Do all 20 gauge o/u?

[cbmax]

Hi,

I am looking for a 20 gauge o/u that I can use for upland bird hunting as well as some informal skeet and sporting clays. I am pretty set on a 28 inch barrel.

Do you think the Browning Citori Sporting model would make a good choice? Is it too heavy for a field gun? Will the ported barrels be an issue for a field gun?

I recently bought a Browning XT Trap 12 gauge to cover trap shooting.

I am not a fan of round butt stocks so I think the Citori lightning grade IV is out.

Thanks for the help.

Chris

 

[rcmodel]

I can't tell you what to buy, but:

IMO: A ported shotgun barrel is always a bad choice!

You and your bird dog will go deaf hunting, and other nearby clays shooters will shun you.

PS: While I do love Brownings, I would not buy a new one in that price range before checking out the Beretta O&U line-up too.

rc

 

[Dave McCracken]

No fan of ported barrels here, but the Browning field models have only holes in the ends and not in between.

Beretta's White Onyx in 20 gauge or their Featherweight with the alloy receiver should also be considered.

 

[cbmax]

How about the Beretta Silver Pigeon II Sporting, 20 gauge, 28 inch barrel? I know it's a bit more money than the White Onyx, but I will likely have it for a
very long time!

 

[sedona]

Between the 2 you mentioned, I would get the beretta.I am not knocking browning either.I have a few of both.

 

[coonbait]

what about the ruger red lable?

 

[Virginian]

I do not like O/Us period. I don't know that there is a difference in quality, but the Berettas do seem to handle better to me, especially in the smaller gauges.
I have heard of many issues with Red Labels, but I haven't seen any personally.
The guys who own them seem to like them, but a lot of people would never admit they didn't love their broken anvil after they plunked down the money for one.

 

[cbmax]

Virginian,

Why the hate for the O/U? I thought about a semi auto for a while but I ran into issues. A lot of clubs only allow a break open action. Also, I like the ability to have a different choke in the second barrel.

CB

 

[oneounceload]

When it comes to Browning and Beretta - the rule is simple

get the one that FITS

 

[coonbait]

put over 30,000 rounds through my ruger with only one tpip back to the factory after about 5000 rounds, no problems since then.

 

[wgp]

Here is a vote for an SKB. I have one now and have had others, always liked them and found them trouble-free. They have a recoil trigger, not mechanical, and some shooters don't like that but I've never had an issue. You should find them less expensive than Brownings and Berettas and for my money, just as good.

 

[45crittergitter]

I am not a fan of round butt stocks so I think the Citori lightning grade IV is out.

What is a round butt stock?

 

[dprice3844444]

http://search.aol.com/aol/search?query=over/under+20+gauge+shotguns&s_it=keyword_rollover

 

[Pete D.]

do all

Here is a vote for an SKB.

And another.
I have a Weatherby Orion, made by SKB; it is all one could want in a shotgun.
Pete

 

[interlock]

browning v beretta

When it comes to Browning and Beretta - the rule is simple

get the one that FITS

I agree with this fully.

 

[NoAlibi]

Ruger Red Label - I bought one new for $500 when they first came out. Then the 20ga. in blued steel was the only gauge offered and they only had 26" bbls and fixed chokes. Mine was in skeet/skeet and I did my first 25 straight through 100 straight with it and killed many quail and quite a few doves (targets of opportunity - not my firearm of choice for doves).

Funny thing though, I've shot skeet at public ranges (Trail Glades Range, Markham Park In South Florida) many ranges at military bases and a few private ranges, but I've only crossed paths with 3 other 20ga. Red Label shooters. They, like me, had only good things to say about them and had no problems. I know that the opinions of only 4 shooters is anecdotal at best, but at least it's some input.

BTW, now the 20ga. guns are offered in 26" & 28" bbls, blue or SS and with choke tubes. Ruger has great customer service too - I sent my receiver to them to have the automatic safety disabled along with the requested $12 check for s&h. They disabled the automatic safety and returned it to me in a week along with the $12 check I originally sent them.