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Joined: Oct 2007
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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. 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.
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Joined: Mar 2003
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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.
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Joined: Nov 2006
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What semi auto would you look at for quail-20 gauge prefered. 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.
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,954
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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..
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Joined: Nov 2006
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+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' ......
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,059
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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.
There is no accounting for taste.
Experience is a great thing as long as one survives it.
Generally, there ain't a lot that separates the two however, Barely making it is a whole lot more satisfying than barely not making it.
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Joined: Sep 2009
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A real quail hunter never uses anything larger than 20ga on birds, and today would only consider a double gun.
Last edited by AJD; 02/06/10. Reason: added
There is no accounting for taste.
Experience is a great thing as long as one survives it.
Generally, there ain't a lot that separates the two however, Barely making it is a whole lot more satisfying than barely not making it.
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,675
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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.
"Mark the birds and handle your Dog"
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 19
New Member
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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
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Joined: Feb 2009
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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.
If you're fixin' to put a hole in something, make it a hole to remember.
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 144
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Joined: Nov 2007
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You mean like this?
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Joined: Feb 2009
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Nope. Not enough scratches or dings to be a REAL bird gun.
If you're fixin' to put a hole in something, make it a hole to remember.
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,408
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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.
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Joined: Feb 2009
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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.
If you're fixin' to put a hole in something, make it a hole to remember.
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Joined: Feb 2009
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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.
If you're fixin' to put a hole in something, make it a hole to remember.
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Joined: Nov 2007
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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.
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Gawd, you must in Monster Whitetail Central.
Too bad about the quail, tho...
If you're fixin' to put a hole in something, make it a hole to remember.
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Joined: Nov 2007
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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?
Last edited by Huntaria_Setters; 02/17/10.
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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.
If you're fixin' to put a hole in something, make it a hole to remember.
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