Home Forums Birds & Dogs Upland Game what shotgun for quail?

What semi auto would you look at for quail-20 gauge prefered.

Most of the guys I know here that shoot semi's shoot Benellis. My son uses a 1100. Both will work if you do your part.

Benelli M2.

I have a Benelli M2 and an 1100 (12s not 20s but at least I'm comparing apples and apples). I shoot them about the same but there's no chance I'm taking the 1100 out after quail because it's so much heavier it's ridiculous, and to me anyway quail hunting means a lot of walking. Actually I think the 20s are even farther apart in weight than the 12s.

The Franchi 48 is another good but light 20.

My son uses the Upland Special 1100 in 20. I would agree that the Benelli has a bit better balance, but there's not a lot of difference in weight. I do think the Benelli, overall, is a better gun.

The new Weatherby SA-08 autoloader in the Upland version is nice and light--and nice-handling as well. Mine has the 26" barrel and weighs 6 pounds on the nose. I shot a bunch of Huns with it this fall here in Montana, as well as some clay birds. Never had a bobble. It's made in Turkey and quite reasonably priced as well.

Dave, I have 2 sets of both 20ga. & 12ga. in Remington model 1100's, voted best semi-auto the last half between 1955---2000.
Prior it was the Browning A-5 shotgun.

Now I have a set of English stock Remingtons (straight grip) and a set of conventional pistol grip Remingtons. I prefer to use my 20ga, more sporting using a Skeet-1 choke over our dogs. This is a step up in chokes for those that don't know ok.
If I used a 12ga it would be Cyl Choke over dogs.

If I use my 20ga O/U shotgun, I use Cyl. & IMP Cyl in second barrel over dogs. In a 12ga O/U I use Cyl & Skeet-1 in my Athena, Weatherby. I hope information helps you and don't forget to pattern you quail load with your shotgun ok.

I have always shot a 1100 20 gauge either a special field with 21 inch barrel or a classic field with 26 inch barrel. This year I hunted the entire year with a franchi 48 in 28 gauge. I could not tell the difference in killing performance between the 20 and 28 gauge all with improved cylinder chokes over english pointers. I like the franchi so much that I have a brand new 11-87 20 gauge special field that I have not even shot yet.
Dink

I acquired a Bennelli Montefeltro 20 ga in 2003. It has given me flawless performance. It is a wonder to carry and shoot. It was an instant switch from a 870 and 11-87 for fit. It is very light and swings very quickly. It is a magic wand on fast breaking mearns quail covies. I have taken many doubles and this year got a triple on the rise.

The chokes on this shotgun shoot tighter than their names would imply. I use a cylinder with 1 oz of #8s for mearns. Use the improved cylinder for everything else. It is amazing how far you can hit a dove with that improved cyl. with #7 1/2s or 8s.

Go old school. Browning Light Twenty.

If you really want to go old school, pick up a gray rat Model 11 (same as an A5, but was cheaper in 1938 when my grandad bought his) in 12 gauge with a 25" cylinder barrel. Hard to tell how many wild quail was killed by Eastern KY hillbillies with this combo.

As for the 28, I've gone to a SKB 785 in 28 ga. for nearly all my quail hunting. It has just enough weight to not be whippy and is just light enough to make carrying a breeze.

The 1187 Remington field gun is heavier than the model 1100 and the 1187 is made sturdier for heavier loads too. I would not want to carry one all day hunting quail. I will save that for my 20ga O/U Wby.

I'd get the New Benelli Legend in 28-gauge... but there aren't (hardly) any in the country yet. I've handled one and it's as quick as greased lightning... weighs all of five pounds.

I would add... in the meantime, my personal favorite is my Beretta Silver Pigeon OU in 20.

Franchi makes an ultralite that might want some consideration

For as much as I loved my 28 ga shotguns, I can't really say they were better than a 20 Ga......and a lot less practical.

The 20 Ga is a very sweet gun to hunt with.

What does practicality have to do with anything?

To me, practicality depends on how the gun fits. I shoot this one 28 better than any 20 that I own. I recently sold a very expensive Zoli Z Expedition 12 ga and went back to my old Browning Superposed because I shot the Browning better.

To elaborate... shotgunning isn't all about practicality -- or no one would shoot a 410, 28, 20 or 16. There's a reason Layne Simpson penned an entire chapter in his book, "Shotguns & Shotgunning," under the heading, "My Love Affair with the 28 Gauge." While the guns have a limited practical range -- say, within 30 yards or so -- they generally pattern very well. They're trim and light, and a joy to tote around all day compared to larger gauge shotguns, and that can translate into more birds in the bag at the end of the day. Don't get me wrong. I own and use all the other gauges, but there's just something special about the 28. Devoted fans need little further justification.

Try putting .410 Lil Skeeters into your 28 and see what you think. The back bore effect is pretty amazing. If I'm shooting preserve birds, I always use this set up and I cleanly and consistently kill game.