Rabbit 20 gauge

[Rebs Duran]

I need the best 20 gauge rabbit gun without breaking $1000 dollars also a good rabbit load for 20 gauge thanks

 

[kudu]

That's a pretty general request. You can get into a pump, auto loader, or a medium priced SxS or O/U shotgun with a $1000 budget. I usually use a pump gun for brush busting bunny's, nothing too fancy as you stand a good chance of scuffing and scarring up wood in heavy brush. If behind beagles, a light toting SxS or O/U shotgun.

I prefer #5 bird shot, just 7/8oz loads for rabbits, less shot to pick out of the meat, good to about 50 yards with a mod choke.

I have shot a fair number of bunnies with a single shot 20 gauge that cost less than a $100. There is not going to be a best gun for what you plan to do, just an optimum one for your type of hunting.

And welcome to The High Road.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I LOVE the Browning BPS Upland in 20, I think it is an amazing gun for around $600. Short, light, English stock, and has served me very well in the woods/upland. I like it so much I'm tempted to buy a 2nd in case I hit the lottery and have time to wear out the first one. Really, I LOVE that gun and I have many to select from.

However, your preference will vary.

 

[Coltdriver]

I have found shotguns to be just plain strange in how they price out and what you get. There is a ton of stuff under $1000 but it seems to jump right to $2000 from there.

I had a Winchester SX3 in 20 ga that was a great autoloader. I just had such a limited use for a 20 ga that I sold it. It was light and quick and cycled every time.

 

[sappyg]

If I were going after bunnies with a 20 gage I would take the 870 youth express without a 2nd thought. It's Short and light and just the thing for busting that nasty brush you're likely to find yourself surrounded by. Cheap too. If you play the sales right you can be out the door for under 3 bills. They come rough as a Cobb but slick up good with lots of shooting. Most rabbit guns I've seen could be considered a little rough. At least on the outside.

My load would be a Remington 'Nitro Turkey' 3" shell with 5 shot @ 1185 fps because that's what I have. But I wouldn't be too picky about the load as long as the shot was between 4-6.

 

[entropy]

An older 870 Special field would be a great bunny gun, as well as the BPS Upland. My favorite bunny gun was a 16 ga. Stevens 311 I had long ago, and should never have gotten rid of.

 

[mnrivrat]

I own several 20ga guns. Any one of them would work fine for the purpose of taking rabbits. I would probably use my Remington 1100 in 20ga. if I used shotguns on bunnies. Truth is I have never shot a rabbit with anything but a .22 LR. It's more sporting IMO , and you don't have to break a tooth on a piece of shot that way. Rabbit = Good eating , lead shot = poor eating as it adds no flavor and have you seen the cost of a crown these days !!

 

[stringnut]

Not a big shotgun fan, so, my shotguns have always been pretty utilitarian. Remington or Mossberg cheapie are the best for busting through brush. If you don't mind a few battle scars on a nice looking gun anything that you shoot well is a good choice. I have some rifles with decent wood and most have honest battle scars.

I always liked 6 shot for rabbits. 5 shot is a good choice and going to 8s in short shot conditions works well also. Almost always used low brass 2 3/4 as rabbits are easy to stop.

 

[cdb1]

I'd grab my SX3, Affinity or SA-08 20 gauges. I killed the vast majority of my rabbits with a Beretta single shot 20 gauge my uncle brought home to me from Europe in the 60's. I'd get a pump or a semi. If you purchase a SxS or O/U within your budget, you might get one that doesn't have well regulated barrels, unless you go used. I'd get Weatherby SA-08 Synthetic for $500.00 instead of a pump - less recoil, though a Mossberg 500 or 870 Express would work just as well for a little over $300.00.

 

[red rick]

I went through that decision last year and I ended up with a Weatherby SA-08 Deluxe 20 ga. . The only thing that I don't like about it is the LOP is listed as 14" but it is 14 1/4" and that is a little long for me wearing a heavy coat . The first time I pulled the trigger on it I got a rabbit last year . Like cdg1 said you can get the synthetic for around $500 dollars , I paid around $650 for the Deluxe . They are also made in Turkey and come with 3 choke tubes and spacers for adjusting the stock and 2 gas pistons for heavy or light loads . I have the heavy piston in mine and have been using Remington Express Long Range 2 3/4 , 1220 fps , 1 oz. , #6 shot . Weatherby recommends a 100 rd. break-in period with 7/8 oz. 1300 fps loads . I didn't do that and mine has cycled fine , not saying you shouldn't do it though .

 

[cdb1]

We have three SA-08's in the family, none required break-in. Since you have a wood stocked SA-08 have you thought about having the stock cut down? My gunsmith charges $45.00, I've had it done on a rifle and a shotgun and it was worth it for me.

 

[red rick]

Yes I am going to do that . That is one of the reason I bought wood .

 

[cdb1]

Cool Beans.

 

[Steve C]

Rabbits I've killed with a shotgun have been taken incidentally when hunting birds mostly with a 12 ga Winchester Model 12 modified choke and shells with 1 oz 7-1/2 shot hunting quail or 1-1/4 oz #4 or 6 shot hunting pheasant. All loads worked fine but the light 7-1/2 shot used for quail left more BB's to pick out of the meat. Usually when I hunt rabbits for rabbit sake I use a .22 rifle.

Just about any 20ga with a modified would serve you well. Depending upon how far you have to shoot I'd pick 6 or 4 shot loads using the heavier shot for longer distances. Certainly wouldn't pay much more than $500 for a shotgun just to hunt rabbits. A used feather weight Ithica makes for a nice field gun as they are light to carry. A new Mavrick pump will run less than $250 from Buds on line gun shop or Mossberg pump for about $350. As mentioned in Ohen Cepel's post the Browning BPS would also be a good gun but a little high class for just a Bunny gun IMO.

 

[Hookeye]

My favorite was an 870 Special Field, fixed choke (mod).
I suppose I could adapt to a Remchoke version, maybe even a 23" (first versions 21").
They are silly priced nowadays, so proly just get a 26" LW magnum.

 

[buflow]

I have taken many rabbits with a savage mod 24S in 22LR over 20 gage, a sitting bunny gets a 22 head shot, running the 20 with # 6 shot out to 40 - 45 yards. Good for squirrels, grouse, turkey, and has taken several coyote with #3 buck shot. the mod 24's are getting hard to find but are very good for an all around small game gun.

buflow

 

[Sav .250]

Nothing like asking for the answers to the test. You don`t learn a thing! Do some home work on your own.
Gauges.Chokes. Loads. Type of shotgun (pump , double barrel, semi auto , etc.
All the free information you`ll get from posters won`t make you a rabbit hunter.
"with out breaking $1000...." Truth be known , you can get what you want for far less. Just takes some reading to come to that
conclusion.
Good luck on your quest for free knowledge with out the work. J s/n.

 

[bannockburn]

First started rabbit hunting with an old 20 gauge Ithaca Model 37. That gun was so light and easy to bring on target and that pump action was so slick for fast follow-up shots. Haven't hunted rabbits in years but if I were to use a shotgun it would be my Winchester Model 1300 with a 22" vent rib barrel with a Modified choke tube and #6 shotshells.