There’s still a lot of great public-land bird hunting available for hunters, but most of it is located well off the beaten path. Reaching these hotspots requires lots of walking (and sometimes climbing) but the reward is worth the effort. You’ll need the right gear for this type of hunt, and that starts with a lightweight shotgun. The good news is there are a lot of outstanding guns that were built with this type of hunting in mind, and we’ve listed six of our favorite lightweight shotguns here.
Savage 555 Savage 555 Weight: 6.2 lbs (12-gauge, 16-gauge), 5.5 lbs (20-gauge, 28-gauge, .410)
The 555 is a dependable, no-frills Turkish-made box lock over/under that’s available in a variety of gauges and with either a full-size or compact stock. It lacks auto ejectors, but the 555 does come with chrome-lined barrels, a selective mechanical trigger, and five choke tubes. The wood isn’t as fancy as some of the other guns on the list, and the aluminum receiver is unadorned, but if you’re searching for a lightweight box lock over/under that’s an ideal field gun, the Savage 555 should be on your short list. I evaluated the 555 a few years ago and found that it was a solid performer at a very reasonable price. It’s a bit light for dedicated clay target shooting, but it excels as a field gun.
MSRP: $769; savagearms.com
Browning A5 Hunter 20-gauge Browning A5 Hunter Weight: 6.7 lbs (12-gauge), 5.8 lbs (16-gauge), 5.6 lbs (20-gauge)
The A5’s classic good looks are enough reason to want to own this gun, but with models weighing as little as 5.6-pounds, the A5 is also suited for hunting steep, rocky country or in areas where you sometimes have to walk a long way to find birds. Browning’s Kinematic Drive system is extremely reliable and doesn’t require a gas system which adds extra weight to the gun. I hunted doves in Texas two years ago with Gun Dog editor Kali Parmley and we put the A5 Hunter 20-gauge through the paces for three days, shooting birds and clays until the guns’ barrels were boiling hot, without any failures. Despite the gun’s light weight, I never had an issue with recoil and the balance and overall fit-and-finish of this gun is excellent.
MSRP: $1,669.99 to $2,109.99; browning.com
Weatherby Element IIWeatherby Element II Upland Weight: 6.9 lbs (12-gauge), 6.4 lbs (20-gauge)
The semiauto Element II was a recent addition to the Weatherby line, and they are both suitable for hunting in areas where you’ll have to do a lot of hiking. These guns utilize a reliable inertia-operated recoil system, so you can expect years of service from these guns with minimal maintenance. The Upland version comes with a two-tone receiver and elegant Turkish walnut stock. Two Crio choke tubes are included (IC, M) as well as a choke wrench, and I like the flat rib and fiber optic front bead. This is the most affordable semiautos shotgun on the list, and while it doesn’t match all the features of the Browning or the Benelli, it’s a solid gun that looks good and works well in the field—even if you have to walk a long way to get there.
MSRP: $799; weatherby.com
Franchi Instinct SL Franchi Instinct SL Weight: 6.3 lbs (12-gauge), 5.8 lbs (16-gauge), 5.6 lbs (20-gauge, .410), 5.2 lbs (28-gauge)
The Franchi is a sleek Italian over/under with a lightweight aluminum alloy receiver that helps keep mass to a minimum. An A-grade satin walnut stock with prince of Wales grip also comes standard with the gun, as do gloss blued barrels. Franchi manages to make this gun austere without being ugly, and I think it’s one of the most elegant, well-balanced field shotguns in this price range. There’s elegant checkering on the grip and forearm and fit-and-finish are excellent on this gun. A tang-mounted safety with built-in barrel selector and auto ejectors come standard on the SL and three flush-fit chokes are included. I carried a 16-gauge SL on my last Idaho upland hunt, and the gun was ideal for long hikes in steep country.
MSRP: $1,899; franchiusa.com
Beretta Ultraleggero Beretta Ultraleggero Weight: 6.4 lbs (12-gauge, 26-inch barrels)
Most light over/unders save weight by adding an aluminum receiver. Beretta went a different direction with the Ultraleggero (Italian for light weight). The engineers at Beretta shaved away all the unnecessary steel in the receiver and gave this gun polymer printed side plates so that it looks like a standard boxlock. They also deleted the metal mid rib to keep this 12-gauge’s weight down around six-and-a-half pounds. Don’t let the term polymer scare you away, either—with its high-grade wood and ornate black polymer plates, the Ultraleggero is an attractive, stylish field gun that’s easy to carry. Since the plates are removable, you can have them customized by Beretta with your name, the game scene of your choice, your gun club logo, your gun dog, or just about anything else you’d like. This is a new take on light shotguns, but the well-executed Beretta is a beaut.
MSRP: $2,999; beretta.com
Benelli Montefeltro Ultra Light Benelli Montefeltro Ultra Light Weight: 6.3 lbs (12-gauge), 5.3 lbs (20-gauge)
I reviewed the Montefeltro Ultra Light 12-gauge last year and fell in love. It looks great (especially the AA-grade satin walnut stock) and is light enough to carry all day. Those weight savings come thanks in part to a shortened magazine tube, carbon fiber rib, and a lightweight anodized receiver. The Inertia-Driven internals run clean and reliably with minimal maintenance, and relatively short barrels (26-inches for the 12-gauge, 24-inches on the 20) keep overall length to a minimum and make this a handy gun for the grouse woods. Despite its dashing good looks, the Ultra Light is built to withstand years of hard hunting and comes with a WeatherCoat finish on the stock and receiver. The Montefeltro Ultra Light is a smooth-shooting gun that’s light enough for hard hunting yet rugged enough to last a lifetime.
MSRP: $2,049; benelliusa.com
