The American Beagler Forum

All I have are 12 gauges and wanted to get 20 gauge for rabbit hunting. What do you guys think about a cheap single shot instead of a pump. I have my eye on an ithaca 20g pump, but they are so pricey, was thinking instead of just picking up a single from NEF or H&R. What do you guys use and like?

if you can afford a ithaca buy it my great grandfather had one and its been past down through the gen my dad has it and its a awesome gun but i recently bought a rem 80 express 20 for like 240 brand new and its a great gun

The Ithaca 37 in a 20 is SWEEEEEEEET , I used a S&W 1000 in 20 for years with a slug bbl and it was very lite and handled great. A lot of the "Older" hunters prefer the side by side. The single shots are nice BUT you will find they are usually HEAVIER and have longer bbl's that make they a little clumsy to carry.

Thanx,
Jim

I would go with the pump, can't beat the 870 in price and versatility with choke tube. I got my son a Rossi single in 20 it shoots great one handed or sholdered. I'm gonna use a single shot late season after my freezer is reasonable stocked.

i have an H&R 20 gauge single shot i use once in a while for hares i love that gun it was my first gun, my dad bought it for me when i was 10 and that was twenty years ago and its still my favorite gun i would never sell it. its light to carry when your walking all day and i have never had a problem with it.

I had carried Remington 870 pump guns in both 12 and 20 gauge for years and loved them.I recently bought a over and under in 20 Ga. imported and sold by Remington.It is made in Russia by Bakal.I checked out the gun reports on it and it came pretty well recommened.I love the gun.With only two shots I find I'm a lot more selective than I was with the pump gun.It's fairly short and easy to carry.I put a sling on all my rabbit hunting shotguns.
I got it at Dick's Sporting goods on sale for $369.00.

I have a winchester pump with choke tobs full mod and improved i uses the mod. in the first season and the full the second seasons for longer shots as the brush starts to get nocked down and can see the rabbits out a little farther away. I changed the sight to opticle to see better.

I recently bought a over and under in 20 Ga. imported and sold by Remington.

Ive been thinking about one of those "cheaper" o/u's for a year or two now but cant make up my mind. Does the Bakal have selective triggers and does it kick the shell out or do you have to pull it out?

I have a Rem. 870 exp. Youth model. I like the shorter barrel- makes for easier handling in the rough stuff & lighter weight, (& easier to handle if you have alot of clothes on) & I put a sling on it, so it's easy to pack it around. I have found though that a pump isn't a necessity, you don't always have time for a quick second shot. I didn't want a double barrel cuz I want to keep the weight down. Plus I have the option of diff. chokes. And, it's not a hi-fi gun, so it's not a big deal if it gets scratched up, & it will!

Anyone shoot Tristar's Over/Unders? If so what's the opinion?

My wife gave me a Mossberg Silver reserve o/u as a gift in 20 gauge, and I must say it is a really nice gun, I can't seem to miss with it. Its short, light and points and shoots really well for the price it is a beautiful gun. I think she paid $469 for it a few years ago...........DH

All you need is a single shot 20ga .They are only rabbits ,fragile .........I hunt with a single 20 hammer cock ,rossi .If you put the bead on the head you have a dead rabbit .I hunt with a few guys that still at the ages of 48 and mid 50's get rabbit fever when they see a rabbit they start yelling and pointing the gun and shaking then it goes to cussing after they miss with their pump 12 gauges and 1 even carries a few 3 inch magnums (for a rabbit mind ya )I think a lot of these fellas but thats just not my bag .Id rather let em run .

Ark wrote:

I recently bought a over and under in 20 Ga. imported and sold by Remington.

Ive been thinking about one of those "cheaper" o/u's for a year or two now but cant make up my mind. Does the Bakal have selective triggers and does it kick the shell out or do you have to pull it out?

the baikal has a single trigger i believe the first shot is the bottom barrel and then the 2nd shot is the top barrel and yes after you shoot it will kick the shells out that have been shot so if you only shot once and you break open the gun to reload only the bottom shell will kick out.

You're right the Remington / Baikal SPR 310 [ I believe earlier models were called "SPARTAN"] are a single trigger.In regular operation the bottom barrel fires first then the top.When you load and close the gun you can push the trigger forward and you will hear a click.Now the top barrel will fire first then the bottom.It also has an adjustment that is really simple on the ejectors.Have them at one setting and they will pop a fired shell right out of the barrel-turn a little nut half a turn and now it will only lift your shell up so you can grasp it.Someone told me this is for the guys that shoot trap and save their hulls for reloading so they don't have to bend down to pick them up or chase after them.
When you talk about o/u's I'd always wanted one but never was going to pay the $1,500.-- $2,000 for a Browning Citori or a Ruger Red Label.The Remington/Baikal,Stoeger,Mossberg and Ithaca o/u's are definetly at the lower end for that type of gun and you'll find that the shotgun trap shooting competitors won't recommend them.But for a rabbit shagger like myself I love the gun.I did a google search on all of them in that price range $370. [on sale at Dick's]---$450 and the Remington and Stoeger both had good reports.The others not as good from what i read.

I like my little New England single 410 for a brush gun. It is light and compact and ejects the spent round, doesn't tear them up if I make a bad shot either. I used a .22 for years and went back to it last year and continued this year. I have been looking around at gun shows for an O/U .22/20ga and can't find one at the right price, but that would be my ideal bunny blaster.