20 gauge primarily for upland hunting

[txgolfer45]

Suggestions?

I own a Remington 11-87 12 gauge and Remington 870 Express Magnum 12 gauge. I use the 11-87 for skeet and dove right now. I bought the 870 Express Magnum as I wanted a pump and currently have it configured for turkey hunting. I'm thinking of getting a 20 gauge mainly for dove or quail hunting as the 11-87 is kinda heavy to lug around.

Budget is probably $600 or less.

Thanks,
Scott

 

[Kingcreek]

I sold a like new 20g 11-87 upland on this forum awhile back. 23" barrel, straight stock, weight next to nuthin'. I might also know where there is an 870 upland in 20g if the guy hasn't sold it. He had $325 and a few minor dings on it IIRC. Lot of good used 20s out there for under 6 bills.

 

[Okiecruffler]

You're talking upland

You gotta be talking SXS. I won't mention which one I would recomend, but there are several decent choices out there for well under 6 bills.

 

[Dave McCracken]

There's a plethora of choices, good 20 gauges are thick as lawyers in DC. Trouble is,many repeaters run close to 12 gauge guns in weight.

For a pump man, any of the Big Four in 20 gauge will do. I'd favor the 870, of course.

Autos run heavier than pumps with one exception, and it's a good'un. The Franchi AL-48 runs around 6 lbs, maybe less, and runs forever.

Most decent doubles happen at the upper end of your budget, and the 311s in the middle. You also may luck into a used Fox Sterlingworth, a lot of gun for the money.

HTH....

 

[Smoke]

I like doubles for upland. SxS or O/U, doesn't matter. A good used Stevens 311 in 20 makes a great gun, can be had well under your budget. O/U in your range will he hard to find, but they are out there.

I have a Remington Sportsman 48 in 20 I use from time to time. Great auto, never given me a lick of trouble, but it is on the heavy side.

Another thing to consider....how will you hunt? We hunt quail from vehicles, Dove I pick a spot and wait for them to come to me. If your not walking alot, weight is less of a factor. (Sometimes can be an advantage)

Smoke

 

[Lone Star]

I recently ran across a Browning repro Winchester M12 in 20 ga. for $575. It had a small scratch on the receiver, or I'd have bought it.

Maybe you can "luck into" one of these or a good Ithaca M37, with the M37 probably costing quite a bit less, unless it's a Supreme grade.

Lone Star

 

[HSMITH]

Beretta 391 or the Browning Gold Hunter in 20, both are going to be a lot closer to $800 than they are to $600 but you get what you pay for in autoloaders these days. They are worth double what an 11-87 or an 1100 will cost. Decent doubles are tough to find under $1000, tougher yet with Mod and Full chokes, and especially so with choke tubes.

 

[0007]

Find yourself an Ithica M-37(Ihave three). Preferably an early original Ithica one with the interchangable barrel. They are one of the few pumps that use a smaller size receiver for the 20ga. Most manufacturers use the same receiver for the 12ga and the 20ga.

 

[Lone Star]

0007-

Can you believe that Ithaca has only one listed dealer in all of Texas; McBride's in Austin?

And used M37's seem to be as rare as Archaeopetryx teeth!

I'm halfway seriously thinking of taking a vacation, in which I drive to Austin and San Antonio. Haven't been in years.

Does anyone here recognize the store...McBride's? Got anything good or bad to say about it, including their stock of current Ithaca M37's, especially if they have any with the extended, checkered forearm? I don't really want the short, grooved forearm.

The 37 doen't kick too bad in 20 ga., does it? Compare it to a 20 ga. M870, with which I have experience.

Thanks,
Lone Star

 

[JNewell]

I've bought two 20 ga gas guns in the past year, both at or under $500, both very satisfactory. One was a used 11-87 that has been working fine since I correctly assembled the various gas piston parts (which were incorrectly installed when I bought it), the other an AL390 that I bought new at Walmart and has had not a hiccup. If I recall correctly, both come in around 6.5#.

In my heart, I know that the 390 is by far a better design, but I have to say that the 11-87 (which is a "premier" model -- I think the 20 ga guns only come as "upland special" or "premier") looks and feels very nice for its price point. Happily, one of my sons prefers the Beretta, the other prefers the Remington, and we have fraternal harmony.

 

[Clemson]

I have a model 37 Ithaca in 20 gauge. Does it kick? Yes. Worse than an 870? Yes. Do I like it? Yes. The truth is, however, if you are at all recoil sensitive, the Ithaca is not the best gun for you. A 20 gauge gun gives up about 22% in shot charge to a 12 gauge (comparing a 7/8 oz. load to a 1 1/8 oz. load). If you shoot 1 oz. loads in the 20, as many hunters do, the difference is obviously only about 11%. My Ithaca weights 5 3/4 pounds. If I compare that to a 7 1/2 pound 12 bore gun, the difference in weight is on the order of 23%. If the 12 gauge gun's recoil bothers you, the 20 will actually be worse. If you use stout loads, the 20 will be MUCH worse.

