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What's your favorite bird gun?

Discussion in 'Guns & Hunting' started by JH5370, Aug 23, 2017.

  1. Aug 23, 2017 at 2:11 PM
    #1
    JH5370

    JH5370 [OP] Member

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    I am an avid Upland bird hunter and am looking to upgrade my trusty 870 to something more suited to hunting. I would like to get an over/under. Where I hunt I am in and out of the truck all day so constant loading/unloading of the 870 gets old. I will keep the 870 around for Turkey and Waterfowl hunting.

    I have done a lot of research and shot a bunch of shotguns. I sort of settled on a couple brands that I feel are quality and fit me well. Beretta and Browning. That being said it is difficult for me to find a decent used gun at a good price and I don't know if I can justify spending $1200-$1800 on a shotgun. I hunt rain or shine and don't want to hunt with a gun that I am afraid to scratch, drop or get wet. I have handled a few CZ O/Us that feel really good and are only about $600 new. What do you guys hunt with? Anyone have a CZ they like?
     
  2. Aug 23, 2017 at 2:27 PM
    #2
    onetohunt

    onetohunt New Member

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    I love my O/Us. 12 ga is my preferred caliber. Citori.
    As far cz's go, I have a number of them chambered in rifles cals. they are some of the best shooting guns I own.
     
    JH5370[OP] likes this.
  3. Aug 23, 2017 at 2:29 PM
    #3
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    Personally, I wouldn't mind taking a 1800.00 gun hunting. It's your sport, passion, what you do. That Berretta should last you 20 years, or 90.00 per year of fun.
     
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  4. Aug 23, 2017 at 2:31 PM
    #4
    Borgs

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    Mossberg 835. While probably not exactly within your criteria, it is Versatile with many barrels.
     
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  5. Aug 23, 2017 at 2:36 PM
    #5
    JH5370

    JH5370 [OP] Member

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    That's basically what I already have with the 870. Pump guns a great all around shotguns for sure, I am looking for something a little more purpose built to fit my needs/wants.
     
  6. Aug 23, 2017 at 2:37 PM
    #6
    Borgs

    Borgs New Member

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    Understood.
     
  7. Aug 23, 2017 at 2:38 PM
    #7
    gosolo

    gosolo You Don’t Know Who I Am But I Know Where You Live

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    Hunted most of my life with a side x side Ithaca. Occasionally with an 870 (inherited from dad).
    3 years ago I bought a benelli ethos. Won't use anything else till I die.
    Pretty pricey but worth it for me.
     
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  8. Aug 23, 2017 at 2:41 PM
    #8
    JH5370

    JH5370 [OP] Member

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    Benelli makes a nice gun. I have a buddy with a Super Black Eagle and I swear that gun shoots itself.
     
  9. Aug 23, 2017 at 2:44 PM
    #9
    gosolo

    gosolo You Don’t Know Who I Am But I Know Where You Live

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    Truly spoken.
    I'm fond of the ethos cause I'm old school and like wood. I'm not interested in the 3 1/2" shells and it's capable of running either 2 3/4" or 3" without changing anything.
     
    JH5370[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  10. Aug 23, 2017 at 2:47 PM
    #10
    MikeyMTBs

    MikeyMTBs New Member

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    You just can't go wrong with a Beretta Silver Pigeon O/U. Pick your choice of 20 or 12g and a 30" barrel and call it a day. Best bird gun I've spent time behind.
     
    gosolo and JH5370[OP] like this.
  11. Aug 23, 2017 at 3:01 PM
    #11
    JH5370

    JH5370 [OP] Member

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    That's actually the very gun I have my eye on. I prefer the 28in barrels though. They seem to swing a little better for me.
     
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  12. Aug 23, 2017 at 3:21 PM
    #12
    Tufftruck

    Tufftruck New Member

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    I have been an avid bird hunter for years and have some of the nicest Browning's and Berettas O&U's and semi autos made. I have Heckler and Koch/Benelli SBE I and one of those crappy (my opinion) Benelli SBE II's. My favorite gun for upland bird hunting and beating the hell out of is a simple little 20 gauge S/S Stoeger. Easy to carry, easy to load and unload, crack it in two when stepping over obstacles or taking a bird from the dog for safety. I have dropped it in creeks, snow and gravel roads. It takes a pounding and when it gets nicked or scratched, I don't care. It was $400.00 new. I have killed hundreds of grouse, woodcock and pheasants behind pointing and flushing dogs. A three inch shell, one modified, one full choke and improving your shooting skills will surprise you.
     
