model 20 gauge with 22 inch barrel and short synthetic stock with spacers a couple years back. Works great and is very light but now he is too tall so I ordered an adult size butt for it. I was never a Mossberg fan but this little pump is so well suited for woodcock and partridge that I can't find fault with it.
Ahsan Ahmed
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
The 20ga BPS Upland Special is a nice pump action shotgun for upland bird hunting, however, from the perspective of the end-user in question that still weighs 6lbs 12oz (as advertised). A BPS Micro weighs a bit more. A Rem 870WM in 20 or 28 would be around 6lbs and a nice handling gun.
Alternately, H&R singleshot 20 or 28s may be considered if she has no issues handling a single action shotgun.
In SxS, the CZ Bobwhite or Partridge in 28ga (a 20ga will be around 6lbs 9oz +/- usually) would be best considering the price tag.
After you buy her a nice light field gun, her next complaint will be about the recoil.
Felt recoil is a factor of the weight that is being accelerated versus the weight available to absorb the energy (the velocity to which the weight is being pushed is also a consideration, but commercial shotshells are all in relatively the same velocity range, so we'll ignore that factor for now).
The weight being accelerated is the amount of shot. The weight available to mitigate is the weight of the gun. As soon as you reduce the weight of the gun, the felt recoil will increase.
Many hunters/shooters are under the misimpression that more shot in the shell equals better chances of bringing down the game. This is simply not the case. There's an optimum point beyond which shot patterns actually get worse as you add more pellets to the shell.
If you want to resolve the gun weight problem without creating a new issue in the process, be sure to pick up some 7/8 oz loads for that 20, if you go that route. Where there's a choice, choose those with the least propellant (lower "Dram Equivalent" number). Heavy loads and magnum loads are an advantage with waterfowl and tough species like pheasant or sharptail. For most everything else, they just beat you to death and offer REDUCED performance, not improved.
Felt recoil is a factor of the weight that is being accelerated versus the weight available to absorb the energy (the velocity to which the weight is being pushed is also a consideration, but commercial shotshells are all in relatively the same velocity range, so we'll ignore that factor for now).
The weight being accelerated is the amount of shot. The weight available to mitigate is the weight of the gun. As soon as you reduce the weight of the gun, the felt recoil will increase.
Many hunters/shooters are under the misimpression that more shot in the shell equals better chances of bringing down the game. This is simply not the case. There's an optimum point beyond which shot patterns actually get worse as you add more pellets to the shell.
If you want to resolve the gun weight problem without creating a new issue in the process, be sure to pick up some 7/8 oz loads for that 20, if you go that route. Where there's a choice, choose those with the least propellant (lower "Dram Equivalent" number). Heavy loads and magnum loads are an advantage with waterfowl and tough species like pheasant or sharptail. For most everything else, they just beat you to death and offer REDUCED performance, not improved.
I don't think I have to worry about her complaining about that. She's small but mighty! Lol I'll keep your advice in mind though should I need it.
We took a look at a few guns last night ruled out every one she picked up so the search continues.
I'll check out those ones mentioned that are on the EE. I have no knowledge of the Franchi guns, guess I'll have to look those up!
Thanks for the advice
Turkeyslayer 1300
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Russell, Ontario
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