Home Forums Birds & Dogs Upland Game Looking for a light kicking semi auto dove gun

I am going on a dove hunt in Texas in September and am looking for a dove gun. Light kicking and semi is what I'm looking for I'm thinking 20 gauge due to ability to find ammo. I chopped off a few fingers last year so I'm using my pinky as the trigger finger which is why I'm looking for a mild recoil so the gun doesn't get knocked out of my hands. Ideally I would like to keep the cost under a 1000 as I don't plan on doing a ton of upland hunting.

FWIW, the Winchester SX-4 is a gas operated auto that may work nicely for you. The msrp is just above $1100, you might be able to find one closer to $1,000.

Sx-4 is also my go to recommendation.

Locally they're right at 950-999

The lightest kicking 20 ga semiauto I can think of is the pre-1977 Remington 1100. It was built on the 12 ga receiver so weighs a bit more than many other 20 ga guns. Of course, it would be a used gun and one long out of production but, when they show up, they are really light recoiling.

Otherwise, pretty much any gas operated 20 ga gun will be pretty light recoiling. Beretta, Browning, Remington, and Winchester in both new and used would be where I start. There are other brands that would probably work but those are the better known brands that should have a fair number of options as well as a pretty extensive parts support if needed.

I wouldn't over look a 12 ga either. With light target loads in the 1 oz, 1200 fps or less range, a gas operated 12 ga won't kick much, if any, more than a 20 ga due to the added weight. The ammo can be a little harder to find in the current market but the loads were very common before the present difficulties.This would open up an additional area in your search for a gun and one may find ammo availability to be better as 12 ga dwarfs the rest combined in sales and demand.

20 ga Beretta A300 fits the bill.

Good suggestions above. I hear the Beretta A400, in 20 gauge, is a very nice gun. We have a Franchi 620 and a Remington 1187, both in 20 gauge, that are fine shotguns. My boy took third place in N.C. 4-H Shotgun with the Remington this past season. He shot the heck out of it preparing for competition. We couldn’t be happier with it.

if you can go a hair higher, a Beretta A400 with the kick off system would be about as light recoiling as it gets.
Winchester SX4 would be my next pick.
As as you said, both in 20 ga.

The new Beretta A300 Ultima 20 ga comes with the kickoff and weighs nearly a pound more than the A400 20 ga. I have not shot one but expect it would be soft shooting. American made and way under the $1,000 budget. Looks like they should be decent if they got a few QC issues squared away after the initial release.

That said, my A400 12 ga Xcel Black sporting gun with a K/O and A400 Xplor 28 ga are my favorite two shotguns for target and upland hunting respectively.

I did not know that the A300 was offered with the kickoff. That could be a real player for sure and the extra weight should help with recoil.
I have an Xplor 28 as well and love that gun.

I've had terrible neck problems. Just went through a 5 level laminectomy. I'd been shooting a 20 gauge BPS and a 28 gauge 1100. I hope I'll be able to shoot them after I've recovered. Dr. Said give it a year before I try them.

I bulged a disk in my neck and went to the 28, I know it is not the same thing you have but hope you are able to get back to shooting sooner than a year, just start small and ease your way up.

I bought a Browning B-80 (made by Beretta) about 40 years ago in 20 gauge. Sweet shooting gun with light recoil. But sure what the current price is.

Also, I have a Browning Auto-5 Light Twenty - virtually no recoil at all. My daughter enjoyed shooting this gun and never complained about recoil.

Been researching a youth 20ga for my son, I had no idea you could get a Beretta auto of any sort for the price tag on these.

I would also look at the Weatherby SA-08. Real solid gun with nice lines, and gas operated for your recoil concerns.

I have an Wby SA-08 and they are great guns, but I would go Beretta if budget allowed

Another vote for the Winchester SX4.
I picked up one just before COVID got going w/ a 26-inch barrel and it's a joy to shoot.
No regrets.

StarchedCover

My wife has had surgery on both thumbs and her right shoulder. Needed a soft shooting shot gun. Bought her a Remington sporting 28. One of these best decisions I ever made. Friends said the Ammo for a 28 is expensive.
She primarily quail hunts. I said I would love for her to have the chance to shoot a case of shells a year. Hasbeen

28's are the cat's meow

Hard to beat the Remington Sporting 1100 28 gauge.
Love mine.

Also love my Benelli Montefeltro Silver 20 gauge auto.

Some folks claim Benelli’s “kick” harder. I’ve never noticed it.

I have a Beretta Xpor400 in 28 ga and had a Reminton Sporting 1100 28 ga. I much prefer the Beretta, but will be the first to admit they are both good guns. The Beretta just fits me way better than the Remington.

Given the problem you have with your trigger hand, I'd consider a Mossberg. If you have to use your pinky finger to pull the trigger, I don't see how you are going to reach the safety at the front of the trigger guard on a Beretta. A gun with a behind-the-trigger safety (Browning) might be doable, but the thumb-operated safety on a Mossberg would seem to be the most expedient for you.