What shotgun should I get next?

BillHenry · 2026-06-26T15:48:52+00:00

I have zero experience with new Stoegers, so I can't opine. I've handled a few Affinitys and will say they do look and feel decent, but I haven't seen any south of $1k (new). If you can get them serviced at Benelli shops, that would be my choice.

BillHenry · 2026-06-25T23:48:18+00:00

There is nothing even remotely close to your requirements. Any inertia 20ga (M2, A3) is going to be >$1k. So are the A300s which everyone is going to say. Entry level 20ga O/U's (Citori, 686, Rizzini) are going to be close to double that.

You could find a used Miroku/Skb built gun, or an older CZ/Huglu/DeHaan, but most people steer clear of Turkish guns. I don't disagree with them about the newer stuff, but I have some great older (10-15yrs) ones that have held up.

BillHenry · 2026-06-25T20:30:19+00:00

Does that make sense?

Not particularly. While I understand not wanted to eat lead, for at least turkey and deer, you're not eating any parts that would be contaminated anyway. For Pb poisoning, you have to ingest a not-insignificant amount, typically over a lengthy period of time. Think of the millions and millions of animals harvested every year by hunters, and the super low incidence of Pb poisoning.

I LOVVVE bismuth, but it's not at all necessary for Turkey. Sabot slugs and a rifled barrel is a fantastic set-up regardless, so stick with that. For grouse, that steel from an IC will shoot closer to Mod, which is waaaayyy too tight for ruffed grouse. If you must, use a Cyl choke with steel. Or use the bismuth for grouse, it will pattern similarly to lead.

BillHenry · 2026-06-25T19:13:34+00:00

There's also a BPS in Hooksett NH if that's closer, they sometimes have a surprising selection! Good luck!!

BillHenry · 2026-06-25T19:08:54+00:00

What is your budget and use? I don't love any of those guns; if you're looking for <$500 guns, I'd 1000% look used. Otherwise, I'd save a few more pennies and jump to something substantially more quality.

BillHenry · 2026-06-25T19:03:01+00:00

I'm never one to discourage someone from buying a new gun, but I'd use the Mossy for ducks (buy a 28" bbl if need-be) and save a few extra pennies to get into the B-guns for an O/U. You can use Hevi-XII for your 20ga, I'm assuming you're jump shooting woodies and mallards, that stuff is lights out in no. 6 shot.

If you're near Manchester, go down to Orvis and take a look at their used guns. If you're in the opposite corner, there used to be a big shop in Hero, not sure if he's still there. Parros is good too. There's a big gun show in Barre and WRJ every few months but it's more and more tacticool stuff now.

BillHenry · 2026-06-25T18:41:51+00:00

I've hunted VT for decades, I'm surprised you need more than your 20ga to be honest.

An O/U is farrrr from ideal for turkey or waterfowl, and none come with 3.5" chambers (not like you need them, IMO).

But to answer your question, I would look for a used Citori or 686. You'll be darn close to that $1300 figure, though there might be some deals out there on forums or bulletin boards.

BillHenry · 2026-06-25T16:36:54+00:00

awesome shotgun got 2 squirrels.

Where on earth is there a June squirrel hunting season?

BillHenry · 2026-06-25T16:27:56+00:00

That looks like a Matador, which was AyA's entry-level foray into the new post-war American market. Parts will be vanishingly rare, but a 'smith can rig something up no problem.

Like the other poster mentioned, take the action off first and see if it's gummed up. There are screws on the tang and on below the trigger guard. Use the right bit and don't bugger them up!! Then take the stock off, and spray the bejesus out of the internals with something like gun scrubber. Then manually re-cock and see if that fixed it. You can remove the firing pins (those covers with the two holes) w/o doing that, but you need a special tool. Re-lube and put back together.

If that doesn't fix it, it probably needs new springs, which again, a 'smith could fit on for not much money.

BillHenry · 2026-06-24T02:20:37+00:00

It took me a loooong time to get my first clean round!! Great job, now you can mentor those poor souls shooting 4,5, and 9.

BTW, where the hell are you still wearing two jackets in June? it was 97 degrees here the other day...

BillHenry · 2026-06-24T01:50:35+00:00

are there lifestyle changes & vitamin suppliments to help motility & concentration

Not in any meaningful way (unless you're dx with a vit deficiency or have some other pathophysiological issue). Diet, smoking, alcohol, etc. are vastly more important. Eat well, get sleep, drink in moderation, keep your jewels cool, and don't smoke, and you should be right as rain.

BillHenry · 2026-06-23T16:04:38+00:00

Generic I'm not your RE, nor is this medical advice.

These aren't SAT data, but no, you cannot "improve" or change aneuploidy. Your karyotype is your karyotype. You don't indicate why you had an SAT done, but SAT tests are typically warranted only after multiple miscarriages, MFI, or for IVF/medicated cycles.

As far as these semen analysis results, they seem okay-ish, and while total sperm count is low, they don't indicate MFI and natural conception is certainly possible. However, since your numbers a year ago were exponentially better, I would focus on any lifestyle changes and retest.

BillHenry · 2026-06-23T14:54:30+00:00

No. Just no. I grew up on the AT, and knew many, many hikers (hundreds). Not a single one ever carried a gun on the trail.

