O/U 12 Ga Shotgun Suggestions

[bee7851]

I want to get into skeet and want to get a O/U shotgun. Any suggestions on what I can get for about $300? Not looking for something too fancy... just something that works well enough to help me hit clay better... ha!

[Stanze]

I've seen Mossberg and Russian O/U priced a bit under $400. at Big 5.

[metalhead357]

For $300you might be a little limited....might have better luck used. Most of the over unders (even the cheap ones) tend to at least appear to be better specimins than some pumps & related in the $250 range.

I think I saw a EAA(?) for around $400 in CDNN, Methinks Stoeger makes a rather cheap model too but last I looked...and that was a long while ago.....it was around $450. And there ARE some lesser knowns made in Turkey and some of them Soviet once states that are puttin' out somethin' IIRC but you got me on price..... My FIRST thought actually was a Norinco but the more I think about it I dont think any of thier models are O/U............ Could check out fabarms........

A heck, just bite the bullet and Buy a Ruger Red Label for $1500 and be done with it

FWIW- My buddy picked up a Turkish O/U from Big 5 about 1 1/2 years back for $359 IIRC and its a "Khan"...aint seen 'em since there.

Just remeber the ol addage....buy cheap and you'll end up buying twice BEST suggestion I can give (after being so friggin' wordy above) is to save up a lil' more and get a entry level "decent" one in the $400-$700 range.

Metalhead

[bee7851]

Thanks for the advise Stanze and Metalhead, I certainly appreciate it.

Metalhead - Guess you're right, I oughta just suck it up and buy a decent one... I don't know about buying a Ruger Red Label, unless of course I want to end my marriage early... haha! Or seriously consider buying used. I've seen the Khan or Russian O/U's around but wasn't sure how they performed. I do agree with you regarding the saying "you get what you pay for" that's why I guess I've always been skeptical.

How did your friend's Turk O/U shoot? Was it some what decent? Or should I not even consider it?

[glen avon]

remington spartan, they are the current version of the russian guns. if I was to buy an O/U that would be it. they are on sale at Big 5 for $469

http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/shotguns/SPR_models/

[sargenv]

Why bother with an O/U? You could pick up a fairly good used 1100, 11/87, etc semi-auto for under $400 and sometimes less than that and you will get a decent skeet/trap/sporting clays guns that has interchangeable choke tubes for different conditions. You won't get as tired since you will have the benefit of recoil reduction in a working action as opposed to an O/U. I used to shoot a Weatherby o/u, Browning citori, etc, but my Semi feels better to me and if I do my part, I can break the occasional 25 straight. Unfortunately the better O/U's are going to cost some money. Since you have 2 barrels, they have to at least point to about the same point of impact. In cheaper models they may be a bit more off than the more comman model names. Usually with inexpensive O/U's you have fixed chokes (modified and full, full and full, improved and modified, etc) and with the more brand name guns you get the choke tubes which come in handy when you have closer or farther targets.

If you want to get an O/U, I'd say to save your money and get the better quality gun. The other thing you'd have going for you is that if you break a part on a Browning, Beretta, or Ruger, your gunsmith will probably be able to get parts. If you get something from Turkey or Russia, good luck finding replacement parts.

Vince

[TMC]

Why bother with an O/U?
Vince

Two words Vince, Snob Factor

That's why I bought a 525, I felf like a noob shooting an old 1100 standing next to the guys with the nice Browning or what have you. Remember I can't hit much so I have to at least look like I know what I'm doing...... if I was good, like you, I wouldn't care what I was shooting

[glen avon]

spartans come with screw-in choke tubes. and the wood I have seen is thoroughly decent.

[CowtownBallin]

Big 5 has Mossberg Silver Reserve O/U shotguns for around $469. If your local store doesn't have it, tell them to order you one from the distribution center.

[metalhead357]

How did your friend's Turk O/U shoot? Was it some what decent? Or should I not even consider it?

His gun is now my gun He only put two boxes through it and I have only one through it. My lil book says I paid a straight THREE hundred for it...you know the story...I was near broke...he was MORE broke and goin' through a divorce he needed Cash FAST and thats litterally all that I had. He was happy, I am with an over and under with now only 75 rounds through it..

