First I want to say hi to everyone, this is my first post so don't be too rough on me . A quick bit about myself: I'm 28, live in Wichita Kansas, an avid hunter and am starting to shoot a lot more trap lately.
I'm in the market for a new/used 12ga. This gun will be used primarily for trap, dove hunting, and upland bird hunting. The lighter the better (don't want to lug a canon all day hunting upland birds), but I don't want something that kicks like a mule either, so something in between would be great. I've hunted all my life with an Ithica Model 37 feather weight 20ga pump, but its time I move to a 12ga. I am kind of partial to pumps since that's what I've always shot, so that is what I would prefer, however I am open to considering an auto loader or an over/under. I prefer shorter length (26-28") as well. Money is somewhat of an issue, my budget is roughly $1000 give or take a couple hundred.
I went to the gun show this weekend at the Colliseum. Here's what I discovered:
1) For some reason there were quite a few auto-loaders I could not sight up, meaning I physically could not get the bead to line up. Not sure what causes this but it was frustrating. Not all were this way, but quite a few.
2) Over/unders will take some getting used to the thumb switch for switching barrels. I did not like the Weatherby Orion with the switch behind the trigger.
I plan to keep your recommendations in mind when I go to a local dealer and try out some guns.
Any recommendations? Thanks!
I'm in the market for a new/used 12ga. This gun will be used primarily for trap, dove hunting, and upland bird hunting. The lighter the better (don't want to lug a canon all day hunting upland birds), but I don't want something that kicks like a mule either, so something in between would be great. I've hunted all my life with an Ithica Model 37 feather weight 20ga pump, but its time I move to a 12ga. I am kind of partial to pumps since that's what I've always shot, so that is what I would prefer, however I am open to considering an auto loader or an over/under. I prefer shorter length (26-28") as well. Money is somewhat of an issue, my budget is roughly $1000 give or take a couple hundred.
I went to the gun show this weekend at the Colliseum. Here's what I discovered:
1) For some reason there were quite a few auto-loaders I could not sight up, meaning I physically could not get the bead to line up. Not sure what causes this but it was frustrating. Not all were this way, but quite a few.
2) Over/unders will take some getting used to the thumb switch for switching barrels. I did not like the Weatherby Orion with the switch behind the trigger.
I plan to keep your recommendations in mind when I go to a local dealer and try out some guns.
Any recommendations? Thanks!