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I'm in the market for a new O/U for hunting & trap shooting. I'm a every-other-week trap shooter so it has to be a field gun first for grouse hunting or rare pheasant hunt.
I have a light weight autoloader already so a 7.5# or slightly lighter O/U is the weight range I'm looking at.
12 gauge - 28" or 26" preferred.
Like the idea of mechanical triggers over inertia type.

Models that catch my eye are, but I need to go find some to handle, are:
Browning cynergy field (plain butt pad appeals more to me)
Browning citori - except the inertia triggers
Browning 725 - like the mechanical triggers and inflex recoil pads
Ruger red label - new one. American made, price is great
Don't know which Beretta's to even look at.
Cz's - maybe... not sure on them or potential resale.
Franchi's - same deal as CZ.

Prefer to stay under $2500, ideally under $2000.
Not sure if I should do the "feather" models in Browning, but this is my grouse gun and it will only get heavier with age...

Give me suggestions guys.
Thanks in advance.


Other than that, How was the show Mrs. Lincoln?
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The Brownings are fine but seems everyone has one, my buddy shoots for CZ and cant say enough good things about them. IIRC its not all that heavy and could also be a field gun. I guess we need to know if its a target gun you will hunt with or a hunting gun your gonna shoot targets with, if its targets 1st get 30 inch tubes, if its a field gun get 30 inch tubes.............

Last edited by passport; 08/24/14.

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Originally Posted by passport
The Brownings are fine but seems everyone has one, my buddy shoots for CZ and cant say enough good things about them. IIRC its not all that heavy and could also be a field gun. I guess we need to know if its a target gun you will hunt with or a hunting gun your gonna shoot targets with, if its targets 1st get 20 inch tubes, if its a field gun get 30 inch tubes.............


Its a hunting gun that I will trap shoot with.
Did you mean 28" or 26" when you said 20 inch?


Other than that, How was the show Mrs. Lincoln?
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Of the Browning, I like the 725. Personally, I would buy used and save a bundle. I would either go Browning or Beretta but you might get something else nice used.

I recently looked at a Ruger and it was the biggest piece of loose floppy hard to close crap I have ever held. It was new at Gander Mountain and not near the quality of old Red Labels. It fell open when you levered it and wiggled around in the action and went back easy to the lock but you had to use a knee to completely lock it. They showed it to me as an example of crap.

The CZ's are good guns but feel clunky to me and sometimes you might get one not regulated well.

I would strongly consider a 6 lb 20 ga.

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Originally Posted by humdinger
Originally Posted by passport
The Brownings are fine but seems everyone has one, my buddy shoots for CZ and cant say enough good things about them. IIRC its not all that heavy and could also be a field gun. I guess we need to know if its a target gun you will hunt with or a hunting gun your gonna shoot targets with, if its targets 1st get 20 inch tubes, if its a field gun get 30 inch tubes.............


Its a hunting gun that I will trap shoot with.
Did you mean 28" or 26" when you said 20 inch?


I ment 30, 26 are useless, 28's are ok if you cant get 30's

Last edited by passport; 08/24/14.

It�s a magazine not a clip......

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I love my Cynergy 20...with the 26" tubes. I hate long barrels on any gun, but especially a hunting gun. To each their own.

As for the CZ...they are Turkish. Pretty, but still Turkish.

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Should I check out the new Winchester 101?
Is it just a plain Jane citori?


Other than that, How was the show Mrs. Lincoln?
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It's tough to beat a Browning Citori in that price range. They've been around a long time and have proven durable and reliable. I personally don't believe a trap gun and a field gun are the same animal. Maybe you can break a few trap targets with a field gun, but a steady diet of trap targets with a light field gun isn't much fun and carrying a 9 lb. trap gun in the field doesn't work out too well either. You can buy a used Remington 870 or Browning BT99 and still have plenty left over for a good Citori field gun. A possible compromise would be one of the Browning Sporting Clay models. Take Passports advice on the 30" barrels, unless most of your hunting is grouse and woodcock in heavy cover.

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I looked at a browning 725 sporting clays model and it fit me like a target rifle! I could see hunting with it, but do the barrel porting get real loud like a rifle?