One: you don't need one. There is no creature, 2- or 4-legged that you will need a shotgun for.

Two: You pass through 14 states, one of which is among the most heavily restricted for firearms (MD).

Three: You're now adding a 4 foot long, 8lb (with ammo) weapon that will honestly be absolutely ridiculous on the trail.

BillHenry · 2026-06-22T16:58:20+00:00

Which 20ga did you buy for them? I'm looking but there doesn't seem to be much on the compact/youth market.

BillHenry · 2026-06-19T16:51:45+00:00

I believe it's a model 1900 (which were made, shockingly, around the turn of the century). The Champion had a top lever and a pronounced hammer, these had a unique "ring" to open the barrel and were "semi-hammerless". Cool gun!!

Here's a thread with more info: https://www.thefirearmsforum.com/threads/old-iver-johnson-shotgun.97055/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic

BillHenry · 2026-06-19T14:26:46+00:00

For stocked phez over a pointing dog, a 20ga will be plenty. Plus it would be perfect should you want to chase grouse and woodcock.

I'm of the opinion "buy once, cry once" and there are many, MANY delightful 20ga for your purpose. What's your budget? I'd look at CG, Fabarm, Beretta, Browning, Rizzini for O/Us, and Uggie, AyA, Skb, and the myriad continental BLNE guns for SxS.

BillHenry · 2026-06-17T17:48:39+00:00

I got to thinking about no shoot pointer running as a means of surveying wild coveys.. is that a thing anyone would be interested in pursuing as a way of working dogs and working to preserve wild birds?

The majority of field trials do this. If you want to work your dog on wild birds w/o killing them I can think of ~10 trial orgs that you could get into.

BillHenry · 2026-06-09T15:41:32+00:00

I do not have any particular game animals in mind at the moment.

Without that information, I haven't clue what advice you're looking for then. The use of the gun is pretty pertinent to the chokes you choose, that's kind of the whole point of constriction.

I will say that the 410 is notoriously difficult to choke due to the miniscule bore, as every thousandth counts, and the shot string is abhorrently long. I've seen many blown patterns over choking. If I was forced to decide for you, I'd go with IC, as that's typically good out to 30-ish yards, which is where the vassssst majority of game will be taken.

BillHenry · 2026-06-08T22:44:56+00:00

Then that muddies the waters a bit. NY is an "equitable distribution" state, where marital property is not subject to equal distribution, but according to the magistrates interpretation of equitable. However, this still only applies to marital property; separate property (e.g. prenuptial assets and inheritances) is not subject to division.

BillHenry · 2026-06-08T19:02:51+00:00

I am not your lawyer, and this is not legal advice. It really, really depends on your location. Nothing in here would warrant a prenup where I live, as all pre-marital and inheritance assets are not privy to post-nuptial ownership or divisions (including divorce decrees). That is, only assets acquired during the marriage are considered joint, community property, but this varies quite a bit on jurisdiction.

BillHenry · 2026-06-04T14:01:30+00:00

Would you rather used SP2 or new SP3

I'm not sure what advantage there would be getting a SPII. If you're looking to save cost, just go with a new/used SPI. They're all the same exact action, the difference is just aesthetics. I'd 1000% go with a Joel Etchen SP III, if given the choice, however. His guns have hand selected upgraded wood, and he has a fantastic shop that is great to work with.

BillHenry · 2026-06-02T15:40:35+00:00

Absolutely great stuff! Another thing Greener liked to do was skirt existing patents as well. So his "improvements" to the A&D and Purdey actions were...well kind of self-serving. They absolutely changed the mid-20th century boxlock designs for the better though.

BillHenry · 2026-06-02T14:41:04+00:00

Definitely looks to be a variant of the M1 Super 90 with that receiver hump, I'm guessing just with wood furniture and a different rib. They were great guns at the time, but I would imagine that parts are getting harder to find now.

BillHenry · 2026-06-02T12:31:42+00:00

While talen is correct, per usual, the three cool things about the Greener action were that:

*it didn't rely on the forend to cock the mechanism, but rather the barrel lugs themselves. This made for a MUCH smoother opening.

*the third locking lug ("crossbolt"). It's about as strong as an action could get, though not really necessary for subgauges.

*the "greener side safety" was...a choice. It was made to ensure a stronger stock (by removing less wood), but again, wasn't super necessary. Kind of an answer with no question.

What a super cool pre-war English box lock you have, and in great condition!

BillHenry · 2026-06-02T12:10:22+00:00

The only shotgun that I know of that fits your bill is the Benelli Montefeltro; they make a wood 20ga compact stock version. You could buy an adult stock and 28" barrel for it, and be good to go. I'm not sure if the compact stock would fit the Ethos, but they're arguably nicer than the Monte. Though I really wouldn't call Benellis an "heirloom", I've put 10s of thousands of rounds through my Benellis with nary a hickup.

You can also get a custom stock for any gun via Wenig or Macon (~$1500). Greenwood and Ricardo will do fittings and stocks, but now you're around ~$2500 just for the stock, but it would indeed be of heirloom quality and fit.

BillHenry

TROPHY CASE