Never been a huge fan of the 20-bore but have owned and shot a few. All but one were by vintage American double gun makers, with the only example owned presently being a rather rare 20 gauge AE Syracuse that is slowly being restored; and I own that gun only because of my interest in SAC gun research. Among those I've owned was a very nice Flues 2-E that I had restocked to modern dimensions using a beautifully figured piece of American walnut. But I never learned to shoot than gun worth a tinker's toot; as at just under six pounds, it was simply too light for a person of my size. It was so light I was unable to consciously maintain sound shooting fundamentals, a steady swing and follow-thru after the shot. With that gun fundamentals were out the window, as for me it was "poke and shoot". I owned a 20-bore GHE Parker for a time; a gun that I loved and which I'd also re-stocked to my dimensions, and a gun I shot very well. But seems Mr. DelGrego could never fix its original Parker single trigger, a trigger that worked fine on crossers but would fail with every attempt at a high overhead incomer; and not only failed, but deactivated the entire gun save for opening and closing! My 20-bore DHE Parker repro worked find with its single trigger; but I could never adjust to its stock dimensions. Twenty bore American guns I've enjoyed using with good results were an 00E Grade LC Smith and an XE Fox; but I'd still prefer a good 28 gauge, 28-30" barreled over-under to any 20 gauge side x side that I've ever owned. Twenty bore double guns are neat to own and fun to shoot, but I don't see them as the "holy grail" of double gun bore sizes; nor as the best solution for the average gunner. If I were looking for a twenty gauge shooter, the first thing I'd decide is my preference for esthetics; as the truth is one spends a heck of a lot more time fondling and looking at his new piece than he'll ever spend shooting it (and if everyone here is an honest man, he'll confess that a Flues model Field Grade Ithaca is butt-ugly esthetically; that esthetics are very important to the double gun nut, and that one really needs to aspire for a Grade 4 as his minimum if one wishes to own a handsome Flues). Then, after determining which maker's style best fits his tastes; find an example that has the right stock dimensions, balance, and weight for his size and shooting style in order to provide the best opportunity to shoot the gun well, for one will quickly become disillusioned with his new wonder-wand when nothing falls to the shot. We can, and we have all adjusted to crazy stock dimensions; an easy adjustment to make at the shooting range, but an extremely difficult task when tangled in brush and vines during an unexpected flush. And finally, although cost is a very important factor for all of us, I'd save my cash till I found the gun I really wanted to own. For in reality, and as double gun enthusiasts, we have all repeatedly re-learned this single truth over and over; one does indeed get what one pays for. Good luck in your quest.
Last edited by topgun; 06/11/16 12:14 PM.
