Upland Shotguns

AR15meister

AR15meister

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Hello,

I was wondering what is the best store in Canada for upland shotguns and upland hunting gear?

Preferably in Toronto or southern Ontario so I can go over with my Dad and check them out. We don't want to drop a few grand on guns if they don't fit right.

Thank you.
 
I think that you would be further ahead to check out the surrounding gun clubs that host recreational trap and skeet just before hunting season to see a wide selection of upland guns. I have always found people willing to discuss and let you handle their guns, even shoot them, at the clubs that I have visited.
I have yet to walk in to a store in Canada and be impressed by the number of upland guns on offer.
Second choice would be a large gun show - Calgary gun show at Easter is the largest gun show in Canada and known for showing more interesting shotguns than any other.
Prophet River in Lloydminster has a range of better quality shotguns suitable for upland bird hunting.
 
It's a pretty broad category you are asking about.....what is possibly suitable for late season wild pheasant in southern Alberta may not be so great for woodcock in the east. And while a dedicated upland gun would rarely be a semi-auto (but I'm sure some use a semi-auto) pumps, SxS and O/U are all commonly used. As are gauges from 12 right up to 28. So perhaps it might help us to answer your question a little more effectively if you could give us some idea of where you intend to hunt, what you intend to hunt and what, if any, gauge and style of gun you lean towards.
 
I thank you. I should have been more clear. I will be hunting at a private hunting club I am joining in southern Ontario. Mostly raised birds. Pheasants would be the main species hunted. I am an avid hunter and have travelled a bit big game hunting (Africa, Alberta, etc) but I am very green and new to the sport of upland hunting.

I have 2 older Italian shotguns. Both 12 gauge. One is O/U and one is SXS. I bought them on a whim from a friend of a friend. They aren't expensive guns but they are cool.

Mainly I am looking for a 20 gauge for my father under $3000CDN. The club has many nice club guns, mostly Beretta 20 gauge O/U that we have access to. I am thinking I want to get my Dad a SXS 20 gauge or a 20 gauge auto. Something with wood, engraving. Something classic. Not opposed to used.

For myself I am still looking to find a reasonably cheap vintage British gun. By reasonably cheap I mean of course expensive but not insane. I have found several old ones in the USA but it is hard to buy something for 5-10k USD and not handle it.

So I guess my main question was where to go that my father and I can see and handle the most upland style shotguns.
 
Were I in your position, ready to drop that kind of coin on a couple of shotguns, I would fly out to Alberta and visit Clay and the gang at Prophet River. They have a large selection of very nice o/u and sxs.
 
I will echo some of the comments here.

I sell hunting supplies/guns/ammo and you will be hard pressed to find a good selection of "upland" stuff anywhere in Southern Ontario. The market is just not large enough for most of the vendors to carry any kind of variety.

Having said that most can get you anything you would want you just have to go in "already knowing" what you are after. And in the case of a firearm, unless is one of more popular brand/styles you could be waiting a couple/few months to get it in - even the Canadian wholesalers don't keep the stock on hand so they likewise have to order it in.

If you are looking for clothing I do know that Sail carries probably the best assortment of the Browning Upland line. If nothing else you could try some of the stuff on to see what you like/what fits and then any Browning dealer can get it in for you if you don't like dealing with Sail.

As far as firearms - once you get away from the Browning's and Beretta's upland (type) offerings you are unlikely to find something on the shelf. I just ordered an O/U for myself - a 20ga Fausti - direct from one of the wholesalers we use. I don't expect to see it until probably early summer since it has to make it's way here from Italy. If I hadn't been able to handle the models at a buyers show I probably wouldn't have bought it, because when you are going to spend close to 3K on a gun (and that is actually a low price for an O/U) you often want to handle one first.

So as others have suggested, see who is shooting what, see if they will let you handle them (shooting them is even better) and make your decision from there. Once you have a brand/model figured out one of the dealers can get it in for you.
 
The sad fact is there really isn't a place in Ontario where you can go to see a wide selection of sxs shotguns. You will probably run across the Beretta Paralelo which is out or your price range or perhaps a CZ or other lower end Turkish guns. You'd have a greater selection if looking for an o/u.

For upland clothing any of the big stores like Bass Pro, Cabelas and Sail have better selections.
 
Superbrad said:
Were I in your position, ready to drop that kind of coin on a couple of shotguns, I would fly out to Alberta and visit Clay and the gang at Prophet River. They have a large selection of very nice o/u and sxs.
Click to expand...

He certainly has a much better selection of O/U and SxS guns than any Canadian store that I have been in. He also has a good selection or used guns in stock. I actually purchased a 98% condition AYA #2 in 20 gauge from him, in the price range that the OP is looking at.
 
stubblejumper said:
He certainly has a much better selection of O/U and SxS guns than any Canadian store that I have been in. He also has a good selection or used guns in stock. I actually purchased a 98% condition AYA #2 in 20 gauge from him, in the price range that the OP is looking at.
Click to expand...

I bet that's a beauty.
 
Canada sucks for buying upland clothing, very limited selection. Take a drive out to cabelas in Dundee Michigan. There you will find upland clothing brands like filson, Beretta etc. The good stuff. That way you can try them on and see how they fit and what you like.
While you are there check out there fine gun room, lots of nice doubles to checkout. You see something you like once you get back to Canada see if one of your local dealers can order you one in. If not use a importer like prophetriver to bring it to Canada for you, usually $500 import fee. Good luck.
 
The thing with Prophet River is don't be fooled by what you don't see!! The guns on display in the storefront and on the website barely scratch the surface of what is actually in stock. Each time I go there Clay seems to be able to catch me completely off guard by what he returns to the sales counter with from the stock room!!
 
I would look at Joel Etchen Guns in Pennsylvania for a good upland O/U in your budget range... Prophet River can assist in importing it for you. If not there, Kevin's in Georgia.
A good SxS like you describe will stretch your budget past 3K if you are looking for new. Good used Spanish field guns like AYA, Grulla, Arrieta, Ugartechea etc, show up on some of the better dealers web sites from time to time ... if you're not in a hurry. Decent American "classics" like Parker, A.H. Fox, L.C. Smith and Winchester 21's are very hard to come by in the smaller gauges ... and at a price double your budget or more for a higher grade.

If you can't find the gear and clothing you want/need at Bass Pro, Cabela's or Sail ... then LL Bean or Orvis online might be a better bet.
Thirdly, magazines like Shooting Sportsman, Grays Sporting Journal, Sporting Classics, Upland Journal and Gun Dog may reveal a few ads that help.
At some of the bigger private clubs, they may also have a bit of a pro shop with some popular brands ... I know the Goodwood Club carries some of the Harkila line ...
good products from Denmark.
 
Well - I like expensive shotguns - more than I should... However, over the years I've gotten used to single trigger guns, so a double trigger is not in the game.
 
Wm. Larkin Moore is a good place to handle guns to see what you like, and also what you don`t like. It is a premium price shop, so I find the prices high, but I am a patient shopper when it comes to good double guns. I would not miss it if I was in the area.
 
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