Looking for an auto loader, no longer than 24 " barrel. I have a $1000 budget for the gun.
What would you get?
I would look at the Retay's Gordion Turkey with pistol grip stock.. with a 22 inch barrel and with an Inertia Plus rotating bolt ... regardless of the gun it would have the inertia system...
Franchi Affinity 3 Compact.
If you can splurge a little extra, the Affinity Elite Turkey model.
Sa20 or stoeger m3020. Good guns and you should have enough left for a red dot and a choke
Franchi Affinity 3 Compact
Beretta A300 Ultima turkey model. Local shop has them on sale for $799. Gun has 24" barrel, fiber optic front sight, drilled and tapped (comes with a rail) and it's offered in 2 camo finishes. I bought one a couple months back and really like it!
Quote from: huntinsomd on May 05, 2023, 06:45:33 PM
Beretta A300 Ultima turkey model. Local shop has them on sale for $799. Gun has 24" barrel, fiber optic front sight, drilled and tapped (comes with a rail) and it's offered in 2 camo finishes. I bought one a couple months back and really like it!
Second this but mine is the standard and not turkey model.
Weatherby element sure looks like a fine one well below that budget price to
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Affinity compact if it were me!
Quote from: kwild835 on May 06, 2023, 06:24:18 PM
Affinity compact if it were me!
This might be a dumb question but is the smaller package an issue for anyone? I'm 6'4" and that lop is pretty short. But I'm thinking maybe that's advantageous with the positions we turkey hunt from?
Also - any suggestions for someone who could cerakote in bottomlands?
Quote from: mdmitchell on May 07, 2023, 07:37:00 AM
Quote from: kwild835 on May 06, 2023, 06:24:18 PM
Affinity compact if it were me!
This might be a dumb question but is the smaller package an issue for anyone? I'm 6'4" and that lop is pretty short. But I'm thinking maybe that's advantageous with the positions we turkey hunt from?
Also - any suggestions for someone who could cerakote in bottomlands?
You can get a full sized stock for it if it is an issue, but I'm 6'3" and have no issues with it. It's easier to not get your cheek down on the stock all the way with a shorter LoP so you just have to keep that in the back of your mind.
The big companies like Rob Roberts or Koehler Gun Works will be able to do a original Bottomland cerakote for sure. A local company to me, Perry Precision Outdoors, also does fantastic work cheaper than a lot of competitors too and does just as good, they can do an original Bottomland as well.
Yeah the cheek issue isn't really an issue as I'll be running a red dot.
Just found the compact on kygunco for 789 so I'm gonna bite the bullet
I am 6'3" and it isn't and issue with my holosun sight. $789 seems like a heck of a deal!
Hope you like it.
Quote from: skimerhorn on May 05, 2023, 03:36:12 PM
Sa20 or stoeger m3020. Good guns and you should have enough left for a red dot and a choke
This. You could get the Stoeger compact, a red dot, a Sumtoy mount, a Sumtoy choke, some TSS and have it drilled and tapped for less than $1k
SX4 or Retay Gordion. Two entirely different guns as the SX4 is gas and the Retay is recoil. Both have impressed me. Both have shot great and functioned great. Both are available with out a pistol grip and I hate pistol grips so that's a big plus for me.
Quote from: Gooserbat on May 07, 2023, 11:56:53 PM
SX4 or Retay Gordion. Two entirely different guns as the SX4 is gas and the Retay is recoil. Both have impressed me. Both have shot great and functioned great. Both are available with out a pistol grip and I hate pistol grips so that's a big plus for me.
SX4s came highly recommended from a buddy but man I couldn't find one in the configuration I wanted - IE 24" in or less barrel on a 20.
The retays I've heard such a mixed bag of reviews. I handled the gordion and in hand it's sexy. But the guy at the counter told me they had quite a few come in this spring wirh issues and that was an I needed to hear.
Ended up going with the Franchi affinity compact
You'll be happy with the Franchi.. post up some pics when she's ready.
I'm liking the SA-20 Turkey I got about a month ago. Shoots very well with a Trulock .575 and LBXR #5 or 6,
Win Double X #5, and 2 3/4" Apex #9.
Winchester sx4. Hunters haven in Mississippi has a special run with 24" barrels in bottomland. I've set up quite a few of these guns for myself and friends and they all are shooters. They are right around 1k.
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My vote is the smelly benelli montefeltro. They came out with a newer version so I've been seeing a few of the old version online for around a grand. Classy little lightweight shotgun. I'm considering trading in my old 2.75 in 1100 towards one.
Quote from: SumToy on May 05, 2023, 05:14:39 PM
Franchi Affinity 3 Compact
Can you cut the barrel down on these? I'd rather have 21-22" than 24".
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Winchester SX4 20 Ga. with a 24" barrel. Here is mine and I love it.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52146946299_e7b0c3d4c7_c.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/gp/152976138@N06/Mwqv893Ygz)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52905750503_8a53cf264c_c.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/gp/152976138@N06/nC7o551mW9)
Bottom gun
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52150951478_8e6e3279bb_c.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/gp/152976138@N06/9ix5r054g1)
Quote from: aclawrence on May 09, 2023, 08:23:55 AM
Quote from: SumToy on May 05, 2023, 05:14:39 PM
Franchi Affinity 3 Compact
Can you cut the barrel down on these? I'd rather have 21-22" than 24".
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yes they can be cut and threaded. Now only thing it will not be factory threads.
I love my Retay!