Considering buying a 20 gauge O/U

[flytyer232]

I am trying to simplify my shotgun collection, and found a "hole" in my current collection, after I got rid of my silver pigeon in 12 ga. I reason for selling that gun is I never used it, since it was too heavy to hunt upland with, and I didn't like shooting it. I am a half sport shooter half hunter (and re-loader), whom skeet shoots once a week, and hunts every other weekend during season, mostly for grouse and dove - though I want to get more into pheasant and duck hunting. I am not the best shot, however with my 28 gauge I average around 20 on the skeet range.

For bird/field shotguns - i]I currently have:
-12 gauge Benilli SBE
-28 gauge CZ Woodcock (O/U)
-28 gauge CZ Ringneck (SxS)

I have been considering buying a field 20 gauge O/U for some time, as admittedly i shoot O/U much better than my Benilli, as I shoot an O/U every week during skeet shooting. I want to get your opinions on if you think i should go with a 20 gauge O/U, for my situation. The intended use for the 20 gauge would be pheasants, late season grouse, and maybe duck hunting.

While my 28 gauges work quite well grouse and dove hunting, due to the limited load variety and availability, i haven't used them much for pheasant hunting. This past season I brought my 28 gauge O/U to South Dakota for peasants, however i found myself hunting on land that was non lead only - and I didn't have any nonlead 28 gauge loads, and couldn't find any locally - so i just used my Benilli. With the 20 gauge being more common, I think I will get the lighter gun I like, with more available ammo..

Also, if anyone has any recommendations on 20 gauge's O/U's around the $800-$1000 range, i would like the info. I was thinking about getting another CZ, probably a Redhead, as I really like them. Any thoughts are welcome.

 

[cfullgraf]

When I was competing in skeet, my 20 gauge averages were better than my 12 gauge averages. hence, I shot 20 gauge in the 12 gauge events. One of the reasons, in part, I could never get my 12 gauge O/U to shoot the same as with the 20 gauges tubes installed in the gun. My skeet gun is a 12 gauge Browning Citori with a set of match set of tubes for the sub gauges.

My wife has a 26" barrel Browning Citori 20 gauge O/U that she shoots quite well in skeet.

So, with a 20 gauge, I do not feel you will be handicapped at the beginner to intermediate level. Of course, now a days, you can load 1 oz or even 7/8 oz 12 gauge loads for your 12 gauge which would mimic the 20 gauge loads. Something to consider.

I'm a fan of the Browning Citori or a Beretta 686 over/under but get the one that fits you the best.

 

[bannockburn]

My own predilection in an O/U 20 gauge for upland game and skeet shooting would be a used Franchi Renaissance with 26" barrels. Overall fit and finish were outstanding on the one that I had and the gun itself balanced and handled perfectly for me.

 

[Michael A Ferber]

I added a 32" 20 gauge Browning CXS to my shotgun stable. I've owned a slew of 20 gauge O/Us and to date, this is the best of the lot.

 

[earlthegoat2]

IMO, for duck hunting, since you have a Benelli SBE, you should probably use that every time. There are only a slew of disadvantages to using a smaller gun with even more restricted shot capacity. This is just my practical opinion. If you really feel compelled to duck hunt with a 20 ga double, then have at it. Beware that some new 20 ga doubles only come with 2 3/4” chambers. Not many but just something to note. This would further handicap any duck hunting to be done.

Other than that I would say a good 20 ga O/U would be a good choice for all your other hunting and clays shooting.

I see Browning Citoris come up for sale used for around 900-1000 here and there. They are the bare bones models but highly functional.

 

[Rudolph31]

Seeing the post title, I was going to suggest a Browning Cynergy. These are terrific guns; originally top of the line, they didn’t sell well and prices have come way down.

But seeing how you already have two CZ’s that you shoot well, it makes sense to get another.

 

[entropy]

My preference for a 20 O/U would be a Beretta 686 Onyx. Great upland bird gun, good Sporting Clays gun.

