Shotties in the Uplands

planemaker

planemaker

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In view of fellow CGN'r Mount Sweetness's search for a nice 20 ga. shotgun, I presume for some upland style hunting, I wonder how many of us have or are embarked upon going to subguage doubles ?

I, as surely as most others started out with a single barrel 12 ga be it pump, semi or single shot. Personally it was a borrowed pump that got me hunting in the bush for Ruffies. My first shotgun bought was a 12 ga O/U with 30" barrels and back then in my 20's it was not a big deal to carry the weight but the 30" pipes tended to be a little long for the job plus the full / mod tended to obliterate the close ones.

I went to and still like to ocassionally take a 12 ga. Superposed lightning 26" skt / skt out in the bush, shot a lot of grouse with it over the years but a long days tramp has shown me that even a 7ish lb O/U can be getting to feel pretty heavy by the end of the day.

I did venture into the SxS realm a few years ago with a pistol gripped 12 ga BSS, svelte they are not in 12 ga. Built like a friggin' tank and weighs about as much !

Back to the O/U's, I have for the last two seasons been using a 20 ga SKB 600 with 28" bbls and skt / skt. Ahhh now we are getting closer...

Still had a jones for a BSS though, but no 12 ga. Early last winter I found a 20ga Sporter but she's sitting waiting for the test of a hunt, could be sweet...... but ....then....I bored the chokes open on a 20 ga Superposed,

oy ve,

and I have been slobbering over subguage SxS Spanish sidelocks !!!!!

Tim
 
I've tried a few, including an Ithaca 200 in 20 ga. and a BSS in 20, but more recently have been using a 28" - 12ga. Union Armera (Grulla - Spanish) with 24gram Kent 8-1/2's. It's choked .007 & .015".

Works VERY well on grouse & woodcock, and with heavier loads of 6's,
has been a lot of fun on pheasants.

Someday an AyA No. 2 in 20 or perhaps an Arrietta. Nice case coloured sidelock.
 
planemaker said:
In view of fellow CGN'r Mount Sweetness's search for a nice 20 ga. shotgun, I presume for some upland style hunting, I wonder how many of us have or are embarked upon going to subguage doubles ?

I, as surely as most others started out with a single barrel 12 ga be it pump, semi or single shot. Personally it was a borrowed pump that got me hunting in the bush for Ruffies. My first shotgun bought was a 12 ga O/U with 30" barrels and back then in my 20's it was not a big deal to carry the weight but the 30" pipes tended to be a little long for the job plus the full / mod tended to obliterate the close ones.

I went to and still like to ocassionally take a 12 ga. Superposed lightning 26" skt / skt out in the bush, shot a lot of grouse with it over the years but a long days tramp has shown me that even a 7ish lb O/U can be getting to feel pretty heavy by the end of the day.

I did venture into the SxS realm a few years ago with a pistol gripped 12 ga BSS, svelte they are not in 12 ga. Built like a friggin' tank and weighs about as much !

Back to the O/U's, I have for the last two seasons been using a 20 ga SKB 600 with 28" bbls and skt / skt. Ahhh now we are getting closer...

Still had a jones for a BSS though, but no 12 ga. Early last winter I found a 20ga Sporter but she's sitting waiting for the test of a hunt, could be sweet...... but ....then....I bored the chokes open on a 20 ga Superposed,

oy ve,

and I have been slobbering over subguage SxS Spanish sidelocks !!!!!

Tim
Click to expand...

Been shooting sub gauge for years!:)
My son as well won't use anyhting BUT a 28 gauge for any upland birds.
The gun here is holding here is a 12 gauge but tubed up with Briley 28's
Wessex015.jpg
 
Here's my Ugartechea in 12 ga. Chokes have been opened up to Skt and IC. Just over 6 pounds. The slip-on pad is to get a little more grip on my shoulder, as the bare wood butt is way too slippery on my vest.

huntingcookiesmall.jpg
 
My pics aren't as nice damnit!

I really like the size of 20ga. guns, 28's I find a little small but in honesty I haven't had the opportunity to shoot one yet, really don't want to either because it'll only cost me money (there was a nice Guerini Magnus in 28ga on the EE not too long ago that was tempting though :redface:).

My RBL (dreams do come true........at a price :)) & Citori Superlight 20's
P1010040.jpg

P1010045.jpg

P1010087.jpg
 
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I can't see myself ever using a 12ga again....besides turkey hunting of course. 20ga all the way....and I am on the hunt for a nice SxS, still no luck.

My Charles Daly Superior O/U 20ga is choked full/mod.........I'm really considering getting it opened up to Imp/Cyl

Is it worth reaming out a nice classic double it?
 
My primary upland gun is a custom Spanish sxs in 12 gauge. It's just a hair over 6-1/2 lbs. so I haven't seen much reason to go to the 20. I generally use 20 gauge shot weights however. 1 ounce #6 for pheasants and 24 gram #7.5 for grouse.

I've used my 28 gauge o/u for birds a few times and it's done fine but it's primarly a target gun and is heavier and longer than my 12.
 
