How to Choose the Right Shotgun for Upland Hunting

[@patrickchristen1169]

My son got me a Final Rise vest last Christmas, been out grouse hunting this year with him and using the vest, it’s been fantastic.

[@finalrise]

@@patrickchristen1169 so happy to hear it brother! Hope you guys are having an awesome season 👊🏼

[@dennisvandergriff7757]

Great video. Old fat Dutchman here. Been a few years since I spoke with you, but enjoyed speaking with your at Pheasant Fest. Be safe and the vest is working very, very well. It is outstanding! 😊

[@finalrise]

@@dennisvandergriff7757 so good to hear from you brother! Stoked the vest is doing awesome and hope to catch you at the next PF 👊🏼

[@finalrise]

@@JasonNeilson-cm3sb thanks so much for the kind words! It’s always the little things that make a huge difference. Funny how a sweatshirt or vest can completely change how you shoot!

[@quickchowder4432]

That 28ga Venus is so nice. Looking forward to (hopefully) getting mine made in the next year or so. Awesome videos lately.

[@finalrise]

@@quickchowder4432 it’s a beautiful work of art! Shoots as good as it looks, too :) Can’t wait to hear how you like it when you get it. Keep us posted!

[@ajdigioia7925]

Great video. My son and I were talking about some of the things you just covered in your discussion. He has gotten into Upland and waterfall hunting in the last year or so and the points you cover are excellent. He’s in the process of evaluating what he wants in his next shotgun, the second one, and I think this would be extremely helpful for him so I’ve passed it along. Definitely a thumbs up and I’m subscribing to your channel.

[@erikhoins194]

Very good video. Thanks for bringing up the bead subject. I'm always amazed at what show up on shotguns these days. Years ago, I was doing a round of clays with my dad when he noticed that the bead was missing on my gun. I told him that I never noticed. The man pulling the trap was Olympic Gold Medalist, Matt Dryke. He just smiled and said, "Good, you don't need a bead". 🙂

[@megaconda07]

I just picked up my first double barrel yesterday for grouse! Ended up getting a cz bobwhite 20 gauge. It's my first double gun, and I wanted one that worked well but also wouldn't be upset scratching. Thr upland company guns look really good. Maybe in the future.

[@finalrise]

@@megaconda07 those CZs are work horses! Great gun to break the ice on. Hope it works awesome for you!

[@edbigtruck]

Past years I’ve been using a CZ Sharptail in 20ga. Love the gun The last couple years I’ve really come to appreciate the 28ga. I’ve been using a Tristar Bristol Silver. Love the Gun. And neither the CZ and TriStar are work horses and won’t break the bank. I have more expensive Beretta’s for clay shooting. But not bringing them in field isn’t happening.

[@davidcole7165]

Nice presentation, you said it all very well. As a 65 year upland hunter, I shoot 20 & 28 both about 61/4 lbs and prefer a 28 inch barrels on the 20ga and 30 inch on the 28ga. I have shot in America and always take my 20ga as the best all round field gun. I shoot upland at home in NZ, May to August and then come to America for a couple of weeks over Cristmas. Enjoyed your page. Cheers, David

[@Jimmybryse]

Great video with excellent explanation and reasoning provided. Thank you. I now just need to find out how to get a Venus 28 gauge in Canada.

[@jeffreylocke8808]

I use a Browning 725 Feather 12 gauge weighing 6 pounds and 7 ounces. 26 inch barrels with Trulock ported blackened stainless steel extended chokes in Improved Cylinder and Improved Modified as my All Around shotgun.

[@jblocker6613]

Nice video! I shoot a csmc 20 gauge over/under with 28” barrels. It weighs 6 1/4 lbs and balances perfectly on the hinge pin. Its the only shotgun I really shoot anymore. And I removed the front red bead which I agree is distracting.

[@finalrise]

@@jblocker6613 I’ll own a csmc one of these days! I’ve looked time and time again.. figure I just need to do it. Heard nothing but great stuff. And American made!! 🇺🇸

[@jimmyc5050]

Very informative content. I'm in WA state in very interested in hunting upland birds and leaning towards a 20 ga. Right now I'm trying to get educated and ideally enroll in a 4 hour class field class hunting the Yakima valley....gotta start somewhere. CHEERS!

