Compact 20 ga

ExAgoradzo

ExAgoradzo

Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2011
Messages
1,531
Location
SW Idaho
I am in need of a compact 20ga.
I plan to start my daughter shoot shotguns next year. We have some quail around here that are in need of frying. I have looked at a few online but they are unicorns around here in So Idahome.

1. Does anyone have experience with such an animal?
2. I’m thinking any of the sub$1000 models are pretty much equivalent?
3. Would it be worth it (she’s a small girl, I’m concerned about recoil) to put down extra cash to get a semi auto (if so, which do you recommend)?
4. I have an 870 20 gauge. I have found shortened stocks, I could even buy one and shorten it myself, but finding a shorter barrel is also like finding Sasquatch (who is an Idahoan, if you didn’t know)… What do you think of that idea?
5. I’m not terribly interested in some of the light weight single shots, but if that is the consensus I might go that way…I, after all, started with a SxS 12…

Thank you in advance,
Greg
 
I would go with a youth 20 G, an over under is better than a single shot for recoil. A light youth 20 would be ok in any action. My grandson shots a Mossberg pump. An auto recoils less but you may have to cut one down.
 
ExAgoradzo said:
I am in need of a compact 20ga.
I plan to start my daughter shoot shotguns next year. We have some quail around here that are in need of frying. I have looked at a few online but they are unicorns around here in So Idahome.

1. Does anyone have experience with such an animal?
2. I’m thinking any of the sub$1000 models are pretty much equivalent?
3. Would it be worth it (she’s a small girl, I’m concerned about recoil) to put down extra cash to get a semi auto (if so, which do you recommend)?
4. I have an 870 20 gauge. I have found shortened stocks, I could even buy one and shorten it myself, but finding a shorter barrel is also like finding Sasquatch (who is an Idahoan, if you didn’t know)… What do you think of that idea?
5. I’m not terribly interested in some of the light weight single shots, but if that is the consensus I might go that way…I, after all, started with a SxS 12…

Thank you in advance,
Greg
Click to expand...
If you get an autoloader be SURE to have her use it single shot as she's learning. Even the smartest and best kids get excited and forget to put the safety back on after a shot, and accidents that are life altering happen.

I started my grandson on a 20ga, a vintage Savage 220 single shot, not the new Savage 220. Fiocchi low recoil 20ga ammo is your friend. Even in a light single shot gun it's not intimidating. Having only one shot makes for competent young shooters. They don't learn "spray and pray".

My dad had the wisdom to start me that way, and often the old ways were best. ;)

WIUZ8D4.jpg

Wild NV chukar:
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Savage (Mossberg) makes or made a youth 20ga pump. We have at least 3 or 4 of them in our family and have not heard of any issues. They are inexpensive so if they get damaged as can happen with kids it's not an issue.
 
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Look around and see if you can find a Remington 1100 LT. I have one that I bought in the 1980s. I was doing a lot of bird hunting then and used a SXS in 20 g. but I carried the 1100 as a back up and a loaner. They have a very short LOP. I would post a picture, but my sister has it as a home defense gun. The Remington 1100 is a soft shooting shotgun.
 
Cannot more highly recommend the Weatherby SA-08 compact 20. Turkish made but a very nice gas gun, pleasant to shoot for one and all, and Weatherby’s excellent customer service - as yet unnecessary after 10 years. My son was shooting heavy goose loads at 12 and found it not too unpleasant. With target loads, it’s a treat. 24” barrel 12 1/2 LOP. Put a slip on recoil pad in a few years if she needs another 1”.
 
ExAgoradzo said:
I am in need of a compact 20ga.
I plan to start my daughter shoot shotguns next year. We have some quail around here that are in need of frying. I have looked at a few online but they are unicorns around here in So Idahome.

1. Does anyone have experience with such an animal?
2. I’m thinking any of the sub$1000 models are pretty much equivalent?
3. Would it be worth it (she’s a small girl, I’m concerned about recoil) to put down extra cash to get a semi auto (if so, which do you recommend)?
4. I have an 870 20 gauge. I have found shortened stocks, I could even buy one and shorten it myself, but finding a shorter barrel is also like finding Sasquatch (who is an Idahoan, if you didn’t know)… What do you think of that idea?
5. I’m not terribly interested in some of the light weight single shots, but if that is the consensus I might go that way…I, after all, started with a SxS 12…

Thank you in advance,
Greg
Click to expand...
I have a Franchi Affinity youth 20 gauge. Great little gun. I also bought a full size stock to change over when my kids got older.
 
