Recommendation for inexpensive 20 gauge semi auto

JBD

JBD

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My daughter expressed an interest in grouse hunting and I would also like to introduce her to skeet shooting. I think that something soft shooting semi in 20 gauge would be more appropriate to start, so I was thinking a gas operated semi automatic would be more appropriate. I am looking for something that works well without breaking the bank.

My daughter is 16 years old about 5 foot 8.
 
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If you can find one, a Weatherby SA-08 would be a good choice.

You didn’t mention you daughter’s age. They made a Youth model. Not easy to find but very nice. I have one for teaching kids and small stature women. It has proved to be very reliable.
 
I had a Charles Daly 601 black synthetic 20ga semi and it was great. Skeet waterfowl and turkey. It cost less than than tax on my Beretta a400 20ga. I only sold it because a friend needed a 20ga semi for his son to start hunting
 
A 16 yo can use adult sized gear, as long as it fits geometrically, and is light and well balanced. My daughter has no problem running Benelli M2 in 12GA with light target loads + soft recoil pad. She does find it painful with high velocity hunting slugs though. Beretta 1301 seems popular with women.
 
I started my daughters out on a Remington 1100 20 guage Magum. These guns have a fair bit of heft to them and recoil very light with target loads. I don’t know what you have to pay for one these days but I’m sure they would be quite a bit more money than most of the Turkish guns available. The difference is the quality and retention of their resell value.
 
Depends on the size of your daughter. I would be more tempted to use light loads and start mine off using my 20ga Superposed than most anything else. I do have a 20ga 870 that could be good, but as far as for teaching someone to shoot and those complex mechanics, I'm thinking a shorter gun with better balance would be better than the inherently longer semi auto, or even the pump. Not to mention the safety and gun-handling fundamentals are easier taught with a break action.
 
Falconflyer said:
I started my daughters out on a Remington 1100 20 guage Magum. These guns have a fair bit of heft to them and recoil very light with target loads. I don’t know what you have to pay for one these days but I’m sure they would be quite a bit more money than most of the Turkish guns available. The difference is the quality and retention of their resell value.
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Interestingly enough, I was just perusing the Shotgun EE and there's a 2.75" 1100 for sale, reduced to $1100. Not exactly the same gun, but if I was in the market for a 20ga semi for this sort of thing I'd be giving it a long hard look!
 
My 16 year old daughter shoots my mossberg 500 in 20ga awesomely. I recently picked up a coach gun in 20 and she went 8 for 5 on ptarmigan last weekend. Got 3 on first shot (shot into a huddle) then on last shot of day got 2 with 1 shot. Now she thinks it is her coach gun. They are handy, lightish, and simple. 20ga doesn't need semiauto. Maybe just a recoil pad. I have one on my coach gun.
 
I might have been talking out my hind end since I got home and went on a dive into the safe for 20 gauges.

First is weight. My 870 is a Lightweight Magnum and my Superposed is a Lightning. The difference in weight is almost laughable...60 grams, or less than 2 ounces (6lb 4oz for the 870 and 6 lb 6oz for the Superposed).

Second is length. I forgot that the 870 has a short barrel...21 inches versus the 26.5 for the Superposed.

The Superposed also balances about a half inch in front of the hinge pin versus the 870 being about in the middle of the ejection port...19.25" from the butt on the Superposed vs 18.75" on the 870. Granted the 870 will change more depending on the load in the magazine.

So what does it all mean? Hard to say. On one hand I can see the forward weight of the 870 smoothing out a new shooter's swing as they can be a little jerky. But the safety factor of a break action is undeniable. Then again, the 870 has a recoil pad where the Superposed only has a plate which will make a difference to a new shooter.

Perhaps more questions than answers!
 
BigUglyMan said:
Depends on the size of your daughter. I would be more tempted to use light loads and start mine off using my 20ga Superposed than most anything else. I do have a 20ga 870 that could be good, but as far as for teaching someone to shoot and those complex mechanics, I'm thinking a shorter gun with better balance would be better than the inherently longer semi auto, or even the pump. Not to mention the safety and gun-handling fundamentals are easier taught with a break action.
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You know, if one was to put a longer plug into the magazine tube on the 1100 it effectively would be a two shot and a bit safer for the newbies ;)
There are a few 1100's that are reasonably inexpensive , but they dont last long in the EE.
Not to mention popping up across the country in the Mom and Pop shops.
One just has to be quick to drop the cc number.
BUM, you have been spot on or is it I agree with your take/opnion I dont know....
To the OP a school mate got his 870 on his 13th B-day 47 years ago...it was a 12gauge and he was forced to step up from the 410.
Just an talking out loud here...
The whole uptick to this quest is the quality time with ones child and we all know teaching them about gun safety and the shooting sports is that they wont be out on a street corner causing trouble because they have to much time on their hands.
Rob
 
sgt.rock said:
My 16 year old daughter shoots my mossberg 500 in 20ga awesomely. I recently picked up a coach gun in 20 and she went 8 for 5 on ptarmigan last weekend. Got 3 on first shot (shot into a huddle) then on last shot of day got 2 with 1 shot. Now she thinks it is her coach gun. They are handy, lightish, and simple. 20ga doesn't need semiauto. Maybe just a recoil pad. I have one on my coach gun.
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Grouse hunting is far different than skeet, a few shots vs perhaps 100 shots in a session. Recoil is cumulative.
 
Maybe I'm weird, but should I have a daughter that showed any kind of interest in grouse hunting... I'd sure be asking her if she's interested in a nice double

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And she'd be the prettiest girl in blaze-orange for miles around!

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I agree on the look but you should consider that most doubles are really light in weight so there is somewhat of a recoil penalty for that. Something like a BSS has enough heft to mitigate recoil better than most Spanish and Italian doubles. I had an AYA 16 gauge double that was a pleasure to shoot with my 1oz/1150 fps hand loads but store bought Federal 1oz/1195 fps loads were most unpleasant to shoot!
 
Falconflyer said:
I agree on the look but you should consider that most doubles are really light in weight so there is somewhat of a recoil penalty for that. Something like a BSS has enough heft to mitigate recoil better than most Spanish and Italian doubles. I had an AYA 16 gauge double that was a pleasure to shoot with my 1oz/1150 fps hand loads but store bought Federal 1oz/1195 fps loads were most unpleasant to shoot!
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Exactly! My 6lb 4 oz Grulla SxS 16 is great to carry in the field, but two rounds of skeet with a solid wooden butt is enough. My just over 5lb Citori Feather 20 gauge, was not at all pleasant with the 2-3/4" XX Magnum loads.
 
My 1100 20g with fixed modified choke is a dream to shoot.
A bit heavy, but lighter than the 870 Wingmaster in 12g.
The Weatherby autos look nice in wood, but will swell up in short order if abused by dropping in a pond.
Never owned one, but have seen one that spent a few hours in the water till the tide receded till the owner could reach it.
Swollen wood and was basically NFG afterwards...I posted pics years ago an have since lost the saved pics :(
Rob
 
5 boxes through my daughters Tristat Raptor 20 g no problems once we cleared that Choke issue.If you were going to shoot trap ,skeet and cases of duck loads I would go B gun but for 1-2 cases a year ? we will see.
 
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