Now, that said, I really love the 20 gauge! Right now I have two Remington 1100 LT20's (one is short stocked and barreled for my little wife), the Ithaca Model 37, a Winchester Model 12, and a NEF break action gun that I use to train kids. I also have a cabinet full of 12's and one lone .410 Wingmaster that I like to use on doves, skeet, and clays. The softest shooting guns in the case are the 20 gauge Remington LT 20's. For hunting, the Model 12 and the Ithaca are my favorites, with the Ithaca winning by virtue of familiarity.

Good luck! Buy a 20. The Beretta's have a wonderful reputation, and the Remingtons have given me great service for many years. Pick one that feels good to you.

Clemson

 

[MacPelto]

Does anyone here recognize the store...McBride's? Got anything good or bad to say about it, including their stock of current Ithaca M37's, especially if they have any with the extended, checkered forearm? I don't really want the short, grooved forearm.

I just called McBride's for you, (I work about 6 blocks away) and it turns out that they have the 37 in 20 ga (w/long checkered forearm) in stock for $559. Generally speaking, McBrides is an excellent gunstore with a wide selection, and prices just a little high. I usually do my window shopping there...plus you can occasionally rub elbows with the rich and famous. (I once ran into Lyle Lovett there )

 

[JNewell]

If the 12 gauge gun's recoil bothers you, the 20 will actually be worse. If you use stout loads, the 20 will be MUCH worse.

I would agree (the snip above omits some of the related text). I haven't done a quantitative comparison, but with skeet loads these 6.5# 20s feel about the same as my 12 ga Beretta 390, which weighs 7.5#. It's mostly just a matter of math if you eliminate the possibility of bad stock fit.

 

[Spider]

Go to your local WalMart and see if they have any of the Remington 1100-LT 20-gauges in stock. A superb-pointing, light upland gun with the added benefit of recoil reduction.

 

[45crittergitter]

The 20 will do all you need for upland game. I have retired my 12s for my 20 for most everything but waterfowl. My hit percentage on doves is over double what I did with a 12, and I killed a squirrel at 66 yards. For a real treat, try one of the 5.5 pound Benelli 20 gauge autos. Lotta money, but NICE. Fringe benefit: ammo is lighter, too.

 

[Lone Star]

As to recoil, my M870 was a recent one, with the solid recoil pad. It felt mild, except when I fired three-inch shells. Then, it kicked (I think) not too differently from an M1100 12 ga. that I once owned, with 2.75" shells.

I wouldn't be too bothered with three-inch recoil, as much as I'd shoot the gun at waterfowl or foxes, etc. Wouldn't want to take it to Argentina and shoot doves all day with it, but I wouldn't fire three-inch shells at doves, anyway.

The suggestion that Wal-Mart may have Lt M1100's is a good one. I don't think in terms of guns at Wal-Mart. Maybe they have some good stuff. I think of them as a place to avoid, in the main. But the 20 ga. M1100 should point and swing about as well as any shotgun not made to one's own specs, by a custom house like Purdey's or H&H... I just haven't been able to find a 20 Ga. M1100 locally, so far. The dealers tend to have sparse stock, just the stuff they think the "public" will buy.

By the way, Jack O'Connor once wrote to me that there isn't much in the way of feathered game that one can't bump off with an oz. of shot, whether it's fired from a 12 ga. or a 20. He usually used 20 ga. guns on pheasants and decoyed ducks in his later years.

Lone Star

 

[9mmMike]

I agree with spider. The Mrs. has an 1100 Special Field (which is an LT with an English stock) in 20 ga. and it is light and quick. She adores this gun and shoots it quite well I might add.
Mike

 

[Spider]

Forgot to add - with the LT20 1100, ask them to check in the back, as it might not be on display. If you get lucky and get a semi-knowledgeable clerk, ask them to check the inventory for nearby stores.

 

[Clemson]

As an addendum, Wally World can order many of the guns that the local store does not have in stock. Just ask to see the "order book" at the Sporting Goods counter. It takes 24-48 hours to get the guns.

I normally advocate patronizing my local gun dealer vs. the high volume "Mart" stores, but they are convenient and, let's face it, they move a good many guns. Just don't go into Walmart and expect the clerk to know anything at all about firearms. You are getting that good price because you are willing to apply your own knowledge and not his. Also, don't go shopping at Jim's Guns and then buy from Walmart because you save $25. You were able to get expert advice from ol' Jim, and he had the gun on the rack for you to pick up and handle. He is also the person you would go to first if the gun malfunctions. Wally World won't be much help to you there.

Clemson