In the market for a new shotgun-looking for suggestions!

B

B. Miller

New member
After buying two handguns (SW Model 60 Pro and FN FNS9) within the last 18 months I am looking to buy a shotgun. I'm getting into small game and really want a side my side, preferably with 16-28 gauge. I talked to my one teacher who I know is a huge bird hunter and he suggested a Bill Hanus Birdgun. Is anyone familiar with this or know where to get one? From what I gathered on his website he is no longer with us and thus no longer offering guns. Any suggestions for a gun that fits this description would be greatly appreciated. Please keep the cost as low as possible without sacrificing too much (around $700 if that's possible?).

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. I'll try to check this as frequently as possible, but if you really want to get my attention feel free to PM me.

Thanks everyone!
 
I haven't been a serious shotgun buyer in a few years but I can assure you, there are very few SXS guns that will be worth having in the $700 range if you are talking about a new gun.

Many of the lower price range guns these days are made in Turkey and that is not a bad thing. Turkey has been making entry level guns for a long time and has plenty of practice doing it. Your best bet for a gun in your price range appears to be the CZ Ringneck series. They are a decent looking gun and not as clubby as many entry level SxS guns tend to be. I have handled a few but have no experience shooting them.

The used gun market will provide you many more options. "Guild Guns" can be wonderful guns for the money. I have owned a couple that were real gems. Older guns do require special attention to ammunition however. Some older 16ga guns, for instance, are chambered for the 2 5/8" shell. Pay attention to the little things. If non-toxic shot is required for the game you want to hunt, a classic gun will require some very expensive fodder. A diet of Bismuth shot ain't cheap!
 
The term 'bird hunting' can cover several areas, some light with a lot of walking, others in a blind.

Rather than dodge the question here is my specific vote. A slightly used Browning Citori, 3" chamber, 26" barrel, probably in 12 ga. I'd make it a 'Lightning Feather' if able for walking. If not a standard is O.K.. The buying rush has been on handguns & tacti-cool, that sub $1000 Citori is still out there, saw a few myself recently.
 
Thanks for the responses!

Originally Posted By: RonO.I haven't been a serious shotgun buyer in a few years but I can assure you, there are very few SXS guns that will be worth having in the $700 range if you are talking about a new gun.

Many of the lower price range guns these days are made in Turkey and that is not a bad thing. Turkey has been making entry level guns for a long time and has plenty of practice doing it. Your best bet for a gun in your price range appears to be the CZ Ringneck series. They are a decent looking gun and not as clubby as many entry level SxS guns tend to be. I have handled a few but have no experience shooting them.

The used gun market will provide you many more options. "Guild Guns" can be wonderful guns for the money. I have owned a couple that were real gems. Older guns do require special attention to ammunition however. Some older 16ga guns, for instance, are chambered for the 2 5/8" shell. Pay attention to the little things. If non-toxic shot is required for the game you want to hunt, a classic gun will require some very expensive fodder. A diet of Bismuth shot ain't cheap!

I'm very willing to buy a used gun! I've heard good things about CZ guns in general, and their guns were one of the few I found in my price range. I'll have to look into the laws to see what shot is legal.

Originally Posted By: muskrat30 The term 'bird hunting' can cover several areas, some light with a lot of walking, others in a blind.

Rather than dodge the question here is my specific vote. A slightly used Browning Citori, 3" chamber, 26" barrel, probably in 12 ga. I'd make it a 'Lightning Feather' if able for walking. If not a standard is O.K.. The buying rush has been on handguns & tacti-cool, that sub $1000 Citori is still out there, saw a few myself recently.

I would do the walking style, not just bird hunting, but preferably small game. Thanks for the suggestions. I'll look into them.
 
Stay away from the 16 gauge. Good Ammo is getting hard to find. I like the 20 gauge myself. I bought one of those Remingtons that were imported from Russia. The seller let me shoot it first. The barrels were regulated well. Meaning they shot to the same point. I have seen some used SXS shoot 3 feet from the point of aim on one of the barrels. That must be why they are for sale. Mine came with 3 chokes, but only had extractors instead ejectors. Pain in the butt, but for $200, who can complain. An over and under is a better choice in my opinion. Not as cooooool as a SXS, but easier to shoot.

