Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns 20 gauge compact recommendations

Looking for a decent 20 gauge compact preferably a semi auto or possibly an O/U . My girlfriend is getting into skeet shooting and none of my current shotguns fit her well. Id like to keep it under 7-800 if possible

Spend a little more and get a Montefeltro combo with short and standard stocks. Should be around $1100

Stoeger 3020 with a 28” barrel

Remington 1187 Compact. Ours has performed very well shooting low brass to 3”.

Yeah i wish I had kept one. I had several a few years ago when Walmart was closing them out. Ended up getting rid of all of them for trade bait or for friends kids. Now i can't find one

My Walmart clearance Remington 1187 compact is one of my favorite shotguns.

This. If an O/U the Stevens 555 compact isn’t bad. It’s a Turkish OU like most are for that price. For occasional use I’d think it fine. I saw a used Montefeltro compact for a little less than 1100 recently. The Stevens is 6-7 Range iiirc

I purchased the 20 ga. Stoeger semi-auto youth model for my wife and daughters to shoot skeet with. Nothing to look at but has all the right features for a small stature new shooter: Semi-auto, shorter stock, shims to adjust stock drop, light weight, choke tubes, etc.

If you decide to upgrade and go the O/U route, I would suggest you look at the Tristar TT15 Field. It is well made, attractive, light and near the top of your price range. You would probably have to have the stock cut and pad refitted though.

If you can, let us know what you decided and how it worked out. This question comes up frequently. Good luck.

If you can swing it …

I got a Benelli M2 20 gauge with a 24” barrel - wow !! I like it more than my 12 gauge 26”…

Super light, 4 shots…

I bought my grandson a Franchi Affinity 3. He got the camo model, but it comes in black and maybe walnut. His dad picked up a full-sized stock while the gettin’s good. He does pretty well with it.

I’ve seen a fair number of the compact Montefeltros for sale. They seem quite nice as well. Almost bought a compact one in error for myself, untilI tried to mount it. Duh!

For skeet shooting? I wouldn’t start a woman out on a featherweight, inertia gun. JMO Light 20s still kick pretty good, at least for smaller frames folks….and you’re talking FAR more shooting than toting. I’d look to a gas auto….you might find a used Browning Gold, Silver, or Winchester SX3/4 for close to your budget, or new for under $1k….but they’re soft shooters. Remington 1100s and 1187s will hold up under target shooting, too. I haven’t had them last long for turkey or waterfowl, and newer than 1990 quality and parts durability isn’t nearly the same as the older guns. Franchi 620/720 and beretta 302/303/390/391 are good gas options, along with a Browning B80 (Beretta). You can cut any of them to fit….it’s not like she’ll grow, is it?;) Stick to gas for volume vs recoil….again, just an opinion.