Why are Over under shotguns so expensive?

[etwinam]

I am just curious why over unders are so expensive. I am looking at semi auto shotguns and did lots of research finally deciding that an A300 is my next purchase.

In the process of looking at shotguns I found lots of silver pigeon and the like that are well over $2k and I just don't understand why. I mean they're beautiful guns some engraved and lots of beautiful wood accents but that's about it.

Is there something I am missing? A pump shotgun can be had for around $300, a decent semiauto gas operated runs around $650 with good gas guns running around $1200 and enertia driven average about $1500-$2k. So why would an archaic non semiauto shotgun go for the same price as a Bennelli M4 at $2k? It doesn't even have a cycling mechanism. And every review I read about these over under usually talk about some catastrophic failure with major components.

Can some one bring me up to speed on this? Is it just an over priced scenario like HK carbines and Scars that are overpriced for no other reason than Louis Vuitton charging $2k for a cheap leather wallet?

Thanks in advance and I mean no disrespect to OU shotgun owners I am just trying to understand.

[beetle]

one of the most expensive parts of a shotgun is the barrel. For example, go to berettausa and take a look at the cost of just the barrel.

On an Over Under you obviously have two barrels, so twice the cost. But more than that, there is a lot of hand fitting necessary to get the two barrels to shoot to the same spot. Think about it, you have two barrels one higher than the other, so you have to adjust them so that they end up shooting to the same spot at some distance.

In addition to the cost of barrels and work to align them, you also have a more complex trigger mechanism (needed to fire one barrel, then the other), two ejectors, etc.

Typically Over Unders have a lot more manual work needed to get everything to work correctly.

[bigbearbear]

There's also the market targeted by the manufacturer, most manufacturers target the higher end of shotgun market with their O/U products because that's where its strength is strongest and is also where customers are willing to pay for high end product; the clay shooting sport.

It is not impossible to manufacture a low cost O/U shotgun, you can get cheap ones from Tristar if you want. Check this out:

http://www.tristararms.com/products/over-under/hunter-ex-lt/

$670 MSRP, probably lowered price in the stores.

[Scratch705]

Can some one bring me up to speed on this? Is it just an over priced scenario like HK carbines and Scars that are overpriced for no other reason than Louis Vuitton charging $2k for a cheap leather wallet?

in my opinion, this is why O/U are priced so high.

It is only really used for the clay shooting sports, and the kind of crowds are these are rich people.

maybe the labor time to hand fit a really smooth break-action is why the costs are so high, like with those high end 1911's that require hand fitting parts.

[FLIGHT762]

maybe the labor time to hand fit a really smooth break-action is why the costs are so high, like with those high end 1911's that require hand fitting parts.

^^^^^^^^^^Well there you go^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ you get what you pay for. You want to have high quality workmanship, you pay for it.

You want a great 1911, you pay for an Ed Brown, Les Bayer Jardine etc.

A Holland & Holland double rifle is a masterpiece.

Just not for rich people, quality stuff costs money.

I wanted a nice 12 ga. O/U, I first bought a Franchi Renaissance. Nice gun, but not quite suited to Sporting Clays because of the light weight, great Dove gun though. I still have it. I settled on a Browning 725 Sporting Clay 30". That was the ticket, been using it for a few years and it gets me where I want.

[Meety Peety]

Just like any style gun, there are cheap ones and expensive ones. You can get over unders for the price of your a300 too. I also recently bought an a400 that cost a little more than I paid for my silver pigeon. It really has nothing to do with the style of shotgun, you just happened to be looking at one that costs a pretty penny.

[Ducky's Dad]

It is only really used for the clay shooting sports, and the kind of crowds are these are rich people.

I'm just guessing that you are not a hunter.

[M1NM]

Increased labor cost to build and smaller market

[ceh383]

It is only really used for the clay shooting sports, and the kind of crowds are these are rich people.

The main reasons an O/U costs more have already been mentioned.
I'm not rich by any stretch of the imagination, but the only shotgunning I do is Clay Sports. I prefer an O/U over other action types because of the balance and swing dynamics, I shoot them better.
There are a few inexpensive O/U's that are worth the money, however many are just poorly made using inferior materials and will not hold up to moderate use. A well made O/U will last a lifetime and longer, a cheap one, not so much.

[VictorFranko]

If you shoot a lot of skeet or trap and reload, the difference between chasing shells all over hell and back versus removing them from an O/U and sticking them in you vest pocket is worth the price difference.
Also, O/U shotguns are classy. Class costs.

[MJB]

I know of low cost ones but the market is not the hunting-beater cheaper market......

I've never understood the two different chokes. If I'm shooting the second round it's right behind the first so why the choke difference. My o/u both are mod....but I'm a hunter.

[Thefeeder]

><

Machined & hand fitted parts
Hand honed and polished barrels
Barrels regulated
Salt rust blueing
High grade metal
Strong receivers
Less moving parts to wear
High grade wood
Hand fitted stocks
Hand checkering
Hand Engraving
Gun balance
Barrel line to shoulder

The price will reflect which ones you get and which are skimped on.

*Ya can't tell how rough your car rides until you drive a smooth one*

[beetle]

I know of low cost ones but the market is not the hunting-beater cheaper market......

I've never understood the two different chokes. If I'm shooting the second round it's right behind the first so why the choke difference. My o/u both are mod....but I'm a hunter.

it's more useful for clay games. On my over under I typically have one barrel choked tight, and the other a little more open. In sporting clays I alter which barrel fires first based on the presentation. one clay might be close and the other far so I pick the right barrel depending on which clay I'm shooting at first.

Another example is in doubles trap. The first shot is close and you want to bust it quick. By the time you can get to the second clay it could be further away. So open choke for the first shot, tighter choke for the second.

[Baja_Traveler]

Having come from a competitive skeet background, I can for sure say that the higher priced O/U shotguns are worth the price. When you shoot some 50,000+ rounds a year as most serious competitors do, the lower priced shotguns simply cannot hold up. Fit, finish and materials are so much better in a 2 grand plus shotgun resulting in both longevity and higher cost.
Those 50,000 rounds are also the reason the O/U is chosen by 99% of competitive shooters - it doesn't throw expensive hulls all over the place. Unless a shooter is independently wealthy, or the minority that have a sweet ammo sponsorship - they have to reload to stay in the game.

[xMAC1x]

Check this site out.
Works of art.

http://www.pacificsportingarms.com/