Small bore/gauge shotguns

Will Power

Will Power

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Jan 18, 2007
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I have little experience with shotguns (apart from nearly being dislocated by an old 12 bore when a teenager, the KICK..) I would like to get a 20 bore pump action shotgun, what would you suggest and why? I've heard good reports on Browning 20 ga but what about others? What should I be aware of,drawbacks etc? Small pest control is the task. (Snakes, rats, hares, mink etc)
 
willgoy said:
....Small pest control is the task. (Snakes, rats, hares, mink etc)
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Nothing mentioned there that a well placed .410 shell won't deal with. IMHO, even that may be overkill for everything up to "hare" sized game....and get some instruction from somebody familiar with firearms. An inexpensive single shot like those offered from NEF / H&R would serve you fine.
 
If you've only fired a shotgun once and the recoil bothered you that doesn't prove you're a wimp. Most likely you didn't have the stock solidly braced against your shoulder. Is there a gun club or skeet range or something like that nearby where you can give it another try? I'd bet money if you can get somebody with experience to show you how to do it you'll have no problem at all with 12-gauge field loads -- not that you need a 12 gauge, but I think you'll find recoil is not as much of an issue as you think.
 
willgoy said:
I have little experience with shotguns (apart from nearly being dislocated by an old 12 bore when a teenager, the KICK..) I would like to get a 20 bore pump action shotgun, what would you suggest and why? I've heard good reports on Browning 20 ga but what about others? What should I be aware of,drawbacks etc? Small pest control is the task. (Snakes, rats, hares, mink etc)
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If all you want is a pest control gun and don't plan on any trap or skeet, or sporting clays, then I second the .410 and a New England firearms break open. If you are going to do a bit of hunting but no clay bird sports, then the same gun in a 20 or 28 gauge would still do.
 
I've had a Mossberg 20 for years and had no issues. If you get yourself a good pump action 20ga., it could double for home defense use.
 
shotgunner11 said:
I've had a Mossberg 20 for years and had no issues. If you get yourself a good pump action 20ga., it could double for home defense use.
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Aha! That could be, but I've always suspected pump action needs a lot of practice and training?
 
Not at all. You naturally use your hand on the pump to help press the gun into your shoulder, and when you fire that unlocks the pump and it begins to move seemingly by itself -- then you just complete the motion. It's very natural; doesn't require practice at all. The only problem is if you handle it gingerly because you're afraid you'll break it. Don't worry about breaking it -- you couldn't if you tried. Slam the heck out of it and it will always function.

That advice about slamming it is for pump guns and bolt guns, by the way -- NOT for lever action rifles or swing-cylinder revolvers or break-action guns.
 
jav200dc said:
Nothing mentioned there that a well placed .410 shell won't deal with. IMHO, even that may be overkill for everything up to "hare" sized game....and get some instruction from somebody familiar with firearms. An inexpensive single shot like those offered from NEF / H&R would serve you fine.
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I'll third this recommendation. I have one of their .410 single shots with a full choke. Mighty fun little firearm, and a ton of satisfaction when you can break a clay with one of those.
 
H&R/NEF, although they are inexpensive, sturdy, and reliable guns, they will knock you the hell around since they are so light.

If you've grown at all since you were a teenager, you might be able to take a 12 gauge a little better now. Also, a properly fitting gun with a correct stance makes a hell of a lot of difference. Semiautos also have magical recoil reduction effects.

Ithaca, Remington, and Mossberg all make good shotguns as well.

My favorite is the Ithica Model 37, though. It's one of the smoothest pumping shotguns out there. Also, it was mostly designed by John Moses Browning.
 
jav200dc said:
Nothing mentioned there that a well placed .410 shell won't deal with. IMHO, even that may be overkill for everything up to "hare" sized game....
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I agree. If you can get a .410 over/under with a .22 Long Rifle on top, you've got something nice.

20 guage might be overkill for what you're doing.

.
 
kozak6 said:
H&R/NEF, although they are inexpensive, sturdy, and reliable guns, they will knock you the hell around since they are so light.

If you've grown at all since you were a teenager, you might be able to take a 12 gauge a little better now. Also, a properly fitting gun with a correct stance makes a hell of a lot of difference. Semiautos also have magical recoil reduction effects.
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Don't forget two things--

There are some TOP quality recoil pads that actually work, nowadays, instead of making the problem worse.

Using a mercury recoil reducer in tandem with a good recoil pad can reduce felt recoil up to 50%, which if the shooter was using light bird loads, would not be unpleasant in 12 ga at all.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
As others have pointed out you don't need a 12 gauge for your intended purpose, but I wouldn't give up on the 12 gauge. Like Cougar said you probably didn't have the stock braced right. You really have to own that gun and lean in to it otherwise it will beat you up. The recoil is not bad if you do it right. Last bit of advice - don't short stroke the pump - rack it all the way back.

if you really are recoil sensitive you might want to consider a gas operated auto which has less felt recoil.
 
Single shots are a nice choice, New england and rossi, both make very inexpensive 20 ga with barrells that can be exchanged for other calibers, like 22 LR 224, etc.

If you want a pump I love remingtons 870 model or the mossberg 500, both are really reliable, and easy to get parts and excessories for.

I also agree that you should not give up on the 12 ga. its the single most popular shotgun round for a reason. I would bet your earlier problems were user error and poor instruction.

This is not an insult by the way I have been shooting shotguns for 15 years and managed to bang my shoulder pretty bad a couple years ago because I was timid with a single shot 12 guage and diddnt hold it tightly enough.
 
Thanks for all your valuable advice, I'm not at all insulted about your suggestions or about my adolescent fiasco.But guns as we know, must be respected and not used badly. I'll see about some training, most taken by the single shot idea or a 20 pump still, whatever, I suspect that there will be more than one gun in the collection very soon....that old collector madness gets loose again, yes!
 
Kohai999 said:
Don't forget two things--

There are some TOP quality recoil pads that actually work, nowadays, instead of making the problem worse.

Using a mercury recoil reducer in tandem with a good recoil pad can reduce felt recoil up to 50%, which if the shooter was using light bird loads, would not be unpleasant in 12 ga at all.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
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I'd add a third. Proper stock length. I've always found stocks on adult guns to be too long; where as, Bantam / Youth / Tactical stocks with their shorter length of pull fit and feel much better (including recoil perception).
 
I have been checking out the Springfield pilots survival rifle as a small game and vermin gun. It is a single shot over under with a 22 and 410. barrel.
 
Unsub said:
I have been checking out the Springfield pilots survival rifle as a small game and vermin gun. It is a single shot over under with a 22 and 410. barrel.
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I have looked into that survival gun too and it is very appealing! Only problem is how can I find a friendly gun-dealer in the US who would be nice enough to post me one to the EU:D and how to keep the prying eyes of the customs' boys&girls off it;) sigh....Really looks like a handy lightweight weapon too. 410 shells or even 28bore difficult to get here 20 bore not that easy either and 12 will end up blowing everything to a messy pulp :barf: Anybody got experiences of cheap shotguns like Baikal, Stöger or Turkish guns? Buying guns outside the US is none too easy, you have such a vast arsenal of excellent and reasonably priced guns, if only...:rolleyes:
 
The great days of youth wandering the maize fields with my Winchester .410 going for guinefowl and francolin. Managed a puffadder and my fairshare of doves.

Loved that 410.
 
For a cheap solution you can head down to walmart where they have a .410 break open with a 3" full choke by NEF. I got mine for about a hundred bucks. Very solid gun. :thumbup:
 
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