ActivShootr
New member
I had one that would fire both barrels every now and then. I'll go along with the "you get what you pay for" crowd.
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Affordable O/U
- Thread starter tommyb
- Start date
I had one that would fire both barrels every now and then. I'll go along with the "you get what you pay for" crowd.
I cringe a little when I see a title like "Affordable O/U...
I can buy a flannel shirt at a box store for a few bucks.
Or I can get another "Chamois" shirt from Bean for about 3X that.
The Wallie shirt will be cleaning patches in a few years. Maybe just one.
The Bean will just be getting nice and soft in 2015.
Good O/Us take top quality materials, design and workmanship. None of these come cheap.
Cheap O/Us tend not to last. The barrels may shoot to different Zip Codes or go off together with just one pull of the trigger.
Cheap O/Us oft are made in Third World nations, with changing ownership, warranty work and parts availability.
But, one can find something worthwhile without leaving the kids shoeless and hungry.
Used mid grade O/Us are out there.
SKBs are great guns for the money.
So are Winchester 101s.
Used Citoris and Onyxes turn up now and then.
Even Mariocchis, oft overlooked but quality, can be found at times and made into your new favorite.
Any of these will maintain resale value much better than the low end stuff.
Skip the cheapies. In the long run they can be more expensive, not less.
I can buy a flannel shirt at a box store for a few bucks.
Or I can get another "Chamois" shirt from Bean for about 3X that.
The Wallie shirt will be cleaning patches in a few years. Maybe just one.
The Bean will just be getting nice and soft in 2015.
Good O/Us take top quality materials, design and workmanship. None of these come cheap.
Cheap O/Us tend not to last. The barrels may shoot to different Zip Codes or go off together with just one pull of the trigger.
Cheap O/Us oft are made in Third World nations, with changing ownership, warranty work and parts availability.
But, one can find something worthwhile without leaving the kids shoeless and hungry.
Used mid grade O/Us are out there.
SKBs are great guns for the money.
So are Winchester 101s.
Used Citoris and Onyxes turn up now and then.
Even Mariocchis, oft overlooked but quality, can be found at times and made into your new favorite.
Any of these will maintain resale value much better than the low end stuff.
Skip the cheapies. In the long run they can be more expensive, not less.
I'd like to add one more possibility--the Traditions (Fausti Stefano). I had a really neat little 20 with 26" tubes. It comes up great, with a nice palm swell, Schnabel forend, and contoured recoil pad. The selector is on the trigger--not as handy, but well enough for the money. I sold it off for more cash than I paid for it, basically because it only came with three choke tubes. I like to shoot both barrels fairly open, and they don't make a Skeet II or an Improved Modified. I could have bought some online-which is exactly the only way you can get them, for $26.99 back then. They are only interchangeable with American Arms, which was another negative for me. Overall, the gun is still a great hunter for the price.
-7-
-7-
There is a huge difference between a $600 and $1,000 shotgun...
There is an equally distinct difference between a $1,200 and $2,500 one
There is a subtle one between a $2,500 and $4,000 but
There is little difference between a $5,000 and an $8,000 one except cosmetics...I love my K80!
Try finding a $1,200+ model used or better still a $2,500+ one...
Pawn shops, shotgun ranges, newspapers, might produce something good but I've almost never seen a really good deal on E-Bay or Gun Broker...some auction houses, estate sales especially, might be the best bet...
There is an equally distinct difference between a $1,200 and $2,500 one
There is a subtle one between a $2,500 and $4,000 but
There is little difference between a $5,000 and an $8,000 one except cosmetics...I love my K80!
Try finding a $1,200+ model used or better still a $2,500+ one...
Pawn shops, shotgun ranges, newspapers, might produce something good but I've almost never seen a really good deal on E-Bay or Gun Broker...some auction houses, estate sales especially, might be the best bet...
For what its worth - in my area we have one Pawn Shop - that is virtually a used gun store ....
Right now for sale ( at least as of Tue ) - in Browning O/U's only - he has a dozen or more Citori's used - and 3 or 4 new ones / lower end models like the Lightning and higher end guns like the XS Skeet or XT Trap / he has a couple of Browning Cynergy's - one is new. All priced from $ 900 - $4,000 probably.
He probably has 8 Berettas / a couple of Perazzi's / at least one Krieghoff ...
from $ 900 - $10,000 probably.
and probably 2 dozen new and used Semi-autos / and a whole lot of pump guns new and used.....in all price ranges.
You just need to find the shop in your area that has the "used" guns that you need or want. ( he also about 100 rifles / and probably 200 handguns new and used - from higher end 1911's - to Glocks, etc ). And if you don't go by there at least once a week / you've missed an opportunity on any number of things that come and go very quickly ......
