Entry level Over/Unders?

[XVIga_Rob]

I still think that with a little search, you can find a nice Verona or Savage Milano (same gun, made by F.A.I.R., just different importers). These are great guns that are reasonably priced.

http://www.google.com/search?q=savage+milano&hl=en&tbo=u&rlz=1R2ADRA_enUS491&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=EeqdUKv7BIK4iwKmnIGYAg&sqi=2&ved=0CDEQsAQ&biw=1024&bih=601

[royrapoport]

Maverick. Seriously.

Interesting timing -- I just came back from another outing to the sporting clays range with some coworkers. It's typically four of us going, with two of us bringing our own shotguns (my Maverick o/u; well, technically, my wife's Maverick o/u, because I got her the gun for Valentine's Day; and the Remington o/u owned by another coworker) and two sharing a range rental Citori (typically White Lightning).

I've got to tell you -- as noted above, my wife and I got the Maverick o/u in February. She's been out twice with it, so far, I've been out ... maybe 4-5 times? I really love the gun. She finds it nicer to shoot with than the Citoris (I don't know what this means, really -- clearly it's not as nice of a gun -- but she just likes it better), and I find that it's a far, far better shot than I am (not that this means anything. I'm terrible).

I'm a relative neophyte -- been doing this only for about a year or so, and haven't been out all that often (and never been formally taught). But so are my coworkers, and they don't seem to accomplish noticeably better with the Citori.

If/when I find that the gun limits me, I'll be happy to get rid of it and find something nicer at more than 3 times the price -- as noted elsewhere, it's around $329 on sale at Big 5. But I think it'll be a good long time.

-roy

[bickybiskit]

first off most of you are price tags whores . second wood is not all its cracked up to unless your guns spend 99% of their lives in a safe . i own and have owned mostly sythetic stock guns . not as pretty but just as functional . dude was posting this for a good inexpensive O/U and all you people wanna talk about is wood and 1000 dollars . WTF

[bucktooth7]

Live and learn, you can take advice from people who have been around the block, or you can ignore it.

[bh6300]

Another vote for Lanber Sporting model from CDNN is great gun for around $700 including transfer. I have no problem shooting 25 in skeet with it... Great gun for price... Gun is still tight after shooting over 2500 shells.

I couldn't justify get B guns for thousands of dollars for something I do maybe once a month. I keep up with all my friends shooting B guns.

Sounds like OP is in same boat as when I was looking into getting into skeet.

For around $600 I strongly recommend Lanber, Sporting model.

[Nosynchro]

Lanber is your choice at that price point. Yildiz is another choice, but Academy (the importer) is not shipping out of state anymore.

[big al]

Lanber 2097.

[socalbowhunter]

I have 2 Beretta O/U's and I love them. That being said, about 5 years ago I bought a Mossberg Silver Reserve 20g to use for dog training. When I'm training my dog I drop my shotgun, get it muddy, etc. So I bought a "cheap" gun for that.
It turns out that I love the Silver Reserve. I end up taking it every time I dove hunt and have used it for chukar as well. I would use it for Pheasant too if it were a 12ga.
If it fits you, I don't think you can go wrong with it. When I bought it was it <$500, not sure what they go for now.

[Mana4real]

Another vote for Lanber Sporting model from CDNN is great gun for around $700 including transfer. I have no problem shooting 25 in skeet with it... Great gun for price... Gun is still tight after shooting over 2500 shells.

I couldn't justify get B guns for thousands of dollars for something I do maybe once a month. I keep up with all my friends shooting B guns.

Sounds like OP is in same boat as when I was looking into getting into skeet.

For around $600 I strongly recommend Lanber, Sporting model.

Ya, I bought a blem 2087. I also put about 2500 rounds thru mine. Its not a bad gun at all. Only downfall with the lanber is trying to find extra chokes. It comes with cylinder, improved cylinder, modified, improved modified, and full. I use cylinder and improved cylinder for skeet. But I want to have extras of each. I considered buying a bunch of fulls from cdnn for the ones that weren't available and then machining them out on my own. I'll do it eventually.

[Rover]

I have a Tri-Star O/U that shoots well, fits well, and has held up fairly Okay for the couple thousand rounds I've put through it. The bluing wore pretty easily, but the wood looks good. That said, it's now quite loose, a few parts no longer fit quite right and is all but retired. For most shooters, it will last a life time, for serious clay shooters, not so much.

In hind-sight I should have saved up a few more dollars and bought a used Browning. It has seen easily double the round-count of the Tri-Star, and still locks up as tight as day 1, the bluing is perfect and it shoots amazing. I also bought an XT Trap, and that's a whole other level.

[JaMail]

i picked up a stevens over under for 500 on gunbroker, has a plain blakc reciever without the crappy stick on pheasant their other models have. i love the gun, but back and shoulder issues moved me to buy a semi.

let me know and one weekend we can meet at triple b and you can try it out.

[JaMail]

only thing i dont like about it, is the release lever on the bottom of the stock drifts out a small fraction of an inch, and if im not paying attention and let my hand drift forward it gives me little papercuts.

[jaymz]

You can get any of these o/u for less than $600 otd.

http://eaacorp.com/portfolio-item/mp300-series-over-and-under-shotgun/

[TZL]

+1 I have a Franchi Alcione Sporting SL that is an awesome sporting gun for around $1300-1500 used

Takes Benelli chokes and has a nice ported barrel setup

They frequently are sold as two barrel sets with 12 / 20 ga

I hunt over a Franchi. Mine has a Titanium reciever with gold inlays. Will run you about 1500 with a case, cleaning kit, and set of chokes. It's hands down the finest shotgun I have ever hunted with. They are a Italian company with Benelli as their parent. Fit and finish are top notch! Handling and swing are top notch! A little on the light side with the titanium so you will get a little shoulder check.Well worth it

[SilentPea]

As someone mentioned the Remington Spartan310 -- this shotgun was made by baikal in russia. It is still made and imported to the US, the only thing different is the engraving.

USSG imports it still -- I picked up one in 20ga with the ported barrels from gallery of guns. It shoots plenty well I did have a few issues with the ejectors not working very well, but that was fixed by shooting in extract only mode (my general preference).