In the December 1995 issue, we tried a couple of double-barreled shotguns that retailed for less than $900. Both of the 20 gauges in this head-to-head test, a Gentry and a Brittany, were imported by American Arms. Here’s what we foun.
American Arms Gentry: Reliable, But Much Too Stiff
The Spanish-made Gentry is a relatively inexpensive side-by-side shotgun with a boxlock action. It is available in 12, 20, and 28 gauge and .410 bore. The latter two versions come with double triggers and 26-inch barrels, while the others have single, selective triggers and 26- or 28-inch barrels. Other features include an American-style stock, chrome bores, extractors, and fixed chokes.
Our 20-gauge Gentry’s blued barrels and trigger guard were unevenly polished, but the receiver’s silver finish and simple scroll engraving were satisfactorily done. No cosmetic flaws or sharp edges were found. The barrels had no play when open, and locked up solidly. However, the action was extremely stiff, and the single trigger had a lot of side-to-side movement.
Both sections of the stock were made of plain-grained walnut with a smooth, satin finish. We considered the checkering to be sloppy, due to numerous cuts that overran the borders of all three panels. Nevertheless, the vented black-rubber recoil pad and spacer were carefully installed. In wood-to-metal mating, the only shortcoming noted was that the buttstock didn’t flush along the left side of the tang.
In our opinion, the Gentry’s handling qualities were nothing special. This butt-heavy shotgun shouldered smoothly. Pointing and target acquisition were satisfactory, though neither was what we would call natural. The light muzzle swung fast but decelerated quickly. Our shooters considered the comb to be reasonably comfortable, and it afforded a good view of the sighting plane. The full pistol grip made pulling the gun into the shoulder easier than that of the other shotgun covered here, and the semi-beavertail fore end provided an adequate amount of gripping area. Felt recoil was average for a 20-gauge shotgun.
Both of this side-by-side shotgun’s controls worked smoothly. When pushed to the right, the top lever on the receiver unlocked the action, allowing the barrels to open. The manual safety, located just behind the top lever on the tang, also served as the barrel selector. Sliding this control rearward put the gun on Safe, and pushing the switch forward allowed it to Fire. When moved to the right, the right barrel was selected to fire first. In the left position, the left barrel fired first.
Functioning was reliable, but the action was unacceptably stiff throughout the test. We had to use a considerable amount of muscle to wrestle the barrels open and closed, which made reloading slow and tiresome. Since the barrels pivoted readily with the fore end removed, we suspect the troublesome resistance was caused by the movement of the firing mechanism and extractors. Once we did manage to get the action fully open, the shells in the chambers were elevated about a quarter-inch by the extractors to facilitate their removal.
The single selective trigger had an ungrooved quarter-inch-wide face that was brassy-gold in color. It reset mechanically, allowing the second barrel to be fired even if the first barrel failed to do so. Regardless of which barrel was selected to fire, the trigger-pull let-off was 6.5 pounds.
Between the barrels was a solid, 5⁄16-inch-wide rib with a matte sighting plane, which prevented glare in direct sunlight, and a small, brass bead on the front. All of our shooters felt that this set up provided a satisfactory sighting reference.
We considered the performance of the Gentry’s fixed chokes to be satisfactory. The right barrel’s choke was rated as Improved Cylinder, and the left barrel’s choke was rated as Modified. Both produced patterns with good pellet distribution using Winchester No. 71⁄2 and Fiocchi No. 8 field loads.
Bottom Line: The American Arms Gentry might make a good bird gun for those who prefer a stock with a pistol grip and don’t have a pile of money. It handled and patterned well enough to get the job done. However, our test gun’s stiff action prevents us from recommending this 20-gauge shotgun.
Adapted by Gun Tests Staff, using evaluations from Gun Tests Team members. GT