Tom
 
Originally Posted By: MGYSGTStay away from the 16 gauge. Good Ammo is getting hard to find. I like the 20 gauge myself. I bought one of those Remingtons that were imported from Russia. The seller let me shoot it first. The barrels were regulated well. Meaning they shot to the same point. I have seen some used SXS shoot 3 feet from the point of aim on one of the barrels. That must be why they are for sale. Mine came with 3 chokes, but only had extractors instead ejectors. Pain in the butt, but for $200, who can complain. An over and under is a better choice in my opinion. Not as cooooool as a SXS, but easier to shoot.

Tom

I suppose I would consider an O/U, but i'm alllllll about the cool factor (just kidding)

I will have to start paying attention to the shotgun ammo i'm seeing on the shelves around here..
 
I hunt birds alot, in fact I can walk to my duck blind from the house. I've shot trap and skeet for many years, and gunned for spanial hunt test. I like SxS's and have a couple of very nice lightweight continental guns. A couple of years ago I purchased a CZ Bobwhite 20ga for hunting ducks out here on the salt marshes and to pack along for high volume steel shot shooting(I'm not going to shoot doves or feral pigeons with bismuth).

I love the little CZ, it will never replace my other guns on grouse, woodcock, pheasant or sharptails.

If I were looking for an entry level SxS I'd look for a double trigger gun, most of the serious problems in SxS's involve single triggers and they can be very hard to fix. If you only have one it is nice to have choke tubes, you can hunt woodcock in the alder thickets on one day and pheasants on crop land the next and still be set up well.

Non toxic shot is coming to the upland fields, it might be a while off in some places but it is creeping in. SD public lands require Non-toxic, WPA in MT require it for upland hunting, WA pheasant release sights require it that is just a few offhand. Even handloaded soft non-toxic shells are close to $1.50-$2.00/round. So I'd look for a modern gun that will handle steel.

Have a good hunt
 
Originally Posted By: AWSI hunt birds alot, in fact I can walk to my duck blind from the house. I've shot trap and skeet for many years, and gunned for spanial hunt test. I like SxS's and have a couple of very nice lightweight continental guns. A couple of years ago I purchased a CZ Bobwhite 20ga for hunting ducks out here on the salt marshes and to pack along for high volume steel shot shooting(I'm not going to shoot doves or feral pigeons with bismuth).

I love the little CZ, it will never replace my other guns on grouse, woodcock, pheasant or sharptails.

If I were looking for an entry level SxS I'd look for a double trigger gun, most of the serious problems in SxS's involve single triggers and they can be very hard to fix. If you only have one it is nice to have choke tubes, you can hunt woodcock in the alder thickets on one day and pheasants on crop land the next and still be set up well.

Non toxic shot is coming to the upland fields, it might be a while off in some places but it is creeping in. SD public lands require Non-toxic, WPA in MT require it for upland hunting, WA pheasant release sights require it that is just a few offhand. Even handloaded soft non-toxic shells are close to $1.50-$2.00/round. So I'd look for a modern gun that will handle steel.

Have a good hunt

Thanks for the info. Do you have any specific suggestions that meet your recommendations?
 
Ammo shouldn't be too big of a deal, you can always just order it and have it delivered right to your house. I just bought a 16ga and have two cases on order at Cabelas and they have free shipping for in store pickup. B&P shotshells have free shipping right to your home, I order my 2 1/2" 12ga shells from them. If you stick with a 12ga or 20ga Walmart can keep you shooting just about anywhere.

Just another thought handle 12s and 20s, a steel safe 12ga can get pretty clubby when you have those two big barrels SxS.
 
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I like the CZ Bobwhite, it looks like a classic game gun and handles pretty nice. I'm fairly short so 26" barrels work fine for me(I have to shorten the LOP to 13") but the 28" is nice for most folks. I like the 20ga as they feel livelier to me and and from 7/8oz lead to 1 1/4oz #2 Hevi-shot you have everything covered from quail to geese.

If I were looking at a 12ga I'd take a serious look at the CZ Mallard O/U with double triggers.

Once you get used to double triggers you'll never want to deal with a selector switch again at least I don't. I've sold off all my single trigger guns except a couple of O/U that have sentimental value.
 
