You can have the stock bent on guns to fit you. They use hot oil to soften the wood and the bend it.

It may just be me, as an long time hunter-but I think I can pick any gun from behind the academy counter- and limit if your in birds. I think for a average shooter--it's more about practice.

Dove and pheasant - usually a Beretta White Wing in 20 ga.
Quail - usually a Beretta Silver Pigeon in 28 ga.

but I also shoot a .410 on dove and the 28 ga. on pheasant at times.

its about fit.

some people have short arms, some long. everyone is built different

if you want to get really proficient at wingshooting you have to get a gun that fits.

my browning auto, for instance....has too long a LOP. I'm gonna have to get it shortened an inch. can I kill birds with it, sure, but not like I could my 870 wingmaster with a shorter LOP.

I think it's overblown for the average guy. I've seen guys with broken stock 1100's that could kill a quail faster than most guys could get their gun up.

My reliable 1958 A5 12 Gauge Humpback:



Knocked these ruffies down pretty good:

Not an O/U, but I have a L.C. Smith SxS 20 ga that belonged to my grandfather. Back in '75 I took it to a smith and had him trim 2" off the barrel to make it handle easier in brush and to give me two open cylinders. Gun will still lock tight on a cigarette paper and hard to find a trimmer gun.

Franchi Instinct L o/u 20 gauge

16 Gauge Parker

I used to have one. I like the English stock. I had instant seller's remorse.

An aristocrat!

New Browning A-5.

Say what? Ruger? Nah....
It sure handles like a dream for me though.

I used to have different guns for different things, until I started with the M2 benelli. Other than a hunt two a year with the old 1100 (my first shotgun), I use the m2 for everything from clays to dove to ducks to cranes to turkey and now soon Coyotes.

Try to find one now and you will change your mind

#1, You want a gun that fits you, at least close to fitting. Consider your preference on weight and balance and what you shoot well with in that regard.

#2, Must be able handle steel shot. Like it or not that is the future. Many public areas including the one I hunted recently requires non tox for all birds. Some states require it for all public areas and at least a couple already require it for all small game. This will rule out a lot of older shotguns with fixed chokes or steel not strong enough. And unless you reload exclusively, it rules out the 16ga. There is no commercial #7 steel field loads out there that I know of.

After that, it is just what sings to you when you pick it up. And if you find a gun your like that does not fit the above requirements, most gunsmiths can fix that.

I own a new Browning Citori 16 Gauge (choke tubes). I'm hoping they are on the way back. I love that round.
Browning also came out with two new versions of the Citori 16 gauge as Shot Show Specials

28 gauge is the reason for the aristocrat comment. I have a Red Label 20 for quail. I use a Benelli Montefeltro when I really don't want to shoot quail. I can not shoot them many times in a row. I tell myself to shoot, but I just watch them fly away.

I hunt woodcock. Close-in shots in cover. The little 28 is perfect. I had never hunted much with a shotgun until I got my pup and started hunting the woodcock 3 years ago. I had bought the little Ruger NIB many years ago at a gun show. I got lucky because it fits me perfectly. Surprisingly, I do rather well with it-but if you ask me how I couldn't tell you.

If I ever hunt any other upland game I will be hard-pressed not to use that little gun.

I've been looking around the gun shows near me in Ga.for a Ruger Red Label 20ga. in stainless with 26 inch barrels. Just wondering if anybody's seen one lately, they seem to have disappeared here in GA.

here ya go......

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=467905148

You did get a little lucky. Got a great gun that fits YOU. That makes all the difference. Gun fit.
I love my 28 and use it for dove, quail and pheasant. It's one of my favorite loads.