Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Your ideal pheasant gun ???

Describe your idea of the perfect shotgun and load for hunting pheasant with springer spaniels.

Thanks, RS

Belgium made Browning 16 gauge humpback, round knob and vent rib. Stuffed full of high brass number sixes.

That's what they use in heaven.

Benelli Ultra Light, 26", 12-gauge, 2-3/4" No. 5's.

JOG is close, but its actually a Beretta 391 I've had since 2003.

I got a 391 too and that's been my bird gun for five years now. I just picked up a 390 in 20 gauge and that might become my go to upland gun.

Hunting with springers, Hmmm. Likely my Parker Brothers 12 gauge with IC and LM chokes.

Doc

Old reliable would be my AYA side by side 20 gauge. Cheap low brass shells.

The 391 is a nice shotgun and a better all-arounder, but it's too heavy for an ideal pheasant gun.

Yup...but a plain barrel wouldn't hurt me neither.

A good set of legs never hurts for Wild Roosters and a hot Springer.

Whole bunch of shotguns that will work, but I would like one that balances well and can handle at least an ounce of shot. Over a hot Springer? Model 59 Winchester would be great, but a well balanced SxS would be fun. I'm thinking a 16 or 12 Ga Parker on a 16 Ga frame.

16ga Rizzini with a healthy dose of six's.

I use a Belgium 20 A-5 and Ithaca 37 16. Both work well with high brass No. 6.

11-87, 26 inch, Briley Lt Mod choke, #4 of your choice.......

Rem Mod 11 in 20ga w/#6 highbase ... was Grandpa's, then dad's, now mine. That thing shoulders perfectly.

Beretta O/U 20 ga or Benelli M2 20 ga

Either my Winchester Model 12 in 16 gage or my Remington Model 31 also in 16 gage. Love the pump guns and love 16 gage. Hits Like 12 and carries Like a 20!

I like my uncle's old 1930 vintage Ithaca NID SxS double 16. Has two triggers so you can choose what you want to shoot at what range. Ejectors and 30" barrels choked IC and very full. I load it with 7 1/2s in the open barrel and 6s in the tight one early in the season, then 6s and 5s later on. Works.

When I go out to the high plains (KS, SD) where the birds are wilder and the cover is shorter, I take my Ruger Gold Label SxS 12 with an IC tube in the right barrel and a full in the left. Usually load it with 5s in the open barrel and 4s in the tight one. So far regular 2 3/4" high base shells have worked fine, even for late season. And the GL kicks like crazy with 3" magnums....

Ithaca 37 UltraFeatherlight 20 gauge modified

best #6 load you can get a hold of

i used to follow my springers with a 16 gauge l.c.smith shotgun that left the factory in 1932 with 2 sets of barrels. they are both 26 inches long and over the years they have been choked improved mod and improved cylinder and the second set skeet 1 and improved cylinder.i loaded up 1 1/8 ounces of italian nickled 7"s and shot birds as the conditions dictated.

My grandfather's Winchester Model 12, 12gauge, full choke, solid rib and low brass #6s. I think it was made in '32.

He gave it to me in the early '60s and I really think it may be the only shotgun I've ever used for pheasant.