[@finalrise]

@@jimmyc5050 you’re headed down the right path brother. Way to go to get involved and take the steps. Not easy to start something new and get outside your comfort zone. Huge congrats. Keep us posted on your journey!

[@cartergjenkins]

These are great instructional videos. I am glad this content is being made and it’s very helpful.

[@jasenleith4714]

Matt Great video. Have a Blaser F16 30inch 12g for sporting clays. I am looking at a sxs for upland days and your video nails it. The Beretta 486 and Rizzini BR552 both have nice (quite expensive) sxs models. I have just discovered the Upland Gun Co. Going to take a closer look.

[@CGeoutdoor]

Great video thanks for sharing! I own two side by sides 12G, a Baikal prince of wales grip 28" and a 110 year old BSA straight grip 30". Both used for primarily chukar here in Europe!

[@MichaelJones-tu9gi]

I envy you being able to hunt the Northwest consistently. Being from Ohio, not much upland hunting in my state, but to make the time to do some pheasant hunting in NW Ohio, it is a passion of mine. Very good videos young man, lots of good knowledge you're sharing.

[@finalrise]

@@MichaelJones-tu9gi grateful for the kind words sir! Definitely very very blessed to be where I am and enjoy the incredible opportunities to hunt, fish and recreate to my hearts desire. Appreciate you taking time to watch and comment as well 🤝🏼

[@johndoe-ku7ew]

I hunt with the Instinct L in 12 Its very versatile although it does sometimes crush shells.

[@JW-fq1ec]

There you go again with the "I own more shotguns than I should!" Currently own 2 Remington 20ga 1100's. One Sporting Field I use for skeet. The second is a 20-LT Upland Special for field use. Love both of them!

[@jimbragg8909]

I don't own an 1100 but my buddy does and let me shoot it at the range and it is just a wonderful gun and works extremely well.

[@finalrise]

@@JW-fq1ec haha I know.. I know… I pretend to empathize for my wife 🤣

[@JW-fq1ec]

@@finalrise 😆

[@YakMotley]

Great video!

[@finalrise]

@@YakMotley thanks for watching!

[@elball5661]

Have had O/U , SxS. and Autos - Benelli Ultra-Light 20gahas been my upland gun for the last 4 years. Sold my last 686 last year.

[@ssazerac]

Great video! I prefer 16ga for Upland - but I have to reload since shells are hard to find. 16 carries like a 20, shoots likes a 12. My back up is a 20ga because you can always find shells anywhere in the US. All of my guns are double guns and when I'm feeling nostalgic, I'll shoot a side-by-side over my English Setters in the piney woods of Georgia for Bobwhites - great way to spend a crisp fall day!

[@finalrise]

@@ssazerac 100% agree with everything you shared here! Hope the birds are looking good in your neck of the woods this season 👊🏼

[@marcosortega7741]

Late season pheasants call for a 12 gauge with #4s, you are going after a tough bird, if you cripple them they are tough to find, and generally you need to make longer shots, quicker shots. Ruffed grouse, sharptail, quail, partridge, doves etc you can harvest as long as you touch them. There's a big difference between pheasant and everything else in my opinion.

[@BillySmith-o2h]

Awesome video! Love the 28 gauge!!

[@finalrise]

@@BillySmith-o2h amen! Something about them! 🔥

[@scottjones8036]

Enjoyed the video. Thanks

[@joesebia6138]

Great video. Could have been me talking as i agree with everything you say except extractors vs ejector. I shoot a 16 sxs and shells are a bit scarce. I prefer extractor in this case. I reload so its much easier not having to search for spent shells. On the 20s and 12s. Its not so big a deal if one is lost other than the littering aspect.

[@finalrise]

Love the 16's and agree that extractors definitely yield less loss hulls if you aren't used to them or have a system to efficiently pop them into your hand. On another note, I'm tinkering with 16 reloads. Would love any 'winners' you've enjoyed using. Thanks for the comment and kind words also!

