Mountain Shotgun?

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westernrover

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I can't hunt quail like Dick Cheney with several people walking through the grass and dogs flushing the birds. I hunt alone. Where I am, it's all steep mountains and canyons. I drive a 4x4 down the trail until I see or hear a small covey in some brush. My dog doesn't care about birds and dislikes gunfire so he'll probably stay in the truck until I've finished firing. I'll approach the covey on foot and hope to shoot a couple of birds before the covey moves out of reach. I'll be walking on steep hillsides through thick brush with a lot of rocks and boulders.

So while Dick, hunting in open fields, would almost certainly choose something more similar to a trap gun, I have some doubts it would work best for me. In the mountains, would it be better to have a forward balanced gun or gun that balances more to the rear? Which would be easier to hold with one hand while traversing brush and rocks or just a deep ditch on the side of the trail? What would be easier to get onto a covey that flushed by their choice instead of a dog's?

Am I right in thinking a farther rearward balance would be better? What kind of gun would do this best? It seems like most guns these days have heavy profile barrels, interchangeable chokes, and lightweight stocks.

Should I be looking at single-shots? O/U's? SxS? Pump? Semi? I haven't hunted with a shotgun for over 20 years, so I don't have any recent experience to base a preference on. I might prefer a gun that doesn't eject so I don't have to scrounge on the ground for my empties. I'll probably prefer 20 ga. I have a slightly longer length of pull than average. It could be new or used. Any suggestions?
 
If you're trying to get back into the game and want a lighter weight shotgun that a) won't break the bank and b) you won't make you cry too much if you stumble in a canyon and ding up the stock really good, you could try a Legacy Sports Pointer 20 ga. They're certainly not as refined or bank vault solid as a Citori / Beretta / Athena or similar high-end O/U, but they're fairly lightweight, come with 5 choke tubes and are priced about 1/3 to 1/4 the price of a fancier gun. (Years ago I bought a Baikal 20 O/U for this exact reason.) If you find you like it you 'll have a good knock-arounder to chase those little devils around with... and after a few trips to the boonies if you find you don't like hunting again you're not going to take a huge equity hit trying to sell off a field-used higher-end shotgun.

Just a thought...:)

Good luck and stay safe.
 
For what you describe, a used Remington 1100 in 20 gauge comes to mind. If you have fancier taste, Yildiz makes a side-by-side which extracts instead of ejecting. My memory refuses to tell me if it is the model with a single trigger and sling swivels, the darn faculty got damaged last year. They come in basic form to exaggeratedly engraved with fine wood models. Either way, I personally prefer a long gun which balances close to center, just in front of the trigger guard (with the sling attached) when comes the time to carry it in my hand. That way, the muzzle points ever so slightly to the ground, a safe place where to point a gun.
 
26" 20 gauge LW 870 wingmaster would be a deal. Choke choice apropos to the day. Plus its a solid gun that you'll always be proud to own and carry.
 
A bottom ejecting pump like the Ithaca 37 is another option if you don’t want to toss hulls everywhere. I’ve got an older 20 ga one that is a nice light walking gun.
I avoided the 1100 LT-20 suggestion for the ejection reason the OP stated, my 1100's all send hulls a-flyin'.

I just bought a used pump Browning BPS Micro 20 ga with the 21" barrel...other than the short LOP this also could be a good choice. I think I got it for roughly $325.00 on GB.

Stay safe.
 
When I hear about mountains and traversing steep terrain with only one hand because the other is needed for handholds I think more of a trim, well balanced and somewhat lightweight pump like an Ithaca 37 than any over an under or semi auto.

Maybe it’s just me.
 
A bottom ejecting pump like the Ithaca 37 is another option if you don’t want to toss hulls everywhere. I’ve got an older 20 ga one that is a nice light walking gun.

With this thought in mind don't forget the Browning BPS. Although a bit heavier they are fine shotguns.
 
