I need recommendations for a shotgun for upland hunting esp. pheasant, and also possibly for clays. I know there are very good SxS and O/U shotguns out there but this gun has to be under $1000, preferably under $800. I have even considered pump shotguns for their all-purpose use (I'm not trying to compete professionally here and don't have that much experience; I don't need the best equipment).
I haven't been able to find the right SxS... Could a Stoeger Uplander SxS fit the bill?
Thanks in advance for your help
I have been in your shoes. When I was a kid being raised by my widowed grandmother, we were too poor to own a gun of any sort, so I occasionally borrowed a single shot 16 gauge from one of my cousins. I am still fond of memories of that gun even though it did not belong to me.
Several years later, I found myself in the position where I could afford to own guns and so I went through a series of different types looking for what was the best for me. I bought and sold a Stoeger coach gun. They gun seemed heavy, cheap and I could not hit the broad side of a barn with it.
Then came a semi-auto and an over and under. The semi-auto functioned well most of the time, but seemed to require a lot of maintenance to keep it functioning. The over and under was fine, but heavy and I made the mistake of getting a 26" barrel instead of a longer barrel and it was somewhat whippy. All of these were 12 gauge guns.
I eventually bought a 20 guage Browning BPS Hunter. I have found the gun that works for me. The gun is lightweight, but still packs a punch. 20 gauge packs plenty of punch for both clays and upland hunting. I have used it for trap and skeet and while it is not ideal for those two activities, it meets my needs because I shoot for fun, not for competition. The guns is light enough that it will not wear you down after walking several hours in the field. You mentioned that you considered a pump for its overall utility. I again recommend a 20 gauge BPS pump as a weapon that meets the needs you describe in your original post.
I no longer own the semi-auto and don't plan on buying another. I am in the process of selling the over/under and I could not be happier the with pump.