Well I love the 16 ga shells aren't to hard 2 find I always keep a case or 2 on hand , but for the money ur gonna or want to spend and I relize u want a side by side , but over and under is my choice , Look at the Stoger o/u or the Stevens they shoot pretty well I have a Stoger and Ive shot lots of clay birds and dove with it ,
 
Originally Posted By: AWSI like the CZ Bobwhite, it looks like a classic game gun and handles pretty nice. I'm fairly short so 26" barrels work fine for me(I have to shorten the LOP to 13") but the 28" is nice for most folks. I like the 20ga as they feel livelier to me and and from 7/8oz lead to 1 1/4oz #2 Hevi-shot you have everything covered from quail to geese.

If I were looking at a 12ga I'd take a serious look at the CZ Mallard O/U with double triggers.

Once you get used to double triggers you'll never want to deal with a selector switch again at least I don't. I've sold off all my single trigger guns except a couple of O/U that have sentimental value.

I'm just under 6', so I guess the 28" will work!

I'll have to shop around for a good price because Buds has them going in the $900s. It'll be a month or two before I plan to buy anything so hopefully the prices deflate a little.

Will that gun handle steel?
 
Yes. Steel's not a problem.
Might check Whittakers. I'm not sure about shotguns but they stock more CZ rifles than any place that I'm aware of.
They usually beat Bud price wise too.
Luck
 
I've had the cz bobwhite... Its ok other than the 13 and 9lb trigger pulls.

In general an 0/U with a pistol grip is going to be easier for the average person to master. The cz mallard is 500 with double triggers. Better yet, a used savage milano or verona 501 single trigger. they go from 450-800... They are far superior to a cz. they are produced by FAIR.

20 gauge is the way to go. You can reload down to 28 gauge loads or exceed the 16 ga with 3" loads. Ammo is cheap and plentiful.


IMHO if you want to kill birds and small game you will be served just as well or better with a semi auto. Look at a franchi affinity or franchi 48 in 20 ga. I prefer repeaters for hunting. The o/u are good at the range so you always know it is safe when open.

 
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You can keep those jamming auto's (and yes they ALL jam eventually) and rattling pumps.
I'll take a double trigger break action "in the field" every time.
 
Sometimes it's not just about the killing. If I had the choose of sitting at the end of a corn field and blasting pheasants to fill everyones limit with 5 shots in my auto or spending the day working some nice cover with a good dog and a fine lightweight double taking one bird at a time, maybe two(it happens often) it would be the double and the dog everytime.
 
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Originally Posted By: RePeteYou can keep those jamming auto's (and yes they ALL jam eventually) and rattling pumps.
I'll take a double trigger break action "in the field" every time.

No rattling pumps here, and no jamming autos, either...Except
I own 5 autos. I also own a nice Citori White Lighting 20 ga.
and a nice Ruger Red Label(White Nitrite style with gorgeous
wood) in 28 ga. While I like carrying the O/Us afield, for
an afternoon, over a good dog, where a bird or two in the bag
is a bonus, the autos go hunting if I need to bag birds. If
autos jam, 99% of the time it is due to owner abuse. Clean
the darn things! But I understand the OPs preference for
old style guns. Me personally, if I was just starting to get
into shotguns, I would look for a nice reliable semi-auto
first. If one warms to the scatter gun, there will be plenty
of time to wax nostalgic, with a two holer purchase.

Squeeze
 
Originally Posted By: AWSSometimes it's not just about the killing. If I had the choose of sitting at the end of a corn field and blasting pheasants to fill everyones limit with 5 shots in my auto or spending the day working some nice cover with a good dog and a fine lightweight double taking one bird at a time, maybe two(it happens often) it would be the double and the dog everytime.

Well said.
I just had the same conversation with a guy on another site who insisted you need an auto to hunt Dove even though they're migratory birds so you're restricted to three shells and the limits ten.
He insisted that it takes to much time to open the gun every ten seconds in a Dove field.
Course he was from Cali where quantity trumps quality so there was no point in continuing. Kinda like this thread.
 
Originally Posted By: Squeeze Me personally, if I was just starting to get
into shotguns, I would look for a nice reliable semi-auto
first. If one warms to the scatter gun, there will be plenty
of time to wax nostalgic, with a two holer purchase.

Squeeze

I don't know about that. I broke in with a "two holer" and look how well I turned out.
laugh.gif
 
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