New dove gun?

[HB]

I've been shooting a Browning BPS in 12 for quiet a few years now and I'm looking to get a better dove gun. The 12 kills me limits very regularly but I'd like a lighter and nice gun. I was thinking a nicer BPS in 20 or 28 but the idea of a OU in the same price range apeals as well. Any recommendations on a nice OU in 20 or 28 (or even 410) for about 600 bucks? Used is actually preferred.

The gun would also be used for alot of quail and rabbit hunting and an occasional farm pheasant hunt.

Thanks,
HB

 

[ms6852]

I know we should buy products that have history like remington or winchester etc. But I bought a Yildiz O/U with Turkish wood checkered and some small engraving. Truly is a beautiful gun but not known. Cost was around $540. Rifle is very light weight around 6lbs and recoil is not bad at all for a 12 guage. The beauty of it is Yildiz now makes a 20 gauge O/U. Academy sells this rifle. They have the plain shotguns without engraving and checkering but the wood is still great and a lot cheaper also. I have had mine for about 7 years now and truly enjoy it.

 

[lowerunit411]

i have several guns to chose from but find i use my CZ Bonwhite in .28 ga for me it just is a sweet little gun. i paid 486.00 (used) on GunBroker and it was unfired.

 

[chas08]

A Lanber 2067 in 20ga may fit your budget. I have a 2087 in 12ga that I like a lot and has proven to be reliable for the last ten years or so. If they made one in 28ga I'd already own one. They are Spanish made and a lot of gun for the money.

 

[ArmedBear]

I recently picked up a used 28" 686 Onyx 20 Gauge for $900 including shipping and a takedown soft case. That thing is just plain perfect. More than $600, but worth more, too.

Until I swapped it for a SxS, I had an Ithaca SKB 500 20 Gauge that I picked up for $500 and a little work on some small cracks in the stock (easily fixed with wetting epoxy and a light application of a Dremel to fix the tight stock-to-metal fit that caused the cracks). It had factory engraving, and looked nice, though with honest wear on the finish.

The SKB brought home dove, quail and pheasant while I had it. The Weatherby Orion, which is the same gun with a trimmer receiver and a Prince of Wales grip, is at CDNN right now for $899 new.

To keep it under $600, I'd look around for a used SKB O/U in 20 or 28. They're a bit heavier than Berettas, which, for doves, can be a good thing, and certainly isn't a bad thing.

 

[oneounceload]

Used, I would look for SKB 505 field guns - I have two - 20 and 28, very well made and will last. They should be close to your price point, maybe just a little more, but, IMO, a better buy than the cheap O/U's out there. They weigh about 7.25 pounds.

There are others out there that weigh less - just remember, as you drop gun weight, recoil with the same loads increases.

 

[Captcurt]

Love my 28 ga Verona but shells are twice as high as 20ga. I find myself picking up the Beretta 20 ga most of the time.

 

[oneounceload]

If you reload those 28's, you'll use that gun more often.........28's are fun to shoot

 

[ArmedBear]

It's a good idea to buy a 28 Gauge reloading press at the same time as you buy a 28 Gauge gun. Pays for itself real quick, then you can really enjoy the gun.

 

[Captcurt]

If you reload those 28's, you'll use that gun more often.........28's are fun to shoot

Oh yeah, a 28 is a hoot. When I bought the gun I went to Bass Pro and picked up 2 cases @ of 410 and 28 ga just to have the hulls. (Did I mention that it is a 2 barrel set?) I will get a Mec for both later on.

 

[HB]

I'll look into the SKB and the CZs, as they both look nice and seem to be a good value. I have handled and shot my friends 20 gauge Beretta before and it truly is a nice gun (I think he had a Silver Pigeon?) but they are a little out of my price range right now.
As for gauge, does a 28 really make sense. I already have a 20 but the 28 just seems like it would be more fun and just more fun to own.

Thanks,
HB

 

[Encoreman]

HB There are several ways to go, I bought a great used Beretta 391 gas operated 12 ga. and I love it, you can shoot 100 clays with no hurt at all. I know the O/U's are nice looking, but they will kick you badly. Find a buddy with any gas operated 12 ga and bust off a box real fast and then you decide. Mac

 

[MolleMan]

Ya'll must be some dang fine shots to shoot doves with a 28 ga or .410.

