Thoughts on best skeet/dove gun?

[Rubberhead]

The under barrel of an O/U is unique in the world of guns because its recoil is more straight back into the shoulder than the over barrel, the barrel on an autoloader or either barrel of a SxS. This reduces muzzle jump and allows the shooter to recover quicker for the second shot. If anyone is serious about clays they will end up with an O/U. That being said, my favorite dove gun is a 6¼lb 20 gauge SxS. So...

I hate to be the one to break the bad news to you but you need two new guns not one.

 

[steve white]

I ALWAYS look for fit over brand, next in line is quality--in manufacture, but also wood and engraving, and finally in type. By type I mean for example that I have a tendency to crossfire by subconsciously looking at the larger side profile of an O/U as compared to the single barrel profile looking over the top. Not all the time, but it frequents my mystery misses. Therefore I must have a true single barrel profile as in an autoloader, or, as gets rarer these days, a SXS (which I LOVE and shoot well). As for fit, I am a fairly "heads up" shooter so NONE of the newer, straighter stocked guns are going to please me unless they have a super high competition ventilated rib, or are set up Italian style to shoot high, "floating" the bird, which are not my preferred choices. Older, well made, pre-war guns with their old school drop at heel are just MY cup of tea, and of course even then the quality of fit is individual and subjective. Most of the things I have mentioned (much less wood/engraving preferences) are NOT things other people can decide for YOU. So I would say, take all suggestions with a grain of salt. And I am only talking doves, not sporting clays.
Having said that, I WOULD suggest reloading options which can revolutionize both your effectiveness at shooting as well as comfort/flinch control. Bob Brister had to investigate this when he got a detached retina and could not even consider shooting magnum loads. The result was "killer bee" loads, developed by BPI. They are FAST--thus reducing lead requirements, and best of all, super low recoil. Since you were inquiring about dove guns, I offer them as the dove load solution. (Average killer bee is for a 12 ga, about 3/4 oz at 1500 fps) Over the decade or so I have shot them, my average on doves has consistently gone up by at least one less shot required per dove, and it may be even more at times. I know I could shoot them all day in Argentina without ill effects, but how to get them down there with me I know not.
Good luck

 

[WAB]

If you are a developing shooter, get your mount down cold before you get fitted. The fir will change as your technique improves.

 

[Deleted member 40394]

I have shot one round of skeet in my life but looking to shoot more. I grew up quail and dove hunting but don’t do it often. I have an 11 year old daughter I want to start introducing her to shooting skeet, etc. she has shot a .410 some but will probably go 20 gauge route for her. I want a 12 gauge and something that looks good and feels good. A gun I can take to anywhere and dove hunting. I plan to go handle some berettas and Benelli for myself and whatever fits my daughter best will go with that for now. A few that I have in mind to try:
Benelli Montefeltro silver
Beretta silver pigeon(suggested on here a lot)
Beretta a400 with KO
Browning citori

 

[BeeMaa]

I have shot one round of skeet in my life but looking to shoot more. I grew up quail and dove hunting but don’t do it often. I have an 11 year old daughter I want to start introducing her to shooting skeet, etc. she has shot a .410 some but will probably go 20 gauge route for her. I want a 12 gauge and something that looks good and feels good. A gun I can take to anywhere and dove hunting. I plan to go handle some berettas and Benelli for myself and whatever fits my daughter best will go with that for now. A few that I have in mind to try:
Benelli Montefeltro silver
Beretta silver pigeon(suggested on here a lot)
Beretta a400 with KO
Browning citori

I shot my Benelli SBE2 and the two Beretta 686's for about 5 years before I was completely comfortable with my shotgun mount, it takes some time but everyone is different. I practiced in my living room, mounting the gun pointing at the corner of the ceiling and sweeping along the seam between the wall and ceiling. Usually did this for about 10-15 minutes a couple times a week.

The SBE2 shot lights out for me because it fit me well. The Beretta's were sold and I upgraded to a Blaser F3 solely based on gun fit after trying several other brands. I took in a lot of suggestions from the members here before doing so. This is the thread...
https://www.africahunting.com/threads/considering-a-o-u-12-bore-game-gun-but-which-one.65560/

The choices you have laid out are excellent, any of them will make a fine gun as long as it is set up for the desired task. Can you shoot one shotgun for everything...yes, but what fun would that be. May I suggest that you consider one semi-auto and one O/U each to cover your immediate needs. Semi-auto for clays, Duck, Goose and Turkey. O/U for clays and Upland Birds.

 

[WAB]

The best way to practice a gun mount is into a mirror aiming at your eye. If that barrel dips you have work to do.

 

[CD24]

I shot a ton of doves in Yuma and dabbled in everything. I liked an O/U over a semi because it kept the game warden off of me and I almost never hit with the 3rd shot anyway. I liked 12 over 20 because I didn't find myself getting too shoulder sore before I had killed the 15 bird limit. I tried a CZ, a Browning, and a Beretta. Of those, the CZ went back to the factory immediately for doubling. I found the Browning and Beretta nearly equal but the Beretta fit me a little better. If I were you I would go with a Browning Citori or a Beretta Silver Pigeon in 12ga. Don't be afraid of the used market for either one. Best of luck!

