What are the softest-shooting 20ga autoloaders for upland hunting?

[EmperorMA]

I am getting older and have shoulder and neck issues that are causing me to retire my beloved 6lb 6oz 12ga SxS that I have hunted Chukar, Huns, Valley Quail, Sharptails, Pheasants and mountain Grouse with for over 20 years. It kicks too hard, I'm afraid.

With that, I am looking for a very soft-shooting 20ga upland gun, and that means an autoloader. I believe that gas-operated guns will be the softest-shooting, but perhaps their are some inertia-driven actions out there that also cut down the recoil?

What shotguns are you guys liking for my situation? Most of my hunting is done over well-seasoned pointing dogs for Chukar, Huns and Valley Quail in the canyons of the Columbia River and for Huns and Sharptails on the prairies of Northern Montana.

 

[go4thegusto]

Beretta A300 for sure. Stay away from inertia guns! You want gas.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Whichever route you go, you may want to look at putting on a Limbsaver or comparable pad.

 

[Choupique]

Beretta A300 for sure

Yep. Can be had with the kick-off stock. That'll feel like a pop gun compared to a light 12ga twice barrel

 

[Kurts86]

I would put the Beretta A400 20 gauge as the lightest recoiling autoloader over the A300.

 

[EmperorMA]

I would put the Beretta A400 20 gauge as the lightest recoiling autoloader over the A300.

Why doesn’t Beretta list the weight of their shotguns on their website? This almost pisses me off enough to not buy any of their products.

 

[cacklercrazy]

I am getting older and have shoulder and neck issues that are causing me to retire my beloved 6lb 6oz 12ga SxS that I have hunted Chukar, Huns, Valley Quail, Sharptails, Pheasants and mountain Grouse with for over 20 years. It kicks too hard, I'm afraid.

With that, I am looking for a very soft-shooting 20ga upland gun, and that means an autoloader. I believe that gas-operated guns will be the softest-shooting, but perhaps their are some inertia-driven actions out there that also cut down the recoil?

What shotguns are you guys liking for my situation? Most of my hunting is done over well-seasoned pointing dogs for Chukar, Huns and Valley Quail in the canyons of the Columbia River and for Huns and Sharptails on the prairies of Northern Montana.

Any gas operated auto.

 

[Blockcaver]

Asking the weight question of an A400 Xplor or other version over on a shotgun forum likely will get you answers (there are a couple active ones).

I will say that my A400 Xplor 28 gauge weighs exactly 5# 8oz. It has a 28” barrel. Soft shooter, even with reloads up to 1 oz of shot. And 3/4 oz loads are a dream to shoot. The 20 ga Xplor will weigh fairly close to the same but I do not own one to weigh.

 

[TxLite]

Hot take but my Remington versamax is softer shooting than my A400

Both are 12g and both have been completely reliable. The versamax was my kayak duck hunting shotgun for years and has been through a lot. They don’t make them anymore though unfortunately

 

[kevingm1987]

I personally like the Winchester line. My SX3 is fantastic and feels great on the shoulder.

 

[spur60]

I personally like the Winchester line. My SX3 is fantastic and feels great on the shoulder.

I also came here to recommend the SX3 20 gauge.

 

[EmperorMA]

I personally like the Winchester line. My SX3 is fantastic and feels great on the shoulder.

I also came here to recommend the SX3 20 gauge.

What about the newer SX4? The SX3 is harder to come by and seemingly rather pricey for used.

 

[molliesmaster]

Get over to a good sporting clays shop and see if you can test out a couple.

 

[kevingm1987]

What about the newer SX4? The SX3 is harder to come by and seemingly rather pricey for used.

No experience personally with it but its built on the same platform. If I was shopping today, I would buy one no problem.

I own 3 Winchester shotguns and love them all.

 

[rkcdvm]

All autos are comfortable for the most part. My buddy has a Benelli 12 that has a recoil spring in it. Makes it feel like a 20g unless he has turkey loads in it.

 

[WRO]

The 12ga a400 with kick off is a daisy to shoot.


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[RodgerThat]

Started my kid off with an A400 20 ga. definitely one of the lighter and softest shooting guns out there !

 

[spur60]

What about the newer SX4? The SX3 is harder to come by and seemingly rather pricey for used.

The 4 was "cheapened" to stay competitively priced. some plastic and MIM parts replaced previous steel parts; I'm sure you can find an overview of the changes via google. I have no personal experience with the 4 in 12 or 20.

 

[Dukhtr3]

X2 A400. My 14 year old loves his. He shot 100 rounds of trap with it last night without any soreness to his shoulder.

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[fallschirmjaeger80]

Any gas operated auto.

That.