20 ga. O/U for skeet?
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I picked up a used Citori 20ga 28" barrels and screw in chokes (circa 1987) a couple years ago for right at $700. Nice gun and I've since turned it into my wife's skeet gun. If you really want to reduce recoil a nice 20ga 1100 is a really soft shooting gun. Several guys at my club shoot 28ga tubes out of their 12ga and it's like shooting a .22lr.
atblis
Member
SKB
Beretta
Browning
in no particular order
Beretta
Browning
in no particular order
Beagle-zebub
Member
You could get new semi-auto of equal quality for the same price, and it would have lighter recoil. In my younger, scrawnier days, a 20 gauge O/U was uncomfortable for me, but I would shoot four rounds (100 shots) with a Remington 1100, no sweat. Someone else is undoubtedly going to proclaim, "*** 20 GAUGE O/Us HAVE NO RECOIL WHATSOEVER," but if you're here asking what skeet gun has less recoil (than a 12 gauge, presumably?), then you'll probably notice the difference.
single stack
Member
The Browning XS Citori, Beretta 682 and SKB O/U's are all fine choices.
If you already shoot skeet with a 12 gauge O/U you won't find
a great reduction in recoil by going to a 20 unless you were to
select a heavy target grade model.
Unfortunately, 20's are quite a bit lighter than their 12 gauge
counterparts. That reduced weight spells more recoil.
For me the felt recoil from a 20 gauge O/U seems greater
than that of a 12 gauge.
For hunting they are great. For skeet, two games per outing,
a couple of times a year it's fine.
To shoot 4 games every week - too much punishment for me.
single stack
If you already shoot skeet with a 12 gauge O/U you won't find
a great reduction in recoil by going to a 20 unless you were to
select a heavy target grade model.
Unfortunately, 20's are quite a bit lighter than their 12 gauge
counterparts. That reduced weight spells more recoil.
For me the felt recoil from a 20 gauge O/U seems greater
than that of a 12 gauge.
For hunting they are great. For skeet, two games per outing,
a couple of times a year it's fine.
To shoot 4 games every week - too much punishment for me.
single stack
BullsAndClays
Member
I found a used, Browning 525 O/U 20ga a few years ago and love it. It is a bit heavier than a Beretta 686, but either gun is fine. Whatever you choose, just make sure that the gun fits you properly.
If you are looking for reduced recoil, I'd go with a Remington 1100 (not the LT-20, which I have owned and loved, but it is light) or 1187, or if you are lucky enough to find one, a Beretta 390/391. The idea of getting 28ga tubes is also great.
If you are looking for reduced recoil, I'd go with a Remington 1100 (not the LT-20, which I have owned and loved, but it is light) or 1187, or if you are lucky enough to find one, a Beretta 390/391. The idea of getting 28ga tubes is also great.
DaleCooper51
Member
I agree with single stack in gun choices and experience with the 20.
Light loads in heavy gun are the only way to reduce recoil. I shoot 7/8 or 3/4 oz 12 ga loads out of a 9 lb gun. If you have a nice 12ga, why not look into a used progressive press and load up some really light loads. It doesn't take much to break skeet targets and 1 1/8 oz or even 1oz loads are overkill.
If you just want a new gun, then by all means get a new one.
Light loads in heavy gun are the only way to reduce recoil. I shoot 7/8 or 3/4 oz 12 ga loads out of a 9 lb gun. If you have a nice 12ga, why not look into a used progressive press and load up some really light loads. It doesn't take much to break skeet targets and 1 1/8 oz or even 1oz loads are overkill.
If you just want a new gun, then by all means get a new one.
BullsAndClays
Member
Excellent point. I shoot/reload light loads out of mine as well.
DWT
Member
If you are considering competitive skeet shooting, take a look at used skeet sets, 12 ga. o/u with subguage tube sets. Light competition loads in 20, 28, and .410 are a pleasure to shoot.
oneounceload
member
If the goal is to reduce recoil, a 20 might not be the proper solution as the guns are typically a pound or more less in weight. For targets and reduced recoil, gun weight is your friend. An auto helps more, but you said O/U. I would stick with a 8+ pound 12 and shoot 7/8oz loads (the same as a 20) at 1200 fps. Even better would be to reduce your shot charge to 3/4oz (the same size as 28 gauge) in the 12.