 

[oldfart009]

I would go around and look at the used 20 gauge Remington 1100s, Browning Silvers, Berettas, etc., and pick the gas operated semi automatic that fits you best. Any of the name brand guns are going to work fine if you take care of them half way decent.
I got a Remington 1100 in 1963, and killed my first ever limit of doves, and shot my first ever 25 straight in skeet, with that gun. I still have it. I knew very little when I went to get it. I picked it up and it just felt right. It still does.

 

[Rocked and Loaded]

Wow, a topic I can contribute to!

I’ve not been on safari yet but I’ve never missed a dove season in my years of hunting.

In my hunting group we have everything from mossberg/remington pumps to franchi and berreta autos. I’ve used a remington 1100 lt20 for years but my favorite has become a lightweight o/u from cz.

With your budget I would pick a 20g berreta o/u. They are light and well designed. My dad got one a few years ago and it’s certainly more svelte than my Turkish gun. I still kill more doves but I’ll attribute that the age more than anything (including skill).

A light o/u ends up being a greater pleasure to carry in the September sun of the Sonora than anything else and that’s also a big factor for me.

 

[Bonk]

I've owned both the Beretta Silver Pigeon O/U and a Browning Citori O/U. They both fit me and they're both well built good looking shotguns. I slightly prefer the Browning because it has a mechanical trigger vs a recoil operated trigger. That's really splitting hairs though. I no longer have the Beretta. It was a 20ga and Capstick talked me out of 20ga shotguns although I do have a Mossberg 500 20ga field gun that I really like. It's the only 20ga I currently own.

Don't overlook a good old fashioned pump gun. I've killed way more birds with my 25 year old 870 Express than all my other shotguns combined and it's not even close. Ducks, geese, doves, and turkey. In the heat of the hunt cycling the pump action and getting back on target for another bird is instinctive and takes not much more time than getting back on target with a semi auto or O/U. It's a little slower but not enough to make a real world difference.

I foolishly sold one of the few semiautomatic hunting shotguns I really liked. A Remington 1100. I've owned a few others since including an A400 (not a fan, it was ammo finicky). I have a CZ1012 that is arguably the best value for a semiautomatic shotgun. Stone cold reliable, easy to clean, durable and only about $650. I don't like it quite as much as my older 1100 but it's very, very close.

 

[Deleted member 40394]

Handled a Montefeltro citori ethos and a400 today. No silver pigeons in stock.
Guess I will need to go to a skeet range and shoot.
the a400 I handled I didn’t love. The citori was ok.
the ethos was really light. But felt good. The Montefeltro felt good as well.
I need to shoot a silver pigeon and the Two Benelli guns but it may be out of those three.

 

[BeeMaa]

Montefeltro Silver is more of a traditional looking, full wood stocked upland game gun. While the Ethos is on the cutting edge of technology with the progressive comfort recoil system, 2-part carrier latch and will cycle even the lightest of target loads. Also the Ethos is available in 26" and 28" barrels, the Montefeltro Silver only comes in 26". All the other fitting specs are identical, except weight...one of them weighs 1.6 oz more than the other.

The Beretta Silver Pigeons will have a completely different feel than either of the Benelli offerings. Not just from the gun fit, but the balance and the way they swing as well.

I'd like to know what your thoughts are after having shot each of them, one after another.

 

[Philip Glass]

Best for me is Beretta auto. If you want pretty there are endless options but if you want to break clays and kill birds you won’t do better than a Beretta auto. Little recoil even in heavy loads due to the gas system.

 

[CD24]

I don’t know where you’re located but I’ve been to a few sporting clay ranges that had a ton of rental guns. That might be the easiest way to try all of them. The differences between the higher end shotguns are fairly subtle but when you shoot the right one you’ll know it immediately. I’ve never grown to like one.

 

[BeeMaa]

Best for me is Beretta auto. If you want pretty there are endless options but if you want to break clays and kill birds you won’t do better than a Beretta auto. Little recoil even in heavy loads due to the gas system.

Hard to go wrong with the A400 these days as long as it's kept clean, but you could say that about a lot of gas guns.

I don’t know where you’re located but I’ve been to a few sporting clay ranges that had a ton of rental guns. That might be the easiest way to try all of them. The differences between the higher end shotguns are fairly subtle but when you shoot the right one you’ll know it immediately. I’ve never grown to like one.

Not sure how much shooting you have done but IMO there is a significant difference in the handling of shotguns from makers with starting prices at $2K and up. I'm not a professional clays shooter, but I typically shoot a few thousand rounds a year. Even with the same gun if different barrels are installed, it comes up and swings completely different.

However, I do agree with you on the point that "when you shoot the right one you'll know immediately".

