Hunting decision

[Atavar]

So first the backstory, after decades of not hunting upland game tomorrow I pick up my new companion, a finished Brittany.
The only shotgun I have anymore is an ancient 12ga True Value pump that still cycles, shoots and patterns well.
My past experience is that while I can hit clays and paper with the shotgun the safest place for a bird to be is 20 yards directly in front of me.
I am looking around and there are some very nice looking 20ga Turkish doubles in the LGS at very affordable prices. They are not light. I think my pump weighs less.
The LGS actually has 20ga ammo.
Would one of those be a good choice for hunting over a dog? What features should I look for?
I am thinking that in my dotage I might appreciate the lower recoil of a twenty.
What say you?

 

[d2wing]

Having owned at least a dozen shotguns, I would say stick with what you have. However, it might pay to experiment. The key is to find or modify a shotgun that fits you. Try mounting your shotgun in front of a mirror. Observe where the shotgun is pointing. I often use a Fausti 20 G over/under for grouse. It is light. points fast and easy to carry. I can't speak to the merits of a Turkish shotgun. I also use a Franchi 720 20 gauge semi-auto.
I did a little hunting in Smokey Hills not far from you. I have an RV on Shell Lake that I closed up on the first.

 

[tactikel]

I had a Brittany for 13 years and a Turkish 20 ga O/U. My Huglu (now CZ) became my favorite upland gun. Over a good dog a 20 ga is perfect. I’ve shot 2K plus rounds over 20 years, most field loads, with no problems.

 

[Armored farmer]

I think you would like a 20ga over dogs. If you shoot only over points(like a true sportsman) the 12ga will be overkill.
My favorite bird gun is a 28ga o/u. Mine is a Mossberg silver reserve, and I did have to replace the hammer springs.

You can buy light loads for your 12ga until you find a nice, light 20 that appeals. The only sxs that I would consider nowadays is a CZ.

Enjoy that Britt
I had three over the past 40years. All were excellent bird dogs.

It is my favorite breed.

 

[jmorris]

One of my favorite shotguns is a light weight 1100 in 20ga.

 

[.45Coltguy]

CZ GEN 2 Bobwhite, SxS, 20ga. Think you'd like those.

 

[Savage30L]

To the original poster: You don't say if you shoot left-handed or right-handed. The CZ SxS shotguns (and Turkish SxS guns generally) have a "cast off", meaning that the buttstock cants a bit to the right, which makes them a poor choice for left-handed shooters.

I shoot an SKB 100 20-gauge shotgun for upland hunting, and love it. It's the perfect dove gun. The stock does not have a cast, so it suits me, as I shoot left-handed. If you can find one, and can afford it (as the prices for used SKB doubles are multiples of the original new prices now), I'd suggest an SKB 200 or 280E model. Or a Browning BSS.

 

[e rex]

I'm 81 and after a lifetime of pheasant hunting, mostly in Kansas, I come to like an Ithaca 37 pump gun. It is a bit lighter than most and are great quality. Your Brittany is also my favorite breed.
I'm guessing your True Value pump has a full choke and that is most of your problem.

 

[Hookeye]

I really like an 870 20 ga Special Field.
But prices have gotten kinda silly so I said to heck with it and got a new Browning Citori 20 ga.
Am not unhappy

 

[GooseGestapo]

I have a CZ (Huglu) Golden Pheasant SxS. Originally it was a Armscor but I had to send it back because of “doubling”. In the process, CZ took over importation of the Huglu’s. CZ sent me a new gun! Identical except for stampings on the barrel.
Since, it’s been an excellent firearm.

I’ve also got a Yildiz (Academy Sports) .410 O/U. It’s my most used shotgun now.
It’s on a true .410 frame, but has adult-fit stocks.
Occasionally, Academy has these on sale at very appealing prices.
I personally wouldn’t be afraid to try one of the Turkish brands.

 

[Jaywalker]

How are you and the dog doing?

 

[Hookeye]

Showed the ol lady a CZ upland special 20 today at the shop.
Would need cut down for her.
Thought the Ruger #1 50th anniv .308 wasn't gawdy.
So I'll pick it up in a couple of weeks ( the #1).

As little as she'd shoot, the CZ would be appropriate.
Told her light guns are a joy to carry, but for extended shooting, they suck.
Informal clays, a light gun might work for her.

