Suggestions for a good pheasant gun?

**dockrocker** · 01-10-2006, 09:19 PM

Rank newbie to the forum here, hoping I can get some guidance. I've recently returned to hunting after a 10+ year hiatus and am shopping for a new shotgun (my old guns were stolen by some POS crackhead in Houston, TX, never to be seen again... ).

Looking for a good 12 (or 20?) gauge shotgun, primarily for pheasant (so light weight is an advantage) but also the occasional duck and/or deer hunt, though this is not essential as I'm not opposed to buying additional firearms for these type of hunts. We are limited to slugs and/or buckshot for deer in much of Michigan.

Would prefer to spend around $500-700, street price. And I'd love an over/under or side-by-side, but don't think there is much in my price range.

Suggestions?

Many thanks!

**tucker301** · 01-10-2006, 09:39 PM

If you really like the O/U's, the Franchi Diamonds (exclusively at Dick's Sporting Goods) are getting very good reviews.
$ale price is typically $700, I believe.

Otherwise, there a number of great semi's in Benelli and Franchi lines.

Benelli's M2 would probably be your best single gun choice, because of the availability of additional barrels and aftermarket accessories.

**dockrocker** · 01-10-2006, 10:14 PM

Thank you. I'm planning to do something in the next couple months, just gathering information now. My love of the O/U may be somewhat irrational, as I've never even fired one. But if practicality and objectivity ruled, we'd all use flat black pump guns with no bells or whistles at all. Some things you just have to have, just because, you know? [img]smile.gif[/img]

**tucker301** · 01-10-2006, 11:10 PM

Indeed I do know

**dockrocker** · 01-11-2006, 09:34 AM

Beee-yooo-tee-ful!

**sdkidaho** · 01-11-2006, 11:05 AM

Beautiful and for sale.

**dockrocker** · 01-11-2006, 01:52 PM

Get thee behind me, Satan! [img]smile.gif[/img]

I am sooooo sorely tempted, but I don't think I could get CFO approval for a $1200 shotgun (at least not yet - maybe after she gets a new kitchen table....)

**tucker301** · 01-11-2006, 03:44 PM

Kitchen table?

Home Depot:
3/4" birch plywood - $35
2 spruce 2X4 studs - $1.75
Nails/screws - $1.25

One kitchen table!

Women like that rustic look too

**dockrocker** · 01-11-2006, 03:46 PM

hee hee - I'll tell my wife that - from the other side of the house!

**sdkidaho** · 01-11-2006, 11:09 PM

You could look at a DeHaan O/U as they start at just under $650.

Or if you wanted to stick with the Benelli family you could look at Condor series by Stoeger.

Plenty of O/U's out there for less than $700. Can't vouche for quality but I've heard good things about the DeHaans, mostly due to the guys customer service and how well he takes care of his clients. You can see what people have to say about him in this forum, and you can check out the Stoeger group in our forums here.