Budget Shotgun Recommendations for Dove, 2018 Version

Hey, all. I know there are plenty of budget shotgun comparisons out there (I've read most of them, probably). But, every year the discussion changes a little bit as manufacturers add or drop models, quality declines or improves, and/or models get re-branded. Bearing in mind that one of the ancients said that there is wisdom in a multitude of counselors, I thought it might be good to get some up-to-date informed opinion.

Background: I'll be in the market soon for a new dove gun. At that time, I hope to have about $450-550 to spend. I've already done a lot of research, and I'd like to see if the opinions of the experienced shotgunners here will confirm or refute my findings to this point.

Here's the ground rules for this particular discussion:

1. This gun will only be for dove (I already have a bolt-action 12 gauge for turkey, and I have no interest in waterfowling -- apologies to all duck/goose hunters).
2. Limit the discussion to 20 gauge. I'm familiar with the arguments for and against 12 gauge versus the various sub-gauges. I just prefer 20 gauge.
3. No synthetics! Aesthetics is important to me, and I like wood. I know synthetics are cheaper and more than capable of doing the job, but no synthetic stock will ever part me from my money.
4. Please don't suggest that I save up my money and aim for something that's beyond the $550 upper limit. Not a possibility at this point, unless I win the lottery (which I would first have to actually start playing).
5. I have shot everything except side-by-sides, but I'm limiting my search to pumps or semi-autos.

So far, the models that have made my short list can be grouped into four broad categories:

A. Budget pump actions (Remington 870 Express, Mossberg 500, Winchester SXP, Escort M87, CZ 620). Until recently, the Weatherby PA-08 would have made this list, but it's out of production now, at least those wearing the Weatherby label.
B. Higher-priced pump actions (Browning BPS is at the upper end of the stated price range; used 870 Wingmasters fall into that range as well).
C. Turkish-made budget semi-autos (Mossberg SA-20, TriStar Viper G2, Silver Eagle Sporter and 202, Yildiz A71).
D. Higher-priced but still lower-end semi-auto (used Weatherby SA-08).

I know there are some models in these categories that are not on the list (e.g. H&R, Stoeger, CZ 720). Some of these are models I didn't like the looks of or had too many negative reviews. Speaking of reviews, I noticed that there were many incidents of rough-running Turkish semi-autos that were satisfactorily fixed by a thorough strip-down, cleaning, and lubing.

So, keeping the ground rules in mind, I'm very much interested in reading your opinions about either one of the aforementioned groups compared to another, or one model compared to the others. Thanks for reading this lengthy intro and for your valued opinions!

Kp321 said:

but when they break parts are a real problem

Click to expand...

This is a part of the discussion that very much interests me, specifically the part about "when they break." Of course there is the caveat that any shotgun can break, even a new one from a reputable company, but isn't one of the attractions of pump-action guns the inherent reliability of the design? How often do they actually break? I don't shoot trap or skeet, so I won't be putting thousands of rounds through the gun each year (or month or week, depending on how often those guys shoot). Realistically, I expect to shoot less than 500 rounds of dove/quail loads per season. That would seem to me to be a light workout for a field gun. Assuming one doesn't purchase a lemon, aren't most of the recent Turkish guns robust enough to stand up to that level of use?