Shotgun Recommendations for Qual Hunting

cbhester · October 23, 2011, 01:14 PM

I have recently became highly interested in getting into qual hunting and have some buddies who ill be going with to learn. Ive been wanting a good over and under shotgun for a while now and was wanting some recommendations on a good over and under to buy and use to qual hunt, or any other type of shotgun that you feel would work better. What guage do most qual hunters use and what is the most common and best suited shotgun for the sport? Also, im looking to stay under $600 if possible. All advice and recommendation is welcome!

hopper810 · October 23, 2011, 01:39 PM

This may help with your O/U questions in your price range.

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/view...?f=14&t=253741

Dave McC · October 23, 2011, 03:06 PM

Quail fanatics I know run strong on 20 gauges. Any gauge will work, but there's a quickness to good 20s that serves well when chasing Mr Bob.

"Good" and "Under $600" do not occur often in the same sentence when talking about O/Us. Still, there's some older Winchester 101s, SKBs and Mirokus,etc, out there.

Look for barrels in the 26-28" range and open chokes.

Shoot a bit of skeet first.

HTH....

B. Lahey · October 23, 2011, 03:52 PM

Dang, what did poor old James Qual ever do to deserve being hunted?

oneounceload · October 23, 2011, 06:38 PM

You had me interested until you said a good O/U and under 600 bucks

Do you want a GOOD O/U, or do you want to stay under 600 bucks? You can't have both

Want a great quail gun? Look for an O/U or SxS in 28 gauge and weighing about 6 pounds or less with barrels at least 28 inches long - you MIGHT then stumble onto something where the balance is not a sewer pipe

BigJimP · October 24, 2011, 01:14 PM

We debate this issue ...of good guns all the time on this forum / but like others advised - you can't look at the gun and know if the barrels will hit to the point of aim ( on some cheap guns they don't / or one is off 12" from the other which is even worse) / on some of the cheaper guns - you have to wonder about the steel / you have to wonder about parts ...especially on guns made in China, Turkey, etc ...where the metallurgy skills are not there...

Browning and Beretta have long set the standards for "good" on O/U's ...and their entry level guns - new - are around $ 1,000. Their higher end guns / that are better - and have some desireable features are $ 3,000 or so.

Some good guns - that are affordable ...Browning BPS ( pump gun ) in a variety of configurations at around $500 ...check out the BPS Hunter model.

http://www.browning.com/products/cat...unter-firearms

There are a number of semi-autos out there - from Beretta and Browning - look at the Browning Silver Hunter...as an example ...on sale around here for about $ 850...

http://www.browning.com/products/cat...unter-firearms

and there are used guns out there of course / but buy something in a 12ga or 20ga ...with a barrel of 28" - that has screw in changeable chokes ...from Browning, Winchester, Beretta ...Benelli ...and you'll be fine.

They'll all be guns that you can shoot for a lifetime ...with no issues / or if they have issues they'll be fixed under warranty.

LSnSC · October 24, 2011, 01:18 PM

I see more twenties than anything else. Twelves would be second, with 28's and 410's in a tie for third.

oneounceload · October 24, 2011, 01:59 PM

I was just checking the CDNN closeout site - there are a few guns that start to get close to your budget, with the Lanber coming in right at 600 and the Weatherby and Browning running more

cbhester · November 13, 2011, 12:24 PM

Hey guys, I made this post and then kind of forgot about it. Thanks alot for every post and opinion and I have learned that the statements about good and under $600 do not go together are true. I am still looking, however I am trying to get my budget up closer to $1000 where I think I can find something that will be suitable for me. Thanks again for all of the help!

Also, I was looking at the Savage Arms website where I see the Stevens 512 Gold Wing over and under, anyone have any opinions on this gun? They run around $650 I believe.

olddrum1 · November 15, 2011, 01:27 AM

My choice for a quail gun if I am serious is my LW20 Remington 1100.

.300 Weatherby Mag · November 15, 2011, 03:23 AM

There is no "good" O/U or SXS around $600... I prefer a 20 gauge for quail...

Quote:

Stevens 512 Gold Wing over and under, anyone have any opinions on this gun? They run around $650 I believe.

It is best to save you money and buy an entry level Browning or Beretta than to waste it on a Turkish gun... The Gold Wings do not handle all that well.. Another problem with the cheap o/u's is the barrel regulation which is often way off..

Slugo · November 15, 2011, 05:09 AM

I use my 20ga/28" Weatherby/SKB Orion Classic III for both small birds and clays. Outstanding sub-gauge O/U. Bought locally NOS for $900 bucks!!

oneounceload · November 15, 2011, 11:45 AM

Slugo - what's the weight on your SKB? I have the 505 and it is at, or slightly over, 7# - a little much for a 20 field gun

October 23, 2011, 01:14 PM	#1
cbhester Member Join Date: January 14, 2010 Location: Brownsville, KY Posts: 57	Shotgun Recommendations for Qual Hunting I have recently became highly interested in getting into qual hunting and have some buddies who ill be going with to learn. Ive been wanting a good over and under shotgun for a while now and was wanting some recommendations on a good over and under to buy and use to qual hunt, or any other type of shotgun that you feel would work better. What guage do most qual hunters use and what is the most common and best suited shotgun for the sport? Also, im looking to stay under $600 if possible. All advice and recommendation is welcome!

