20 g O/U Considerations

[Expat]

Some of you were helpful with talking me into a 16g Citori last year, so I thought I would consult with you all again. By the way really like the 16 that I got.

So if I am going to get a 20, should I stick with another Citori for consistency. For some reason I was looking at a Beretta. this will likely get used by grandkids when I take them out as they are starting in the sport.

will I then be required to get a 28g if I get this?

 

[Leo]

YES!!! You NEED, you DESERVE, and it is your DUTY to buy a 20 gauge Beretta O/U shotgun. A 28 gauge is proof that you understand. I really enjoy my White Onxy Beretta 20, one of the cheaper models. Good guns are not cheap, but they last multiple lifetimes.

 

[thunderchicken]

IMHO Browning and Beretta shotguns fit very differently. I have heard it said that one is more designed for people with a more oval or elongated face and the other seems to fit people with a more rounded face better.

Since clearly you already like the Citori, I'd say look at the Citori CXS In 20g. My daughter has one and if I were ever inclined to buy a 20g, that's exactly what I would be looking at.

 

[BigRed]

Some of you were helpful with talking me into a 16g Citori last year, so I thought I would consult with you all again. By the way really like the 16 that I got.

So if I am going to get a 20, should I stick with another Citori for consistency. For some reason I was looking at a Beretta. this will likely get used by grandkids when I take them out as they are starting in the sport.

will I then be required to get a 28g if I get this?

Getting a 28 gauge is not required... it's purely a matter of free will.

There are MANY great shotguns out there, but when it comes to field guns that are actually used for hunting, a Browning Citori remains my favorite.

 

[Twangbanger]

Now you're getting down to the bore size where ya needz ta turn them barrels around sideways.

Indiana Gun Club had a Merkel 147 for sale...pleez buy it do I don't have to.

 

[thunderchicken]

Now you're getting down to the bore size where ya needz ta turn them barrels around sideways.

Indiana Gun Club had a Merkel 147 for sale...pleez buy it do I don't have to.

I do admit especially for Upland bird hunting, I very much enjoy a SxS.

 

[Expat]

IMHO Browning and Beretta shotguns fit very differently. I have heard it said that one is more designed for people with a more oval or elongated face and the other seems to fit people with a more rounded face better.

Since clearly you already like the Citori, I'd say look at the Citori CXS In 20g. My daughter has one and if I were ever inclined to buy a 20g, that's exactly what I would be looking at.

That is what I was wondering about, how different the fit would be between the two. if it would be hard going back and forth between them.

 

[cg21]

Some of you were helpful with talking me into a 16g Citori last year, so I thought I would consult with you all again. By the way really like the 16 that I got.

So if I am going to get a 20, should I stick with another Citori for consistency. For some reason I was looking at a Beretta. this will likely get used by grandkids when I take them out as they are starting in the sport.

will I then be required to get a 28g if I get this?

Depends greatly what sport and how old the grandkids are. My kids are 7&11 and finding shotguns for them is a nightmare. If it is light enough it recoils too much if it is heavy to absorb recoil they can’t shoulder it lol

 

[thunderchicken]

Depends greatly what sport and how old the grandkids are. My kids are 7&11 and finding shotguns for them is a nightmare. If it is light enough it recoils too much if it is heavy to absorb recoil they can’t shoulder it lol

That's a good point. The biggest obstacle with buying a shotgun for a kid to shoot and hunt with is they're still growing. Gun fit is important for good shooting but they grow quickly and unless they're are shooting competition it may not be quite as important.
Lighter loads help mitigate recoil for kids and recoil sensitive people.
If I were buying a shotgun for a kid it would be hard to not heavily consider a Beretta semi auto with their Kickoff recoil reduction system. But gas guns are pretty soft shooting anyway.
There are a number of options with reduced length stocks.

When I was a kid learning to shoot dad refused to buy anything in reduced length because he knew I would grow into it. Gun fit sucked but my desire to shoot made me adapt to make it work. Now with my daughter, I had to go with reduced length because I knew she wouldn't grow into anything I had.

