Recommendations on 20 gauge over under

[Tubby’s Canteen]

I don’t know how common they are or how it will last over time but I recently acquired a ruger red label that seems like a decent quality shotgun from a reputable brand.

 

[cajunchefray]

Beretta 686 silver pigeon. I think it’s the best value in that price range.

I really like the Berretta 686 platform . Helped my friend find a DU version 20 gauge for his grandson. Much prefer the ergonomics over the Citori, and the mechanical design.
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[LimbNoMo]

I have a Beretta Silver Pigeon I 20ga. that I was about to post for sale. Two rounds of sporting clays through it. $2075 shipped. Can send pictures.

 

[Woodcarver]

I really like the Berretta 686 platform . Helped my friend find a DU version 20 gauge for his grandson. Much prefer the ergonomics over the Citori, and the mechanical design.
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That is what I've been using since I bought it at the local DU banquet in 2008. More recently I decided to use one of the 28ga bought at the 2009 banquet. Hard to beat the 686 in the field, and I definitely prefer them to the Citori. The other o/u I use the most when I want a 12ga is a Fausti Elegante. I'd like to try one in 20 or 28ga to compare it to the 686.

 

[BeeMaa]

I don’t know how common they are or how it will last over time but I recently acquired a ruger red label that seems like a decent quality shotgun from a reputable brand.

What I’ve commonly heard about the Ruger Red Label is that Ruger did make some very good ones, but it was outweighed by the overwhelming majority that were not.

Definitely not a high volume clay gun.

 

[dougfinn]

Citori 725 Feather Superlight. Its what I use. Nice and light and points very nicely.​

 

[Tango]

You won't go wrong with a Beretta or a Browning. Try shooting them both and see which fits you best. You'll struggle if the dimensions are wrong.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Beretta Model 686
or
Browning Citori
or
Kreighoff K80

 

[Challer]

Zoli Pernice round body, my favorite.

725 is classic

686 is just everywhere, seems to work

 

[Field28]

i have a older 20 ga citori up land special 26" barrels with plain Invicta tubes that fits that need for me. i paid 6oo.oo used from a friend 6-7 years ago. added slip on pad not for recoil, length as i like a long gun.

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Love that straight English!

 

[Field28]

I haven't shot one yet but I did handle a couple of new Franchi o/u's in 20.
Felt great and really nice engraving and detail. I looked at one that had a old school rounded knob on the grip and the other had a straight English stock.

 

[HankBuck]

Zoli Pernice round body, my favorite.

725 is classic

686 is just everywhere, seems to work

@Challer: I like 2 out of your 3 picks, but how did the 725 become “classic”?
and I’m a big fan of Browning (especially Citori’s) but notice a quality drop with the 725’s. The action is same basic Citori action and “proven” but the wood & finish is cheap & “Stoeger-like”…also they have frequent issues with their stocks - cracking, a result of poor selection of inferior walnut or not drying wood properly. I’ve heard they are working on that problem and working with customers with the “cracked/chipped stocks” and hope its corrected soon —-fine gun for the money ($3100-$3600) and the action holds up to 50,000-100,000+ rounds.

 

[Tango]

Beretta Model 686
or
Browning Citori
or
Kreighoff K80

All great choices, just depends what you want to spend. If you're going to lay down some serious money (north of $10K), look at Perazzi MX20's also. The entire gun will be made to your dimensions, choice of barrel length, stock finish, grade of wood, chokes etc. I'd say that and the K80/20 are probably the two finest O/Us produced today (outside of the super rare air English and Italian stuff)

 

[Foxi]

Beretta 686 silver pigeon. I think it’s the best value in that price range.

I've also had them for decades.
Shot countless with it.
20/70 is enough.
However, variable chokes are important (for me), as I shoot everything with this shotgun.
Goose or quail, each requires a different medication
Average 28 gram load compared to 32 grams in a 12/70.
There is no noticeable difference.
You have to be on it.

My 12/70 has led a shadowy existence ever since

our 20/70 result of the morningdawn in autumn.
For geese I use 3,25-3,4 mm
For pheasants 3mm
Important for me are 76 cm barrels, not 71 cm (think these are the standards by Beretta)
Long barrells swing much better.

 

[HankBuck]

All great choices, just depends what you want to spend. If you're going to lay down some serious money (north of $10K), look at Perazzi MX20's also. The entire gun will be made to your dimensions, choice of barrel length, stock finish, grade of wood, chokes etc. I'd say that and the K80/20 are probably the two finest O/Us produced today (outside of the super rare air English and Italian stuff)

@Hunter-Habib @Tango - well, it’s clear that I can never go “shopping” with you guys….the OP stated he wanted something that could “take a beating” and get “knocked around in the Side x Side” and while he didn’t list a price range —for Me that would eliminate guns over $10,000 (I guess I can’t afford to play in this SandBox).

 

[Hunter-Habib]

@Hunter-Habib @Tango - well, it’s clear that I can never go “shopping” with you guys….the OP stated he wanted something that could “take a beating” and get “knocked around in the Side x Side” and while he didn’t list a price range —for Me that would eliminate guns over $10,000 (I guess I can’t afford to play in this SandBox).

Sometimes, I miss my teenage years @HankBuck
When I was studying Environmental Science in the University of London in 1965, I used to visit local gun shops during my free time (sometimes with my dad when he & my mum used to come to visit me from East Pakistan).

You could get the best English made Webley & Scott Model 700 side by side boxlock ejectors or the best English made B.S.A (Birmingham Small Arms) Majestic rifles for such little money at almost every shop. £132 for the shotguns and a few pounds less for the rifles (I don’t recall the exact price of those since I was predominantly into wing shooting back in those days).

How times change…

 

[HankBuck]

Sometimes, I miss my teenage years @HankBuck
When I was studying Environmental Science in the University of London in 1965, I used to visit local gun shops during my free time (sometimes with my dad when he & my mother used to come to visit me from East Pakistan).

You could get the best English made Webley & Scott Model 700 side by side boxlock ejectors or the best English made B.S.A (Birmingham Small Arms) Majestic rifles for such little money at almost every shop.

How times change…

@Hunter-Habib - we must both be getting “Old” because for Me, prices on some items seem stuck-in-1970. I was shooting Sporting Clays a month ago and there was a guy in his 20’s shooting in our squad, he had a Browning 425 and was a very good shooter. I commented on his gun and said “I have the same - how do you like it?”. He said he “hated it, had it 3 years, stock cracked, worst $3000 he ever spent etc..”. I locked in on the “$3000” and said ”mine only cost $2200 - New in 2004”. This kid then replied very kindly “Sir, you do realize that was 20 years ago?”….that’s when I felt OLD.