October 23, 2011, 01:39 PM	#2
hopper810 Member Join Date: November 3, 2009 Location: East Tx Posts: 60	This may help with your O/U questions in your price range. http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/view...?f=14&t=253741 __________________ Jerry

October 23, 2011, 03:52 PM	#4
B. Lahey Senior Member Join Date: March 17, 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 2,857	Dang, what did poor old James Qual ever do to deserve being hunted? __________________ "A human being is primarily a bag for putting food into; the other functions and faculties may be more godlike, but in point of time they come afterwards." -George Orwell

November 13, 2011, 12:24 PM	#9
cbhester Member Join Date: January 14, 2010 Location: Brownsville, KY Posts: 57	Hey guys, I made this post and then kind of forgot about it. Thanks alot for every post and opinion and I have learned that the statements about good and under $600 do not go together are true. I am still looking, however I am trying to get my budget up closer to $1000 where I think I can find something that will be suitable for me. Thanks again for all of the help! Also, I was looking at the Savage Arms website where I see the Stevens 512 Gold Wing over and under, anyone have any opinions on this gun? They run around $650 I believe. Last edited by cbhester; November 13, 2011 at 12:36 PM.

November 15, 2011, 05:09 AM	#12
Slugo Junior member Join Date: September 15, 2001 Location: Central PA Posts: 1,007	I prefer 20's for quail... I use my 20ga/28" Weatherby/SKB Orion Classic III for both small birds and clays. Outstanding sub-gauge O/U. Bought locally NOS for $900 bucks!!

October 23, 2011, 03:06 PM	#3
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Quail fanatics I know run strong on 20 gauges. Any gauge will work, but there's a quickness to good 20s that serves well when chasing Mr Bob. "Good" and "Under $600" do not occur often in the same sentence when talking about O/Us. Still, there's some older Winchester 101s, SKBs and Mirokus,etc, out there. Look for barrels in the 26-28" range and open chokes. Shoot a bit of skeet first. HTH....

October 23, 2011, 06:38 PM	#5
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	You had me interested until you said a good O/U and under 600 bucks Do you want a GOOD O/U, or do you want to stay under 600 bucks? You can't have both Want a great quail gun? Look for an O/U or SxS in 28 gauge and weighing about 6 pounds or less with barrels at least 28 inches long - you MIGHT then stumble onto something where the balance is not a sewer pipe

October 24, 2011, 01:14 PM	#6
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	We debate this issue ...of good guns all the time on this forum / but like others advised - you can't look at the gun and know if the barrels will hit to the point of aim ( on some cheap guns they don't / or one is off 12" from the other which is even worse) / on some of the cheaper guns - you have to wonder about the steel / you have to wonder about parts ...especially on guns made in China, Turkey, etc ...where the metallurgy skills are not there... Browning and Beretta have long set the standards for "good" on O/U's ...and their entry level guns - new - are around $ 1,000. Their higher end guns / that are better - and have some desireable features are $ 3,000 or so. Some good guns - that are affordable ...Browning BPS ( pump gun ) in a variety of configurations at around $500 ...check out the BPS Hunter model. http://www.browning.com/products/cat...unter-firearms There are a number of semi-autos out there - from Beretta and Browning - look at the Browning Silver Hunter...as an example ...on sale around here for about $ 850... http://www.browning.com/products/cat...unter-firearms and there are used guns out there of course / but buy something in a 12ga or 20ga ...with a barrel of 28" - that has screw in changeable chokes ...from Browning, Winchester, Beretta ...Benelli ...and you'll be fine. They'll all be guns that you can shoot for a lifetime ...with no issues / or if they have issues they'll be fixed under warranty.

October 24, 2011, 01:18 PM	#7
LSnSC Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2010 Posts: 514	I see more twenties than anything else. Twelves would be second, with 28's and 410's in a tie for third.

October 24, 2011, 01:59 PM	#8
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	I was just checking the CDNN closeout site - there are a few guns that start to get close to your budget, with the Lanber coming in right at 600 and the Weatherby and Browning running more

November 15, 2011, 01:27 AM	#10
olddrum1 Senior Member Join Date: March 23, 2008 Location: Mid Missouri Posts: 807	My choice for a quail gun if I am serious is my LW20 Remington 1100.

November 15, 2011, 11:45 AM	#13
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	Slugo - what's the weight on your SKB? I have the 505 and it is at, or slightly over, 7# - a little much for a 20 field gun