Light field piece?

[Checkmate]

The question is do you prefer a light field piece compaired to anything you train on trap with?? I use a Rem 870 and had put weights forward and aft in the shotgun untill I had the balance I wanted more aft than forward, for targets. Trap became easier for me.

The first time I entered the field with this combination I was apauled at the weight of the piece. When you load up on amo and walk a field for pheasant it sure seems heavy. I have now taken all out.

Has any one else experienced this problem, or is it just weight that is to be endured for the job of the hunt? Checkmate

[ksx3]

Both my guns are doubles - o/u (Beretta's). Talk about heavy in the field with loads. I have taken to carrying less rounds and choosing shots more carefully. Considering getting a 20. Love double guns.
My wife's Browning Gold Fusion is a nice shooting and failrly lite gun to handle trap, sporting clays and field work.
You may wish to look at other brands if you can afford it, as the 870 is a pretty heavy gun to begin with. Next time you get a chance, look at the Benelli Montefeltro.

[Phil T]

Oh boy! You have an excuse to visit gun shops and fondle shotguns! This is a good thing.
When handling lightweight shotguns, be sure to pick one that's a bit muzzle heavy, since you are used to that with your trap gun. And of course, it has to fit your body. Measure length of pull, drop at comb and heel of the gun you shoot well, and look for one with similar stock dimensions.
My walking (upland) gun is a Beretta SXS. It's balanced perfectly between my hands, and weighs less than 6 1/2 lbs. BUT it's not muzzle heavy, so I don't shoot it as well as my Remington 11-96, which I also use for ocassional trap shooting. The Remington follows through by itself, the litle SXS needs to be pushed all the way.

[Fish-er-man]

The weight helps take out alot of kick though. Light guns are for trap or sporting clays not hunting. I bought a Benelli Ultra Light 12ga. and its a great gun to carry in the field and fun to shoot but and its a BIG BUT you don't want to shoot 3 inch through it or 2 3/4 Mag loads. Its fine for a couple but if you hunt alot and go through alot of round it starts to hurt. I also have a Rem. 870 and its a great gun. Don't think you have to run out and buy something because all your buddies have. If I chose again it would be a Berreta o/u or I would like to try the Montefeltro because its a little heavier. Good Luck!

[Phil T]

I haven't noticed too many lightweight shotguns at our trap range. 100 shots in a single evening makes recoil a bigger issue than it is for any upland hunter. Only waterfowlers have any need for 3" shells. Our pheasants fall down for normal 2 3/4" loads.

[RJmjZ]

When you shoot do you lean forward at the waist? Balance comes in many forms and not all of them are in the shotgun. I love watching the other 4 guys with expensive shotguns at the trap range. I break 25 straight with my 40 year old 870 Wingmaster and modified choke, I look to the side and see raised eyebrows, but nobody ever says a word. No, I don't break 25 straight all the time, but 23 / 25 is common. Shotguns are only tools. Yes some tools are better than others for specific jobs. It takes a craftsman to work the tool properly to get desired results. Norm Abrams from T.V.'s Yankee Workshop program has all the right tools for what he does. But extreme detail work is not his forte. There are guys that can pocket knife whittle better than Norm can handle close details. Sorry if it looks like I left my humility on the doorstep here - just trying to make a point.

[Further North]

Tough topic, and one I've seen get ugly on some upland hunting boards...I prefer a very light gun for early season - I hunt with a 6 pound 16 gauge Poli SxS until about the middle of November, or until the snow starts to get heavy.

I shoot 1 oz loads (8s in the first barrel, 7 1/2s in the 2nd) in it, and over a point, that will kill any upland bird in the U.S. If you don't try to take shots past 35 yards or so.

I switch to a 6 3/4 pound Arietta 12 gauge SxS after that and run 1 oz loads - usually 7 1/2s - in the right barrel until early December, then kick it up to 1 1/8 oz. Left barrel has a heavy 1 1/4 oz load in it - 6s early, 5s late.

If I go out west, I'll cart along my "heavy" gun, an AyA Model 53 12 gauge SxS, but it's just tighter choked and with 30" barrels compared to the 28" ones on the other guns. I seldom shoot heavier than 1 1/4 oz loads, unless I run out and have to buy something locally.