 

[CoElkHunter]

I personally prefer gas operated semi automatic shotguns over inertia operated systems. I have shot my father in laws Benelli Super Black Eagle and a Stoeger M2000 quite a bit. The cycling of the action is just “different” and recoil “feel” is too. As far as the need to clean a gas operated shotgun more often:

 

[BeeMaa]

I personally prefer gas operated semi automatic shotguns over inertia operated systems. I have shot my father in laws Benelli Super Black Eagle and a Stoeger M2000 quite a bit. The cycling of the action is just “different” and recoil “feel” is too. As far as the need to clean a gas operated shotgun more often:

Agreed, gas and inertia each have their advantages/disadvantages. To me the gas guns "feel" like they shoot a little softer and tend to cycle light target loads better but at the price of more maintenance*. Inertia drive run cleaner, require less maintenance in adverse conditions but have a very different recoil impulse and the lighter (below 1 oz) target loads could have trouble cycling.

My (now sold) SBE2 inertia drive didn't have a problem cycling 7/8 oz loads even after 1000 rounds with no detailed cleaning. But I know others who need to shoot 1 1/8 oz minimum to make their (Benelli, Franchi, Stoeger...etc) inertia drive work reliably. Could also depend on if a new gun is "broke in" or older gun springs being a little tired. You figure out pretty quick what your gun likes or doesn't.

In the end it depends on what feels good to you. Seriously...having to choose between a Beretta A400 and a Benelli Ethos is a good problem to have.

*EDIT - I didn't mention that gas guns cycle faster as an advantage, but it's a fact that they do. I don't see it as an advantage personally because I don't find myself trying to shoot 10 hand tossed clays in under 3 seconds. I have enough problems breaking quick crossers from skeet station 4...LOL

 

[CoElkHunter]

I've owned both the Beretta Silver Pigeon O/U and a Browning Citori O/U. They both fit me and they're both well built good looking shotguns. I slightly prefer the Browning because it has a mechanical trigger vs a recoil operated trigger. That's really splitting hairs though. I no longer have the Beretta. It was a 20ga and Capstick talked me out of 20ga shotguns although I do have a Mossberg 500 20ga field gun that I really like. It's the only 20ga I currently own.

Don't overlook a good old fashioned pump gun. I've killed way more birds with my 25 year old 870 Express than all my other shotguns combined and it's not even close. Ducks, geese, doves, and turkey. In the heat of the hunt cycling the pump action and getting back on target for another bird is instinctive and takes not much more time than getting back on target with a semi auto or O/U. It's a little slower but not enough to make a real world difference.

I foolishly sold one of the few semiautomatic hunting shotguns I really liked. A Remington 1100. I've owned a few others since including an A400 (not a fan, it was ammo finicky). I have a CZ1012 that is arguably the best value for a semiautomatic shotgun. Stone cold reliable, easy to clean, durable and only about $650. I don't like it quite as much as my older 1100 but it's very, very close.

My father in law has a 12ga 870 Wingmaster with a 2 3/4” chamber from the late ‘50s. He was deadly with it on pheasants and clays. For some unclear reason, when he became older he had to have a semi automatic. He didn’t want a Remington 1100 or 11-87 that I hunted with around him. So, he bought a Benelli Super Black Eagle 2. He couldn’t hit a damn thing with it for at least a year. He’s adjusted to it now and shoots it well, but maybe staying with something that has worked well for years isn’t such a bad idea?

 

[CoElkHunter]

Agreed, gas and inertia each have their advantages/disadvantages. To me the gas guns "feel" like they shoot a little softer and tend to cycle light target loads better but at the price of more maintenance. Inertia drive run cleaner, require less maintenance in adverse conditions but have a very different recoil impulse and the lighter (below 1 oz) target loads could have trouble cycling.

My (now sold) SBE2 inertia drive didn't have a problem cycling 7/8 oz loads even after 1000 rounds with no detailed cleaning. But I know others who need to shoot 1 1/8 oz minimum to make their (Benelli, Franchi, Stoeger...etc) inertia drive work reliably. Could also depend on if a new gun is "broke in" or older gun springs being a little tired. You figure out pretty quick what your gun likes or doesn't.

In the end it depends on what feels good to you. Seriously...having to choose between a Beretta A400 and a Benelli Ethos is a good problem to have.

I completely agree. If one can shoot a couple of different brands/models of gas/inertia guns and decide which feels and shoots better for that person, they’ll be happier in the long run. I think many are influenced by others and THEIR choice of shotguns or any firearm for that matter. Sometimes that can lead to disappointment.

 

[Fixfire]

Hard to go wrong with the A400 these days as long as it's kept clean, but you could say that about a lot of gas guns.

Not sure how much shooting you have done but IMO there is a significant difference in the handling of shotguns from makers with starting prices at $2K and up. I'm not a professional clays shooter, but I typically shoot a few thousand rounds a year. Even with the same gun if different barrels are installed, it comes up and swings completely different.

However, I do agree with you on the point that "when you shoot the right one you'll know immediately".

Agree. If you close your eyes and are handed a $2,000+ gun, you feel the difference immediately. And don’t cut corners, a good shotgun is an heirloom. Also, if buying a gas auto, invest in an extra piston/piston ring.