Now that quail season is over, I'm back to sniffing around for a good deal on the Perfect Quail Gun.
Note that quail hunting here is in rough high country, choked with brush, lots of climbing, lots of boulders. There's so much cactus that I seldom see any dogs. So it's all about shooting fast and trying to drop the birds, stone dead. Our quail are tough birds, and it takes a few good pellet hits to kill them. #6 shot can be helpful at any range beyond "righchayrinfrunnaya".
I'd love a good fast, light, easy-carrying gun, probably in 20G 26".
Two guns are tempting at the moment.
The Citori Superlight Feather, weighing in at 5 lb. 11 oz.
The 391 Urika, weighing in at 5.9 lb.
Now this season, I used an old plain-barrel 12 Gauge 28" 1100 and when we saw birds, I was pretty successful in dropping them fast and dead. That's an 8 lb. gun, or close to it.
Would it be a mistake to go with such a light gun, when a full-sized 8-pounder seems to work (apart from being a PITA for bushwhacking, climbing, etc.)? Will I miss having a 12 Gauge to drop them dead?
Should I really be looking for a SxS?
Note that quail hunting here is in rough high country, choked with brush, lots of climbing, lots of boulders. There's so much cactus that I seldom see any dogs. So it's all about shooting fast and trying to drop the birds, stone dead. Our quail are tough birds, and it takes a few good pellet hits to kill them. #6 shot can be helpful at any range beyond "righchayrinfrunnaya".
I'd love a good fast, light, easy-carrying gun, probably in 20G 26".
Two guns are tempting at the moment.
The Citori Superlight Feather, weighing in at 5 lb. 11 oz.
The 391 Urika, weighing in at 5.9 lb.
Now this season, I used an old plain-barrel 12 Gauge 28" 1100 and when we saw birds, I was pretty successful in dropping them fast and dead. That's an 8 lb. gun, or close to it.
Would it be a mistake to go with such a light gun, when a full-sized 8-pounder seems to work (apart from being a PITA for bushwhacking, climbing, etc.)? Will I miss having a 12 Gauge to drop them dead?
Should I really be looking for a SxS?