[@RobertCampbell-db3od]

I hunt with breakbarrel single shot 20ga shotgun this past season , got me a deer with it last day with open sights 🙏 Savage/Stevens 🤠

[@cartergjenkins]

I also am rethinking my 12 ga O/U and 12 ga in General. I always thought that 20 did not have the reach but with new loads and technology I may want to lighten up what I carry.

[@finalrise]

@@cartergjenkins you hit the nail on the head brother. Modern shotshells are pretty dang amazing and a little time at the range, spent practicing and patterning the gun to get the right shot and choke combo, goes a long ways to putting more birds in the vest.

[@nickwatson6200]

I’m stuck on the browning citori 725 feather 20 gauge and the ugc Zeus in 20 gauge I mainly grouse hunt, in your opinion what would be better

[@gordy321]

Citori superlight is a fantastic bird gun

[@finalrise]

@@gordy321 one of my favorites for sure!!

[@shanemilehi]

Great video. I would really like some advice on left handed guns. I’m 55 and just getting into the game. My dad gave me a browning bps 12 gauge. Is love a 20 over under and damn. It’s hard to source. Sure would like to find something and get to practicing it so I can get out there. Thanks. Again, great video. I learned more in that 21 minutes than I have in piecing together dozens of others 👍🏼

[@finalrise]

@@shanemilehi grateful it was helpful! A lot of OUs are built fairly negative in their cast so they fit just great for LH shooters. Pumps like the BPS, Ithaca and a few others are bottom eject which makes them a great option as well. Lots of solid options but hopefully some other south paws chime in with some good first hand experience to help you further 🤝🏼

[@shanemilehi]

Thanks for the reply. Yea, I’d love to hear if any other southpaws recommend any OUs.

[@tomahawk5827]

Check out a Browning Cynergy Field 20 ga O/U

[@shanemilehi]

@@tomahawk5827 I will. Thanks

[@finalrise]

@@tomahawk5827 awesome guns! I had a loner of one a few years ago. Such a nice firearm! Definitely would love to find one in 28ga with 30” barrels!

[@jimmyc5050]

I like the Franchi L also, but can I remove the front sight and just put a bead in its place?

[@finalrise]

@@jimmyc5050 you absolutely could!

[@jayg1586]

What about chokes for upland?

[@shanemilehi]

As I’m seemingly endlessly trying to find a first break action gun for upland, I’m curious if you still love the 20 gauge if your a dog less hunter. I’m new to hunting and my lab is 7. G just hoping that the 20 gauge would be great if you aren’t hunting over dogs? Thanks

[@Gulgonful]

Matt have you ever handled a FAIR Iside side by side? Any thoughts on production sxs? Beretta, FAIR, etc?

[@finalrise]

@@Gulgonful I sure have! A good friend has a 28 FAIR Iside and it’s a great little gun! For the money I’d probably look at a Dickinson for a production offering but the fair are great! Don’t have any experience with the Beretta sxs unfortunately. Most I see are single trigger and there’s something about double triggers on a sxs that are a personal “must” 👌🏼

[@Gulgonful]

@@finalrise Nice - thank you, I'm looking for my next purchase. Don't know if Final Rise is at all interested in doing gun reviews or more in depth looks at modern / production guns for upland. I'm finding it hard to get non-marketing impressions of things like the FAIR, Tristar Bristol, Weatherby SXS, Fabarm Autumn, etc. I'm a bit like Matt in that I don't have any budget or interest in safe queens that can't take use. Thanks for the great content

[@jimmyg3502]

Hey Matt, does your super light have a 28” barrel? I’m shooting the super light feather 20g and could only get it in 26”. Looks like that’s all they make…at least the new ones. Absolutely love the gun, easily my favorite as well…but wish it was 28”. I’m curious if you replaced the stock 26” and if so where to find a replacement barrel. I’ve even looked for older models hoping for longer barrel with the english stock, but all I can find is the upland special with a 24” 🤯

[@finalrise]

@@jimmyg3502 hey brother - it does. It took me several years of looking before I found one. This is an early 90s shotgun but it’s rare to find the super light with 28” barrels anymore. Occasionally browning will do their shot show specials and they’ll offer 28” barrels. I scored a 16 and 28 gauge super light feather and both have 28” barrels. I’ll keep my eyes peeled and let you know if I come across another 👍🏼

[@jimmyg3502]

@@finalrise​​⁠thanks for the reply! Yes, please let me know if you stumble across anything! Eventually I will probably order a custom Upland gun co. but for now I’ve still got a nostalgic addiction to Brownings ever since watching my grandpa knock down pheasant and quail with his sweet 16 at a rate that seemed superhuman to me 30 years ago 🥰 BTW, loving my Summit vest. Keep up the good work!

