20 gauge Pheasants? - Page 2

BfloBill · September 2, 2010, 07:43 AM

Not many Pheasant here anymore but I remember as a kid all my dad used on them was 28 ga or 20 ga, he finally got what he considered the perfect gun for pheasant and grouse- Ruger Red Label O/U 20 ga.

As far as fit goes I'm about 5'5" and under 140 lbs. and that O/U handles great for me, I don't know what your budget is but get to a store and handle a bunch of guns. You may find a better fit that is not a youth model.

By the way, he also had a Red Label in 12 ga, he liked the 20 better.

xx78 · September 2, 2010, 08:40 AM

I started out using a SxS 20ga when I was a kid. It killed quite a few birds with no problem. Since your shooting at a pheasant farm more than likely the shots will not be too far and any good 2 3/4 pheasant load should work well.

Rifleman1776 · September 2, 2010, 08:54 AM

Can't advise. I always considered pheasants a pretty tough bird.
You got me reminiscing, as a kid I hunted every day it was legal.
I used a J.C. Higgins SXS 12 ga. and Federal 2 3/4" with # 5 1/2 shot. I bought my shells only several at a time as I could afford them. Hated Federal as it really dirtied up the barrels. To this day I have an aversion to Federal ammo even though I know it bears no resemblance to 50 or 60 years ago.

September 2, 2010, 07:43 AM	#26
BfloBill Senior Member Join Date: August 2, 2010 Location: Buffalo, N.Y. Posts: 457	Not many Pheasant here anymore but I remember as a kid all my dad used on them was 28 ga or 20 ga, he finally got what he considered the perfect gun for pheasant and grouse- Ruger Red Label O/U 20 ga. As far as fit goes I'm about 5'5" and under 140 lbs. and that O/U handles great for me, I don't know what your budget is but get to a store and handle a bunch of guns. You may find a better fit that is not a youth model. By the way, he also had a Red Label in 12 ga, he liked the 20 better.

September 2, 2010, 08:40 AM	#27
xx78 Junior Member Join Date: September 9, 2005 Posts: 7	I started out using a SxS 20ga when I was a kid. It killed quite a few birds with no problem. Since your shooting at a pheasant farm more than likely the shots will not be too far and any good 2 3/4 pheasant load should work well.

September 2, 2010, 08:54 AM	#28
Rifleman1776 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 3,309	Can't advise. I always considered pheasants a pretty tough bird. You got me reminiscing, as a kid I hunted every day it was legal. I used a J.C. Higgins SXS 12 ga. and Federal 2 3/4" with # 5 1/2 shot. I bought my shells only several at a time as I could afford them. Hated Federal as it really dirtied up the barrels. To this day I have an aversion to Federal ammo even though I know it bears no resemblance to 50 or 60 years ago.