Fellow upland hunters, which shotgun?

[NDguy]

I am looking at possibly purchasing a new shotgun for upland. I currently have a 12 ga. SX3 which works great just a tad heavy. I looked at the Montefeltro and Ultralight and both look and feel awesome. I am a lefty so that is making me lean towards the Monte. Those who have one or both how do you like them?

Any others I should be looking at? I want the price under $1,500. I am open to over and unders as well. Mostly hunting pheasants, grouse, and partridge in ND.

Thanks!

 

[BrettKoenecke]

Can't help much with left hand guns. Would encourage you to look at O/U's but even then the cast of the stock might be an issue. Thankfully you can try them on for size and sell them if they don't work for you.

 

[JimP]

I personally like my Ruger Red Label 20ga over under..

However they are a little hard to find anymore.

Just go down to the shotgun store and start looking and checking them for fit. It doesn't have to be a $5000 shotgun but one that works. Stroger makes some side by sides that are real easy on the budget.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

As I have gotten old, I have leaned more and more on my 20 ga's. I have both sxs & o/us and like them both. I don't use any of mine for waterfowl so I don't have to have one set up for steel shot. The Red Label Rugers are great guns, but stock fit on mine was a little problematic as I like a straighter stock. I ended up redoing the stock by adding a piece of walnut to the comb to give it less drop. My son now has it. I shoot a Spanish made Zephyr Upland King that is a great gun. Chambered for 3" and is a side lock with engraving and beautiful wood. I also have a Browning Superposed 20 o/u.

I do have a Charles Daly Superior Grade O/U 20 GA FOR SALE . Looks exactly like a Browning and has great wood. If you are interested PM me.

 

[AKaviator]

I have a CZ Redhead 20ga. O/U that I bought for about $600. Certainly it's nothing fancy but I'm very happy with it. You couldn't go wrong with the Montefeltro either!

 

[NDguy]

I am definitely leaning towards an older Benelli M1 in wood or the Monte in 12 ga.

 

[JFox]

I am definitely leaning towards an older Benelli M1 in wood or the Monte in 12 ga.

If you do go with a benelli (which I highly recommend, I've shot the same benelli for 13 years now and it has never failed to perform), and you go with an M1, M2 or any of the SBE family, check out Rob Roberts custom gunworks. They specialize in tailoring benelli shotguns to whatever the shooter is using it for, most often 3 gun comp but they do great work on some upland and waterfowl pieces that I've seen. Especially if you go with an M1, you'd be able to save some money on the up front cost that you could invest in some customization for upland work.

 

[minn elk chaser]

I have a Browning Gold Trigger that is light and has worked just fine.

 

[Rich M]

I have an ithaca sxs. That sxs is great, light, mounts smoothly and is an effortless gun for me to carry and shoot.

Had a Ruger Red Label All Weather years ago that I wish I still had.

I would say to go handle some guns. sxs and o/u are the way to go if you are shooting targets or upland birds.

 

[Fish]

Beware of buying a SxS. Most decent guns may have some cast off and will not be right for a left handed shooter.

I shoot only SXS here in WA but I don't duck hunt and shoot close over my Brittany for upland birds

I have a Bill Hanus AyA 20ga straight stock and DT's 2. A 1930 16ga check SxS, basically a guild gun. I had to have the stock bent and the chokes opened but killed tons of birds with it and lastly an English Midland 12gs SxS. All are light and are double triggered guns but once you get use to them you can pick the barrel you need to shoot with out thinking

 

[quicknick]

Love my montefeltro.