won an over under but do I trade?

[Dahitman44]

always wanted an O/U and won it at a National Turkey Federation deal tonight.

It is a Stoeger Condor 12 gauge 3 inch.

I think I want a 20 gauge for pheasants, right?

I currently have a 12 gauge that I use for all bird hunting.

Please give me your thoughts.

I want auto eject, right?

Help ...

Glad I have the gun, but I THINK I want 2 upgrade a little.

Thanks

I guess the gun is worth about $350 -ish?

I would really like to hear any and all responses, please.

Hitman

[JK22]

I have the exact gun in a 20 ga. That is all I use. It is a very light gun and perfect for the long walks. They do cost about $350 ,but I personally would rather scratch a $350 o/u than a $1500 o/u.

[Dahitman44]

True.

Yeah -- I would not want to have that fancy of a gun -- I think i might want extractors or whatever they are called

[CodyDawg]

Congrats!

Here is my opinion. I would not want a 20 ga for pheasants (some will, I dont). If the gun fits you, use it. If it does not, trade it. It is that simple. Extractors would be nice, a better balanced gun would be nice, a heated stock would be nice, but it all boils down to this....if you can hit with it use it. If you cant, get rid of it.

[BEAST]

If your going to upgrade (a little) from my experience stay away from the Mossberg unless you want your firing pins to crumble

[Dahitman44]

really? are people have trouble with the mossberg?

[jigging-matt]

I have the Stoeger in a 20 guage and love it. Nice light weight gun, especially for the price. HAven't heard of the problems with the Mossebergs.

[Dahitman44]

I ended up trading it on a VERY nice and VERY clean weatherby Orion for $750.

It fits me just perfectly and it is light and I am pumped.

Thanks to everyone -- can't wait to shoot my new gun.

[threerivers]

Wow, that's a nice upgrade. Crows are in season.

[Dahitman44]

Sweet.

Yeah, thanks I am pretty excited the gun is very tight and looks great. I am not a fan of used guns, but a weatherby might be the exception.

[Dahitman44]

I noticed it had a serial number ending in 00 -- is it a 2000?

[Big Dave2]

I ended up trading it on a VERY nice and VERY clean weatherby Orion for $750.

It fits me just perfectly and it is light and I am pumped.

Thanks to everyone -- can't wait to shoot my new gun.

Just curious.........Did you get a 12 or 20 ga.?

[Dahitman44]

I thought a lot about it -- wasn't sure but the 12 gauge helped me make up my mind.

[A-body]

CodyDawg

Just out of curiosity, why would you not want a 20 gauge for Pheasants. I see no reason for excluding a 20 unless you are not a very good shot. You get more BB's with a 12, even more with a 10, otherwise, the fps of the pellets are the same.

[Dahitman44]

Actually, i don;t know. I asked people and they all said 12 gauge.

[Big Dave2]

Do you grouse hunt at all?

[Dahitman44]

No I do not. I have not had the opportunity to either. I thin k it would be fun. I would guess that I could drop down in shot and the 12-gauge would be fine?

[Big Dave2]

I use a 12 ga. for grouse but it is because I don't own a 20 ga. I drop way down for grouse.

I wish I had a 20 ga. if for no other reason than the weight difference.

[Dahitman44]

gotcha.

[CodyDawg]

This is my opinion based on my pheasant hunting experience. I have shot about 30-40 wild roosters a year for the last dozen years or so to give you an idea of my experience. Some will have more, some less, but I have enough for a pretty good opinion methinks.

The advantage to a 20 is less weight. However, I have no problems carrying my 12 ga and neither does my 61 year old father or my 13 year old brother. So to me that is a non-issue.

The disadvantage to a 20 ga, as you stated, is BB count. Roosters are tough birds. If you shoot enough of them, you will sooner or later have one hit the ground ready to run the Iditarod on you. I believe we have pretty darn good dogs, but the more that hit the ground ready to run, the higher the probability you will lose a wounded bird which is something I take very seriously. I have no doubt many people will shoot 5 or 10 or 20 roosters stone-cold-dead-in-the-air with a 20 ga, but sooner or later, if you shoot a lot of wild roosters, the difference will mean the loss of a wounded rooster.

In addition, I dont believe the general hunting public is that great of a shot (based on some guiding I have done). So giving advice to someone on an internet board, I feel it is prudent to have them start with the 12.

[CAJ]

Codydawg Send me a lie at cliff.nemont.net. Lost your email

[CodyDawg]

Email sent. I assume the first . is supposed to be a @? If you dont get it, let me know here.

[SORNO]

I bought a nice O/U 16ga for pheasant and grouse but I also hunt with pointers. I have never had an issue with being under gunned on pheasants.