Why are Over under shotguns so expensive?

[Chief-7700]

I have a $12,000 Jon Springer 20 gauge O/U in my safe.

[joefrank64k]

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.

They go for about $600 OTD in my area.

This one is about $525 OTD: http://www.tristararms.com/products/...der/setter-st/

As to the OP's question: IMHO O/U's are so expensive, in large part, because there are people willing to spend that amount of money on them. I was at Pacific Sporting Arms the other day when I overheard the last bits of a conversation between the owner and a customer:

C: So what are we talking here?
O: Hmmm, 105 to 110, thereabouts ($105 to $110 thousand)
C: This isn't gonna take a year plus like the last one, is it??
O: No, they're more caught up now, 4 to 6 months.
C: OK, go ahead and order it, call me when it gets in.

If you're in the "high end" shotgun business, why wouldn't you offer some in the high 5 to low 6 figure range, when you have willing buyers lined up for months in advance??

[ceh383]

They go for about $600 OTD in my area.

This one is about $525 OTD: http://www.tristararms.com/products/...der/setter-st/

As to the OP's question: IMHO O/U's are so expensive, in large part, because there are people willing to spend that amount of money on them. I was at Pacific Sporting Arms the other day when I overheard the last bits of a conversation between the owner and a customer:

C: So what are we talking here?
O: Hmmm, 105 to 110, thereabouts ($105 to $110 thousand)
C: This isn't gonna take a year plus like the last one, is it??
O: No, they're more caught up now, 4 to 6 months.
C: OK, go ahead and order it, call me when it gets in.

If you're in the "high end" shotgun business, why wouldn't you offer some in the high 5 to low 6 figure range, when you have willing buyers lined up for months in advance??

No reason not to sell them. I could buy one of those, but I would end up divorced and living in my car. I'm perfectly happy with my 5k Zoli, my wife is too. Keep in mind, a huge part of that price tag is the hand done, custom engraving. I was at PSA a while back they had a USED custom engraved "K" gun, the cost 100k, the same model gun, plain jane version new, 20k.

[JagerDog]

Not likely, tooling alone would cost more than a good gun...Then you need to know how to use it properly.

Ya...these ain't Lego guns (AR's) or stamped and spot welded (AK's).

[naeco81]

I'm perfectly happy with my 5k Zoli, my wife is too. Keep in mind, a huge part of that price tag is the hand done, custom engraving.

Post a picture!
Of the gun, not the wife, unless she has custom engraving too

[BOBGBA]

Everyone that I know that shoots an O/U on a regular basis that had a Mossberg or Tristar O/U has upgraded to a Beretta or Browning. Once they upgraded, they said that the new gun just feel's and shoot's better. Not to mention the better fit and finish.

It's kind of like buying no name tennis shoes and switching to a name brand tennis shoe. You can feel the differences, both quality and comfort.

[oddball]

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*

Best post in this thread. Spot on.

[ceh383]

Post a picture!
Of the gun, not the wife, unless she has custom engraving too

I think you have taken my statement incorrectly. At 5k, my Zoli has no custom engraving. Now the 100k "K" gun I looked at had amazing engraving, probably a few hundred hours worth, the scenes looked like photographs.
What I got with the Zoli is...

Very good fit and finish
Nice wood
Very strong action
Very good balance
Very good barrel regulation
Quality materials

All in all, a top quality gun at a reasonable price.

[parcours]

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*

Sounds like a Perazzi

[JagerDog]

No reason not to sell them. I could buy one of those, but I would end up divorced and living in my car. I'm perfectly happy with my 5k Zoli, my wife is too. Keep in mind, a huge part of that price tag is the hand done, custom engraving. I was at PSA a while back they had a USED custom engraved "K" gun, the cost 100k, the same model gun, plain jane version new, 20k.

I "settled" for a couple 682 Golds (Greystones). One sporting and one trap. As Beretta's entry competition gun they're pretty plain with nicer wood on the trap gun.

My skeet buddy just bought a new Perazzi (hi tek). 12 gauge shootable carrier barrel plus dedicated 12g barrel. $15K. And ya...quite plain. Nice wood, but not engraved.

Add artistry and the sky is the limit.

[ceh383]

Nothing wrong with a 682 or two, fine guns.
I have a 20+ year old Browning GTI with Briley tubes that I use for Skeet. It's another plain Jane gun, but it gets the job done on the Skeet field. Fancy engraving is above my pay grade at this point...Perhaps when I retire...

[JagerDog]

Can't shoot engraving. My Krieghoff isn't engraved and its still damn expensive.

The Citoris and 682 Berettas are fine guns for just about any sporting purpose. I have both and don't hesitate to recommend them

Personally, I'd rather have no engraving or limited real engraving vs. the pressed or lazer etched stuff that passes as "engraving".

I do love functional art though. There's a lot of beautiful old guns with engraving that would cost 10's of $1000's today, for what I would call very reasonable prices. I was just looking at some higher grade Superposed Brownings the other night on Gunbroker and kind of lusting.