For subgauge shooting in skeet, using a set of Briley sub tubes will add about a pound more in weight and with subgauge loads, the recoil, especially in 410, will be absolutely minimum
For subgauge shooting in skeet, using a set of Briley sub tubes will add about a pound more in weight and with subgauge loads, the recoil, especially in 410, will be absolutely minimum
Note that target 20s are not light. Field 20s tend to be.
See http://skbshotguns.com/GC7-Series/Clay/GC7-Clay.php
A 7.5 lb. 20 Gauge with regular 7/8 oz. loads at 1200 and a pad is not at all bad.
Just don't shoot Fiocchi Golden Pheasant 3" shells, and don't get some ultralight field gun like a 5.8 lb. Franchi Renaissance. That will have some recoil -- though it has a very nice pad. Note that Franchi makes a Renaissance Sporting in 20 Gauge, and it weighs 7.4 lbs with the same pad. I doubt you'd notice recoil at all with it. http://www.franchiusa.com/firearms/renaissance_sporting.php#showhide
Another possibility is to get a 12 Gauge Sporting gun and get some 20 Gauge barrels for it. There are some right here (Berettas) for $895. http://www.pacificsportingarms.com/beretta-stocks.htm?supplier=3&type=new That way you get a heavy 20.
Get a clean used Beretta 12 Gauge Sporting O/U, or even a new one like a White Onyx Sporting, and the barrel set for 20, and you'll be out less than 3 grand for the whole shebang. That's cheaper than getting two guns, generally, and you only have to worry about fit once.
See http://skbshotguns.com/GC7-Series/Clay/GC7-Clay.php
A 7.5 lb. 20 Gauge with regular 7/8 oz. loads at 1200 and a pad is not at all bad.
Just don't shoot Fiocchi Golden Pheasant 3" shells, and don't get some ultralight field gun like a 5.8 lb. Franchi Renaissance. That will have some recoil -- though it has a very nice pad. Note that Franchi makes a Renaissance Sporting in 20 Gauge, and it weighs 7.4 lbs with the same pad. I doubt you'd notice recoil at all with it. http://www.franchiusa.com/firearms/renaissance_sporting.php#showhide
Another possibility is to get a 12 Gauge Sporting gun and get some 20 Gauge barrels for it. There are some right here (Berettas) for $895. http://www.pacificsportingarms.com/beretta-stocks.htm?supplier=3&type=new That way you get a heavy 20.
Get a clean used Beretta 12 Gauge Sporting O/U, or even a new one like a White Onyx Sporting, and the barrel set for 20, and you'll be out less than 3 grand for the whole shebang. That's cheaper than getting two guns, generally, and you only have to worry about fit once.
oneounceload
member
Hell, most of my 20 gauge field guns weigh that much.
Take that same 7/8 oz load and shoot it in an 8-1/2# 12 gauge and see how much softer it is..
rmfnla
Member
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Red Labels are on the heavy side so that helps with recoil, too.
I have and it feels like nothing. But at some point there's a rational tradeoff. The OP isn't a big guy, so he's probably going to shoot a well-balanced 7.5 lb. 20 better than a heavy beast. It's at least worth testing out.
I know that I could never shoot my 34" BT-99 (pre-BT100 model) worth crap at handicap distances. It was just too barrel-heavy for me and didn't swing right. I shot better with an 870 Express.
(Oddly, I did well with the 99 at chip shoots and the like, just not regular Trap targets.)
oletymer
Member
As others have stated. Heavy gun, light loads first. Then add a Gracoil, Bumpbuster or Rad and you will have an o/u that will be a joy to shoot in what ever gauge you choose.
I was offered a very nice Weatherby/SKB 20 Gauge with a Gra-Coil on it for 600 bucks. The guy was talking up what the Gra-Coil was "worth". I said I would have bought it if they didn't destroy the stock -- and I would have, too, would have paid him cash on the spot. It was gorgeous wood, and they sawed off a bunch to put that abomination on the butt. YUCK.
I can see why someone with specific needs would use the things, but I'd think long and hard before trashing a good gun to put one on it, at least if you ever plan to sell it.
Specialized [strike]Training Wheels[/strike] American Trap guns are excepted. Many can use an extra pound in the butt, and they're generally fugly anyway, no matter what wood is on them. Adding a prosthetic butt won't make them any worse. The old Ithacas were gorgeous, but they were made before the trend of putting a painter's ladder on the barrel started.