[@anthonypayne1782]

I have a 20ga superlight feather. You can get a 28” barrel. I bought it in the white, had it fitted and blued. Have it fixed full full.

[@jimmyg3502]

@@anthonypayne1782 did you go directly through Browning?

[@ryanyichen88]

What brand of sweater is he wearing?

[@finalrise]

@@ryanyichen88 this is a black ovis merino hoodie 👍🏼

[@maxcorder2211]

Pistols and rifles have a rear sight and a front sight. You line up the front sight in the notch of the rear sight. Or a telescopic sight or a red dot, which are even simpler and one dimensional. With a shotgun, your eye is your rear sight. Wherever you eye looks, your brain automatically makes the adjustments necessary to tell your trigger finger when to fire. Your eye is looking at your target, not a front bead or anything else, though some want one for aesthetics. Quite simply, if you lost your front bead, you could still have a successful hunt.

[@finalrise]

@@maxcorder2211 well said. I have several guns I’ve taken my front bead off of. “See the bird. Shoot the bird” 🤘🏼

[@CandidZulu]

How about a single 12ga?

[@finalrise]

@@CandidZulu nothing wrong with a 12, just doesn’t quite check the boxes for my personal preferences. I always say, “its the Indian, not the arrow that makes a difference” 👊🏼

[@CandidZulu]

@@finalrise That's actually one of my favorite expressions, I use it all the time!

[@Intermtn9736]

I shot 12ga vs 20ga in identical guns, identical ammo mfg, over 400 shots each of two chukar seasons. For me, a 12ga 1 1/4 load vs 20ga 1oz is 27.1% more effective at knocking down birds full stop. Yep, that’s not exact science, but it lines up with the findings and advice I’ve gotten from multiple life long upland hunters. A semi auto 12 is the unequivocal king when it comes to actually killing things. Like you said, taste and situation (lightweight gun, well trained dogs to get cripples, preference for hard recoiling doubles) means compromises can be worth it for 20 and 28. You can get 12ga gas semis that recoil less than a 20ga double, carry 5-6 shells (where legal), don’t make you cry when you inevitably drop them, and (most importantly) have adjustable stock fit to dial it in perfect. And several weigh at or less that 6.5lbs. Just another opinion for the newbies out there. Absolutely love the Final Rise gear and the videos you’re putting out!

[@coskier1969]

100% agree 12 gauge ammo is always available. Semi-auto useful for everything. Upland, sporting clays, waterfowl, coyotes, deer, bear protection and 2 legged critters critters

[@eugenesirois696]

Length of pull has nothing to do with crook of your arm, 2 to 3 fingers widths off the thumb knuckle to your face, short better than to long, most people have lop too short,also changes on angle of elbow

[@sinan325]

Get something you can afford, lighter the better but doesn't really matter. They all steel tubes shooting pellets basically.

[@johnandrosemarywyatt977]

Very digestible

[@iddddaduncan]

20 gauge Benelli Ultra light SA for upland, nothing is close.

[@finalrise]

@@iddddaduncan nice guns for sure if you like auto loaders. I have a hard time finding my hulls and that 3rd shot is usually because I doofed my first two lol. I have a Benelli Legacy 20 ga in the safe that I take for quail now and again. Sporty little thing!

[@iddddaduncan]

@@finalrise You're right about the hulls, I really only hunt chukar and need every shot I can get that's why I said SA, Doubles and OU's are nice.

[@finalrise]

@ a good SA for chuks is always a hoot! Hope the birds are treating ya right this fall. Been lights out here!

[@iddddaduncan]

@@finalrise Idaho has been great this year, Both my wife and I use your game bags.