New 12ga O/U under $1000, anything worthwhile?

[Ducky's Dad]

For several years, an old Citori was my primary duck gun. It's an early 70's gun, came with fixed chokes, 20+ years old when I bought it in the 90's, and it has been in the shop exactly once. That was for grit in the safety, from shooting ducks at Wister in a windstorm. Nothing wrong with O/Us in a pit blind, if you know what you are doing. It's approaching 50 years old and I still shoot it, when my cousin is not using it.

[whutsup40]

The shotgun is just a tool!! You are only going to shoot as good as the time you put into it!! A 10,000 gun is not getting you your first 25 straight. I have got most my good scores and some money with a 700.00 C.Z Canvasback O/U with probably close to 20,000 rds thru it. Just pick something you like and shoot the c**p out of it.

[ceh383]

Right now, my fancy, ultra-reliable Browning, that I'm supposed to be handing down to my great, great grandkids... is in the shop because of a damaged lower firing pin. Is that supposed to happen with the B-guns? I am currently "gun-less" (new word)

The lower firing pin is the knock on Brownings. Due to the angle it hits the primer some are pierced and that causes pitting of the pin, which leads to eventual failure. The good news here is, it is a cheap part and easy to change. A lot of people keep a spare for this reason.

Browning lower firing pin

[deckhandmike]

I’ve been shopping over unders in that price range. Going with a used browning Citori. As a lefty I like they have neutral cast stocks. Still going to pay 1200-1400$ for a decent one.

Everything new under a grand seemed like a huge comprise on quality and had plenty of horror story reviews. I’d much rather have a used 2500$ gun for 1200$ than a new 1000$ gun.

[md2020]

The lower firing pin is the knock on Brownings. Due to the angle it hits the primer some are pierced and that causes pitting of the pin, which leads to eventual failure. The good news here is, it is a cheap part and easy to change. A lot of people keep a spare for this reason.

Browning lower firing pin

Yeah... I've heard about that lower firing pin problem. Its been going on for a long time. Although I bought the Browning used, it was manufactured in 2019, which means its a year old.

Honestly, I'm more bothered about missing the wednesday night shooting at MnM's than I am about the gun being in the shop. I felt like I was getting more comfortable.

Now I wish I had a second gun to shoot, which has me thinking about a lower cost CZ again. Who knows, maybe this how I convince myself to get another shotgun.

[ysr_racer]

I second the A300 - I have an A400 for hunting/sporting clays. I think it's the perfect mix of nice/functional...but a little over your price limit if you wanna stay under 1000.

Yep, an A300 is the best value for dollar shotgun out there. I've got three of them. They never miss a beat.

They'll eat anything, and they're soft shooting.

[Ducky's Dad]

They'll eat anything, ...

That must be why they handle like a pig on the end of a shovel.

[newbutold]

I like O/U's but not for duck hunting. Have fun.

[BananaKetchup]

Thank you all. Its a lot of information, I am glad I asked. Thinking about adding the Benelli Monetefreto or the Beretta A300 in the mix, but I still want an O/U. The heart wants what the heart wants. But for that I think I might go for the used B Guns. I'm not in too big of a rush.

[shovelon]

Thank you all. Its a lot of information, I am glad I asked. Thinking about adding the Benelli Monetefreto or the Beretta A300 in the mix, but I still want an O/U. The heart wants what the heart wants. But for that I think I might go for the used B Guns. I'm not in too big of a rush.

You could do way worse than this used Browning. I have borrowed it and it is a good one. Comes with way more than just the gun. And adjustability up the ying yang.

https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=1660277

[deckhandmike]

Nice looking Browning. Might be a little heavier than you want for upland. How much louder are the ported barrels? For upland I often don’t have ears in.

[shovelon]

Nice looking Browning. Might be a little heavier than you want for upland. How much louder are the ported barrels? For upland I often don’t have ears in.

Not too much louder from behind the barrel. The your buddies towards the sides hear a difference. Then again maybe with any of those sub gauge tubes in the ports are a mute point so to speak.

[NATEWA]

Thank you all. Its a lot of information, I am glad I asked. Thinking about adding the Benelli Monetefreto or the Beretta A300 in the mix, but I still want an O/U. The heart wants what the heart wants. But for that I think I might go for the used B Guns. I'm not in too big of a rush.

[ceh383]

Nice looking Browning. Might be a little heavier than you want for upland. How much louder are the ported barrels?

Behind the gun, not much difference. To the side of the gun, big difference. The tubes do eliminate this issue, BUT, I would not use heavy hunting loads with the tubes, they are for target loads. The gun has 2 3/4' chambers, so no 3" hunting loads in it either.
This gun is a target gun, I'm selling it because I don't shoot much Skeet anymore ans want a true 28ga instead.

@shovelon, thanks for promoting the sale

[md2020]

The lower firing pin is the knock on Brownings. Due to the angle it hits the primer some are pierced and that causes pitting of the pin, which leads to eventual failure. The good news here is, it is a cheap part and easy to change. A lot of people keep a spare for this reason.

Browning lower firing pin

Well.. got my gun back. Problem was the mainspring from what I hear. Cheap and easy fix. Now I need to shoot!