I'd recommend a gas gun if you get an autoloader. IME the inertia guns are very light and they pop you pretty good even though they're semi. However, a long-recoil action like the Franchi 48AL if you can find one is good. Remington light 20 if you can find one, but it'll be pricey probably.
The weatherby SA-08 mentioned is a good choice also.
 
About a year ago I was looking for a Benelli M2 in 20 ga, but I specifically wanted a 24" barrel. I had a local gunshop order one and was told 4-6 weeks. After 8 weeks was told it was on a ship somewhere between Italy and the USA with no idea when it would get to the store, so I cancelled the order.

A few weeks later I found this on the used rack at Cabelas for $350. The Benelli would have been $1350. It is made in Turkey with Weatherby's name on it. I took a chance on it and have been pleased with it. I figured Weatherby wouldn't put their name on junk.


weatherby.com

SA-08™ Synthetic Compact - Weatherby, Inc.

Hey, not everyone is 6-feet-plus and 200 pounds. For hunters on the smaller scale, I’m ready for gas-operated action with a more compact stock and a fast-swinging 24” barrel.
weatherby.com weatherby.com

It isn't as high tech as more modern guns. It will shoot any 2 3/4" or 3" 20 ga shell, but not interchangeably. It comes with 2 pistons to use on the internal mag tube. One is for heavy loads, the other for light loads. With the loads I use 90% of the time I just leave the piston in for heavy loads.
 
Roverguy said:
Cannot more highly recommend the Weatherby SA-08 compact 20. Turkish made but a very nice gas gun, pleasant to shoot for one and all, and Weatherby’s excellent customer service - as yet unnecessary after 10 years. My son was shooting heavy goose loads at 12 and found it not too unpleasant. With target loads, it’s a treat. 24” barrel 12 1/2 LOP. Put a slip on recoil pad in a few years if she needs another 1”.
Click to expand...
My grandson and I both have the 20ga full size versions, and he got himself one in 12ga. They shoot soft, aren't expensive used, and none have missed a lick.

0svJWQe.jpg

YUBs7NM.jpg
 
My first shotgun was a Browning BPS micro. 13” LOP and 22” barrel. Among Browning pump guns, the only two that had short barrels were the Micros and the Upland Specials with straight grip stocks.

I have since bought a full size stock and a full size Upland Special stock. I have also bought a 22” smoothbore slug barrel and 22” rifles cantilever scope mount barrel for it. I love the 22” barrel even in adult configuration. Untold hundreds of rabbits, squirrels, deer, pheasant, crows, doves, quail, and hogs have fell to that gun.
 
As mentioned above...

Mossberg has the 'Bantam' version 500 in 20 gauge. Made for smaller stature hunters. I've handled them. Balance pretty nicely and with the wood and gold trigger actually look kind of classy. Think length of Pull is 13 or 13.5.

Black sheep entry: Charles Daly Field semi auto in 20 gauge. Used to be sold through Walmart (I think). Made by KBI/KGI ?? in Turkey. I mention it because it has to be the lightest 20 gauge auto I've ever held. Comes in synthetic stocked version and screw in tubes. Been my on and off again Ruffed Grouse gun (alternates with a Browning BPS 20 gauge Upland Special) for years due to the light weight and 3,000 vertical feet I traverse to get to the spots I hunt. Length of pull is right at 14. That could prob be trimmed.

Never failed to cycle anything I put in it. No problems so far (but it also has a low round count since it's only pressed into service while hunting grouse). Should be able to pick one up on secondary market cheap via a pawn shop or internet gun site as they weren't high dollar guns to begin with.

Charles Daly in pic

R15FbaS.jpg
 
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I’m going to be addressing the LOP problem on a old Remington 20ga soon. I have a extra stock from another build that I’ll be cutting down and adding a Graco adjustable but plate for my wife, daughter and maybe youth trap kids. Not sure what recoil pad yet? This could be a option if you feel crafty.
 

