Top small game shotgun picks?

Squamch said:
there's a guy who keeps bringing tacticool shotguns to the trap shoots around here, complete with red dot scope he dials in everytime he steps up to the line the first time. Pistol grip, rails, the whole nine...I'm waiting until his batteries run out mid-squad.:p
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LOL. I don't mind what people take out for clay shooting and if a tacticooooool shotgun makes them happy then more power to them as long as they shoot safely.

But for someone who is interested in wingshooting a pistol-grip 14" Fabarm or other tactical-type gun is a very poor recommendation.
 
I used to do alot of grouse hunting with 3 buddies who all had either SKB's or Ithica SxS 20's. I always wanted one and about 20yrs ago found a nice used SKB model 100. Mine has 28 inch barrels choked mod and full. My buddies all had 25 or 26 inchers (don't remember which is standard) choked imp and mod. I've never regretted buying mine and they still turn up on the used gun market. If I remember correctly they were avaiable as M100-plain M200- dressed up a bit and M280's-straight stock- may have been called the "Quail Special". To me a classic upland gun.
 
Sharptail said:
- For ruffed grouse and rabbits ...
- Nicer than an 870 ...
- 20 gauge ...
- No more than 6.5 lbs. ...
- No longer than the 870 ...
- $1,000 or less ...

Diemaco, you are describing a 20 gauge CZ Bobwhite SxS. (Except for the part where you say you would prefer a semi auto.) Remember that the SxS was created to do exactly the kind of shooting that you want to do. No pump or semi will be as fast on ruffed grouse or rabbits.


Sharptail
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I have a Bobwhite in 28 gauge and love it!
Swings super and hits where you look.
Screw in chokes let me switch to tighter chokes if i want to, but the thing patterns so tight I never bother.

I have used this gun on geese, ducks, pheasants, and partridge, killing all with no problem.
I also have a few 20 gauges, and use a 20 as my main goose gun, but the Bobwhite gets used more!:D
Cat
 
If one is looking for an auto loader to use in the uplands there is in my opinion no better than a 28 gauge Franchi 48 AL.The 28 gauge Franchi 48 AL is light (5 1/2 pounds).The 28 gauge shotshell patterns great and has light recoil.

If one is looking for a nice pump ,the 28 gauge Ithaca Model 37 is a great choice in my opinion.
 
You want your upland gun to be light because you carry it far more than you shoot it. And 20 should always be lighter than a similar 12. Stick with the 20 for now. When you DO get a 28 ga., you'll probably want to spend more than a grand.

With a pump gun or semi, you can get a little lighter by sticking with with a 2-3/4" gun, rather than a magnum, and a plain barrel versus ribbed. I have an old Rem. Model 31 in 20 ga. with a MOD barrel, 2-3/4" which is a very light and handy gun. A Rem. 1100 in 20 ga. would also be nice for a semi. And a 2-3/4" 1100 with a fixed Full choke can be opened up to IC very cheaply.

The Winchester series of pumps/semis on the 1200/1300/1400/1500 series uses an aluminum receiver, so a 20 in one of those guns would be around 6 pounds or lighter IIRC. I believe that 26" barrels with choke tubes were available.

Browning A-5s are heavy guns, but the Franchi version is very light.

For a good used double, again look for a 20 with fixed IC or Skeet chokes even. SKB/Ithaca, Ugartechea, Browning BSS are good names to remember.

Take your time in your search, you've got a pretty decent gun right now so you really don't have to rush.
 
A good friend of mine has a Browning Silver Hunter, Semi-Auto. Its a 12 gauge and its lighter then my 870, so I would imagine that a 20 gauge would be even lighter. You can get one for about $1000 taxes in, if you shop around. They had them on sale at Bass Pro shop in Toronto last year for $900.

Another good choice, as mentioned would be a O/U, like this

http://www.stoegerindustries.com/firearms/stoeger_condor.php

Stoeger does'nt have the prestige as a Browning or Beretta, but they work just as good, they look nice, and there about $600.
 
28

28 gauge for me is the best Grouse/rabit/woodcock gun there is. Bigger than the 410 but still light with very little recoil for a quick second shot.
Stevens,mossberg produce a lower end but effective O/U.Sold my 28 and bought a Browning 20. I regret not going back to the 28
 
Stay away from doubles!!! LOL. There a serious and very expensive addiction, you'll shoot the first and from there won't stop looking for the next and so on.

Seriously though you can't beat a good double, especially when it already has some good history to it.
 
Hmm, quite the range of suggestions, some more helpful than others.

My thoughts on it all:

1st A flying grouse is really hard to hit with a .22

2nd For A semi I have been leaning towards a 391 basic, though I can't seem to find a weight listed for the 391 in 20 gauge?? also considering the 1100 and gold upland

3rd Pumps: strongly considering an Ithaca, I love my old M37 12g, but the pistol grips look really pronounced on the new ones? maybe a used one...

Doubles: They rarely seem to come up for sale in the smaller gauges, I know nothing about their values, there are so many variations, and the cheap ones are supposed to suck. I'm pretty sure I'll buy an O/U 28 gauge, but not this year, I definately need to look into it ALOT more.


Still lots of time to decide, I'm looking to pick it up late spring, so I have lots of time to practice.
 
lol remington 870 is the best way to go, PERIOD. The 870 is a true workhorse, i have 3 of them and love them, ( and not becuase i cant afford something more expensive either ) I had a Beretta extrema and ended up selling it becuase it gets to fussy with the cold weather up here. I will put $1000 on it that i can shoot my 870 faster than 95% of the people on here with a semi. I have put around 60,000 rounds through my 870 supermag with out a single problem, never one. I have a 870 wingmaster in 20 gauge and i absolutly love it. bought it when i bought a tube set for my 525 because 20 gauge tubes suck. it has the same line of impact as my o/u. Totally up to you but you can never go wrong with an 870, heck you dont even gotta clean the think, if you hunt duck and geese and your engine breaks use the 870 it wont hurt a thing lol
 
mmcintyre1220 said:
Totally up to you but you can never go wrong with an 870, heck you dont even gotta clean the think, if you hunt duck and geese and your engine breaks use the 870 it wont hurt a thing lol
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870 is a good ckoice for Ducks and Geese. But for small game and Upland hunting there are much better choices.

As far as your engine breaking and using an 870. That's just strange.
 
mmcintyre1220 said:
I will put $1000 on it that i can shoot my 870 faster than 95% of the people on here with a semi.
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So if we gathered 20 randomly-selected CGN members with semi-automatics you'd put up a thousand dollars that you could shoot your 870 faster than all but one of them. That would make your 95 per cent.

Be careful about your Internet boasts. Hamilton isn't that far away for many of us. ;)
 
mmcintyre1220 said:
lol remington 870 is the best way to go, PERIOD. The 870 is a true workhorse, i have 3 of them and love them, ( and not becuase i cant afford something more expensive either ) I had a Beretta extrema and ended up selling it becuase it gets to fussy with the cold weather up here. I will put $1000 on it that i can shoot my 870 faster than 95% of the people on here with a semi. I have put around 60,000 rounds through my 870 supermag with out a single problem, never one. I have a 870 wingmaster in 20 gauge and i absolutly love it. bought it when i bought a tube set for my 525 because 20 gauge tubes suck. it has the same line of impact as my o/u. Totally up to you but you can never go wrong with an 870, heck you dont even gotta clean the think, if you hunt duck and geese and your engine breaks use the 870 it wont hurt a thing lol
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One word: -1
 
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