Recommend me a 20 Bore

Coming back to shooting after 30 years and things have changed - especially the number of O/U. I always shot with a s/s but tried an O/U once and found it hugely bulky and heavy - guess things have changed now.

I will be visiting a shooting ground for refresher training, to get my eye back in and try a few different guns , but I'd still like a short list of ones that might be suitable.

I have decided for a number of reasons that I'd prefer 20 bore and looking for recommendations.

Will be mainly used for clays and occasional game. Seems that most modern guns (clay?) have multi interchangeable chokes, which do NOT appeal to me at old - Sorry bit old school but that's my choice.

I guess that for guns with fixed choke you'd be looking at "sporting" as opposed to clay/trap?

I don't remember general shooting have lots of different interchangeable chokes 30 years ago!

Given that O/U will have developed alot over the last 30 odd years, I'm open minded about O/U. Must be ejector. Budget - up to £5k

Another thing that will have changed is the number of options in the world over O/U's. Even in twenty-bore (a lot less common) there's a world to explore. Have a look on Guntrader, select 20 bore, O/U (or side by side) and the world is your oyster. Brands I'd look at given what I know or have heard in terms of reliability and value-for-money would be Browning, Caesar Guerini, Beretta. There's a good looking 20 Bore CG Maxum among the first results if you limit the range to max 5K, at 4.750 and it isn't bad to look at. Way more important is how the gun fits you, feels to you, and how well you shoot it. Get out there, get back into shooting and try as many guns as you can get your hands on. Several well-known retailers are on shooting grounds (or vice versa) so take your time and compare before you buy.

As for the choke-thing: I'd venture its wholly irrelevant. If you don't want to change chokes, then don't. Nowadays you are likely limiting your options if you are fixed (haha) on not having interchangeables, so my advice would be to have them and just "set and forget" your favorite combination and leave it at that. The only downside would be that you will have to clean them occasionally, but the upside is that you will have more flexibility and can transition to steel when the need arises (and better resale value at that).

If I was to buy a new 20 bore sxs, I'd probably go for a Beretta 486 parallelo (given the 5K budget) but again there are a lot of options out there.

I’ve had a number of 20 (and 28 bores).

CG Maxum 32” was a fantastic gun, but it was a multi choke. Mine was an early one and cost 2k brand new !

Stock was a bit low - but an Isis leather comb raiser fixed that.

Obvious other choices would be Browning/Beretta.

Not so obvious - Rizzini; and you might get a fixed choke one.

Find a nice used Miroku MK60 grade 5 universal sporter in 20gauge . It will come with a 3” chambers and 1/4 & 3/4 fixed chokes , 30 “ barrels and a white front and mid bead . It has a hard plastic butt plate not a rubber pad , and it makes a great game gun , but also very useable on clays . As a fixed choke gun it will not come proofed for steel shot , but in the future easing the 3/4 choke will make it suitable for use with a standard steel load . The gun is also available as a ‘ high pheasant ‘ model with 32” barrels and a slightly different stock configuration .

While you don’t want a multichoke , consider that with steel shot coming you may want to experiment with choke, and a Teague conversion leaves the gun visually unchanged , same lovely slim barrels , that made the gun good in the first place .

They are a bit of a unicorn gun , as once you’ve got one you’re not going to sell it in a hurry , so might take a bit of finding .

About 4 years ago I bought a 12 month old one for £2200 , then spent about £1000 having it fitted and Teague converted .

Note the replacement for this gun is the MK Game , which has Invector plus multichokes as standard , therefore the heavier thicker muzzles with a bit of a swage .. I’ve been having a look on Gun Trader the MK60 20g GD5 is priced between £2300 -£3000 used .

I would go miroku or browning in a 20 bore. They're just that little bit heavier than a beretta and they shoot really nicely, some models are also available in 32" if you want a real weapon. Loads of options of sporter or game models, multi or fixed choke etc. Have a look at a Browning B525, B725 or Miroku mk60, mk70, mkgame etc.

Thanks for the tips Gents. Have a better understanding of MC now so they're probably not as off putting as I'd originally thought.

+1 for a grade 5 miroku, probably mk70 and clean the chokes once in a while

sich1 said:

+1 for a grade 5 miroku, probably mk70 and clean the chokes once in a while

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Canopy_Locked said:

Coming back to shooting after 30 years and things have changed - especially the number of O/U. I always shot with a s/s but tried an O/U once and found it hugely bulky and heavy - guess things have changed now.

I will be visiting a shooting ground for refresher training, to get my eye back in and try a few different guns , but I'd still like a short list of ones that might be suitable.

I have decided for a number of reasons that I'd prefer 20 bore and looking for recommendations.

Will be mainly used for clays and occasional game. Seems that most modern guns (clay?) have multi interchangeable chokes, which do NOT appeal to me at old - Sorry bit old school but that's my choice.

I guess that for guns with fixed choke you'd be looking at "sporting" as opposed to clay/trap?

I don't remember general shooting have lots of different interchangeable chokes 30 years ago!

Given that O/U will have developed alot over the last 30 odd years, I'm open minded about O/U. Must be ejector. Budget - up to £5k

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Hi iv had a rizzini premier sporter 20 bore , 32inch and they do a 34 inch barrel . steel proof chokes Fantastic bit of kit . I used for game and clays . The only thing I had to do was get trigger lightend as I do with all my guns. the importers are ASI Edward king just have a look it doesn’t cost anything to look good luck

If you are coming from sxs then I’d look to beretta as slimmer in action and grip, you may be able to find a good used eell for 5k

Canopy_Locked said:

Thanks for the tips Gents. Have a better understanding of MC now so they're probably not as off putting as I'd originally thought.

