brierpatch1974

Hello everyone, I am new to the forums and really enjoying reading the post. I went on my first bird hunt yesterday on a friends family farm. I manage to get 2 ringneck pheasants and a few bob white.
I can say I am hooked now and was wondering what would be a good gun to get. I prefer an O/U or a semi-auto. What gauge would be best and what chokes?
Or would you need a larger ga to go after pheasants and somthing smaller to go after quail and chuckars? Thanks for the help.

BP

jaysweet3

Good auto-loaders and doubleguns are 1,000-1,500. That is for a good one. If you want a great gun, you can spend lots more. I have a citori, I love that gun. This summer I am gonna put together some scratch and buy an auto-loader. Thinking about the Super Black EagleII it is a very popular gun right now,and for good reason.

As far as guage, if you will do as much quail hunting as pheasant hunting. Go with a 20ga.

FreeHunt.net

Take into account where you will be hunting. If you are hunting raised birds, then a 20 gauge is fine.

If you plan to go on a wild pheasant hunt where there are a lot of birds, a 20 will work, but i would recommend a 12 auto because you will wound fewer birds and have more shots when 50 birds get up.

welcome to Pheasant Hunter's Anonymous

camelcluch

I prefer an o/u. I also like 12ga. You should be able to find a good deal on a gun that you like. Be patient and you will be surprised on what you find.

brierpatch1974

Currently I am looking at a Franchi RENAISSANCE FIELD*12-GAUGE2 3/4" and 3". New gun and friend runs the sporting good store and told me I can have it for $800 bucks. What you guys think of this gun? Or maybe I should get two cheaper guns say in semi autos.. A 12 and a 20 or 28 ga.. lol so many desicions but thats half the fun.


BP

Javabird17

Browning BPS micro 28 gauge.. it's a pump, but GREAT gun for pheasants.

brierpatch1974

Well I decided to get a CZ O/U Canvasbackin 20 guage 28 inch barrel. Got a good deal so I couldn't pass it up. $500 Shoots and handles very well. My concern is pheasants out past 20 yards but since I am after quail mainly I think I will be ok. lol if I start getting into lots of ring necks I can use tha as an excuse to buy a 12 Ga.

BP

bobeyerite

I'm an o/u guy and I like your last suggestion. I would go with a 20 and a 28 in moderate priced o/u. I find the choke selection of an o/u is well worth it over a 3rd shot. You can have a more open choke for the up-close birds and if you miss have a tighter choke for the longer range. I have found in my 50 years of hunting, that 3rd shot was a parting gesture and rarely got the bird.

That 28 will kill a Pheasant better that a lot of people think. BB's coming out of a barrel at 1300FPS hit with the same amount of punch be it a 12 or 28. All you have is smaller pattern and need to be a better shot and have your bird dead on. Before I get jumped on to hard 35-40 yards is all a 28 is really good for. Get a range finder and see how far 35 yards is really before you start screaming.