Any 20ga 870 owners out there?

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I am thinking about getting a 20ga for clays. I really like my wife's 870 20ga Youth LW. It just seems more alive and points better than the 12ga guns. I have been a 12ga guy my entire life. I have only really shot 12ga for the past 20 years.

Is there any reason I shouldn't get a 20ga 870? Is there a better gun I should look into for skeet? I want to try a 20ga so let me know what you think about the 870 20ga and 20ga guns in general.

 

[thebaldguy]

I used one years ago for a long time; it was a Wingmaster from the 70's with nice wood and deep blue finish. It was an odd model in that it's very difficult to find extra barrels. It was light and quick. Only had one problem when it was fairly new; the trigger failed to work. It went to a local smith who fixed it and it worked like a charm. I only wish it would have had variable choke tubes.

 

[Scoupe]

Is there a better gun I should look into for skeet?

One of the best choices for a serious skeet gun that won't break the bank is the old Remington 1100 20ga built on the larger standard frame. Add a 6.5oz magazine cap weight, adjust the comb up a tad, and it's a soft shooting, clay grinding machine. They can be found in the $425 and up range with a little effort. One marked "Skeet B" will bring an additional $150 or more usually.

In direct answer to the 20ga 870 - Great gun. No pump would be my first choice for skeet, but the LW 870 is a good choice if that's what you want to do. I take my pair of Wingmasters in 410 and 28 to the skeet field pretty regularly. I do hang a magazine cap weight on them when target shooting. It's great fun to bust the pair at 6 while shucking 28s onto the ground.

 

[Geno]

The 20 gauge is my daughter's shotgun. The Wingmaster and Tactical are mine.

View attachment 315012

 

[MikePGS]

I used to have one but (stupidly) sold it recently. I've shot a little bit of skeet with it and it performed far better than I could. Even if you don't use it for skeet, the gentle recoil such a gun provides makes it one you can shoot all day without the smallest of effort. Great guns, and I'm still kicking myself for selling mine. Darned educational expenses

 

[mnrivrat]

Been shooting 20ga. for the last two decades - since I stopped water fowl hunting.

It has served me just fine for all I do, but skeet is not on my list. I much prefer the handling characteristics of most 20ga. guns over the 12ga. If you don't need the 12ga. payload, the 20ga. is great.

 

[Geno]

Hey, Mike. Relax. A man should never be reduced to kicking himself for selling his Remington...just a minute

pause...Doc winds up a kicks Mike for him

There...that's better.

Doc2005

 

[Red Label]

My 20ga 870 is my go everywhere do everything gun. I've got plenty of other guns but it is the one out the door with me when I'm just knocking around. Buy it. You will never regret it!

 

[Capstick1]

20ga for clays

I've been a 12ga shooter for most of my life. Recently I tried to use a 20ga Benelli m1 super 90 for skeet and trap. I found the 20ga to be alot less forgiving than a 12 ga when it came to hitting those clay pigeons despite lower recoil. It puts out a smaller pattern and you really have to dig a little deeper with your shotgun shooting skills. I think the 12ga is a much better round for skeet and trap. Is this true for everybody? Not always. Out at my local skeet range there's this one guy who's using a Remington 1100 in 410ga and rarely ever misses with this gun. I think he's competed in several leagues though.

 

[[email protected]]

I figuired that the 20ga on paper may not be as good as the 12ga. It doesn't put out as much shot so your chances are lower of hitting. The thing I noticed is, most 20ga guns I have held seem to handle far better than the 12ga guns. I think that the better handling may overcome the less shot and actually improve me chances of hitting.

I feel like a fool because my whole life I listened to my dad about guns. He was my dad so I took his advice and opinions to heart. I am starting to see that he was wrong about almost everything.

He said "anything a 20ga can do, a 12ga can do better". He had an old friend that loved quick handling 20ga doubles for hunting. He showed me the guns and I fell in love with them when I was a teenager. I never could convince my dad to get me a 20ga, instead he got me only 12ga. When I got older, I just stuck with 12ga but now I am starting to see that sometimes less is more.

I love the quick handling of most 20s and I think I am going to go that route.

 

[Smitty in CT]

I have a 20GA Wingmaster, it was my first shotgun, it was too big for me when I got it when I was 14 (more than a couple of years ago), I learned to shoot it anyway, and it was the gun I was using when I got my first 25 at skeet. It still feels like an extention of my arms when i shoulder it.

I can't get any of the "newer" Remingtons to duplicate the same "feel".

When my oldest son (he's 11) fits the gun I will pass it on to him...

 

[[email protected]]

"When my oldest son (he's 11) fits the gun I will pass it on to him"

Forget him. He will never appreciate it. Give it to me. I already fit it and will put it to good use. LOL!