 

[BigRed]

I do admit especially for Upland bird hunting, I very much enjoy a SxS.

I picked up a SxS for bird hunting a while back....have to agree!

 

[bgcatty]

20 gauge go Beretta or Browning. They will last forever and you can hand them down to your children’s children.

 

[penguinship]

Have you considered tubes?

 

[Limpy88]

You can get berreta or browning in
20ga & 28ga combos. Or triples, 410 barrel
Or even matching set guns too.
Hard to go wrong with either.
A field berreta is a really different feel than a competition beretta.
Browning citori field or competition feel the same.

You can find used stocks for both of them cheap and cut them down for kids.

28ga is a hard one to justify unless you just want to add to a collection. The ammo is harder to find and more expensive. I shoot alot of 28ga, but for competition. So I reload.
I find 20ga is a more versatile cartridge. I can load it like a 28ga @ 3/4 oz or a 12ga at 1oz.

 

[Limpy88]

Have you considered tubes?

I have shot tubes since 2011. They add too much weight at the end of the gun for youth to use.

 

[Huzrjim]

I have a Beretta 690 Field in 20ga. Lightweight, easy to swing and point, a very nice bird gun.

 

[Expat]

You can get berreta or browning in
20ga & 28ga combos. Or triples, 410 barrel
Or even matching set guns too.
Hard to go wrong with either.
A field berreta is a really different feel than a competition beretta.
Browning citori field or competition feel the same.

You can find used stocks for both of them cheap and cut them down for kids.

28ga is a hard one to justify unless you just want to add to a collection. The ammo is harder to find and more expensive. I shoot alot of 28ga, but for competition. So I reload.
I find 20ga is a more versatile cartridge. I can load it like a 28ga @ 3/4 oz or a 12ga at 1oz.

I should look into the combination 20/28 more. Thanks.

 

[wisboy]

I have forsaken all my old 12 G scatterguns, Superposed , Model 12's ,etc in favor of 20 G scattergun. However, I now shoot almost exclusively 28 G ...the 28 G is always overlooked . It is a hard hitting, fast swinging lightweight scattergun. I shoot several , 28G Merkel 280EL SXS, Franchi 48 AL Beretta.
Don't overlook the 28.

 

[thunderchicken]

I have forsaken all my old 12 G scatterguns, Superposed , Model 12's ,etc in favor of 20 G scattergun. However, I now shoot almost exclusively 28 G ...the 28 G is always overlooked . It is a hard hitting, fast swinging lightweight scattergun. I shoot several , 28G Merkel 280EL SXS, Franchi 48 AL Beretta.
Don't overlook the 28.

Just depends on the shooter and what the gun is being used for. Nothing wrong with a 20g or 28g if it trips your trigger.
I've said it before that other than overall gun weight, I don't see any real reason for anything but a 12g. It's more about using a load tailored for what you're doing. Where the sub gauge guns shine is when you have to carry them all day long.

 

[Remington 90T]

Depending on what your grand kids will be shooting? We have 150 high school kids shooting this year, many start out with a 20 gauge, and all move up to a 12 gauge -Club gets shells cheaper for the 12 gauge .a good 12 gauge youth model that is adjustable and start them of with 950 FPS shell is what I recommend if they are going to shootin the youth shooting sports program.

 

[KJQ6945]

I’ll probably be the odd man out here.

When I got into skeet shooting, then sporting clays, then hunting…. I was generally shooting a Citori in 12g. I’ve had several, and a few Red Labels.

When I started working a dog, I got tired of the weight of a Citori. On opening weekend, Citori on Friday, SKB 20g on Saturday, and probably an 870 .410 by Sunday.
Working the dog, I’m not taking many shots. I’m setting others up to take the shot.

I love Citoris, but they are heavy, and not made for walking more than one day, For an old guy.