A semi-auto sounds like it might be a good choice for you but they can be heavy, and while the 1100 is a good gun in many respects, they are heavy. The old AL-48 referenced above is a nice in the right direction but they aren't as plentiful as they once were. If you can find one and make sure it's in good working order, that's an option. The Benelli Ultra Light is the reigning lightweight sem and is available in 20 and 28 ga,scaled to gauge. I don't normally like a 26" barrel but covering the ground you talk about, weight savings sounds pretty darn important . In that same vein, a Weatherby SA 08 youth model might also do well. It's light and comes with stock spacers to fit an adult.

Good luck!
 
Jeb Stuart will be along any time now and tell you a Stoeger Condor O/U is the best choice for you. Not a bad one if you don't plan on shooting it much, but if you're going to bust coveys, more than two shots would be better. Doc Rock's suggestion of an SA 08 would be an excellent choice. An Ithaca 37 is also good, I used one for grouse for a few years. They are nice and light.
 
Jeb Stuart will be along any time now and tell you a Stoeger Condor O/U is the best choice for you. Not a bad one if you don't plan on shooting it much, but if you're going to bust coveys, more than two shots would be better. Doc Rock's suggestion of an SA 08 would be an excellent choice. An Ithaca 37 is also good, I used one for grouse for a few years. They are nice and light.

Lol, thank you for that one entropy. And yes, it you are going into rough terrain I highly recommend it. However, I do not shoot birds with it, so cannot tell you how that will work out. I have been shooting it all summer and fast shots to different targets has proven itself for my needs which will be for long hauls into swamps and quick shots in thick brush. Mine will be around my shoulder in a sling more than actually carried. But it is light and the 20" barrel is ideal.It has proven itself to be totally reliable. There might be better choices for Grouse, I cannot tell you on that one, other than to listen to folks like entrophy have to say.

PS Headed off right now to get into the swamps for scouting. Alarm just hit 4am, time to be out the door. Good Luck.
 
I like the Franchi AL48 for this. It is so light and handy.

Another choice that only certain circumstances will force me to recommend is the Benelli M1/2. Really light and handy for tough terrain.

If it were me, I would use the gun I have already which is a Browning BPS Micro like @Riomouse911. The short 22” barrel and smaller receiver build make it pretty good (but not ideal) for your situation.
 
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With a sling installed.
I thought to include that, but didn’t.

Growing up we had two Ithaca’s, one of ours had a sling and one didn’t. I more often grabbed the one that had one. I liked it, my brothers didn’t.
 
Except MOST are north of 6#, even north of 7#......................TOO heavy
 
I go into some pretty nasty terrain. (like today). Muddy, swampy horrible stuff. Last year got caught up in a area that took hours to get out of. Could only move a few feet at a time. Fell on my butt a number of times. I also carry the Midland single shot at 4 1/2 lbs with a 18" barrel. It is a God send. And shooting Buckshot will surprise you at how well it groups. Accepts Beretta/Benilli chokes. Now again, I have no idea how rough the terrain he is talking about, or how well he could do with a light weight single shot on Grouse. But it is something to think about. The gun is very sturdy, well built. I have had it full of mud etc. Easy to clean. Comes in a 20ga as well.
I doubt you can get any more light weight as this thing. Simple, rugged. Lightweight.

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Maybe look at finding an ithica ultra featherweight. 20 gauge 25 inch barrel and just about 5 pounds for a pump!

My father in law uses one and certainly loves the light weight. I on the other hand just hit the gym and haul around my almost 9 pound 1100...
 
I also like my 20 ga Benelli Nova. It’s only about 4 oz heavier than the Ithaca and is pretty indestructible plus gives you the option of 3 inch shells for bigger things. It’s my go to early season dove gun with 1 oz of #8 and good for a walkabout gun too, you don’t worry about the finish and it’s easy to clean and has integral sling mounts.
 
If your not looking for fancy you might look at a Stoeger coach gun. I have one in 12 gauge that I have hauled through Michigan swamps and corn fields for over 30 years. Never had a problem. Pretty is as pretty does.

IronHand
 
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