Shotgun shooting is funny though: It is very much a "to each his own" kind of thing. I hunt over a pointing dog, and am a fast shot, so those guns work for me. Someone hunting over a flushing dog, and who is a more deliberate shooter is going to want heavier guns, heavier loads and tighter chokes.

The guy who's not shooting what you are shooting isn't ever wrong - he just has a different style.

One of the things I contend with locally is multi-species hunting: In the few weeks between the pheasant opener and the close of woodcock season, I am very likely to run into grouse, pheasant, woodcock or quail...and while it's important to not be underguned for that rooster, you don't want to unload a 1 1/4 oz load of 5s into a woodcock or a quail either. I compensate by going with lighter loads, and never taking long shots.

That's what works for me.

[SlimTastic]

I'm sure I'll get blasted for this, but IMHO the best route to go is one shotgun for all you wingshooting needs. I don't shoot trap, skeet, or sporting clays so I'll leave that alone. I do however do alot of bird hunting from doves to grouse to pheasants to ducks and geese. I use my Franchi semi auto for all of it and before that it was an 870. I'm not saying its the best gun around, but it fits me well, and im super comfortable and confident with it. Switching guns causes problems for guys...we've all seen the guy that changed from a pump to an auto and shoot that frist shot and try to tear the forearm clean off. You don't need multiple shotguns or expensive shotguns for that matter. Find one that fits you well and shoot the **** out of it...you'll be happier and kill more birds.

I don't buy into this double gun stuff. While guiding pheasant hunters I see more and more guys with double guns. It makes no sense to me. Why would anyone want to limit themselves to 2 shots? Think how many birds get killed with shots 3, 4, and 5. Just to put down cripples if nothing else.

[Further North]

I'm sure I'll get blasted for this, but IMHO the best route to go is one shotgun for all you wingshooting needs. I don't shoot trap, skeet, or sporting clays so I'll leave that alone. I do however do alot of bird hunting from doves to grouse to pheasants to ducks and geese. I use my Franchi semi auto for all of it and before that it was an 870. I'm not saying its the best gun around, but it fits me well, and im super comfortable and confident with it. Switching guns causes problems for guys...we've all seen the guy that changed from a pump to an auto and shoot that frist shot and try to tear the forearm clean off. You don't need multiple shotguns or expensive shotguns for that matter. Find one that fits you well and shoot the **** out of it...you'll be happier and kill more birds.

I don't buy into this double gun stuff. While guiding pheasant hunters I see more and more guys with double guns. It makes no sense to me. Why would anyone want to limit themselves to 2 shots? Think how many birds get killed with shots 3, 4, and 5. Just to put down cripples if nothing else.

SlimTastic, you've brought up some good questions. I'm sure not going to blast you...but I might offer a counter point or three...:smirk:

I'm able to shoot three different guns because they are all fit to me. I can set down one and pick up another and shoot it just as well, something I've proven to myself over and over on clay targets and on game birds. The three guns above, while different, all shoot right where I'm looking the moment the comb touches my cheek. They are all balanced the same, despite different weights, and all three of them are set up to to my personal ideal of "fast guns".

Also, I shoot a lot (I have a clays thrower set up in my yard) so each of those guns has it's own set of muscle memories grooved in with thousands of rounds. Practice might not make perfect but it sure builds consistency...I'll never claim to be a good shot, but I'll sure lay claim to the title of "Mediocre shot with a **** of lot of experience"!

And yes, I'm well aware a lot of guys can't do that for one reason or another. They should probably follow your advice on the one gun deal: A medium weight pump or semi auto with screw in chokes would be great choice (BTW, I've always had a thing for that Franchi you shoot - that's a great gun! I think it's one of the seldom mentioned brands that get overlooked on the way to buy the latest and greatest from the more heavily advertised brands!)

On to double guns! The biggest advantage of doubles for me is weight and balance. While there are finally semi-autos out there that are approaching a double, there sure wasn't when I started this silliness mumblemumblemumble years ago. For me once a habit is formed it's hard to break, so....And I've grown to love the artistry that it takes to build a nice double, so I honor their makers by shooting the snot out of them.

