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Re: Which shotgun action for rabbit and upland?

Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 12:20 pm
by wlewisiii
curtism1234 wrote: I wouldn't be afraid of buying a 16ga, just buy a case of shells at a time. Most of the time the makers just use their 12ga frame for the 16, that is not appealing to me.
One of the reasons I love Ithaca is that my 16 is lighter than my wife's 12. It's a seriously sweet shotty but I can't afford to shoot it much until I get a press.

Re: Which shotgun action for rabbit and upland?

Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 12:27 pm
by JackBurns
This doesn't seem like the popular choice at the moment, but for what is worth I have not touched my 870 express since getting a semi-auto Beretta. I have not had a single failure of any kind yet with it while in the field, and it is lots prettier too.

Re: Which shotgun action for rabbit and upland?

Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 1:16 pm
by curtism1234
JackBurns wrote:This doesn't seem like the popular choice at the moment, but for what is worth I have not touched my 870 express since getting a semi-auto Beretta. I have not had a single failure of any kind yet with it while in the field, and it is lots prettier too.
Is there any special care you give it in the winter time (lubrication wise) or does it cycle fine no matter what?

My 22lr semi-autos are unshootable when the weather is cold.

Re: Which shotgun action for rabbit and upland?

Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 2:08 pm
by eelj
My 22lr semi-autos are unshootable when the weather is cold.
Gun oil. Shoot them dry.

Re: Which shotgun action for rabbit and upland?

Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 2:13 pm
by senorgrand
Move to silicone based lube?

Works for locks.

Re: Which shotgun action for rabbit and upland?

Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 2:18 pm
by edfromnj
I've always used 20ga when upland hunting. I have a Beretta AL-2 and I love it. I bought it used for cheap. I used to use a S&W 1100 20ga in jersey and had no issue in the winter.

I feel like 12ga is a bit much for Rabbits and Quail.

Re: Which shotgun action for rabbit and upland?

Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 2:24 pm
by senorgrand
Maybe a 20g that takes mag shells? Lots of options then.

Re: Which shotgun action for rabbit and upland?

Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 2:31 pm
by wlewisiii
senorgrand wrote:Maybe a 20g that takes mag shells? Lots of options then.
You have to work at it to find a 20 gauge old enough (introduced in 1954) that it doesn't take 3" shells.

Re: Which shotgun action for rabbit and upland?

Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 2:35 pm
by senorgrand
Oops! My Fudd is showing! :oops:

Re: Which shotgun action for rabbit and upland?

Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 2:53 pm
by edfromnj
my AL2 is 2.75 only :o

Re: Which shotgun action for rabbit and upland?

Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 2:59 pm
by senorgrand
Loser. ;)

My scattergun is for clay busting only, so 2.75 is all I need.

Re: Which shotgun action for rabbit and upland?

Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 3:05 pm
by edfromnj
lol! well... it works fine for killing little stuff! it does it's job.

Quail hunting is big here in Florida and using too much gun will make quail puddin!

Re: Which shotgun action for rabbit and upland?

Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 3:08 pm
by senorgrand
Yeah. 20g is a pretty good gauge.

I was going to get one for clays, but the older 20g guns command a stiff premium. My shoulder will heal faster than my wallet. ;)

Re: Which shotgun action for rabbit and upland?

Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 3:13 pm
by edfromnj
I had a nice fiber optic sight on the 1100 and I bagged a few dear with it as a slug gun.

The reduced recoil made shooting a bit easier.

Re: Which shotgun action for rabbit and upland?

Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 4:06 pm
by curtism1234
eelj wrote:
My 22lr semi-autos are unshootable when the weather is cold.
Gun oil. Shoot them dry.
I've tried that too :ras:

I just don't want to buy a semi-auto shotgun and have the same problem since most of the hunting I plan on doing is when temps are in the 20's to 40's. But 22's are certainly more picky than other guns.


As to the 12ga being too much on certain game, that's when I just back off a choke. The 12ga improved is just about the perfect rabbit gun when you're shooting high brass 6's :clap2:

Re: Which shotgun action for rabbit and upland?

Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 5:09 pm
by eelj
You and I hunt in very different environs, when hunting bunnies it will be the snow shoe hare and they are shot stationary at fairly close range. It is best to hunt them with a lot of snow on the ground so you can see the tracks in the snow and then you have to find the shiny black eye in the very dense brush since the turn white in the winter. Where I live we consider 20-40deg moderate not cold unless you forgot the minus when you typed. I've never hunted cotton tails and we only see them in residential areas where I live. I like the fact that you seem to like hunting weapons that are made out of blue steel and wood.

Re: Which shotgun action for rabbit and upland?

Posted: Fri Oct 25, 2013 1:03 pm
by curtism1234
I'm leaning towards the pump. I might go check out the 870 Wingmaster and Ithaca 37 to see how the quaility has changed over the years.

Re: Which shotgun action for rabbit and upland?

Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2014 4:33 pm
by scubachris
I've been shooting my friends' new Browning A-5. One has the model for ducks( camo) and the other has a blue and wood one. Both are wonderful to shoot and they swear by them. They hunt duck in the marshes of Louisiana. The biggest turn off, that I had, was the "wood" felt like cheap plastic. Almost like a plastic found on a toy gun. But boy are they fun to shoot. I am going to evaluate them this duck season.

Re: Which shotgun action for rabbit and upland?

Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2014 11:44 am
by drigeba
This is good problem to have!

I just got a Remington 1100 lightweight 20 gauge. Dove season starts next week so i haven't used it in the field yet. Very sweet shooting gun on the trap range and easy all day carry.

:beer2: :beer2: :beer2:

Re: Which shotgun action for rabbit and upland?

Posted: Fri May 17, 2019 6:45 pm
by MikeRossi
O/U designed for the field, not target shooting. No ejectors, just extractors. Second choice is a SxS. The only other shotgun I would hunt with would be a single shot.

Re: Which shotgun action for rabbit and upland?

Posted: Fri May 17, 2019 8:22 pm
by SailDesign
Add one vote for the side-by-side. In 20-bore suits me best, but others like a bigger bang. :)

Re: Which shotgun action for rabbit and upland?

Posted: Fri May 17, 2019 10:02 pm
by max129
I voted or O/U but my real choice is a side by side. I just shoot better with that format.

And +1 for the .20 ga. I shoot better with 20 ga.