experienced opions

[SlugHunter]

I just got into bird hunting last year and i really enjoy it. My only problem is my gun, its to heavy. Im shooting a 1100 remington 12 gauge. Ive heard people say Browning, Frinchi, and Benilli are best. What do you guys think and what gauge would be best?

[grouseguy]

If you're packing around an 1100 12 gauge, I agree that you are packing a gun that weighs probably 1.5 to 2.0 lbs more than necessary or comfortable. I personally prefer to bird hunt with a 20 gauge, and primarily shoot a Beretta 686 silver pigeon over/under that weighs a little over 6 lbs. If you can offer a price range and action type (pump, auto, o/u, sxs) that you prefer, I can offer some suggestions.

For a good all around shotgun, my son shoots a Franchi AL-48 (auto) in 20 gauge that weighs 5.5 lbs and retails for about $500.00 new, but I found his gun used in "as new" condition for $395.00.

[GSP]

I shoot a 12 ga Browning Gold Hunter. I love this gun and plan on shooting it till either it or me falls apart.
20's are plenty of gun and lighter, I have just always liked a 12.

Slughunter, where you from and what birds are you chasing?
What kinda dogs you running?

Edited by - gsp on 08/20/2002 7:51:39 PM

[SlugHunter]

As for action of gun I like an auto, but if i can find a good sxs that would also work. Well price range, as least as I can get by with, but horefully no more than say $700.00 to $800.00. If i choose a 20 gauge does it need to shoot 3in shells?

[SlugHunter]

I live in Corbin and bird hunt 3 large farms in south western Whitley county. My dog(smoke) is a 1 1/2 year old english setter. Only birds i've had a chance to hunt are quail and dove. I know what your thinkin "There arent many quail to hunt" but on 2 of the farms i hunt there are amazing numbers of quail. Next year i would like to plan a trip to north dakota for woodcock or grouse.

[perrymax]

I bought an 1100 out of a pawn shop 15 years ago,when I got out of the Navy.It shoots better than any shotgun I've shot.I took it apart when I bought it and the back of the reciever was packed full of feathers!!!Me personaay,I want to look at my shotgun and see "made in the USA",not Japan or Italy.

[perrymax]

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I bought an 1100 out of a pawn shop 15 years ago,when I got out of the Navy.It shoots better than any shotgun I've shot.I took it apart when I bought it and the back of the reciever was packed full of feathers!!!Me personally,I want to look at my shotgun and see "made in the USA",not Japan or Italy.


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[grouseguy]

SlugHunter, you should have several options in that price range for autos. The benelli is probably $200 over your range, but is an excellent auto and lightweight. Maybe you can locate a good used one in that price range, try gunsamerica.com. Beretta has a new auto model 391 that may work, but I've not handled one, and they also have an older model that was the predessor of the 391 called the A303. I own one of these in the 20 gauge "upland special" configuation that weighs about 6.5 lbs and has a straight english stock. When you can find one, they run about $550 - $600 and are excellent bird guns. Also, look into the Franchi that I told you about earlier.

If I were buying a 20 gauge bird gun, I would definately get one chambered for 3" w/barrels and/or choke tubes that handle steel shot, especially if you're planning an out of state trip. Wild pheasants or larger praire birds need that little extra punch that a 3" 20 gauge will deliver and some public areas, especially those that also offer waterfowl hunting, have steel shot restrictions even for upland hunting. I discovered this first hand at a Kansas WMA last year.

Good Luck!

[uplandchessies]

Slughunter,

You mention going to North Dakota for woodcock and grouse. Why? Kentucky has plenty of both, plus North Dakota is on the fringe of the woodcock zone and according to their statistics -- none have been harvested in years. You would be better off heading to Michigan or Wisconsin if you want to chase woodcock and grouse out-of-state. Like I said, Kentucky has plenty of both species and your area should be full of them!