And he will order whatever you want new - from Browning, Perazzi, Krieghoff - or Wilson Combat, Les Baer, Ed Brown, Sig, H&K, etc in handguns / or scopes / or whatever you want ...... and he's a great guy.
Right now for sale ( at least as of Tue ) - in Browning O/U's only - he has a dozen or more Citori's used - and 3 or 4 new ones / lower end models like the Lightning and higher end guns like the XS Skeet or XT Trap / he has a couple of Browning Cynergy's - one is new. All priced from $ 900 - $4,000 probably.
He probably has 8 Berettas / a couple of Perazzi's / at least one Krieghoff ...
from $ 900 - $10,000 probably.
and probably 2 dozen new and used Semi-autos / and a whole lot of pump guns new and used.....in all price ranges.
You just need to find the shop in your area that has the "used" guns that you need or want. ( he also about 100 rifles / and probably 200 handguns new and used - from higher end 1911's - to Glocks, etc ). And if you don't go by there at least once a week / you've missed an opportunity on any number of things that come and go very quickly ......
And he will order whatever you want new - from Browning, Perazzi, Krieghoff - or Wilson Combat, Les Baer, Ed Brown, Sig, H&K, etc in handguns / or scopes / or whatever you want ...... and he's a great guy.
There is a huge difference between a $600 and $1,000 shotgun...
There is an equally distinct difference between a $1,200 and $2,500 one
There is a subtle one between a $2,500 and $4,000 but
There is little difference between a $5,000 and an $8,000 one except cosmetics...I love my K80!
I'm rather new to sporting clays / skeet shooting. I generally know there's a quality difference between the guns in the ranges you've described. I did some resarch when I purchased my O/U, but basically relied on a good friend's advice in purchasing my O/U. However, I've never really had anyone lay out what the technical and mechanical differences are (not cosmetic) that distinguishes a $2,000 shotgun from say a $4,000 shotgun. Other than cosmetics and manufacture's reputation (and I know that cosmetics counts for a substantial amount), does anyone really know what seperates an under $2,000 O/U from a $4,000 O/U?
Just a couple things that popped into my head:
type of action,
Type of release used to open the action,
type of claws used to lock the action,
type of safety and where located,
type of firing system,
type of extractors/ejectors used,
whether a rib is installed and what kind,
type and number of beads,
type of steel used in the barrel and actions,
Type of chokes used,
Type of treatment to the forcing cones, porting barrels or backbored,
type of forearm and grip…
Type and quality of wood and engraving are cosmetics…
fit and finish, wood to metal fit, quality of browning or blueing (lustre) are cosmetic to a degree but an important degree…
Custom dimensions -- cant on/off, cast on/off, length of pull (LOP), drop of/at heel (DOH), drop of/at toe (DOT) may or may not be or may only partially be included in the price and whether or not set with a try gun and a fitter…
Things like type of gun case provided, if any, if adjustable chokes number included and which ones, fitted recoil pad or butt plate and if metal or plastic, ribbed or smooth...
It just adds more questions not answers, but I hope it helps...
A few books you might want to read about shotguns -- their design history:
Boothroyd On British Shotguns
Shotguns And Gunsmiths: The Vintage Years
**The Shotgun: History And Development
Sidelocks And Boxlocks
The British Over And Under Shotgun
all by Geoffrey Boothroyd
Shotguns And Shooting
More Shotguns And Shooting
Best Guns
**Shotgun Technicana
The Gun Review
all by Michael McIntosh
Book Of Shotguns
by James Marchington
Book Of The Shotgun
by John Olson
The Shotgun Encyclopedia
by John Taylor
Shotgunning Trends In Transition
Grand Old Shotguns
The Double Shotgun
Shotgun Stuff
all by Don Zutz
The American Shotgun
by Col. Charles Askins and another completely different book of the same title
by David F. Butler
and if you can find one
Keith On Shotguns
by Elmer Keith
These 25 titles/26 books cover everything known on shotguns
** must reads
type of action,
Type of release used to open the action,
type of claws used to lock the action,
type of safety and where located,
type of firing system,
type of extractors/ejectors used,
whether a rib is installed and what kind,
type and number of beads,
type of steel used in the barrel and actions,
Type of chokes used,
Type of treatment to the forcing cones, porting barrels or backbored,
type of forearm and grip…
Type and quality of wood and engraving are cosmetics…
fit and finish, wood to metal fit, quality of browning or blueing (lustre) are cosmetic to a degree but an important degree…
Custom dimensions -- cant on/off, cast on/off, length of pull (LOP), drop of/at heel (DOH), drop of/at toe (DOT) may or may not be or may only partially be included in the price and whether or not set with a try gun and a fitter…
Things like type of gun case provided, if any, if adjustable chokes number included and which ones, fitted recoil pad or butt plate and if metal or plastic, ribbed or smooth...