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You could watch gunbroker for an 1100 20ga
A sleeper would be a Remington sportsman 48. A very nice little upland gun...light and I thought easy shooting....it is inertia driven.
I learned to hunt with a little LC smith 20ga sxs.
 
I bought my wife an 870 20g youth years ago used. She still hasn’t shot it. My son shot it quite a bit the other day shooting. Shot over a box of bird loads through it. One after another till I made him stop. That was his first time shooting a shotgun.

I gave him mounting and handling instruction and how to load it and he went to town.

He’s 15, about 5,9 and about 140. Not a huge guy, but handled it well.

If you were local I’d let you guys rip a box through it. IMG_0661.jpeg
This was at full recoil.
 
And also, with a Hastings IC choke it shoots 2 3/4 Remington 7/8 oz sluggers into 1 hole at 50y.
 
1100 or 870 Special Field 20 gauge
21" or 23" barrels.
No longer made, cult following, prices going silly.

The straight grip some don't like.

Got a professionally cut down 870 20ga SF for the ol lady.
She didn't like it.

So I sold it. Should have gotten a new buttstock and kept for me.
Had one yrs before and loved it.

One of my buy/sell/trade mistakes.........selling my old one, and not keeping the other.
 
Big post deleted......

Shortened up to:

Let her try some used rigs at a clays range (if possible).
What they (women) think they want, and what they ultimately decide is OK, may be very different.
Plus most will go through great lengths to avoid letting you say "told ya so".
 
earlthegoat2 said:
My first shotgun was a Browning BPS micro. 13” LOP and 22” barrel. Among Browning pump guns, the only two that had short barrels were the Micros and the Upland Specials with straight grip stocks.

I have since bought a full size stock and a full size Upland Special stock. I have also bought a 22” smoothbore slug barrel and 22” rifles cantilever scope mount barrel for it. I love the 22” barrel even in adult configuration. Untold hundreds of rabbits, squirrels, deer, pheasant, crows, doves, quail, and hogs have fell to that gun.
Click to expand...
I had a non roll marked/engraved receiver BPS Upland Special 20 ga. Nice rig. Full length mag tube so could take a deer barrel.
20 ga had buttplate and not recoil pad. Only complaint (in summer clays shooting).
Another one I proly shoulda kept.

Alas, my english grip 20 ga pump gun hunt (Browning or Remington) is over.
I just said screw it and got a Citori (reg stock though).

Like stated before, the little 20s w straight stocks are coveted by grouse hunters.
If you do find a used one they're usually worn and have studs put in em for a sling.
Clean non studded ones, fetch silly money these days.
 
my upland game shotguns are a browning BSS sporter 20 ga and a browning upland special 20 ga, both light and just about the best small game carrying shotguns to me.
 

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jmr40 said:
About a year ago I was looking for a Benelli M2 in 20 ga, but I specifically wanted a 24" barrel. I had a local gunshop order one and was told 4-6 weeks. After 8 weeks was told it was on a ship somewhere between Italy and the USA with no idea when it would get to the store, so I cancelled the order.

A few weeks later I found this on the used rack at Cabelas for $350. The Benelli would have been $1350. It is made in Turkey with Weatherby's name on it. I took a chance on it and have been pleased with it. I figured Weatherby wouldn't put their name on junk.


weatherby.com

SA-08™ Synthetic Compact - Weatherby, Inc.

Hey, not everyone is 6-feet-plus and 200 pounds. For hunters on the smaller scale, I’m ready for gas-operated action with a more compact stock and a fast-swinging 24” barrel.
weatherby.com weatherby.com

It isn't as high tech as more modern guns. It will shoot any 2 3/4" or 3" 20 ga shell, but not interchangeably. It comes with 2 pistons to use on the internal mag tube. One is for heavy loads, the other for light loads. With the loads I use 90% of the time I just leave the piston in for heavy loads.
Click to expand...
I found we use the light load collar mostly, since we hunt upland. I use high base 2 3/4" loads and moderate field loads, but I also have one or two 3" loads on down. We aren't limited to three shots for upland and take out the plug and have five shots. It's good to have the 3" shells when we bust a bigger covey of chukar. Often stragglers will get up after the first main rise, and they are the birds on the periphery of the main covey out a little bit. Limited shooting with the 3" shells hasn't caused problems, and a Wby rep told me it shouldn't if it's not a steady diet.
 
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