The Weatherby in question had a Prince-of-Wales stock on it, a really nice one. I wanted it for a field gun. Crying shame they wrecked it with a Gra-Coil.
I can see why someone with specific needs would use the things, but I'd think long and hard before trashing a good gun to put one on it, at least if you ever plan to sell it.
Specialized [strike]Training Wheels[/strike] American Trap guns are excepted. Many can use an extra pound in the butt, and they're generally fugly anyway, no matter what wood is on them. Adding a prosthetic butt won't make them any worse. The old Ithacas were gorgeous, but they were made before the trend of putting a painter's ladder on the barrel started.
The Weatherby in question had a Prince-of-Wales stock on it, a really nice one. I wanted it for a field gun. Crying shame they wrecked it with a Gra-Coil.
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oletymer
Member
The guy said for skeet not a field gun. Go to a large skeet, sporting or trap shoot and look around. You will see many shooters with recoil reducers on the stock. They reduce wear and tear on the body from high volume shooting. I would not put one on a field gun either but for high volume clays shooting absoulutly.
TomADC
Member
I have an old Charles Daly made by BC Miruko 20 ga O/U skeet gun must have better than 10,000 rounds thru it over the years I still use it.
I also have a Beretta 20 ga 390 sporting silver mallard I've shoot both skeet and sporting clays with not a lot of rounds thru it and it could be had if one was interested.
I also have a Beretta 20 ga 390 sporting silver mallard I've shoot both skeet and sporting clays with not a lot of rounds thru it and it could be had if one was interested.
Trap, yes. The others, not so much. There are other ways to tame recoil a bit, and frankly, if you need a Gra-Coil for skeet, you either have a medical problem, or you're shooting WAY too heavy of a load for a discipline with clays so close that a Cylinder choke will break every one of them just fine.
Remember, though, I wrote that this was a Prince-of-Wales grip. You won't find ANY PoW grips at any of said shoots. It WAS a field gun, and a damn nice one.
single stack
Member
ArmedBear,
It looks like Beagle-zebub's got your number.
The OP wants to reduce recoil.
I'm glad you are unaffected.
single stack
It looks like Beagle-zebub's got your number.
The OP wants to reduce recoil.
I'm glad you are unaffected.
single stack
Huh, single stack? That post doesn't make sense to me -- and the OP is concerned about not getting a gun that will have excessive felt recoil, not reducing it in an existing gun.
Seriously, 3/4 oz. @ 1050 fps should work fine for skeet. In a 7.5 lb. gun, that's not going to hurt anyone without an injury or chronic condition -- and a Gra-Coil or anything else to smooth felt recoil won't fix an injury anyway.
Even then, all a Gra-Coil does is keep recoil off your shoulder -- great if you have a shoulder injury, but it does not keep your face from being pounded. Your neck will get more of a beating. It makes a lot more sense to shoot the smallest load that will get the job done effectively, to save your whole body from wear and tear, than it does to shoot too-heavy loads with a shoulder shock absorber.
Chronic neck vertebra pain isn't any better than chronic shoulder pain.
Seriously, 3/4 oz. @ 1050 fps should work fine for skeet. In a 7.5 lb. gun, that's not going to hurt anyone without an injury or chronic condition -- and a Gra-Coil or anything else to smooth felt recoil won't fix an injury anyway.
Even then, all a Gra-Coil does is keep recoil off your shoulder -- great if you have a shoulder injury, but it does not keep your face from being pounded. Your neck will get more of a beating. It makes a lot more sense to shoot the smallest load that will get the job done effectively, to save your whole body from wear and tear, than it does to shoot too-heavy loads with a shoulder shock absorber.
Chronic neck vertebra pain isn't any better than chronic shoulder pain.
I am reading every word.
A 20ga. O/U is what I originally wanted for skeet but most manufactures drop from 7.5lbs on average in 12ga. down to just over 6lbs on the same gun in 20ga.
But if someone hase a heavy 20 O/U they want to get rid of (& is in very good condition) let me know. I'm on;y 5'7" tall so I am looking in at a 14.5" pull. Also 28" or 30" is okay.
A 20ga. O/U is what I originally wanted for skeet but most manufactures drop from 7.5lbs on average in 12ga. down to just over 6lbs on the same gun in 20ga.
But if someone hase a heavy 20 O/U they want to get rid of (& is in very good condition) let me know. I'm on;y 5'7" tall so I am looking in at a 14.5" pull. Also 28" or 30" is okay.
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