Over & Under Suggestions

Scott, I could give you some suggestions but first would like to hear what you like. A shotgun needs to fit and shoot where you look for the main points. From there it's what you like.

I shoot Ruger Red Labels in 28, 20, & 12 gauges. While they are a tad heavier than higher end guns, these have been very reliable shooters; I particularly enjoy the 28 (on a true 28 gauge frame) & the 20. I am also pleased with CZ shotguns & have heard good things about CZ O/U shotties although mine are SxS configurations also in 28, 20, & 12. I shoot a few clays at our range, but all of the above have served me well as field guns that have accounted for everything from doves, quail, pheasants, chukars, grouse, ducks, geese, a few MT sharpies & the occasional bunny. My "go-to" hunting choice among my shotguns is my 20 gauge Red Label followed closely by a Benelli Montifeltro semi-auto, also in 20 (I seem to shoot these better & both are a delight to carry). Good luck. If possible, handle a few. Should you ever wander down this way & have the time I'd gladly take you to the range so you can try out any/some of mine, Scott.

Zen & Jim, thanks for the starting points.

You are welcome, Scott!

Along the line of what Jim said I have 4 Huglus, two 0/u and 2 sxs, a lightweight Browning Citori 20 gauge, and a few others. The one I shoot most is a DeHaan Huglu that's about to be retired and replaced with a Browning Citori, at least that's the way I'm leaning now.

Scott, take a look at the Mossberg Silver Reserve in 20; not an arm & a leg for expense, shoots nice and looks great! But as both Bill and Jim have said, don't waste your money on something that won't fit. Can't make a silk purse out of a poorly fit gun.....

Franchi also makes a nice O/U. Used to be called the Renaissance. it's a mid-price gun, lightweight, good pointer, and good on the eyes!

I've owned Rugar 12 and 20 gauges, browning 20 gauges and Berretta 12 and 20 ga shotguns. My favorite 12 ga was the Beretta 686
Oryx. It was heavy, 30 inch barrel and great balance.

My favorite 20 ga is my Browning 425 which I've hauled around the globe.

The Ruger Red Labels were fine gun's but they had 26 inch barrels, I found I shoot 30inch guns better.

O/U gun's don't wear out and there should be some good bargains in the used gun markets.

Are you looking for a field gun or going to be standing on a concrete pad shooting clay? If the latter, the sky is the limit, if the former you need to find a stick for the hunting you will most often be doing. I hunt upland and walk many miles and have a gun that I can carry up to around 8 miles a day and can take a beating. For my use I have a Beretta 686 onyx field grade. I consider my guns tools and want the best one for the job. As for Jim and his generous offer, what he said the Red Labels are known for their quality/value. 28" barrels works best for me chukar,quail,pheasant, and grouse. I will say, being a relative short timer on this forum Jim knows his sh#t and is a good person to ask questions. I am what is properly called a "rough shooter" and god d#*n proud of it.

I get it, fit is the most important to get right.

Clb - you kind of nailed it, good in sight!

I would like a field gun, that I could take to the trap range. You have to understand that I started with the 870 wing master - pretty cheap but a good choice hunting the salt & I killed a lot of birds.

Looking to be a bit more refined so that I can wear a fancy tweed hat.

You guys gave been more than kind and I appreciate the input and comments.

My sincere thanks to all.

MB

Scott Salzer said:

Clb - you kind of nailed it, good in sight!

I would like a field gun, that I could take to the trap range. You have to understand that I started with the 870 wing master - pretty cheap but a good choice hunting the salt & I killed a lot of birds.

Looking to be a bit more refined so that I can wear a fancy tweed hat.

You guys gave been more than kind and I appreciate the input and comments.

My sincere thanks to all.

MB

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I started with a Daisy BB gun and then went to the Crossman 760. Killed a lot of birds with my 870 pump but when I got serious I needed a gun I could carry ALL day. I love the safety factor of the Onyx O/U. Can't emphasize this enough. You can row a duck boat with the 870 in a pinch

i had a red label with an english stock. i found the straight stock really increased the recoil. it was tiresome shooting clays. was fine in the field. i sold it. just wasn't what i wanted.

i've shot some really nice citori's. the 12g i borrowed from a buddy couldn't miss in my hands.

i'm leaning towards a 20ga cz lightweight for my next gun.

Keep them coming. A lot of great knowledge being passed a long.

Leaning towards a 20
Many thanks!

I went with a CZ wingshooter I found at a local gun shop on consignment. Bang for buck wise couldn't beat it.

One 12 gauge I bought a little over a year ago weighs about the same as a 20 gauge. CZ-Huglu came out with an Upland Ultralight. A 12 gauge weighs approximately 6 lbs and is fun to shoot with 1 ounce and lighter ammo. I shot a bunch of skeet with it last summer while trading off with the DeHaan Huglu.

zen leecher aka bill w said:

One 12 gauge I bought a little over a year ago weighs about the same as a 20 gauge. CZ-Huglu came out with an Upland Ultralight. A 12 gauge weighs approximately 6 lbs and is fun to shoot with 1 ounce and lighter ammo. I shot a bunch of skeet with it last summer while trading off with the DeHaan Huglu.

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especially if you take the time to reload your hulls, with the proper wads you can even go down to 7/8 oz, like a 28ga!

We reloaded ours and found we could shoot 3/4 oz loads out of our 12's. Claybuster makes the wad and I shot Titewad for the powder. For skeet it didn't matter if we shot 3/4 oz loads or 1 1/2 oz loads. No misses were attributable to the light loads. The misses were because the clay pigeons weren't in the pattern. I did shoot 1 1/4 oz loads under field conditions but nothing heavier. During the senior pheasant hunt one bird was shot with 1 1/4 oz of lead 5's. First lead shot bagged pheasant in 50 years. The senior hunt area was not a steel required state or federal area.

Alex MacDonald said:

especially if you take the time to reload your hulls, with the proper wads you can even go down to 7/8 oz, like a 28ga!

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Alex, 28ga is 3/4 oz. your point on 7/8 oz loads in 12 ga is excellent, though.

Which reminds me, I've got 150 lbs of 8's and a bunch of wads, primers and hulls. Got to find a good source and maybe new recipe for my 20 ga. I was judging a Clays powder but I'm out.

Like we talked on the phone, it depends on what type of shooting you will do the most. Or you can buy a dozen different ones like I have.... If you go for a Browning, Ruger, or Beretta plan on blowing your $1500 limit by a couple hundred. Shoot some of mine and see what you think...excuse for getting together and beers later...