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March 2009

20-Gauge Semiautos: The 11-87 Beats the Silver and New SA-20

Remington’s 11-87 Sportsman wasn’t overwhelmingly good, it was just solid and dependable. Mossberg’s SA-20 has a big flaw, but you might disagree. Browning’s Silver cost too much silver.

One of the major reasons hunters choose a 20 gauge over a 12 gauge is the former's smaller frame, weight, and recoil. Though they may already own a 12, many field sportsmen wind up reaching for their 20s because the smaller gun is just easier to handle, and there are just a few hunting situations—layback goose hunting and spring turkey hunting, to name two—in which the bigger payload might make a difference.

We recently tested a trio of autoloaders in 20 gauge that offer

From left to right are our 3-inchchamber 20-gauge contestants: The Remington 11-87 Sportsman No. 29825, $757, notable for its lack of flash and great pointing ability; the new-for-2008 Mossberg SA-20 No. 75771, which at 6 pounds was the lightest in the test and whose $496 price was also the lightest; and the Browning Silver Mossy Oak Duck Blind No. 011366604, $1,064. The Silver 20 is only available in wood-and-blued and camo treatments.

quite a savings in physical form over their bigger stablemates. Our 3-inch-chamber 20 gauges were the Browning Silver Mossy Oak Duck Blind No. 011366604, $1,064; Mossberg…

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