We didn't hunt when I was a kid, mainly because my dad wasn't a hunter. He took us fishing all the time, but we never hunted. I didn't start until I was nearly 40 years old and went on a corporate dove hunt. That one weekend got me hooked and I've been a casual hunter and general gun enthusiast for the last 24 years. Anyway, from that day in the fall of 2000 onward, I've looked for good buys on firearms.
In 2004, Galyan's sporting goods had been acquired by Dick's (a real shame) and I went to the store in Arlington, TX because they had serious markdowns on all guns. They had one O/U left and it was a Verona 20 gauge. I can't remember the exact model number (it's in the back of my safe) but I think it was a 503. I got the shotgun for under $500 after sales tax and it's been a steady field gun ever since. Both my sons have hunted with it numerous times and my youngest son got his first limit on dove with it when he was about 13. I've used it to hunt quail many times and it's now a reminder of great memories in the field with my sons. No doubt my grandsons will use it as well. It's one of the best investment in lasting value that I ever made. Below is a pic of me hunting quail with it when my GSP, Daisy, was first learning to be steady to shoot.
![Image]()
In 2004, Galyan's sporting goods had been acquired by Dick's (a real shame) and I went to the store in Arlington, TX because they had serious markdowns on all guns. They had one O/U left and it was a Verona 20 gauge. I can't remember the exact model number (it's in the back of my safe) but I think it was a 503. I got the shotgun for under $500 after sales tax and it's been a steady field gun ever since. Both my sons have hunted with it numerous times and my youngest son got his first limit on dove with it when he was about 13. I've used it to hunt quail many times and it's now a reminder of great memories in the field with my sons. No doubt my grandsons will use it as well. It's one of the best investment in lasting value that I ever made. Below is a pic of me hunting quail with it when my GSP, Daisy, was first learning to be steady to shoot.
