first O/U purchase question

[Little Red Rooster 0]

I'm looking for advice on a first O/U purchase. My use for the gun is going to be sporting clays, skeet, etc. I have looked all over the forum, and while I found a few threads that mentioned some info, it hasn't helped me really figure out what to do.

 

This will be the first shotgun that I own myself. I have been fortunate enough to shoot many different Brownings, Berettas, and Winchesters (all o/u) that my friends have (this is how I learned and got addicted to clay shooting). Those are all amazing guns - unfortunately I can't afford one of them right now.

 

Basically I want this in my gun: 12ga, O/U, single trigger, reliability and quality

 

As I said, I am on a restrictive budget so it has to be below $1000. Ideally, I'd love to find a great quality gun for $6-700 - but I know that's close to unheard of in quality O/U's...

 

I have looked online and seen (o/u's) Cabela's Savage Arms 12ga, some of the CZ ones, Mossberg Silver Reserve, etc.

 

I am looking for suggestions on a specific model or if anyone has had good or bad experiences with the ones i've listed above. Everyone's optinions are very much appreciated - thank you.

[Regulator72 80]

Someone with more knowledge will step in, but when I reasearched O/U's for myself, most of what I read was that any sub 1k O/U will probably not last. Now, I can't say this as fact as I don't have experience with any other than my Browning Centauri (12-$1,400 if i remember correctly.)

 

I did buy a Stoeger semi-auto that has been flawless, I know they make a sub 1k O/U. maybe check into them..

[Little Red Rooster 0]

And I am totally open to buying used ones in good condition - but I haven't really seen any Citoris or any higher quality guns that are selling for below $1,000.

 

From your initial suggestion and my hesitation to buy a gun of questionable quality, maybe I just need to wait till I can spend like 1200. I certainly don't want to get something that's going to break down in a couple years just to save a few hundred, but if I can find a quality one for my range, why not pick it up...

[M4BGRINGO 139]

What kind of shotgun sports do you intend to do with the gun? As you know, an O/U out of the box will beat your shoulder up after a few boxes. I have an awesome recoil reduction system on my O/U, but that alone is what you want to pay for a gun.

 

You can find O/U's new for less than $1000, I wouldn't bet on putting 50K shells through them without an issue, but they may be just fine for you for quite sometime. I will try to get the name of the guns I saw at a local club, I was really suprised at the cost.

 

There is another fellow I shoot with that has an O/U made in Turkey which has been a really good gun for him. This guy can shoot anything you put in his hands though so he tends to shoot a lot of different guns. He is actually looking at buying the new Beretta 400 semi-auto that another one of my friends just bought. I would highly recommend that gun to anyone as long as a semi-auto is allowed, can't feel any recoil from it, simply amazing.

[Pew Pew Plates 358]

Avoid:

 

Stoeger, Mossberg, & Ruger O/Us

 

For the budget, a CZ cannot be beat. The browning Citori and Cynergy would be next up but a hair over budget. I have a Cynergy and its absolutely amazing, I love it.

 

[fmtek 4]

I have a CZ Mallard, that I picked up for $525 at Davis Sport Shop in NY. I work close to there so I stopped at lunch one day. I have 750 rounds through it, not one FTF.

 

I love it, it's a double trigger, which I didn't like at first, but now I'm ok with. I dont think you can go wrong with CZ. They are built pretty good.

 

I use Trulock extended choke tubes, the Beretta/Benelli threads, but it did come with a complete set of standard in the barrel chokes.

[heaterbob 53]

i'm also in the market for one, I'm starting to lean towards the winchester 101

[halbautomatisch 60]

I have a Beretta Whitewing, well made and lighter than a Citori. I've shot many pheasants with it.

[lunker 274]

Download the CDNN catalog and look at the Lanber deluxe sporting. The top of the line with tiny receiver blemishes in around $700. There guns seem to be nearly universally praised on Shotgunworld.com and elsewhere.

[Socom 19]

yes i agree the cz is a great great over under shotgun; the wingshooter is my fav of the cz's

[lunker 274]

Just as an FYI, the current CZ line of shotguns (excepting the BRNO models) are all Turkish made, not Czech built. That shouldn't stop anyone from buying a quality product, but I am just throwing it out there.

[rifleman 90]

Do yourself a favor and save up for a good gun. You will be better off buying one for 2K than buying one for 1,000 AND a second one for 2k within a year. Go to Griffin & Howe in Bedminster on Saturday, well worth the ride. I bought a $2,000 Rizzini (tagged @ $1,800) clay gun for $1300 + tax. If nothing else, it is like being in a gun museum.

[Little Red Rooster 0]

I know Griffin and Howe as I grew up a few miles away from there and have been in there a few times. Awesome store, but on the more expensive side with their firearms. I will stop in and take a look and see if they have anything like you found. I just figured it wasn't worth tempting myself bc everything I've seen there before is so nice, but pricey. Thanks

[Little Red Rooster 0]

So I seem to have found a Browning Model 27 Field O/U 12 Gauge with a asking price of $999 (apparently used to be at $1500). It says metal, wood and bore are "as new". It has SST trigger, 28" barrel, modified/full choke.

 

-Does anyone have any first hand experience with this model? (I can't find too much info on it and only really used the citori and cynergy before).

-Is it good for my sole purpose of clay shooting?

- Is this a fair price?

-Any helpful information??

 

Thank you!!

[DaddyNick 408]

check out the Czs as well as Charles Daly.