Is it "decent"? yea, for a 'around' $400 gun. It certainly doesnt have all the luxery-ness and is still WAY tuff to break open, a litttle rough around the edges...but as said, you get what you pay for. I apparently got a little more than he!!!!!!

FWIW.....I DID offer to give him more...but other guns came and I gave exactly what he was asking which was pretty much always right around what he paid for them pretty much no questions asked- he was really tuff up........ I DO think he made his money back and he IS still my friend I wish I could tell you more...I bought it to help him and with the intent to use as "The Dove gun" but it aint been out to do that just yet.....

I DO think it is worth the money....

Are there better out there? Probably, but in that price range we're talking I still think new or used it's a slim market.

Good Luck........

Metalhead

[bee7851]

Great feedback everyone.... Thank you all.

So here's what I think I'll do. I'll check out the Remington Spartan, Mossberg (Big 5), and some Semi Autos. But I think I'll stay away from the imports the point Vince made about scares parts makes plenty sense.

I'll keep you all posted on what I end up with... hopefully it'll be good. lol.

Thanks again and good shooting to you all...

[sargenv]

Two words Vince, Snob Factor

Well, there is that.. I remember showing up on the trap line one time at Concord.. I was shooting a less than $100 topper model H&R 20 gauge plain barrel full choked shotgun on the 16 yard line. Guy next to me was shooting one of those Browning special grade trap O/U's.. He scored a 23, I scored a 22.. he was not a happy camper.. He came into the club house bitching about "some guy with a cheap *** gun" that nearly outshot him.

I can understand snob factor, but it's always satisfying to come to the line with a "duck gun I bought at big 5" and outshoot them fellers with those fancy Koelers and Berettas. They are more than happy to help me along with advice about fit and feel etc, and um, well they usually stop talking to me by station 6

if I was good, like you, I wouldn't care what I was shooting

lol.. well, it doesn't hurt that I've been shooting at flying critters and clays since I was like... 12.. You still kick my *** with those single projectile firing guns...

Great feedback everyone.... Thank you all

Glad to help steer you in the right direction. If we have fun while doing it, then all the better, right?

Vince

[bwiese]

Hmmm. I've been looking for an O/U since I'm tired of shooting trap with my Benelli Nova 18.5"

The lower-cost O/U guns from Russia & Turkey just, to me, seem bulky and poorly balanced - front heavy, that is - and just don't "cheek up" right.

For a few dollars more ($850ish), I just picked up a very nice used-but-great-shape Ruger Red Label with a 26" barrel. I was so hot for the 26" barrel that I didn't care that this particular gun I got was restricted to 2-3/4" shells and had fixed (nonreplaceable) chokes.

Can't wait to hit the trap range in a week or two...

[glen avon]

...So here's what I think I'll do. I'll check out the Remington Spartan, Mossberg (Big 5), and some Semi Autos. But I think I'll stay away from the imports the point Vince made about scares parts makes plenty sense....

the spartan and mossberg O/Us are imported. the spartan from russia and the mossy from turkey. I think they will do OK with service in the future.

there is no way you will ever get a $500 O/U with American parts and labor. if you want to avoid imports, then ruger is the cheapest. but they are gun grabbers so please don't buy one.

beretta, on the other hand, makes an entry-level O/U, and they have been around, well, longer than any other company in the entire world, bar none, so parts should not be a problem. and beretta stood tall during all the anti-gun BS litigation and kicked butt, absolutely unapologetically. they have earned every single cent Americans spend on them. unlike the pedophiles at ruger, who brought you the 10-rd magazine ban and refused to sell evil-type mini-14 to the unwashed public. buying a ruger, new or used, is supporting gun control and that's all there is to it.

[bee7851]

Vince - Thanks again for the Great advice!

Bwiese - Thanks for pointing out that the imports didn't cheek up comfortably. I was afraid of the same thing. Although just to fill my curiousity, and in all fairness, I oughta cheek one up. But I don't think I'll go out of my way to find one in my neck of the woods.

Glen Avon - Thanks for the heads up about Ruger... That's just horrible, however, it certainly is good to know. I'll have to absolutely stay clear of their products from now on.

One question though... you mentioned that the Spartan and Moss O/U are imported from Russian, etc. With that said, do you think they perform just like the other imports? Or does the name make a difference?