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good thinking, as Martyn B said set it and forget it . . . but bear in mind that the day when we'll all have to use steel shot is approaching then you'll need to reset it and forget it again because steel patterns tighter than lead shot. Having multi-chokes you will at least have the option

Curious as to how you'll get on and whether a modern O/U will appeal at all, and if not what SxS will take to your heart.

Luke_(NL) said:

Curious as to how you'll get on and whether a modern O/U will appeal at all, and if not what SxS will take to your heart.

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Thanks - I will update as it always ticks me off on forums when someone doesn't update after they've asked for advice. Might be a few more weeks yet ... the Firearms office was happy and indicated it'd probably be a couple of weeks left to wait.. but not holding my breath !!

Again out of interest , what has made you consider a 20g as your weapon of choice ? I have 12 and 20 , but I see the 12 as a much more universal tool , with the benefit of ammunition being significantly cheaper ( for example a 1000 mid range clay 12g , 24gm , typically around £275, in 20g they are around £330 ). My 20 comes out on days when there might be five miles of walking , and saving a pound in weight is a blessing .

No harm in trying a 20 bore but i would be inclined to spend £2k or so leaving you the option to move (or add) to a 12 at a later date.

From the age of 10 - 19 I shot exclusively with a 28g (walked up / driven game) the reason I switched to a 12g when I was 19 was that I really needed one with an ejector as slow reloading was an issue, especially on a fast moving driven partridge or pheasants. Coming back to shooting after a long gap, I fondly remember my 28 and I think I would prefer the smaller 20g over the 12.

I will, of course, try 12g again, especially as the O/U back in the day were probably vastly different to modern guns.

I don't have an immovable opinion but I do like a lighter gun.

If you're mainly going to be shooting clays rather than game, then I'd seriously reconsider and get a 12g over a 20g.

As MartynB has already mentioned, 12g ammo significantly cheaper than 20g. As a 20g gun is normally lighter than a 12g, the felt recoil is also going to be higher on a 20.
For the gun feeling bulky, something with a Schnabel or sporting forend and a thinner stock is going to feel less bulky than a gun with a trap/beavertail style forend. I'm a big lump, and if I compare a 32" Browning XS Pro to a 32" Blaser F3 or F16, the Blasers to me, feel tiny in comparison.
Also what some people consider to be a heavy gun over another one isn't always the overall weight, it's the weight distribution. When mounted, a barrel heavy gun will feel heavier than one that balances between the hands (balances on the hinge pin). Most people prefer a gun that is centrally balanced or slightly stock heavy.

Daz W said:

If you're mainly going to be shooting clays rather than game, then I'd seriously reconsider a 12g over a 20g.

As MartynB has already mentioned, 12g ammo significantly cheaper than 20g. As a 20g gun is normally lighter than a 12g, the felt recoil is also going to be higher on a 20.
For the gun feeling bulky, something with a Schnabel or sporting forend and a thinner stock is going to feel less bulky than a gun with a trap/beavertail style forend. I'm a big lump, and if I compare a 32" Browning XS Pro to a 32" Blaser F3 or F16, the Blasers to me, feel tiny in comparison.
Also what some people consider to be a heavy gun over another one isn't always the overall weight, it's the weight distribution. When mounted, a barrel heavy gun will feel heavier than one that balances between the hands (balances on the hinge pin). Most people prefer a gun that is centrally balanced or slightly stock heavy.

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These are good points, especially the recoil which was something I was aware of. I will certainly be trying a number of 12g. The Blaser F16 (12 & 20) is one that's on my list along with the other main manufacturers.

I just have a recollection of "Bulk" when I have once tried an O/U and I didn't like it.

Thinking about it, I've really only shot with 3 shotguns - ancient .410 hammer; AYA 28; AYA 12; occasionally my Dads Holland & Holland 12g (now sadly out of proof with very worn barrels) so I guess I have a bit of catching up to do in the experience stakes!!

Anyway I have open mind so will report in a couple of months.

It would be very hard nowadays to find a quality over and under gun that wasn’t an ejector , I’ve been caught empty two weekends running ( with an ejector ! ) , so I get the need for fast reloading if birds are flushing . At the end of the day if you’re not going to shoot clays competitively , you’re going to make the choice with your heart and gauge won’t be any real detriment to having fun . Enjoy the next few months window shopping and here’s hoping your certificate arrives promptly!

Ps guns designated Sporting or Sporter , are clay guns and new ones will generally have multichokes ,

guns designated as Game or Field will be lighter .

Well.. that didn't take long! Booked a refresher session with an instructor down at Seals Cove for today - and it went well - seems I've not totally forgotten how to shoot. Was using a stock Browning which personally I found a bit heavy, but it did the business.

On the way back north I stopped into Sloans of Inverurie - I said I was only window shopping but even so Graham was super friendly and helpful and we handled and discussed a number of guns. There was a 12g (can't remember make) with a recoil stock that I really liked ...... right up to the second I picked up a pre-owned 20g Berretta. The 20 went back on the shelf and off again half a dozen times and despite my determination not to buy the 1st gun I liked, it just handled and felt way, way better than any of the others.

Needless to say I have the will power of a gnat and so I left with a lovely little gun - Berretta S687 EELL Diamond Pidgeon.

Good choice!