Barrel length... I lean towards 28 as a compromise, but it doesn't seem to matter out grouse hunting because the cover isn't that tight.

Thanks for the input. Keep throwing out options


Other than that, How was the show Mrs. Lincoln?
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Yes, louder than crap but not as loud as a high power rifle. Trust me, look hard at 30 inch tubes. Might seem long now but the OAL is the same as an auto with 28 inch tubes, plus it will make for a much better target gun.

I would like to see your grouse cover, were not all that far away and mine is nasty thick, then again we don't have any birds either. Maybe the cover is too thick! smile


It�s a magazine not a clip......

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passport,
30" is on the radar now and your point about action length is spot on.

In my early years of grouse hunting, I would swing into trees and such, but I've learned to stop where I can swing and be ready to shoot. Our farm was logged 20 years ago so the popple is thinning out so the cover isn't as tight now too. Need to find some more hunting spots.
The only time i've ever cussed a long gun was when I hunted a popple stand where we bulldozed off the popple 3 years earlier and you could only carry the gun vertical and not even swing. It was jungle combat point shooting!

I'm hoping the grouse population is up again. I've taken up duck hunting to fill the voids of the down cycle in grouse hunting. Duck hunting is way more work than grouse, but my duck hunting friend says grouse hunting is way more tiring than duck hunting...


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Duck hunting takes more "stuff" than grouse hunting. I like the ability to grab my dog and a handful of shells and go, no boat, no decoys, no nothing, just Max and I. If there is anything easier I sure don't know what it is. Just wish we had more birds. In any event its time afield with my dog and that does not suck.

A 725 with 30's would be a dam fine do all shooter.


It�s a magazine not a clip......

Advice is seldom welcome, and those who need it the most, like it the least.�
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My grouse hunting is even quicker - game vest and gun! no dog. Kind of wish I had one, but my situation doesn't permit it.

Duck hunting is just to go with my buddy and to experience a different type of hunt.

Alright then - 725 with 30" barrels is on the list.
Any berettas or anything else I need to consider?



Other than that, How was the show Mrs. Lincoln?
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Originally Posted by humdinger
I'm in the market for a new O/U for hunting & trap shooting. I'm a every-other-week trap shooter so it has to be a field gun first for grouse hunting or rare pheasant hunt.
I have a light weight autoloader already so a 7.5# or slightly lighter O/U is the weight range I'm looking at.
Someone else will be looking also.


A 7.5 pound Ruffed Grouse gun, unless you are extremely strong, is not a Grouse gun that will become a favorite.


laissez les bons temps rouler
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Originally Posted by battue
Originally Posted by humdinger
I'm in the market for a new O/U for hunting & trap shooting. I'm a every-other-week trap shooter so it has to be a field gun first for grouse hunting or rare pheasant hunt.
I have a light weight autoloader already so a 7.5# or slightly lighter O/U is the weight range I'm looking at.
Someone else will be looking also.


A 7.5 pound Ruffed Grouse gun, unless you are extremely strong, is not a Grouse gun that will become a favorite.


My grouse hunts rarley go over 2-3 hours and I carry a 8# sxs now so weight hasn't been an issue, but I will keep this in mind. Just too busy taking care of the home place when I'm up north to block out any more time than that.
Maybe get the feather version!


Other than that, How was the show Mrs. Lincoln?
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Bingo.

Once you have gone long and light, I doubt if you will think 8 is all that enjoyable. wink

Last edited by battue; 08/25/14.

laissez les bons temps rouler
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I don't know, I cant shoot those lightweight guns worth a dam. My 11-87 is 8 lbs + and I have no issue with it, carry it all day long.


It�s a magazine not a clip......

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You carry 8 lbs all day, most of it in one hand In the Grouse thickets following a flusher and you are a stud.

Most are not.

Last edited by battue; 08/25/14.

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Well you guys are getting me convinced I will get... 2 shotguns eventually. I missed a good used beretta ringneck 20 that would be a nice light weight grouser. Although I like a 12 better for grouse just to put more shot in the air!


Other than that, How was the show Mrs. Lincoln?
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8 or so-and often less-well placed shot will bring a Grouse to the table. wink


laissez les bons temps rouler
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