Hello from California

[Scorpion8]

I had an older Silver Pigeon II and ...

Beretta wood can be really nice. The buttstock grain on my 682 is superb.

[SusieQ]

I'd like to get a 20 ga o/u with an 18.5 or so inch barrel that doesn't break the bank.

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[Scorpion8]

Why such short barrels? For clays or sporting bird/fowl, you'll want at least 26". Even if you had planned it as a back-packer shotgun, those short barrels won't do you much good. Doesn't break the bank? Two choices, really. Either look used, and you may have to cut down the barrels. Or look at some of the (very nice) but (snobbish appeal=zero) Turkish imports. My first trap shotgun was my 870, but then I suddenly got a good deal on an ATI Cavalry SVE for around $300. Made by Kofs in Turkey, and I shot my first 25 straight with that. Others are TriStar, carried by Sportsman's Warehouse. They make a full range, from very expensive sporting clays guns to very basic beginner guns. Again, all of these will have 26" barrels. That 18.5"length is more of an HD barrel, which isn't why you buy an o/u.

[SusieQ]

I only hunt squirrels and gophers that I use my 10/22's on. Why so short? Not sure yet. Something simple, not too long and front heavy, 1 or 2 shots, 20 ga, well-made, lighter recoil, for someone who isn't a gun person or for me for fun.

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[Scorpion8]

Ah, I see. Some things to consider, a 20-ga recoil isn't any different from a 12-ga recoil for the same loads. In other words, to throw 1-oz of shot at 1200fps requires the same motive force irregardless of 12- or 20-ga. Some folks consider the 20-ga recoil to be "sharper" because you're pushing the same load as a 12-ga out a smaller pipe. It's one of those "felt recoil" issues. The only way to get less recoil is lighter loads like 3/4- or 7/8-oz or such. You should go heft a 26" o/u, I doubt you'll find it that front-heavy or long/unwieldy. And even consider a 28- or .410-ga. Lotsa fun in that, and a .410 has very low recoil.

[gWebber]

While Scorpion8 has the technical answer to your recoil issue, here’s a couple thoughts to consider.

While I haven’t seen them in action , our local Trap Club has a competitive trap group that is all young teens and the photos I’ve seen of them, they are not big hulking teens, just average kids.
They shoot full length barrels.

My second thought is it might be easier to find a long barrel gun over a short barrel gun at this time when everyone is grabbing up short guns for HD.

Then just order a shorted barrel IF you really feel the need for it.
If the time ever comes you want to sell it, you have a gun with two barrel options.

[SusieQ]

Good info, thanks all. Not in any hurry. Interesting, hadn't considered a 410. A new gun to research.

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[SusieQ]

What do you think of this?
https://www.ammoland.com/2018/06/henry- ... 10-review/

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[SusieQ]

Yikes, a recall on them.

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[SusieQ]

Maybe a Henry lever action 410.

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