Multi purpose 20ga under $1000

[grizz]

I'm looking for suggestions on a multi purpose shotty under $1000. My only shotgun at the moment is a home defense 870.

I'm leaning toward a 20ga auto, but I'd LOVE a SxS. It seems (from my reading here) that higher quality may be had in an auto vs the same priced SxS? Also, I haven't done any goose or duck hunting (yet) so I think a 20 would be better suited for the game I'm after. I live in Eagle River, AK.

Uses (from most to least): Grouse, ptarmagain, rabbits, and (possibly) duck hunting, some skeet.

Is a 12ga much better than a 20 for geese and ducks?

I'd like quality and reliability, soft on the shoulder would be a bonus. I'm also looking for wood and nice blueing.

Rem 1100? SKB? CZ? Browning? Winchester?

Thanks,
Grizz

 

[sm]

Beretta 20 bore gas gun, new or used.

Depends on ducks, still even at 30-35 yards over dekes, a 20 bore is fine.
12 bore with 2 3/4 load would be better.
Still if ducks is a maybe, I'd stick with a 20 bore

Skeet. Neat thing about a 20 bore, you can shoot in the 12 bore and 20 bore event. One is allowed to shoot a gauge smaller than event . For a bit "our thing" was using 28 gauge for 12 , 20 and 28 ga events and then using the .410 in the .410 event.

OLDER Berettas, like the 303, if you can find one are great guns.
Rem 1100s and Win 1400s, depending on druthers and gun fit.
These older Beretta, Rem and Wins, are getting to where folks never let go of them.

I like 20 bore, always have. I have felled many ducks with a 20 bore, using 2 3/4 shells.

20 bore tote easy in the field, feel good in hands, great for introducing new shooters, shells a bit smaller, so easy to tote them shells too...

Best kept secret has always been a 20 ga semi auto.

 

[Twud]

Shotgun

I live in Maryland where we shoot a lot of geese and some ducks. I've seen 20 gauge guns used on ducks with some success. You can also kill geese with a 20 if the birds toll just right. The other upland birds you mentioned should fall to a 20 very easily.
All that being said, I'd still go for a 12. An 11/87 Premier would be my choice with a 26" bbl. Tack on a rifled barrel if you have to use a shotgun on deer.
Shooting a 20, IMHO just makes everything more difficult.
You'll appreciated the lighter recoil of an automatic over a SXS when shooting clay birds.

 

[grizz]

The only reason I'm leaning toward a 20 is that I do a lot more upland hunting than waterfowl hunting. The spruce grouse here in Alaska tend to be rather stupid birds. Most shots are at a bird standing perfectly still 10 yards away. If a spruce grouse does fly it usually goes to the nearest tree - still an incredibly easy shot.

I've used 12s and ruined a lot of meat. A 28ga would really be well suited for grouse here in Alaska, I would think...

That said, I still want the ability to hunt ducks, or even geese if I ever find someone who knows what they're doing to take me out with them. I'll probably try it on my own eventually, but alas I don't own decoys, a boat, or a dog at the moment.

Thanks for the advise so far. I've heard good things about Beretta autos, so I think I'll start searching for a good deal.

 

[Striker]

Grizz,

I think you'll be fine with a 20 guage.

I've took alot of teal, ducks, and geese on the Knik and Eagle River flats (on FT Rich) back in the 80's with a 20 bore. I used the same gun on spruce hen, ptarmagan, and hares.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

CZ imports the Huglu SxS shotgun. The 20 gauge Bobwhite model comes with dual triggers so is cheaper than a single trigger, barrel selecting gun. The 20 gauge models come with screw in chokes, and they are beautiful guns. You should be able to put your hands on one for under $900.

OR you could get a proper upland gun, say perhaps a CZ Bobwhite in 16 gauge, and be able to take geese if you ever get the chance, but still have no worries with the rest of the birds.

LD

 

[MCgunner]

I really like my little short 20" barreled SxS Spartan 20 as an all around gun. It does home defense, it does dove and duck hunting, will make a GREAT woods bummin' gun for small game to large at short range. I'm working on getting a sling on it which will make it neigh on perfect for me. Choked properly, it'll reach out there on dove or ducks. Duck hunting (so far, just teal, regular season hasn't opened) I've been using 3" steel 4s and they seem to do the job well. I'd take my 12 for geese loaded with heavy shot, but at close ranges, the 20 would work even there. Hard to find big shot in 20, though.

