Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns 20ga auto for upland

What are some of the better makes/models of 20ga auto shotguns I should be looking at for upland hunting? Mainly using it for cottontail but also some wing shooting.

I'm a pumpgun shooter, but my friend who comes out each year for sharptails has 20 gauge 26" Benelli. I really like that shotgun. Only issue is the choke tubes work loose, not much but enough to require tightening every dozen shots or so.

Ran a 20 ga Benelli Montefeltro while chasing quail in our local foothills today, and it has become my favorite quail gun.

Light, fast-handling, comes with chokes ... the quail ain’t happy, I can promise you. . Been knocking them dead all season with 3-inch handloads (steel shot).

It’s a gem.

Beretta 391 if you can find somebody selling one is a good option.

My buddy uses a Montefeltro for all his bird hunting pheasants, sharptails and quail and he hunts a lot, thinks it is the best shotgun for big long hikes across the prairie,

When I was younger my rabbit hunting buddy use an Franchi AL-48 20ga with a short barrel(24") and he was deadly on bunnies.

If cost is a deal breaker a Stoeger 3020 or Weatherby SA-08 might be a consideration

Hard to beat the Benelli Montefeltro for what you want to do. I got one of the first ones I saw many years ago, a 20 gauge, and it was soon appropriated by my now deceased and long time hunting partner. Superb gun.

As I was a bit flush with smaller gauges, last year I found myself hurting for another. Got a 12, and that wasn’t a mistake either.

Benelli M2, light weight, points like a dream, dead nuts reliable, simple operation and cleaning. The M1 & 2 models are the best Benelli shotguns ever produced.

Call me old school.....

Franchi AL48 is the lightest, quickest handling gun you will find for upland. They made them in 20ga AND 28ga

Love it! I have one in 20 gauge and it's a great shotgun.

The Mossberg SA-20 got rave reviews, as did the Weatherby version. I have a generic named version of the Weatherby made in Turkey. I believe it's a copy of the Beretta 302? Light, well balanced, well made, just a gorgeous little gun. Lighter than an 1100 or 11-87.

For the fellas recommending the montefeltro ... are you speaking of the standard version or the silver light version? Curious

I've spent a lot of time shooting (and cleaning) just about every 20 auto made and my favorite is hands down the Beretta A400. Ideal is one with the new (mid-stock) Knock-Off recoil reducer. This one is the Upland model:

Cannot go wrong with the Benelli Montefeltro or the Franchi 48 in 20ga. Both are super lightweight.

I have been using a 20 gauge Montefeltro exclusively since 2003. IMO it is the perfect quail and dove shotgun. It is particularly good with mearns quail here in S. Az. It is light and fast handling, getting doubles is routine. Sometimes triples. Best was 5 on the covey rise but it was hell finding them even with two dogs.

This shotgun has long choke tubes which seems to have it performing like it is choked tighter than the name on the choke. I have yet to use the modified. Improved does well with doves and gambels quail. Cylinder for mearns.

I think that gun weighs a couple pounds more than the Montefeltro otherwise I’d be all over it!

All depends on what options you get. The Monte weighs 5.4 lbs but has a 26" bbl and no recoil reduction system. The gas system of the Beretta already reduces the recoil considerably below the Monte's inertia system. The Kickoff reduces it even more. The pictured gun has a 28" bbl, which works much better for me, and the Kickoff system.

Take away the Kickoff and the 2" off barrel, and both weigh 5.4 lbs. That would be nice to carry but very difficult for me to shoot accurately -- it is just too light. But if I did want 5.4 lbs I'd get the A400 XPlor with 26" bbl and no Kickoff. That would at least give me the gas action instead of the inertia.

Just bought a franchi affinity 3 in 20 gauge tonight. I shouldered it and it came alive in my hands.

Can't wait to shoot it

+1

It's fast, deadly, and a joy to carry.

Check out the Benelli M2

Grew up on a Beretta 20....countless rabbits, dove, and more..........

Shot a few birds with a 20 ga. M2. Pheasants, ducks, canada geeses, dove, and grouse have been taken without issue!

I saw a beretta A400 xplor 20 GA in the classifieds. Wouldn't hesitate on that one. I've got several scatterguns and that one is a gem.

Back in the 80s I was at an old duck camp in Louisiana. Some old timer had a Rem model 11, 20 gauge, it had been shot so much for decades, that underneath the ejection port, it was cracked lengthwise about 2" or more, about 1/8 to 1/4" away from port...parallel to it. Still functioned fine.

