I'm considering buying a Winchester Longbeard 20 gauge pump. Does anyone have one? If so, any issues I need to be aware of?
Would you buy it again?
I do not have the Longbeard version but I do have the SXP Waterfowl Hunter. Basically its the same gun except for the pistol grip stock and barrel length. I like the fit and finish of the gun, the internals of the gun are good, and it's easy to clean. The point of aim and point of impact were spot on. I've never had a jam or failure to fire.
But I hate the safety location being in front of the trigger, all my other shotguns have the safety behind and that's what I'm used to. The only other thing I don't care for is the action. When I pump it quickly, it seems fine. But if I cycle it slowly, it feels rough and when it's all the way back, it can be hard to move forward. There is a lever in the trigger assembly that drops into a cut out on the bolt slide. When you move it forward slowly, this lever seems to hang in that cut out. This may just be my gun, I have not had the opportunity to shoot any other 20 gauges. I have a SXP Waterfowl Hunter in 12 gauge and it does not feel rough or stiff. Overall, I think this is a good gun. I very much wish mine was the Longbeard model.
I have the SXP Longbeard 20 gauge. It's my first pistol grip shotgun and I really like it. The safety is in a good location for a pistol grip. The gun came with a comb piece that screws on and raises the comb to a perfect height for using an optic.
The trigger pull is excessive, but it seems a lot of new shotguns need trigger work. I fired a couple hundred target loads and about 2 lbs. of tss through it over the summer with no issues.
With a Trulock .585 and tss handloads it's a shooter and will be the first one I pull out of the safe this year.