Probably dollar figure. Mainly because I spend most of the time with my longbows but it sure is nice to hunt some birds now and again. I don’t want a piece of junk but don’t need the best. Just a good shooter with decent weight that swings relatively well.
One of my favorite things about hunting with an over and under is the safety factor of knowing that a gun is unloaded/unable to fire. I've been hunting with a lot of folks that use pumps or semi autos and they piss and moan about unloading the two shells from their magazine to jump in the truck to run to another public access spot. I've also seen some get tickets for not doing it.
I agree 100%. My pump is the same I’ve had since I was 15. I’ve rebuilt the slide twice but it still hammers. I’d honestly just like a new shotgun. I could care less if it’s new or used. A buddy of mine I used to upland with was a news reporter back from the Lebanon era of wartime. He bought a few side by side over there and shipped them back. Re did them dirt cheap and man were they outstanding. So yeah…. My shotgun is 33 years old and going strong. I just want an O/U
I don’t worry about hunting them.I bird hunt at least once a week. It's been that way for nearly ten years. I have debated for several years about getting a dedicated upland gun now that I could potentially afford it. It seems every year before hunting season starts I get the itch and down the rabbit hole of research I go.
So far in all the years I've contemplated it, I end up coming to the same conclusion... My Stoeger M3500 has performed flawlessly in every bird hunting application with the exception of the beginning of dove season (because it only gets cleaned once a year). The Stoeger also has the advantage of going from a Pheasant gun to a goose gun mid hunt by simply switching the shells. That has been quite handy on more than a few occasions.
Everything said above about the issues with break barrel guns is true. You spend good money and hope you don't have any issues or you can spend a ridiculous amount and pray you don't mar the finish. Either way, I think I'd still miss my sling.
I went CZ sharp tail S/S two years ago because I loved the style, I largely chase chukar and other birds in the mtns and I end up with my Franchi affinity the bulk of the time because I want a lighter gun with a third shot. I wish I bought the affinity first and saved the money, instead I’ve purchased three shotguns in three years and I now feel set, 20ga cz, and a 20 & 12 ga affinities
+1, also love it.
