al 48 20 feedback

[MTSharptails]

Last year my wife started to get into hunting. She did not care for the recoil of my 12 ga pumps or side by sides. I really wanted to stay with 12 ga because we were going to be hunting waterfowl mainly. After much research (Franchi who???) I bought a 612 for my wife last year for waterfowl and turkeys in MN. I was very impressed to say the least.

We have recently moved back to MT and while she still loves the 612, we plan on taking advantage of the fantastic upland bird hunting here as well. She has been looking for decent 20 guages for this and has settled on staying with the semi-auto type of shotgun. We saw a 48 al 20 at a local shop and she fell in love with it. It fits her well and I like its feel as well. I like to make informed purchases and I cannot find anyone with much experience with this shotgun.

Does anyone have any experience with this model? I'd appreciate some feedback before we take the plunge.

Thanks!

[fattire75]

Great little gun the AL 48 but it is best used with light loads for quail or mountain grouse. It kicks with fast or heavy loads because it is light and recoil operated like a A-5. Very dependle gun.

I would go with the Franchi 620 she will be familar with it because it is the same gun as the 612 but lighter.

For Pheasant and Sharptails it is nice to be able to use either 1 1/8 and 1 1/4 oz loads or super fast 1 oz loads in a 20 ga and those loads in a AL 48 would give your wife a beating.

Have her try caring the 612 around a litte and if it is just two heavy get a 620.

The AL 48 is a nice gun with 1 oz loads at 1100 to 1150 for mountain grouse or quail but not for heavier loads needed for plains shooting.

I am pretty big so recoil does not bother me, but remember that she does not have the meat on her to exsorb the recoil.

good luck and have fun.

[ 09-15-2003, 10:19 AM: Message edited by: fattire75 ]

[trkyshootr]

A light, wonderful shooting gun. I've only shot 7/8 oz. loads, so can't speak to any particular recoil problems, particularly for a woman. I don't notice it at all, even after a day's shooting.