MOPanfisher Posted April 29, 2020 Share Posted April 29, 2020 I have a reverse shoulder replacement abut to happen and an contemplating redesigning some of my shooting gear. Right now I am thinking downsizing my 12 ga shooting to 20 ga. Granted my 12 ga is a soft shooting 1187 and I don't shoot it much except for a small.amount of targets and dove season. Thinking either a short barrel 870 ex press as a general purpose shotgun or an even softer shooting semi auto. I am not gonna try to talk myself into a high dollarshotgun for something I will seldom use so even though I wod dearly live to have a citori OU it isn't gonna happen and not sure on oes like the CZ ou's, I do also have an 870 express I'm 20 I bought for my son with a 28 inch barrel and it just never scratched the itch, and doesn't seem to fit like others I have owned. So any good ideas, reccomendations etc. I don't turkey hunt or waterfowl hunt, and might pheasant someday again but it isn't a big consideration. So what thoughts? Keep the 1187 just because/just in case and look for a 20 that fits me and I like? Or ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BilletHead Posted April 29, 2020 Share Posted April 29, 2020 IMO, If you can still handle the weight of lifting your existing gun to your shoulder you might consider living with it if you can. When you drop down to a 20 your new gun is lighter over all and will still kick pretty good. if you get lighter target loads that will help too. When our son was young we bought him an 870 20 ga. youth model. I shot it and it kicked like a mule. I have an 870 express in 12 ga. I hate shooting that thing. Just an opinion and you will get many that know much more than I do. I did have a friend that had a neat 28 ga. It shot great but shells will cost you. It was his dove gun and he could flat kill them. Terrierman 1 "We have met the enemy and it is us", Pogo If you compete with your fellow anglers, you become their competitor, If you help them you become their friend" Lefty Kreh " Never display your knowledge, you only share it" Lefty Kreh "Eat more bass and there will be more room for walleye to grow!" BilletHead " One thing in life is for sure. If you are careful you can straddle the barbed wire fence but make one mistake and you will be hurting" BilletHead P.S. "May your fences be short or hope you have long legs" BilletHead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted April 29, 2020 Share Posted April 29, 2020 If you've got a mortgage, skip a payment or two and get the Citori. Mitch f and BilletHead 1 1 John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOPanfisher Posted April 29, 2020 Author Share Posted April 29, 2020 Just now, ness said: If you've got a mortgage, skip a payment or two and get the Citori. I like the way you think! BilletHead and ness 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted April 29, 2020 Share Posted April 29, 2020 2 minutes ago, MOPanfisher said: I like the way you think! Everybody's doin' it! John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BilletHead Posted April 29, 2020 Share Posted April 29, 2020 When you got over this stuff again I have a 1100 20 ga. that was my dads. You are welcome to mess with it and try it out before you decide to buy something it might give you some idea. "We have met the enemy and it is us", Pogo If you compete with your fellow anglers, you become their competitor, If you help them you become their friend" Lefty Kreh " Never display your knowledge, you only share it" Lefty Kreh "Eat more bass and there will be more room for walleye to grow!" BilletHead " One thing in life is for sure. If you are careful you can straddle the barbed wire fence but make one mistake and you will be hurting" BilletHead P.S. "May your fences be short or hope you have long legs" BilletHead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terrierman Posted April 29, 2020 Share Posted April 29, 2020 Your 12 ga. 1187 with mild 2 3/4" loads will have a lot less felt recoil than a 20 ga.870 shooting equivalent loads. Due to weight and the recoil mitigation of the 1187 action. My recommendation is keep the 1187 and invest in a good recoil pad. Limbsaver has a very good reputation. A padded shooting jacket is another thought. If you're sold on a 20 ga. then get another semi-auto. BilletHead 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOPanfisher Posted April 29, 2020 Author Share Posted April 29, 2020 5 minutes ago, BilletHead said: IMO, If you can still handle the weight of lifting your existing gun to your shoulder you might consider living with it if you can. When you drop down to a 20 your new gun is lighter over all and will still kick pretty good. if you get lighter target loads that will help too. When our son was young we bought him an 870 20 ga. youth model. I shot it and it kicked like a mule. I have an 870 express in 12 ga. I hate shooting that thing. Just an opinion and you will get many that know much more than I do. I did have a friend that had a neat 28 ga. It shot great but shells will cost you. It was his dove gun and he could flat kill them. That was my original thoughts, I have shot that heavy old 1187 for so many years I am VERY comfortable with it and it is a stone cold killer. I owned an 100 special.field .20, shirt barrel and strainer stock for several years and was the fasted handling shotgun I ever handled. Kind of leaning that way again. I remember letting my wife shoot the .20 pump and th big 12 auto, no comparison the 12 semi was much easier to shoot. Just thinking put loud today. I lie the idea of a lighter weight ,20 ga semi, but haven't looked at them in a long time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOPanfisher Posted April 29, 2020 Author Share Posted April 29, 2020 Wow that was wandering thoughts. How about a little clearer. What are your thought and or reccomendations for a new/used Semi Auto .20 ga. Again probably not looking for a $1200 Benelli, as much as I would like that. My only experience was with the little Rem 1100 special which I should never have sold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terrierman Posted April 29, 2020 Share Posted April 29, 2020 24 minutes ago, MOPanfisher said: Wow that was wandering thoughts. How about a little clearer. What are your thought and or reccomendations for a new/used Semi Auto .20 ga. Again probably not looking for a $1200 Benelli, as much as I would like that. My only experience was with the little Rem 1100 special which I should never have sold. Benelli is not gas operated and recoil is the same as a fixed breech shotgun. I have an M1 Super 90 in 12 gauge. Recoil is about like my 870 shotguns. I'd be looking for a used 1100. I was gifted one for my 21 birthday and just recently had it cut down for lovey. She likes it a lot. Mine is the older 20 gauge 1100 built on the same receiver as the 12. Used 20 gauge 1100 should not be hard to find either. And they are hard to wear out! MOPanfisher 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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