It just adds more questions not answers, but I hope it helps...
A few books you might want to read about shotguns -- their design history:
Boothroyd On British Shotguns
Shotguns And Gunsmiths: The Vintage Years
**The Shotgun: History And Development
Sidelocks And Boxlocks
The British Over And Under Shotgun
all by Geoffrey Boothroyd
Shotguns And Shooting
More Shotguns And Shooting
Best Guns
**Shotgun Technicana
The Gun Review
all by Michael McIntosh
Book Of Shotguns
by James Marchington
Book Of The Shotgun
by John Olson
The Shotgun Encyclopedia
by John Taylor
Shotgunning Trends In Transition
Grand Old Shotguns
The Double Shotgun
Shotgun Stuff
all by Don Zutz
The American Shotgun
by Col. Charles Askins and another completely different book of the same title
by David F. Butler
and if you can find one
Keith On Shotguns
by Elmer Keith
These 25 titles/26 books cover everything known on shotguns
** must reads
i just saw it yesterday,,a guy had a 28" Citori,,,,$650,,,on one of these forums,,,,might have been the THR
i have 2 of these shot guns,,,the first one i bought in "73-74",,,some where along in there,,i would not take $650 for the one i have,,,i don't have any idea how many rounds have been down the tubes,,,,skeet,sporting clays,,,bird hunting,,rabbit hunting,,,turkey,,you name it
if you can find it and it is not already gone it would fill the bill for you for a long time
tommyb,,,i just found that Citori,,,on this forum,,, it is still for sale!!!! rap_55 has it,,, 12 ga. Browning 28" Citori,,,,,i don't think you will do much better
i don't know the guy but sounds like a good deal to me,,,if you are interested i would tag this thing i don't think it will hang around long at that price,,,i could be wrong,,,but i don't think so
ocharry
i have 2 of these shot guns,,,the first one i bought in "73-74",,,some where along in there,,i would not take $650 for the one i have,,,i don't have any idea how many rounds have been down the tubes,,,,skeet,sporting clays,,,bird hunting,,rabbit hunting,,,turkey,,you name it
if you can find it and it is not already gone it would fill the bill for you for a long time
tommyb,,,i just found that Citori,,,on this forum,,, it is still for sale!!!! rap_55 has it,,, 12 ga. Browning 28" Citori,,,,,i don't think you will do much better
i don't know the guy but sounds like a good deal to me,,,if you are interested i would tag this thing i don't think it will hang around long at that price,,,i could be wrong,,,but i don't think so
ocharry
Last edited:
oneounceload
Moderator
Quote:
There is a huge difference between a $600 and $1,000 shotgun...
There is an equally distinct difference between a $1,200 and $2,500 one
There is a subtle one between a $2,500 and $4,000 but
There is little difference between a $5,000 and an $8,000 one except cosmetics...I love my K80!
I'm rather new to sporting clays / skeet shooting. I generally know there's a quality difference between the guns in the ranges you've described. I did some resarch when I purchased my O/U, but basically relied on a good friend's advice in purchasing my O/U. However, I've never really had anyone lay out what the technical and mechanical differences are (not cosmetic) that distinguishes a $2,000 shotgun from say a $4,000 shotgun. Other than cosmetics and manufacture's reputation (and I know that cosmetics counts for a substantial amount), does anyone really know what seperates an under $2,000 O/U from a $4,000 O/U?
Between a 2 and 4 k gun - it will usually be better wood (straighter grain through the wrist). utilize a BOSS type action or similar; have more attention paid to barrels - both convergence and trueness; will have a tighter lockup requiring replacement at 200,000 instead of 100,000 rounds; have better choke tubes that are more true in the barrel.
IMO, where you really start to see the differences is when you jump from the 4K guns to the 8-10K guns. Those would be the Perazzis, Beretta DT-10's, Kreighoffs, and Kolar ranges.......These guns are made for one thing - crushing targets over and over and over and over - thousands of targets a week - with no hiccups or malfunctions. Go to the major matches and see what the serious folks use - both here and abroad - there is a reason Perazzi is in the winner's circle at the Olympics - and it isn't sponsorship. There's a reason Kreighoff is seen at American sporting events in record numbers - and it isn't sponsorship - these guns work - ALL the time, EVERY time - serious competitors can't afford a malfunction of a gun that costs them a bird. In a serious match 1 bird can mean being tied with 15 others for first, or losing....