    Last edited: Aug 23, 2017
    MikeyMTBs, JH5370[OP] and gosolo like this.
  13. Aug 23, 2017 at 3:31 PM
    #13
    Filthy13

    Filthy13 New Member

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    I have a Benelli Legacy. Absolutely love it.
     
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  14. Aug 23, 2017 at 3:33 PM
    #14
    pbcolt

    pbcolt New Member

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    I only have one shotgun - a Benelli Nova with the synthetic finish. I don't care if it gets scratched, dropped, dinged, dirty, etc. which is why I love it. I primarily hunt upland but have also hunted duck with it. Not what you want, but it's my favorite gun.

    Question for those more experienced than myself, what is the attraction to the o/u or s/s? I would think that I'd rather have the extra shot (3 vs 2) than not have to pick up spent shells.
     
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  15. Aug 23, 2017 at 3:40 PM
    #15
    JH5370

    JH5370 [OP] Member

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    As I mentioned earlier I love pump guns and every benelli I have shot has been great. They make awesome shotguns. For me the advantage to the over/under and SxS is the swing and the balance. When you pick up an over under that fits you, all you need to do is mount the gun, look at the target and pull the trigger. The balance point on a double gun is much further back making the swing much quicker and a lot more smooth. I also really like the break action for any easy way to make the gun safe or unload it. There is probably other reasons people like them, but those are mine.
     
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  16. Aug 23, 2017 at 3:44 PM
    #16
    pbcolt

    pbcolt New Member

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    Cool, thanks for the reply. I'd like to try one at some point.
     
  17. Aug 23, 2017 at 3:47 PM
    #17
    JH5370

    JH5370 [OP] Member

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    Definitely give one a shot (no pun intended). I also will take any excuse I can think of to buy a new gun :thumbsup:
     
  18. Aug 23, 2017 at 4:05 PM
    #18
    tomsinamerica

    tomsinamerica New Member

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    so i'm all foreign, so don't pay too much attention to what i say - my knowledge of guns is huuuugely limited but my first gun purchase was a benelli simply as a result of how well it's made. I found out later that I can actually hit things with it... just holding it in the store though, and feeling how well it was put together with such a smooth action made me want it. Glad i bought it, wouldn't get rid of it.
     
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  19. Aug 23, 2017 at 7:56 PM
    #19
    Over the LINE

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    I like when the guys walking an upland line with me have O/U or SxS so I can tell when they are safe. If they have an autoloader or pump I am never sure. I think they look cool too.
     
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  20. Aug 23, 2017 at 8:02 PM
    #20
    Over the LINE

    Over the LINE New Member

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  21. Aug 23, 2017 at 8:03 PM
    #21
    Areith762

    Areith762 Go Avs!!!

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    Benelli Super Sport. Hands down.
    20170823_210121.jpg
     
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  22. Aug 23, 2017 at 8:22 PM
    #22
    duece292

    duece292 Appalachian American

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    Last year I bought a Stevens 555 20 gauge. I had looked long and hard at a CZ prior to buying the 555. Cabelas had it on sale so it ended up being about $80 less than the CZ. While saving a few bucks was nice I made my choice based on weight. I spend a lot of hours and cover a lot of ground hunting grouse and woodcock and at 5 1/2 pounds it's a joy to carry. I have several shotguns, 12, 16 and 20 gauges, Ithicas and Winchesters, a Ruger Red Label, a Parker side by side, an old Harrington & Richardson single shot 20 and a Benelli Nova 20. They all get used, the Red Label for trap and clays, the Parker and my model 12 for birds on days when the weather is perfect. In the end I wanted an ultralight gun with a gauge specific receiver, a stock that didnt feel like a club and that wouldn't break the bank and the 555 does all those things and as a bonus I shoot it well.
     