 

[Random 8]

I assume you're talking about hunting MN grouse and woodcock woods, with maybe a bonus pheasant or duck hunt in the mix. This is not Thoreaus beech and oak woods! If you're doing it right, you'll find yourself crawling over and under windfall Aspen and Balsams with a nice carpet of raspberry bushes getting to a point. You'll cross the odd tag alder or cedar swamp between high ridges. You'll wade through plenty of doghair Aspen regrowth and balsam jungle. You may even balance beam your way across a beaver dam or 2. This is just the grouse hunt!

I've never liked an O/U, and definitely not a SXS in such conditions. A light and handy pump gun you don't mind getting dirty is the right kit IMHO. I personally hunt with an Ithaca featherlight 12Ga manufactured in the early 1950s. It's worn smooth from decades of honest use. The barrel is a handy 24" and choked IC. I favor 12Ga loads due to the nature of MN grouse habitat. I like 1 1/8 oz of #6 for our birds here. I like them down stone dead, not fluttering or running into impossible cover. I also hunt where a bonus snowshoe hare or pheasant is a possibility, so this load is sufficient for the hares, and at the low end of sufficient for pheasant without crushing the grouse too hard. If you're recoil shy, there are effective lighter 12Ga loads that duplicate performance of the best 20Ga loads. You can get into a lighter gun when built on a smaller frame though.

A vintage Wingmaster, or shorter barreled BPS or some of the sportier Win models might work well. I've found SXS, O/U and any gun with a ventilated rib to be snaggy in the brush. I prefer a naked barrel and bead for bird hunting here. These are hard to find, but they are out there. My M37 started as a full choke, and for the princely sum of $55, was converted into an IC and shortened to 24 by a gunsmith.

 

[d2wing]

I applaud how hard you hunt Random. We may have hunted the same woods. I haven't been able to hunt that hard for years. Since I can't buck the really thick stuff, I do fine with an over under, but for decades I hunted with a plain barrel pump for decades. I regret selling those guns.

 

[Hookeye]

Seems as though the grouse folks are fond of the 870 Special Fields.
When I do find one used on GB its usually from northern locations and has sling swivels.

Rabbit hunted w 870 and 1100 Special Fields, in both 12 and 20ga.
The 20 ga 870 Special Field was my favorite.

 

[Random 8]

Seems as though the grouse folks are fond of the 870 Special Fields.
When I do find one used on GB its usually from northern locations and has sling swivels.

Rabbit hunted w 870 and 1100 Special Fields, in both 12 and 20ga.
The 20 ga 870 Special Field was my favorite.

If you find a shorter barreled corncob Ithaca featherlight, odds are it came from Up Nort' also

 

[Atavar]

How are you and the dog doing?

We are doing great! He is still wearing belly bands as not whizzing in the house bewilders him, but that will be a process.
It turns out the “field trained” I was promised was a pipe dream, as the only command he was taught was “whoa”. That’s not all bad as I can train him how I want.

 

[Barnfixer]

I’m a fan of the 20ga and have hunted birds with them 90% of the time. I’ve had an older 870 & 1100 in 20ga for decades but in recent years I’ve added a couple over/unders. One is a Franchi Instinct SL, it very light for carrying all day in the field, great gun for hunting. Down side with the Franchi is it’s not nice if you plan on shooting clays (recoil). The other one is a Browning Lightning at a pound heavier. The Browning is a good all purpose gun, skeet, sporting clays, and hunting. And for this season I might try a 26” factory skeet barrel I found for my 870 12ga. It patterns nice and could be great for birds. Good luck hunting and enjoy that pup!

 

[Weflyfast]

SxS has a much shorter action- and a nice balance- in 20 gauge- they are quick to come up and fast to swing- fantastic for quail - woodcock - and grouse.

Another point that many people miss when hunting in groups or preserves it takes only a second to open the action and put the gun in a safe mode that everyone can see- a lot of guides appreciate that-

I love Berettas and Browning's and I do have a few
Ithacas- but I also hunt with a few of the newer CZs as well and they are a fine field gun-

If you go with a newer CZ in 20 you also have the option for 3" 4s and 5s for pheasant - and Boss makes a very nice bismuth line in 20 gauge
Good luck-
Shoot straight- head down and swing the gun