On two shots vs. more? Frankly, the way I hunt, I don't need them. Not because I'm a great shot or anything (see above), but because I hunt by myself, or in very small groups. I don't shoot at birds out over 35 yards or so, and hunting over a pointing dog, I don't need to. Where I live, you will seldom have a shot at a grouse or a woodcock much past 20 yards (they are behind something by the time they get that far) and the fact that I start every season with at least 4 weeks of grouse and woodcock hunting before I see the first pheasant I can shoot at, means that a big, relatively slow, bird out in the open never makes it very far.

I don't hunt in big groups, I don't shoot at birds flushed by other hunters, and I don't take questionable shots. I'm going to see plenty of birds every day I'm out, and you can only eat so many...more than that, for me, is a waste. While the local limit on grouse is five, and I've had five bird days, I don't get upset if I only get two or three a day. Woodcock are three a day around here...not hard to do at all. Pheasant are two a day here, three in Iowa and the Dakotas...neither of which is hard to do in a full day's hunting.

Your style is probably different, and your choices work great for you - I think that's one of the coolest things about the outdoor sports: we can all do things our own way, have a blast and still love to hear the other guy's stories!

Have a heck of a season, and give that Franchi a heck of a workout!

[SlimTastic]

Further North-

Great post and I agree with basically everything you said. We both have a passion for wingshooting, but go about it in incredibly different ways. I hunt pheasants with large groups over flushing labs in South Central South Dakota. As far as shooting skills and shotguns I've seen all ends of the spectrum. I'd rather see more seasoned veterans like yourself than can shoot a double gun and knock down birds all day long. But the reality is most guys simply don't shoot enough to be proficient. If you're a once a year guy, it really doesn't matter what kind of gun you are shooting and if you shoot all the time you'll undoubtedly handle your chosen gun well. So I'd say if you want to be good with any given gun you need to get out and shoot it.

I would like to touch on the shell selection thing. I understand completely that you have no problem harvesting pheasants with 7.5 shot, but for the average pheasant hunter I'd recommend 1 1/4 oz 5's. In my opinion I'd rather have a guy absolutley grind a bird than watch one fly away with a leg hanging. We all know that shot placement is more important than shot size, but I feel heavy 5 shot is the most forgiving for multiple situations. Light loads should definetly be limited to close range, but that judgement is also difficult for inexperienced hunters.

Thanks for the good dialogue and good luck on the birds.

Slim

[Further North]

Slim, we'd get along great! I agree 100% on the average hunter. You see a lot more of those guys in a year than I do in 5 years, and you've come by your recommendation through a lot of observation and experience.

My back up, late season, 2nd barrel, semi long distance shell is a 1 1/4 ounce of 5s. If lead, it's a Fiocchi, nickle plated, if non-tox it's Kent TM. When you shoot a ditch parrot with one of those things, they stay shot!

They also kick like a !@^@*()*&$#@ in a sub 7 lb. gun...so I try really, really hard to anchor those bad boys on the first shot!

Have a great season!

[fireboat]

[QUOTE=Further North;1139439]nce"!
I don't hunt in big groups, I don't shoot at birds flushed by other hunters, and I don't take questionable shots. I'm going to see plenty of birds every day I'm out, and you can only eat so many...more than that, for me, is a waste. While the local limit on grouse is five, and I've had five bird days, I don't get upset if I only get two or three a day. Woodcock are three a day around here...not hard to do at all. Pheasant are two a day here, three in Iowa and the Dakotas...neither of which is hard to do in a full day's hunting.

My turn to agree with Further North on this statement. No large groups for me, I'd rather have more dogs than hunters. Watching the dog work is 90% of the hunt for me. If I wanted meat I'd buy a chicken. I'm retired, I only hunt weekdays, hunt hard and hunt often. I know this thread started with [what gun]. 20 yrs ago I wanted all the firepower I could carry. Now, if I can't kill it with my Benelli 20ga today, I'll get him tomorrow or the next day. Eventually that bird will sit for a point and I won't miss him again. Enjoy your hunt.

[reddog111]

I must be taking a knife to a gun fight. For the last twenty five years I have been using a 4/10 to shoot all my phesants. 7-1/2 early in the season and 5s later when it's colder and I am slower. The gun is a double barrel bored skeet and improved. All birds are shot over good pointing dogs so there aren't many long shots.