My 20 doesn't replace my 12s as waterfowl guns. I got the short barrel for the portability of the gun. I can break it down and stash it in my motorcycle bags, even can stash it in my backpack when hiking. It can do things my longer repeaters cannot do and is just SO handy and yet effective in the field. I've fallen for it and haven't picked up a 12 gauge yet this season. I've killed a ton of ducks in my younger years before steel shot laws with lead #5s in 2 3/4". 20s are as effective on game as 12s IMHO except for the larger game such as geese or turkey or cranes or such. Birds and small game are no problem and for flushing game, that little 20 comes to the shoulder REALLY fast! Being a 20, it's light on the shoulder compared to 12s, too. Amazing little gun. I gave 299 plus tax for it, great deal for a good little shooter. It might not win any beauty contests, but it's a rugged little gun for rugged use.

 

[ArmedBear]

A Turkish shotgun for $900? I'm not that trusting yet. Once I've seen some of them go through 50,000 rounds or so, I'll believe they're a good deal.

Oldtimers refer to Huglus as "pieces of junk." That's probably an impression from the past, but I'm not set to spend $900 finding out when I can put that money towards an excellent SKB O/U for a little more, or buy a used, time-proven Browning or Beretta for $900. I have a 30-year-old SKB, and it works like new. Some field and use wear on the receiver blue, and a few stock dings, testify to its use over the years, that's all.

The thing about the Spartans is that they're cheap and rugged. If they shoot well for you, that's a pretty low-risk proposition. Ditto for Stoegers. Both have stood up to abuse in CAS competition, albeit with some aftermarket parts.

But $900 is a lot of money to spend if I have to cross my fingers.

If you plan to shoot ducks, I'd get a 12. I don't know what you call "rabbits" up there, but I suspect they may be bigger than our desert cottontails. I like to shoot #6 shot at rabbits, and those aren't the big ones. (I've used #8 and after doing it, I no longer believe it's ethical to do so.) Shot sizes bigger than 6 favor a 12 Gauge, too. But #6 shot is perfectly fine through a 20.

The bummer about a 12 is the weight of the thing. Berettas aren't bad, but Citoris are heavy and 1100s are heavy in 12. Soft on the shoulder, sure, but not light to carry around.

SxS is the most expensive class of shotgun, and arguably the least versatile. That's why you seldom see them, at least around here.

A gas-operated semiauto will be softer on your shoulder. If your state allows it, you can have 5 shots ready, which is nice. Down here, we have to plug to 3 for everything, not just waterfowl. Surrounding states are the same. So a semiauto doesn't have any great advantage. But in Alaska, it might.

 

[Dave McCracken]

There's little I do with shotguns that I couldn't do with a 20.

I watched a friend today at wobble bust them WOD with a fine little Westley Richards 20, pretty as a show pony and lethal as a F-14. Took a few shots with it myself, shot nicely despite my tendency to oversteer. Breaks were similar to those of my 12.

Bruce Scott, he of Shotgun Journal and Sunrise Productions, favors a Guerini 20 gauge with 32" barrels for Argentina. Makes sense to me.

 

[toivo]

Beretta 20 bore gas gun, new or used.

Yes: a new 3901 or a used/leftover 390. You'll come in under a $1000 on the first choice and WAY under on the second.

 

[jrfoxx]

I dont have any suggestions for a SxS, as I've never owned or even fired one, but a 20ga O/U that would fit your criteria pretty well in my opinion, for about $800 NIB or very nearly NIB, is a Ruger Red Label.I have my dad's, and together we've fired 1000's of shells thru it over the years, and it is great looking, well balanced, dead reliable, weight is comfortable to aul around the woods all day, and recoil is mild. This was the first shotgun I ever fired and always took mine out hunting all day with my dad,and used it for lots of skeet shooting too.I'm 5'5 150 bs now, out was aout 4'6 and 80lbs or so when I would tke it huntin as a kid all day, so if it was comfortable recoil and weight wise for me then (its even lighter feeling now , it should be pracically nothing o a normal sized person.Anyway, just another idea for you.I've seen a fair number at gun shows over the years, so it shouln't be too hard to find one.Also, with screw in chokes, you can set up the barrels to fill any role.