20 ga O/U advice/suggestions.

[slabuda]

Ok the Extrema II is just too darn heavy to lug around for quail, pheasant, chuckar.

I am looking for a 20ga O/U 26" barrel, I want it to be light, not a 20 ga that weighs what 12 ga does! I dont care if its 2 3/4" or 3". I prefer a prince of wales stock too but as long as it fits and feels right I dont mind. And the shorter the LOP the better as I have T-Rex arms think about 13 1/4". I can always have a good smith/stock fitter fit it to me if its too long.

Id prefer Italian manufacture over Turkish as quality and parts availability over the long term is "usually" better. (Are there any good Spanish imports in this price range?)

Price new out the door around $1000-$1500 tops. I would seriously consider used but am looking at new as you can never count on finding what you want used when you have the money. The right gun always shows up when the wallet is thin.

I am looking at the Remington Premier Upland, the CZ Woodcock deluxe etc. The Weatherby's, Citori's and Beretta's are just out of my range new. But I would pick one up used if I could find one. Especially a nice Beretta!!

So who has used the CZ and Remington? And what have you thought? Compare them to a Citori or Beretta if you can.

Any other suggestions would be great. Ill be stopping by a shop Saturday maybe. This wont be a quick purchase, but something next spring after I sell my Ducati, a broken/fused neck stops me from riding it enough to justify it. So it goes and a beater hunting truck and Triumph replace it and extra cash goes toward a new gun.



And as always thanks guys!!

 

[ArmedBear]

Forget Huglu ("CZ") and Remington.

Get an SKB 505 in 20. Best damn quail O/U for the money, bar none.

Or, go to Sports Authority on Milwaukee in Boise. Last I looked, they had a new Beretta White Onyx 20/26" on sale for $1399. A GREAT deal. I want to buy it and I don't need it.

 

[oneounceload]

I have 2 SKB 505's - 1 in 20 and 1 in 28 - both fine guns but not the lightest. IF you can find a Browning featherweight or a Beretta in your range - they should weigh in about 6 pounds or so. Just remember, that as you go lighter, recoil increases - but if you're wearing hunting clothes, that should help to a degree.

The other option for a light 20 is the Franchi O/U:
http://www.gunsinternational.com/Franchi---Falconet-20-ga--.cfm?gun_id=100104397

or, not an O/U but the Franchi AL48

both under 6# for all-day carryability

 

[Whole Hog]

I have a 20 ga. Browning Feather with 28 inch barrels and a Prince of Wales grip, and I like it a lot. It's definitely light and easy to carry, and handles well. It does have noticeable recoil, even with 7/8 oz. loads, but it's tolerable. Mine came without a recoil pad, probably to keep the weight down, so I added a Pachmayr Decelerator that makes a big difference. Shooting a 50 target round of clays is no big deal now.

 

[ArmedBear]

Uh, I hunt the same stuff with guns that weigh 6.4 to 7 lbs. I wouldn't want an 8 lb. gun, but I don't think you need a sub-6 lb. gun. Going from an old 1100 Magnum 12 Gauge to a White Onyx 28" 12 Gauge made the difference between having to sling the gun and being able to shift it around, carry it one-handed half the time, and stay out as long as my dog can.

An ultralight is a nice 7th or 8th shotgun, to be brought out only for special occasions. I wouldn't get one as a second gun. Furthermore, I've seen stocks chip and crack around the receiver, on ultralights that get shot often. They're not range guns, recoil or no.

 

[slabuda]

Thanks guys! The beretta Onyx sounds good, The SKB doesnt sound too bad but "may" be heavier than I want. But going from that Extrema to even a 7lb gun would be an improvement!

ArmedBear PM sent.

 

[tactikel]

I have a Huglu (Woodcock deluxe), now known as CZ, in 20 ga. It is a great shotgun. I use it for Grouse, Woodcock, and Pheasant. Over the 4 years I have taken it afield it has never failed me, I have about 2k round thru it. The Beretta Onyx is very nice too (2 hunting buddies have them). For the money the CZ is a great value.

http://cz-usa.com/products/view/woodcock-deluxe-103-fe-case-hardened/

 

[cat_IT_guy]

I would recommend that you not rule out Ruger. Price for a new one is at the top of your range, and personally I love my little 20ga. Its a great field gun, light enough to swing and carry all day.

 

[inherentical]

I'm looking at an SKB 505 in 20 gauge for the same thing, myself.

 

[slabuda]

Looked at some over the weekend. Oh my the Beretta Onyx is quite nice! I held a 28" 20ga and it was just right. But just a bit long in LOP. Get that fixed and its game over! It shoulder perfect for me and the weight is spot on. Not sure I want the 28" or a 26" barrel though, will need to swing a 26" to be sure. Price at one shop was 1300 is on clearance, 1800 regular price.

Even saw a Silver Pigeon with nice engraving and lovely wood for the same as a Onyx @ 1800. It was set up more for trap/skeet/clays with a 28" barrel, thick recoil pad and extended chokes. If I had the money Id have had it, put on a regular recoil pad to cut the LOP down and used flush mount choke tubes.

Time to start saving the pennies!!

 

[Hawk]

So who has used the CZ and Remington? And what have you thought? Compare them to a Citori or Beretta if you can.

I have a CZ and it's nice. However, to steal ArmedBear's signature (TANSTAAFL), it's not really a bargain - placed immediately adjacent to a Beretta SP or a Cynergy it is what it is - a more or less competent piece of work not worth north of 1,000.00.

Not to whine in front of the class, but I've had some health issues that have resulted in some fairly substantial weight loss (and slow gains). The Beretta has a cast-off that makes it more agreeable when my face is more, unh, cherubic and the Cynergies are more amenable to the anorexic look. It's all about fit - if you fell in love with the Onyx, I'd hazard a guess the Browning may not seem as appealing. Admittedly, I only have Cynergies - no Citories.

One of my Cynergies was actually the result of a botched order - I wanted an ultralight and what turned up was something else - I think I've grown happy with the result with the exception of the porting on the one I wound up with. It's turned into my favorite 20 in spite of it all. As you've noted, flush chokes are available for any firearm that showed up with fru-fru chokes.

SM (where's he been, anyway?) noted that non-flush chokes protect the muzzle - something I hadn't considered but has caused me to warm up to the fru-fru chokes.

If you have the chance, read The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. Multi-barrel shotguns illustrate the TANSTAAFL principle better than most examples.