Edited by - uplandchessies on 08/21/2002 3:15:15 PM

[SlugHunter]

Uplandchessies,
I have only been bird hunting actually a little less than a year. I am still new to this and thought a trip to nd would get me several more birds. I have not check into planning a trip a yet, I have been thinking about it. Maybe im not hunting the right kind of places. Could you give a GREENHORN some tips?
THANKS SLUG

[GSP]

If you are looking for pheasant try Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota.
I've only hunted Kansas and I will not be going this year. We went for quail and KY has more quail than KS now.
These other guys can help you on grouse and woodcock states. Eastern KY has some good hunting for grouse.

[uplandchessies]

Here's the run down on the states I've hunted and their species.

Montana-- pheasant, sage grouse, Huns, chukar and sharptails. They also have blue and spruce grouse in the mountains and dove, snipe and waterfowl scattered throughout the state.

Michigan-- woodcock and ruffed grouse. They have pheasant and limited quail, plenty of waterfowl and no season on sharptails and dove.

North Dakota-- pheasant, dove, snipe and waterfowl. Also, Huns, very limited sage grouse and ruffed grouse and no season on prairie chickens.

Nebraska-- prairie chicken, snipe, dove and sharptails. In addition, pheasant, quail, woodcock, waterfowl and limited Huns. I think some ruffed grouse, too.

Iowa-- pheasant. They have quail, woodcock, waterfowl, some ruffed grouse and limited Huns.

Indiana-- woodcock, waterfowl, crow and dove. They have very limited ruffed grouse and some pheasant (mostly put-n-take).

Kentucky-- crow, quail, ruffed grouse, woodcock, dove and waterfowl.

Depending on what you are looking for, there are about 8-10 other species throughout the country.



Edited by - uplandchessies on 08/24/2002 7:11:46 PM

[RutNBuck]

Hey Guys,
I just thought id pass on some info that you may not be aware of..
But our very own uplandchessies has now been chosen to write articles in Retriever Journal among a few other magazines for you upland hunters... so i wanted to take this time to give him a big congrats....

"A wise indian once said,the more you move the less you will see,the less you move the more you will see"

" I live to hunt, but my wife says i may hunting a place to live"

[MULESKINNER]

I haven't shot a lot of "bird" guns, but I sure like my Ruger Red Label O/U in 12 guage. It has a stainless reciever and fairly light weight. You won't get that 3rd shot with an O/U, but theres just something about swinging those stacked barrels around that makes it worth it.
The price is kinda out there but there are several O/U out now for under $800.00.
The way I look at it is: We spend crazy money on clothes, shoes, cars, camo, ATVs, and a whole host of other "perishable" or "semiperishable" items for hunting but our gun is the one thing that will still be around long enough to hand down from one generation to another so why skimp.

I'm not rich by any stretch of the imagination but my number one hobby is hunting so I have some damn fine guns to do it with.

Whatever you choose, do yourself a favor and don't make excuses for not getting what you want.
L A T E R . . .

[mossyhorns]

Congrats, upland!

[Multidigits]

This may not be a good year to go to South Dakota, unless your hunting mainly private ground. A friend generally goes in the second week of their seanson. They hunt the road right-of-ways, which is legal there. But this year, they have a drought and most of those areas have been mowed and baled for the cattle. Cover will be hard to find. At least that's the report he's getting from his people out there.

[uplandchessies]

That is true about South Dakota, but only parts of the state have been extremely dry. A buddy and I will be out there in about three weeks and we will be hunting the National Grasslands, along with spending a couple days in Montana. The info I have received is "good". Lets face it -- a bad trip out there is always better than a great season in most states!



Edited by - uplandchessies on 08/25/2002 7:08:13 PM

[GSP]

Anyone heard a Kansas report? I am not planning on going this year. Last year was very bad.
You never know though. I gotta go somewhere!

[MULESKINNER]

GSP
Pointing Dog Journal just released their fall forcasts.
Kansas isn't looking so good. They have been pretty accurate in the past.
L A T E R . . .