[Further North]

I must be taking a knife to a gun fight. For the last twenty five years I have been using a 4/10 to shoot all my phesants. 7-1/2 early in the season and 5s later when it's colder and I am slower. The gun is a double barrel bored skeet and improved. All birds are shot over good pointing dogs so there aren't many long shots.

I used to do that...go out hunting for woodcock and pheasant, shoot the woodcock with one barrel, let any pheasants that got up have both of them.

Works well, if you constrain yourself to very close shots!

[T Mac]

My "light" shotgun is a Benelli M-1 Super 90 in 20 ga. (3" capable) and it doesn't kick.
I like it especially for hiking rough country.

[Further North]

Sweet gun 'specially in 20 gauge.

[stinkycat]

For upland I shoot a Berreta 686 Onyx. I have had that shotgun since the Super bowl was in the Metrodome. I won a trip to the Super bowl and sold the tickets and purchased a shotgun. Boy am I happy some 17+ years later. I was out in the Dakotas last week and I realized again why I like this shotgun..... it fits me and I have shot a ton of shells through it. My back up is a Browning 2000 auto which was my Grandfathers. I believe it was made back in the late 70's to early 80's. In my humble & limited opinion, it is one of the nicest shooting autos out there. Its lightweight, compared to other autos, and handles wonderfully. This shotgun was all I shot for about 8-10 years. I also have a early 70's Rem 870 wingmaster. This is the shotgun I grew up with and shot 1000's of round through. It all comes down to finding the shotgun that fits you and your style best and then practice, practice, practice. IMHO

Also: My first two years of waterfowling when I was 10-11 years old was with a .410 single shot. I downed a lot of ducks & geese with that gun. Wished I still had it today.

[SLE]

I haven't seen the OP actually comeback and state his desired style of hunting so I'll throw mine in the mix also. I have been through multiple pumps, and few autos. My typical year approaches a 100 birds a season (30-40 days a field) in North Dakota. Typically I hunt with 1-2 others and ocasionaly 3, each whom also unt more than I do. We all run Brittney's (pointing dogs) and we rarely hunt with one another, normally once we leave the truck we don't see each other untill returning to the truck or crossing pathes out in the field. We hunt wide open CRP with sloughs 90% of the time and very little treed areas.

Myself and one 2 of the others all shoot Benelli Ultra Light's, the odd man out shoots a Beretta. The primary reason we gravitated toward this gun is the 6lb weight of a 12 Ga. 3" chambered gun. Something in year's past you could only do in smaller Gauge guns. All three of us absolutely love this gun, but remember we cover wide open territory by the miles and more often than not we walk for 3-4 hours between breaks to move to another spot. The weight of this gun will save the dreaded shoulder pain of carrying a gun for hours on end. It does however have more recoil than other auto's I have shot but much of this was remidied with a Sims Limbsaver Recoil Pad. This was a must add for me as the stock was a little short and I found myself pulling the trigger without having the gun fully bedded to my shoulder, you want to talk about recoil pain, try that out with some 1 5/8 oz 5's! After adding the recoild pad, which lengthened the stock about 1/2", made this gun not ony a joy to carry but also to shoot.

Now as far as shells go, rarely does does anything less than 1 3/8 oz go through my gun in the field primarely due to the wild birds, long shots sometimes approaching 50+ yards, and later season tough birds (heck in Dec and Jan I even use 1 5/8 ozer's occasionally). I agree with the others on having that third shot. I probably only use it on a fresh bird a few times a season however I can't even count the number of times it has been used to finish off a winged/crippled bird. I also have never lost a close bird that was shot to hard! With a little patience and control even the birds that comes out over point can be harvested without destrying them and on the plus side when loaded a little heavy, you have all the time in the world to take that shot within the effective range. There's no need to hurry your shot.

Still, the singe largest factor when choosing a gun is fit! I looked at lots of beretta's and the benelli just seemed to pull up better for me! The one guy that shoots the beretta shoots it for that very reason, it just fits him better than the rest. Pick the gun that fits you the best formost and the one you can live with in the field secondary. If an O/U is what you like and what fits you and your style of hunting, then that's the gun to carry! There are entirely to many factors to chose a gun for someone else, not every body needs a 12 Ga, or 3" capacity, or 3 shells, or or or or. I think you get the point!

Good luck and have fun.