I have been using 20's and 16's for nearly all my upland hunting for the past 17 years. Currently my go to guns are both 16ga, a Merkel o/u and a Browning Citori White Lightning. I have a match to the Citori in .410, a nice 20 ga. Superposed and even a 20 ga. Ithaca pump that see some use each season on upland birds.
But I may have switched back to a 12 this year, since I picked up a gorgeous AyA #1 sidelock double that swings so sweetly and fits so nice that I can forgive it for having larger bores.
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P1000166.jpg

My Pudelpointer with a few birds taken with the Citori 16ga. My hunting is most often "mixed bag" and best suited to 16 or 12 ga guns. I find in our wide open spaces the 20 ga. and smaller often not quite as versatile. But they are fun to use.
 
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I have been using 20 ga for over 40 years for upland game. I use either my Dads 870 wingmaster with a 26" modified barrel or my 20 ga coach sxs. Works for me.
 
beretta boy said:
Someday an AyA No. 2 in 20 or perhaps an Arrietta. Nice case coloured sidelock.
Click to expand...

I handled a 20 ga. AyA No. 2 last fall at a Cabelas , very sweet !
The Arrietas look pretty awesome along with Grulla, Garbi Uggie etc. What do you think of the rounded actions vs. the regular sidelock No 2's ?

Tim
 
catnthehatt said:
Been shooting sub gauge for years!:)
My son as well won't use anyhting BUT a 28 gauge for any upland birds.
The gun here is holding here is a 12 gauge but tubed up with Briley 28's
Wessex015.jpg
Click to expand...

I didn't mention it in my first post, but I did for a few years own a 101 Diamond Grade skeet gun in 28 ga. It was quite enjoyable using it for grouse but at the time shells were very hard to find and expensive !

Unfortunately for me a time came that I needed some cash money and passed it on to another(You know who you are lol !) now fellow CGNer in this thread. Kinda get a little misty eyed over that little darlin but c'est la vie eh ?

Shells are now easier to find and I wouldn't refuse a 28 ga sidelock at a great price.

Tim
 
Gunslinger said:
My pics aren't as nice damnit!

I really like the size of 20ga. guns, 28's I find a little small but in honesty I haven't had the opportunity to shoot one yet, really don't want to either because it'll only cost me money (there was a nice Guerini Magnus in 28ga on the EE not too long ago that was tempting though :redface:).

My RBL (dreams do come true........at a price :)) & Citori Superlight 20's
P1010040.jpg

P1010045.jpg

P1010087.jpg
Click to expand...
That's a GORGEOUS RBL!!
here's my Fausti next to my bud's nice Ugartechea side lock- both 28's.
The Fausti is 5 lbs. flat, the uggie is about 6 - 8ounces heavier.
Cat
DSCF0184.jpg

DSCF0196.jpg
 
Mount Sweetness said:
I can't see myself ever using a 12ga again....besides turkey hunting of course. 20ga all the way....and I am on the hunt for a nice SxS, still no luck.

My Charles Daly Superior O/U 20ga is choked full/mod.........I'm really considering getting it opened up to Imp/Cyl

Is it worth reaming out a nice classic double it?
Click to expand...

Well it all depends ... Take for instance my 20 ga. Superposed, they are very sought after but the minute you cut the stock for a recoil pad and no longer are original butt plate, USA purist collectors will not pay what it normally would bring. So too if you reblue , restock etc. But reaming the chokes not so much so.
Now that being said, my 20 ga. Super is not so collectable as some previous owner bulged the upper barrel about 10 inches from the muzzles. Cost of rebarreling is prohibitive and I paid far less than if it were mint shape. Until two weeks ago it was choked from factory Full / Mod and now is a tight
Skt / loose IC.
The gun now has worth to me as I now have a new favorite 20 ga. Skeet gun and a very sweet handling subguage Grouse O/U

Tim
 
As of late I'm starting to develop an affinity for English walnut, that Fausti is gorgeous. I almost got an Uggie, but an opportunity to get the RBL came up and I jumped. It actually looks a lot like a Grulla round body I've held a couple times at Buffalo Gun Centre, but at around $8000 out of my price range. Longwalker's AYA is beautiful too even if it is a 12 :p. I swear if I ever win the lottery I'm building a library for fine guns, and I'll spend my days in a smoking jacket sipping port and fondling them.

BTW is that someone's drool on the green backdrop, can't say I can blame them :)

My gun isn't in this class but my Remington 870 express 28 bore is a great little woodcock/grouse gun. I blame the writings of catnthehatt for the purchase.
Click to expand...

Hey, an 870 was my first shotgun, it's a chopped fighter now though, all business and no class.

Best saying ever, "An appreciation of fine shotguns is God's way of telling you you're not making enough money"
 
madtrapper143 said:
My gun isn't in this class but my Remington 870 express 28 bore is a great little woodcock/grouse gun. I blame the writings of catnthehatt for the purchase.


regards, Darryl
Click to expand...
I have one of them as well- dunno why, except for the fact it is a 28 and we were trading stuff!:dancingbanana:
keep reading, you'll be into a SXS anytime!:D
(pssst, wanna by a CZ bobwhite in 28?):nest:
Cat
 
I have been using the 28 gauge for two years now and it is my go to gun for sure. Mine is a Franchi Veloce that I absolutely love and will likely never part with. I have a Franchi Rennassaince 20 gauge as well, and I like that gun too, but it sits in the truck alot while I carry the 28! I have shot grouse, chukars, woodcock, pheasants and barnyard varmints and sometimes I wonder what it is NOT capable of!
 
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