Budget Grouse Gun?

J_MIL_20

J_MIL_20

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Steinbach, MB
Well I'm getting into grouse hunting, and I would like to get a nice light, quick handling sxs, or o/u.
As the title says, I'm obviously on a limited budget, so I can't be spending $1000 or more. I'd like to stay around $500, i do already have a browning A-5 sweet 16, so I won't be SOL if there's nothing in my price range.
Anyways, what do you guys think?
 
I think you could do a lot worse than a sweet 16. If you find a sxs that is nice, light, and quick handling for under 2k, let me know.
 
Don't know a lot of brands aside form Stoger (IGA) but I've hunted grouse for years with a break action, single barrel .410.
SXS's or single barrel break opens are often in the 300-500 range. I've seen them in .410, 20 and 12 GA calibers. I'd go down to your local shop and see what they have. A grouse gun doesn't have to be fancy.

I picked up a SXS 20Ga for I think $300 a while ago.
 
hairygrump said:
I'm using a Stoeger Uplander 20g this year and I'm very happy with it.
Click to expand...

Yeah. THIS^.
Been using one of these sweet SxS's for two years now. You can get extra screw-in chokes for these guns. You get a single trigger with no barrel selection but I have been running mine with both barrels in full choke for ruffies and it is good to go for sharptails too if you have them handy. Got mine at Wholesale Sports in Winnipeg. I just love it!!

It was somewhere in the $500 area I think.
 
A lot of spanish made sxs's are well built but don't command high $ shop around and see what's out there. Shotgun fit is more important then looks if you plan to shoot well. I just traded my rem 1100 for a bnib tristar setter o/u. The fit n finish is not perfect but the clays I smoked with it says it fits just fine. It is very light swings fast. Single selective trigger 3" and 5 chokes. I missed my other o/u's that I've sold and never used my seni so I made this deal

Baikal guns are WELL built for the money. Alil heavier then most but can be had new for $5-600. Used in the $300 range. I use a ij58 and figure I've shot over 25000 rounds thru it in 4 years.
A better fit n finish gun to consider is a cz bobwhite. I love the ringneck version but it only has single trugger. The bobwhite is dual. But I've never shot one. Hope to find one in 410 eventually

Good luck
 
Check out Trade Ex a site sponsor , they have a huge selection of sxs as well as many O/U shotguns plus they have a very good reputation for describing condition as well as giving information. Just to add a 16 gauge is an excellent choice for upland.
 
hairygrump said:
I'm using a Stoeger Uplander 20g this year and I'm very happy with it.
Click to expand...

x3

That's what my wife has, and what I steal from her for chasing birds (I have an 870, which is nice to leave behind as it is so much more heavy). Given your budget you be able to start considering a CZ-branded shotgun, which is what I've been drooling over as an alternative to borrowing the stoeger, although I'd consider a stoeger for myself too.

RG

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My favorite chicken gun is my single shot .410 that I carry on my quad and in the truck. If I'm field hunting grouse or pheasants, especially with dogs I prefer one of my o/u Beretta in 12 or 20 gauge, but sorry to say the price is well over a couple grand for each of these. Anything O/U is going to be pricey unless its a complete pile of ####e. You can get a decent pump in 20g for a few hundred bucks second hand if you're stuck to a tight budget.
 
Well it certainly looks like that stoeger uplander is what i should look into, i'd seen them before, but the price had made me wary. With your votes of confidence in it, i may well have to get one myself. Thanks guys
 
I'm using an H&R pardner 20ga compact (or "youth" model). Overall length is 36" and @ just over 5lbs I can carry it all day through the thick undergrowth found in my hunting areas. The length is the best feature I find, ducking/crawling through scrub brush the barrel doesn't get all hung up in the brush. I've only fired one shot through it & connected with a grouse.

H_R20ga.jpg


H_R20gagrouse.jpg


Picked mine up online from WSS for $183 delivered, 2 boxes of shells for $22 from the local gun shop & I'm ready to go for the next couple seasons!!
 
Check the Weatherby SA-08 semi-auto in 20ga. By all accounts these are great little autos. Hard not to be as they are based Beretta 300 series shotguns. The 20ga is 6lbs and you can get them for around $500. Much lighter and nimbler than the Stoeger Uplander.

Patrick
 
If your not proud then pick up an old Cooey or Topper for 100 bucks. Cut the barrel down to 26 inches and you will have a fine short range grouse killing machine when loaded with 7 1/2 or 8 shot...
 
I believe the poster said he wants a sxs or over/under in 16 gauge for upland. Why try to convince him to get a single shot or semi-auto when he already has a sweet 16. To the poster. You likely aren't going to find much in the way of a new sxs for $500.00 except for the Stoeger or Baikal as already mentioned. If you are open to used guns then you broaden your selection by quite a bit in that price range. But gun fit is important. Don't just buy a sxs or over/under because it is cheap. To get the most out of it ,it has to fit you properly. There is nothing better than a well balanced, quality made, properly fitting 16 gauge sxs for upland hunting. There are also lots of poor fitting, terrible handling clubs that resemble guns as well. Make sure it is what you think you want, not because it's $500.00 new.
 
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