So I want to build a 20 ga that is as lightweight as possible. I'm thinking a single shot such as an H and R, have it threaded for chokes and then build a recoil reducing stock for it. This is going to be a work in progress, as it is simply a concept at this point. Hoping to have something to hunt with next year.
So what does everybody else have for lightweight rigs. I would love to see some pictures and get some ideas. Not really interested in youth 870 or 1187's, I want something lighter.
H&R Topper Deluxe. Great gun, already theaded and best of all, it's LIGHT! A good set of sights or a micro-red dot, a Sims pad and you're golden at about 6 pounds or so...
What loads do you plan on shooting out of your gun?
Rifle sights or red dot?
The Mossberg 500 Super Bantam according to factory specs weighs 5.25 lbs. My additions, sling (5.4 ozs.), Trijicon Reflex Sight and Weaver Base (6 ozs.), Uncle Mike's slip-on pad (4.6 ozs), Pure Gold extended choke (1.4 ozs.), Beartooth Comb kit (1.3 ozs.) add another 1 lb, 2.7 ozs. If factory specs are to be believed, my gun should now weigh 6 lbs. 6.7 ozs. The scales say another: 6 lbs., 14 ozs.
I could save weight by eliminating the sling and substituting a FFIII for my Trijicon and leaving the LOP at 13". However, I would sacrifice convenience and recoil reduction for the sake of maybe a half pound. My 12 gauge rigs similarly tricked-out exceed the SB by 2+ lbs. There is a difference to be felt in the hand and carried. The SB comes with a decent recoil pad. To increase LOP, I added the Uncle Mike's pad. I shoot 1 5/8 oz TSS 9s. The felt recoil is not painful or severe with the double pads. If you are looking for recoil reduction, the Knoxx Spec Ops is an option, but at a cost of weight. It increases the weight of my SB to 7 lbs., 7 ozs.
As far as single shot 20 gauges, the TC Encore is another option, but is fairly pricey in comparison to the Super Bantam. I can't find the weight specifications, but the 12 gauge version weighs 6.18 lbs. I saw a 20 gauge camo turkey barrel for sale on Gunbroker for $135 through yesterday. It's gone. That was a deal. It comes threaded and choked with rifle sights. The rifle sights on the Mossberg are not the gun's strong point which is a diplomatic way of saying you can do better than what comes on the gun. Good luck in your project.
(http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m278/photo205/superbantamandknoxx001-1.jpg)
(http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m278/photo205/bufferandnobuffer004.jpg)
Quote from: mightyjoeyoung on April 15, 2012, 06:03:20 PM
H&R Topper Deluxe. Great gun, already theaded and best of all, it's LIGHT! A good set of sights or a micro-red dot, a Sims pad and you're golden at about 6 pounds or so...
I was actually thinking about the Topper Deluxe, but I've only seen it with a stainless reciever and I want a bbl thats 21". I'm hoping to be right at 5 lbs. when it's finished, not sure if this will be posssible but we will see. That being said, it would probably kick the snot out of you being that light. I'm not really worried about myself, my sholder is numb from shooting cases of 3 1/2" steel shot, I'm thinking of a smaller shooter or young hunter.
Thanks for the thoughts guys
Well then as far as those very young or small, they probably won't be carrying it around too much if at all anyways right? If that's the case ANY small, fairly light 20 gauge will do with a short barrel, a red dot sight and a good stock/recoil pad. I just picked up the V-Pod to put on my Little Monster so the youngsters don't have to kill themselves trying to hold up a gun that's even as light as mine is. It adds front weight and can only serve to keep barrel whip down that much more.
Quote from: slickyboyboo on April 16, 2012, 03:51:31 PM
I have a 24" bbl Charles Daly field hunter pump, and with the IC .555, TruGlo sights, and sling swivels, it doesn't even weigh 5.5 lbs unloaded. It's a pleasure to tote, and it's a repeater.
Now what good is a unloaded gun? :TooFunny:
Quote from: slickyboyboo on April 16, 2012, 03:51:31 PM
I have a 24" bbl Charles Daly field hunter pump, and with the IC .555, TruGlo sights, and sling swivels, it doesn't even weigh 5.5 lbs unloaded. It's a pleasure to tote, and it's a repeater.
Wow that is light. How is the recoil? My wife is pretty thin, and I want her to be able to shoot this rig comfortably.
I don't know how reliable the numbers are but Remington lists the 870 20ga youth at 6 1/2 lbs. H&R List the 20ga with the tamer stock at 6 lbs so not much difference there.
I plan on building my own stock set for it though. Should be able to drop some weight there.
It's pricey, but the Benelli Ultra Light now comes in 20 ga. 5.2 lbs.
My 21" 870 with syn, stock, sling, 3 shells in the stock holder is 7# no sights yet.
the H&R single shot is going to be your best bet
I have been shooting an Hand R pardner this year in 20 ga.I had the barrel threaded for remchoke,Choate synthetic stock/forend with a krylon paint job.I think it weighs just a tick over 5 #.I love it but the idea of only 1 shell is always in the back of my mind.
