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.

Hey I have one of those gray rat Model 11, sportsman version to be exact. Mine is modified, my dads is IC and we are hillbillies just not from KY.

Any shotgun that fits you well and one that has instilled confidence in you. I like the old Remington Model 11 Sportsman versions too. I even like a slick pump like the Model 31 Remington or the Ithaca Model 37. I can't tell any difference in the quickness of accurate repeat shots.

My first inclination is toward a Benelli, but I'd need to know more ......

Are you shooting quail sitting tight over a pointing dog? Or sometimes wildly flushing skittish birds?

What load I shot might influence my choice of gun.

8's? or 7 1/2's? 3/4oz - 7/8oz - or 1 ounce ..... ?

MV no more than 1200fps, possibly as light as 1100fps.

Another old schooler...My latest is a bit different from my norm..I bought an old Savage mod. 440 over/under 20 ga. on 24 Hr. campfire, it is a deluxe version and I had never seen one, the wood is really pretty and the gun was in very good condition. I was going to sell it and make a buck..After thumping a number of Pheasant and quail with it, I took it off the market..It has double triggers and I like that best, and it has extractors and I also like that, it fits me and all my friends swoon over it, not to shabby for a middle of the road gun in its day..

+1 Ray!



Recently I bought a synthetic Youth Combo M870 in 20ga, with a 20" fully rifled slug bbl and 21" VR Remchoke bbl. Picked up a 26" VR Remchoke bbl on eBay when that was still possible. Also replaced youth stock with an adult Speedfeed. All well and good?

If this thread had started "What's a good quail gun?" or "What's a good UPLAND BIRD gun?" I'd also recommend an OVER/UNDER!

Despite the workhorse M870-20 I added to my arsenal, the CZ Redhead (silver finish) and Canvasback (black finish and slightly less money) - while both inexpensive O/U's, - compared to a Beretta or Browning O/U are light weight guns in a twenty gauge (six to 6 1/2 pounds), and can be bought for less than a Benelli M1, M2, or Montefeltro.

Just sayin' ......

I have one of the Model 11's that was my grandaddy's. He was a primo quail hunter. 20ga, IC, 26" barrel, solid rib. It is a quail getter.

A real quail hunter never uses anything larger than 20ga on birds, and today would only consider a double gun.

Plus 1 on what AJD said. Nothing like a fine double 28 or 20 with a pair of triggers. The double gun for me would be a side-by-side with 26 inch barrles and open chokes.

One not to look at; I bought a 28 g Franchi 48 (semi auto), and it fits, is a good weight, swings easily, etc, but to unload live shells is a real pain. You have to hold this button down, while you press that lever, while you hold this prong while you... Safety should be easier.
Anyone want a barely used Franchi 28?
Mizwhitetail

You might wait a bit and take a look at the new Benelli Legacy 28, touted to be the world's lightest semi-auto shotgun. Handled one at SHOT. Damn near flew out of my hands. Weighs only five pounds. They don't hardly have any in the country quite yet, though... I think first shipments are due sometime in March.

+1 on the 20 double gun.

You mean like this?

Nope. Not enough scratches or dings to be a REAL bird gun.

Me and that gun have a love/hate relationship. I love to carry it and look at it. I love to shoot it too. Unfortunately, I shoot it just poorly enough at quail that I revert back to my 28 ga. SKB.

OH, it's a beauty alright. I go a little lower on the shotgun food chain for actual hunting, though, because I frequent some pretty nasty places here in CA and AZ for gambels, valley and mountain quail. The gun I tote most often (and shoot best) is a Beretta Silver Pigeon II in 20 gauge. I also have its twin in 12 gauge. I don't worry nearly as much about dings and scratches as a buddy who totes the Silver Pigeon V.

By the way, where in Western Ky? And do you actually have any decent hunting for bobwhites? I was actually born in Richmond and raised in the Bluegrass until age 12 or so. Never hunted there until I snuck in a whitetail hunt in northern KY while visiting relatives a few years ago.

Henderson, just at the confluence of the KY/IN/IL border. Quail hunting here was OK until the ice storm this past year. The last couple of years, I could find a covey every 2 hours or so. This year, I've been lucky to find one per day.

I grew up in Eastern KY (Paintsville) and graduated from UK.

Gawd, you must in Monster Whitetail Central.

Too bad about the quail, tho...

Yeah, the whitetail hunting is awfully good and there's always a 180-200" buck shot in this area every year. Its nearly as good as Iowa for consistently seeing nice bucks. Buck to doe here is near 40/60.

I know a lot of folks don't like it, but the one buck rule does help a bit.

Where about in CA are you?

Yep, KY is getting pretty famous for its trophy potential. I'd love to hunt western KY one of these days.

I'm in Ventura County, up out of the concrete jungle, in canyon/chaparral country. Have all sorts of wildlife out the back door, including a 40-bird covey of valley quail (but I can't play with them right here...) coyotes, mule deer, rabbits, mountain lions slinking through occasionally and the odd black bear showing up. Still, I do most of my big game hunting -- except hogs -- out of state.

I wish I could shoot a nice double. I can't even shoot a o/u as well as I shoot a automatic. I did hunt all year with a Franchi 48 delux in 28 gauge so I could be a real bird hunter...grin.

Huntaria setter very nice double.

Dink

Sweet!

Nice gun huttaria,I use a CZ here in Idaho we do alot of chucker hunting in the snake river breaks.I f I don't fall down scratch my gun and lose a bunch of my own blood then I'm not hunting hard enough

Appalachian grouse is that way too. Believe it or not, I've put this gun through a bunch of thickets. If I took close-ups, you'd see a few scracthes.

Went on a plantation hunt last weekend and used my 1100 in 12 ga, worked perfectly. If buying a gun for the task I'd love a 28 ga.

Mike

Personally I'd take a serious look see at the Franchi 28 semi that JB has for sale in the classifieds. By my way of thinking it'd be about model perfect when it comes to a semi and quail!

Just a thunk..

Dober

Nothing like a 28 on wild birds, whatever the configuration. Pen raised birds are .410 worthy, or you ain't tryin'!

Pen raised birds......they rate a 22/250 to me..

Dober