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  23. Aug 23, 2017 at 8:23 PM
    #23
    JH5370

    JH5370 [OP] Member

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    Everyone I hunt with has Brownings, they make a fine gun. That's a beautiful dog too. I have a Red Lab and this will be his first hunting season.
     
    Last edited: Aug 23, 2017
  24. Aug 23, 2017 at 8:25 PM
    #24
    JH5370

    JH5370 [OP] Member

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    Thanks for the suggestion I haven't had the chance to check out a Stevens yet. I will definitely look into that.
     
  25. Aug 23, 2017 at 9:39 PM
    #25
    careyrob

    careyrob In the field

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    I hunt with a 60's era SKB model 500 12 ga o/u with 30" barrels that a gun dealer (legal) friend gave me a great deal on. It was hiding in someone's safe for about 30 years without ever being used before he got it and he just set it aside for the right person to come along. It was really ahead of its time in the manufacturing technology arena so other than style it's really just as good as anything in the upper entry level market today.

    It's kind of heavy, but it swings and shoots like a dream so you kind of forget all about that when birds and clays start falling.

    Before that I hunted the snott out of a CZ Bobwhite 20 ga SxS with 28" barrels and double triggers for 4 years. I had a hard time with it in the beginning, but once I got used to it by shooting a lot of trap at the range I shot it better than anything else I tried (until I hunted with the SKB.)

    My waterfowl and upland backup gun is a Benelli Supernova 12 ga. That gun is great because there's a button on the fore end that stops the next shell from leaving the mag when you pump the chambered round out. Many states allow you to have shells in the mag in you vehicle so long as there aren't any in the chamber.

    I switched from the pump because it was heavy and because the 3rd shell is almost always fired in frustration when upland hunting.

    CZ has really started putting out good shotguns now and they have a 5 year warranty on top of it.

    The Stevens and Tri-Stars are making a name for themselves as well. They seem to be good guns accord the people that I know who have them.

    Brownings and Berettas are great guns also, but like you, I don't have the cash flow to justify that purchase yet.
     
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  26. Aug 23, 2017 at 11:14 PM
    #26
    Patriot

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    When my Dad passed he left me a 1964 Belgian made Browning O/U 20 guage super imposed he bought back in 64. It's a beautiful shotgun and I still hunt and shoot clays with it.
     
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  27. Aug 24, 2017 at 4:36 AM
    #27
    Njmike13

    Njmike13 New Member

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    I have SP 20g. With 28" barrels. I also have a citori and a SS Mossberg. I always grab the Beretta when I go out. beautiful looking and even better shooting gun. But in the end it comes down to fit. Go to a good shop that specializes in upland guns and get fitted. It makes a world of difference.
     
  28. Aug 24, 2017 at 6:12 AM
    #28
    Over the LINE

    Over the LINE New Member

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    Enjoy your dog. I would not hunt nearly as much without dogs. I forgot to mention, I also have an old Stevens 16 ga. S x S double trigger that I inherited. It is great on preserve birds and quail but has pretty open fixed chokes and does not work well on wild pheasant. It also weigh 6.5 pounds. It is the gun I carry whenever I can. Nothing wrong with a trusty plain old gun. I'm pretty sure this one was bought from Sears "back in the day".

    Same pose different dog & gun.

    Sailor3.jpg
     
  29. Aug 24, 2017 at 6:50 AM
    #29
    Digodell

    Digodell New Member

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    There is nothing like the balance, elegance and safety of a fine double. Stick with the major brands, Beretta, Browning, Rizzini, Zoli, Merkel. Parts are readily available, there are pleanty of smiths with experience and you can rebuild actions very reasonably. You should find a used model in that price range. Look on the bulletin boards at your local clays range, guys are always trading.
     
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  30. Aug 24, 2017 at 7:00 AM
    #30
    Randy Morton

    Randy Morton Life takes its toll, please have exact change.

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    I haven't done any bird hunting since I was a kid. Back then I used a Daisy model 95. It still hangs on the wall in my hobby room. If I went out today, I'd use my Stevens 311 12ga. It has a good balance and is as tough as they get.

     

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