 

[HB]

Its not really about being an amazing shot, its more about picking your shots and your stand to get you the best shots. Incoming and outgoing birds have always been easiest for me, so I pick a spot that affords me the most of those shots. Doing some scouting and it really isn't as tough as some make it out to be. I plan on killing a 15 bird limit with about 25-30 shells, although opening day is usually a little more of a warm up.

If you want more birds per shots fired:
1)Pick your shots
2)Wait until they're within range
3)SWING YOUR GUN!
4)Don't fire 2 or 3 shots... the bird is usually a lost cause after my second shot and its better to have that 3rd shell chambered while reloading so you can recover to get any slackers
5)Don't stand. Sit down and hold low to the ground until the dove is very close

I'm not an amazing shot but I'm a pretty good hunter because I do my homework and set up accordingly. I want to get my first real triple this year!


PS, Don't shoot at doves you won't recover. Watch the bird hit the ground and mark it, the scan the sky again, especially if you are hunting near bean fields
HB

 

[Captcurt]

HB,
Good points, but you need to add to #3. Swing your gun and keep it swinging.

 

[chas08]

Ya'll must be some dang fine shots to shoot doves with a 28 ga or .410.

I don't know about "dang fine" but I shot 15 birds opening day with 28 shells from my 28ga SxS but by the fifth day that same 15 bird limit took 42 shells. They had gotten smarter and were testing the right side fixed I/C barrel to the limit. Most were killed with the left fixed Mod. barrel that day. I may spring for a double with choke tubes in 28ga someday. But for now I just move up to a larger gauge with choke tubes so I can match the choke combination to the conditions.

 

[ArmedBear]

I can't tell whether I'm shooting a 28 or a 20, personally. Can't tell if I'm shooting 1 or 1 1/8 oz. from a 12, either.

That's the difference, 1/8 oz. of shot here or there. With #7.5 shot, you have a lot of pellets anyway. You have fewer pellets if you shoot pheasant shot from a 12.

 

[chas08]

I can't tell whether I'm shooting a 28 or a 20, personally. Can't tell if I'm shooting 1 or 1 1/8 oz. from a 12, either.

On the same size frame I totally agree. My 28 and my wifes 20 are scaled to gauge, so my 28 is narrower and lighter than her 20 and it makes a huge difference when shooting 1oz loads. The 28 kicks more than the 20, but if I shoot 3/4oz loads in the 28 they are more comparable.

With standard Dove loads there is very little, if any, difference in 28ga vs 20ga, but with larger upland birds I'd give the edge to the 20. Not to mention the difference in ammo cost if you don't reload.

As for 12ga. I don't really notice any difference until you get into the 1-1/4oz and above loads.

 

[HB]

Is it even worth looking for a new o/u for $600 bucks? I'm a college student now (out of town) so its hard to find a used gun and make an offer when the time is right.
And I agree, its really not a big deal to switch gauges, you might lose a few of those fringe shots anyway.

HB

 

[ArmedBear]

with larger upland birds I'd give the edge to the 20

Absolutely. At larger shot sizes, the bore size becomes a serious limiting factor. 28 is not the end-all.

Personally, I like the 20 Gauge as an all-around upland gun.

 

[chas08]

Is it even worth looking for a new o/u for $600 bucks?

As I said in my earlier post. And especially if $600 is your absolute top pricepoint, I'd look real hard at the Lanbers that CDNN has for sale right now. They are Spanish made, have chrome lined chambers/barrels, 5 choke tubes, top tang safety/single selective trigger, and fit and finish that rivals guns at near three times their pricepoint.

 

[millertyme]

for the price I imagine it would have to be one of the Turks or Russians. I like the CZ doubles, and I really like the Rugers, but for the money you'd have to spend on either you could by a couple BPS's. Look at the Baikal or Stoeger offerings.

 

[ArmedBear]

For $600, you can probably find a good used O/U if you look around and don't suffer "mission creep". A fixed-choke 20 Gauge Ithaca SKB can be found readily at that price -- and re-sold for that price if you want to.

 

[oneounceload]

Is it even worth looking for a new o/u for $600 bucks?

New, Lanber from CDNN. Used - SKB, Browning (there are a few), maybe even an older Beretta. Be careful of used Spanish guns from the 70's - they had heat-treating issues back then. Reality for me would be a good used Beretta semi at that price point - 303 series and forward.

 

[45crittergitter]

My perfect dove gun is a 20 ga. Benelli Montefeltro. 5.5#