Thought I would revive this thread.
I found a used Rossi 20 ga. youth model for less than $100. It has a fixed mod. 22" barrel that will be headed to Sumtoy this week. Almost finished designing the butt stock. I'm going to make the skeleton out of 1/4" 6061 Aluminum. Hoping I'll have enough free time to burn it out on the laser this week. Then I'll have some machining and welding to do.
We will se how well it works out in the end. I know that most of this work isn't really necessary, but I like to tinker.
keep us updated
Here are mine. The bottom one is my daughter's 20ga. She is now 11yrs old but has taken 4 birds with it in the last 3yrs. I had a barrel tapped and threaded, switched to the survivor forearm and monte carlo stock and added a Limbsaver pad. It has a Pure Gold .555 and shoots the Dunn's Hevi 7.5's. It's a great gun out to 35 yards.
Thats sweet, does she shoot 3" shells or 2 3/4"? How bad does it kick?
It's chambered for either but we shoot 3". It patterns the mag blends nicely as well. The recoil is managable, she's never said anything about. The gun directly above and the 2 at the top are 12's. One is my 13 yr old son's. He and I shoot Win XRHD 3" 6's. With that load it will rock you at the bench, but I really don't notice it in the field.
Just got my barrel back from Sumtoy this last week! :blob10:
Had him thread it for chokes, lengthen the forcing cone, and got one of his chokes to go along with it. I've been working 14 hour days all week and yesterday so I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet. Going to be working crazy hours all this week too, so I probably won't get a chance to shoot it till next weekend. :'(
Hoping to get the stock burned out this week, but we will see. I'll probaly post up some pictures toward the end of this week.
Now that season is just around the corner, I've finally had a little time to work on this again. Here is a list of the things done so far.
1. I drilled and tapped the barrel once I got it back from Sumtoy, and mounted a red dot on it (got it from Wild Spur).
2. I finished drawing up the stock and burned it out of 1/4" 6061 Alum.
3. I also had my buddy machine a couple of Alum. bushings with UHMW plastic inserts for the slides to go into.
4. After talking William at Sumtoy, I decided to port the top of the barrel to cut down on muzzle whip.
5. I then mounted a Sims butt pad to piece of 14 ga. SS that I welded some 1/4" rod slides to. I was surprised how much of a difference there is in the recoil from what it was before. It cut WAY down on muzzle rise and pretty much all you feel in a shove.
Here are some pics.
(http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag158/randyloker/IMG_20130303_185447_zps060d47f4.jpg) (http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/randyloker/media/IMG_20130303_185447_zps060d47f4.jpg.html)
This is what I started with
(http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag158/randyloker/photo2_zps0284a5b3.jpg) (http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/randyloker/media/photo2_zps0284a5b3.jpg.html)
Bushings with UHMW inserts
(http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag158/randyloker/photo3_zps9b119aee.jpg) (http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/randyloker/media/photo3_zps9b119aee.jpg.html)
All put together minus the butt pad, cheek rest, and pistol grips.
(http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag158/randyloker/photo4_zps7030b3db.jpg) (http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/randyloker/media/photo4_zps7030b3db.jpg.html)
And lets not forget the most important part, this was at a taped 40 yards with a dirty barrel. It will shoot in the 130's with a clean barrel. l used the two person method to move the retical to the center of the pattern after this shot, so now she is right on!
I still have to finish making the grips and cheek piece (using camo dymoundwood), and give it a paint job.
Sa-weeeet man , i like it !
That is wicked man. I would like to build a .410 for TSS .Been thinking H&R or Rossi. That stock is way cool. Can't wait to see it finished . I may have asked before ,but what part of our state are you from. I live within spitting distance of Metro airport.
Finished the grips and cheek rest, now all that is left is to remove them and give the gun a paint job.
(http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag158/randyloker/image_zps5d9e5d7b.jpg) (http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/randyloker/media/image_zps5d9e5d7b.jpg.html)
Some people are so talented that it makes me sick. That thing looks sweet. I believe I would go ahead and patent that idea.
Finished the paint job, plan on adding some detail to it including some green, but don't have time right now. I'm heading to PA in the morning to try to kill a bird.
(http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag158/randyloker/image_zps89329782.jpg) (http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/randyloker/media/image_zps89329782.jpg.html)
(http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag158/randyloker/image_zpsd4300f30.jpg) (http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/randyloker/media/image_zpsd4300f30.jpg.html)
(http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag158/randyloker/image_zpscc96d172.jpg) (http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/randyloker/media/image_zpscc96d172.jpg.html)
looks great,good luck testing it out, hope you get one
Nice techno-looking gun. Finished weight? Gil
I'm not sure what the finished weight is yet. I was shooting for 5 lbs, I think it's a litte over that. One thing about it though, it's very well balanced now. I was actually a little surprised.