The owner said it's all he's used his whole life, Ducks, Geese, no matter.........no issue. Asked what shells, he said whatever he had, not matter! Lol. Not sure what choke he had.....but it was a 20..........

I do know I ran a few 3" thru an 870 Lightweight......and that really packed a punch, I smoked a dove a LONG ways out. It had a full choke, using 1.25 ounce of 7 1/2s as I recall, Winchester high brass. Dove going straight away so apparently caught the shot string front to back. That load really hammered them vs a 1 ounce load of 6s.

I love my old A5 Mag 20. Have always wanted a AL 48 20.

The 1100 LT 20 is a sweet shooting gun as well.

I love the old school guns, but I wouldn't consider ANY shotgun that won't handle steel shot.
The days of using lead shot are definitely numbered.

That said non-tox is a great option, but expensive.

A lot of good working guns mentioned here but I think the queen of SA’s at least as regards weight is the Ben UltraLight which is simply the Montefeltro after a diet. The 20 is ~ 5 1/4 lbs and the 12 right at about 6 IIRC.

In both you sacrifice some magazine length and are limited to two therein; with one up the spout, you have three. I’ve never felt I needed four at least for my kind of shooting. Besides, pushing another into the magazine is that quick.

As to recoil, I’ve never thought a 20 needed any mitigation such as a gas system. Even in the 12, unless you go the 2 3/4” heavies from Fed, Fiocchi, or B & P (like 1 3/8 oz at 1400-1500), recoil is hardly noticed in the field; at least by me. Those, however, will get your attention, but in my world are not needed.

For me as I have gotten older, I’ve wanted lighter.

Too funny, I'm the exact opposite.

I have zero interest in any shotgun that's new enough to accommodate steel shot...If it's that new, then it's too new for me:)... It would make me feel like some sort of pedophile
I don't hunt waterfowl never did like the meat. I don't have any other restrictions where I live, but if I did I would be happy to just buy a more expensive box of shells to get the job done. Besides, I don't care for steel shot performance.

I'm just a vintage shotgun kind of guy. If I cant hunt with a vintage shotgun, then I'm not much interested in hunting.

I used to do quite a bit of quail hunting with a Smith & Wesson 1000 20 ga. Trim and pointed great. I had went through a few 20 gauge guns to find the one I liked best and the S&W 1000 was it. Fixed IC choke with 26” barrel. Still have it but not many quail in my parts any more.

If interested I am getting ready to sell a Beretta 391 in 20 gauge. Only close to a flat has been through it. Shoots great in great shape. Want to thin the guns a bit to buy a Parker 20 gauge SxS.

I wish I could shoot a Parker well... a bunch went through my hands over the years for a lot less than the going rate.

Your mailbox is full, did you sell your Beretta ?

No I still have it after Christmas I will post it. Has extra briley extended chokes, turkey choke, and hi-vis turkey sights that can be put on. just trying to figure out a price. I still don't have PM. my email is sadiemr26gmail.com if your interested I can send you some pictures.

Find a used Remington 1100 Upland Special

My new fave is a minty old Beretta AL2 20 ga with fixed 26” IC barrel. Light weight, minimal recoil, and very simple gas system. Hand cut checkering. Runs clean too. Also have a newer 1100 LT20 which is nice - but that action is from an older generation with danged O rings and runs dirty.

I had an 1100 Upland in 12 gauge. Heavy gun. Sold it. Newest stable member is a sleek little Turkish semi in 20. About 6 lbs, very well balanced. Sweet little gun. I have two buddies who lust for it now.

Another vote for the Benelli Ultralight.
However I would not fault many of the other suggestions here Franchi 48, Montefeltro, M2, various Berettas (I prefer the old 390).
Pity Remington didn't last long enough to produce the V3 in a 20 gauge. If it was the smaller equal of the 12 that also would have been high on my list, I'm thinking.
This past year sucked in so many ways, virus aside.

I can't imagine wanting to shoot a 20 GA much lighter than an AL48. Mine is great to carry but kicks as hard as any 12 GA I own.

I have 2 a400 20 gauges. Both the wood stock with the kickoff like posting above, and the synthetic camo with the kickoff.

The synthetic is lighter and a little faster handling, I prefer it for hunting. Upland,waterfowl or turkeys.

I have a Franchi Affinity 20ga and really like the size and weight for upland game with a 20