 

[bannockburn]

entropy

My preference would be for a Beretta as well (the Beretta and Franchi O/Us always feel just right to me), but unfortunately it would be out of the OP's price range of $800 to $1000. Taking that into consideration I would probably say that another CZ, like the Drake, Redhead, or Wingshooter Elite, should serve the OP very well for upland game hunting.

 

[George P]

I am trying to simplify my shotgun collection, and found a "hole" in my current collection, after I got rid of my silver pigeon in 12 ga. I reason for selling that gun is I never used it, since it was too heavy to hunt upland with, and I didn't like shooting it. I am a half sport shooter half hunter (and re-loader), whom skeet shoots once a week, and hunts every other weekend during season, mostly for grouse and dove - though I want to get more into pheasant and duck hunting. I am not the best shot, however with my 28 gauge I average around 20 on the skeet range.

For bird/field shotguns - i]I currently have:
-12 gauge Benilli SBE
-28 gauge CZ Woodcock (O/U)
-28 gauge CZ Ringneck (SxS)

I have been considering buying a field 20 gauge O/U for some time, as admittedly i shoot O/U much better than my Benilli, as I shoot an O/U every week during skeet shooting. I want to get your opinions on if you think i should go with a 20 gauge O/U, for my situation. The intended use for the 20 gauge would be pheasants, late season grouse, and maybe duck hunting.

While my 28 gauges work quite well grouse and dove hunting, due to the limited load variety and availability, i haven't used them much for pheasant hunting. This past season I brought my 28 gauge O/U to South Dakota for peasants, however i found myself hunting on land that was non lead only - and I didn't have any nonlead 28 gauge loads, and couldn't find any locally - so i just used my Benilli. With the 20 gauge being more common, I think I will get the lighter gun I like, with more available ammo..

Also, if anyone has any recommendations on 20 gauge's O/U's around the $800-$1000 range, i would like the info. I was thinking about getting another CZ, probably a Redhead, as I really like them. Any thoughts are welcome.

Sorry, but since you have a few 28s, stick with that - the difference isn't enough to worry about. Just learn to reload some other loads for your 28 and those hunting situations where the 28 won't work (personally, I know of no such situation)

 

[Riomouse911]

The others beat me to it; since you have two CZ's another CZ makes good sense.

 

[flytyer232]

I added a 32" 20 gauge Browning CXS to my shotgun stable. I've owned a slew of 20 gauge O/Us and to date, this is the best of the lot. View attachment 843287

I have a browning O/U in 12 gauge that is a heavy fixed choke Skeet/Skeet gun. I should probably sell it, as I really don't like it, i shoot it fine, but the browning stocks just don't fit me well.... I have never brought it hunting, since it isn't choked for it....

 

[George P]

SK/SK is great for grouse, close-holding birds over pointers, etc. That said, I agree about a 12 gauge Browning being too heavy for the field. I had a Citori in 12 with 26" barrels a long time ago; it weighed as much as my 32" Browning target gun. I prefer 20 or 28s for field use in guns weighing between 5#-10 and 6#-4

 

[flytyer232]

Well, I really appreciate all of your replies, and insight. It was a rainy day in Minnesota today, so I scrapped the BBQ plans, and went shopping. I found this CZ Woodcock G2 in 20 gauge on sale for $700. It is a bit heavy, as I also looked at a used Franchi Instinct, and a new CZ RedHead, which were both lighter. I decided on the Woodcock, since it has the amazing color case hardened receiver. Also, the wood to metal fit on this particular shotgun was the best out of the three guns I was seriously considering, plus it fits me the best....

Anyways, i am going to pattern the gun with included chokes tomorrow afternoon, to see if it shoots point of aim.

One thing that i really hate is laser cut checkering, however all of the guns sub $1200 seam to have laser cut checkering these days.... If the gun shoots well, I may take it to a gunsmith I know, whom for about $200 chased out some laser cut checkering on a savage stock - looks much better now.

Thanks!