Shopping for O/U

[midlife]

How do you shop for an o/u. Seems there are so many choices and so little in stock at gun stores. Are there any shooting conventions where you can see and test various models?

[stphnman20]

Where are you located? If you are in the LA area, check out Oaktree. They have a full line of over/under.

[Chubs T]

what is your budget and what is the intended use?

[ysr_racer]

Well, the first thing you have to do is decide what you're going to use it for. Next, hang out where people are shooting xxxxxx.

Ask questions, talk to people. I always let people shoot my Browning 525. If you're in So Cal pm me.

[midlife]

For trap. Skeet. And sporting clays. No hunting.

[midlife]

I'm in San Diego. In no rush.

[Tom-ADC]

Don't know their availability any more but check out SKB's if they are around.
I have a 505 in 28 gage, choke tubes, single selective trigger auto ejectors.
I have put many a round down both barrels great skeet gun. I had a 505 in 12 gage back bored etc great shooting shotgun.

[ivanimal]

Benelli Super Sport Ih thats right you said over under. I have 3 i own a beater that I lend it is a Boito I also have a gun that was just returned to me in a very poor condition after 4 years. It is a Berreta OU with the speed trigger. It will be my new field gun as it will never be what it once was. The last is my trap gun it is a Browning Citori. I lov e that gun. All of these guns fit me well. I would not have bought them otherwise.

[fennecfrank]

since you're in SD, plan a day to visit LA.

Check out http://www.pacificsportingarms.com/

They're in Azusa, CA. You'll spend a few hours there for sure. They've got tons of shotguns to choose from.

[Tom-ADC]

Anybody know if Bass Pro Shop has a selection of guns in stock.

[bubbapug1]

Triple BBB's in el monte has racks of O/u's.

You can't go wrong with a citori, a SKB, or an athena, but it does pay to get one that fits you perfectly if thats possible..

Trap and skeet are without a doubt the most fun you can have with a gun legally.

[mjsweims]

Be sure the gun fits you before you buy. It is best if you decide what game you want to concentrate on and then get a compromise gun that is suited more towards what you want to do and also have a decent chance when you use it for your secondary games.
Usually O/Us designed around clay sports will be better for games than the ones set up for hunting (yes there are differences, mostly with the rib and POI). You can get around this by adding features like a new rib or an adjustable comb, so you can set the gun up to suit you, but if you start with something with all the bells and whistles you won't have to spend much more to personalize it.
Personally I would go with a used Berretta or Browning. SKB is also a good choice and less expensive. The thing to look for in an O/U is a tight lockup and a top lever right of center (but even these can be easily fixed for a reasonable amount of money). I recently bought at auction a GTI Citori for about $600 knowing the action would have to be tightened up so I budgeted $300 for that. As it turned out the action is still decent and I can shoot the gun so my out the door price was about 750 (shipping, sales tax, ffl fee, DROS) and will come up to slightly over 1000 once I have the action worked on.
If you have the money, though and are comfortable spending it, by all means buy new.
If you already have a gun go and shoot with it. Speak to people on your squad, most of us don't bite, and some will offer to let you shoot a round or station with their gun. Spend time researching what will feel good for you. Since you are new to the sport look at taking a lesson at each game.

[midlife]

Be sure the gun fits you before you buy. It is best if you decide what game you want to concentrate on and then get a compromise gun that is suited more towards what you want to do and also have a decent chance when you use it for your secondary games.
Usually O/Us designed around clay sports will be better for games than the ones set up for hunting (yes there are differences, mostly with the rib and POI). You can get around this by adding features like a new rib or an adjustable comb, so you can set the gun up to suit you, but if you start with something with all the bells and whistles you won't have to spend much more to personalize it.
Personally I would go with a used Berretta or Browning. SKB is also a good choice and less expensive. The thing to look for in an O/U is a tight lockup and a top lever right of center (but even these can be easily fixed for a reasonable amount of money). I recently bought at auction a GTI Citori for about $600 knowing the action would have to be tightened up so I budgeted $300 for that. As it turned out the action is still decent and I can shoot the gun so my out the door price was about 750 (shipping, sales tax, ffl fee, DROS) and will come up to slightly over 1000 once I have the action worked on.
If you have the money, though and are comfortable spending it, by all means buy new.
If you already have a gun go and shoot with it. Speak to people on your squad, most of us don't bite, and some will offer to let you shoot a round or station with their gun. Spend time researching what will feel good for you. Since you are new to the sport look at taking a lesson at each game.

Thank you!

[toby]

If your buying used don't over look these, Winchester 101, Weatherby Athena,Weatherby Orion,Charles Daly,Kliengunther.

[midlife]

How bout new 101?