Buy used?

C

CrackerJim

New member
I'm new to shotgunning. A friend and I are getting into clay sports. To start, we'll use our 870 shortbarrels we got a couple of months ago. I picked up the Gun Digest's guide to sporting clays. I'm not sure I want to put the money into a longer barrel for the 870 but maybe put a little more money into an auto or O/U.

Budget would like used and there is some used auto in the local market, not much o/u. I found a Ruger red label (no engraving) in 12ga at a local pawnshop. It looks to be in good mechanical shape from what wear you can see breaking the action open. Aestheticaly, it's in ok shape. A nick in the stock (bottom area) that I'll have to fill. Some dings/minor dents on the sight rail. A blemish in the bluing on the top barrel and little dot like spots sprinkled around the barrels. The ss receiver seems in great shape.

They were asking $750. I mentioned that it seemed too much with the shape of the gun. He came back with $650. I told him I'd think about it and if interested would stop and talk to them next week.

So being new and not having much (several other places I've checked don't have any o/u) to compare to........ I could use any guidance you experienced shooters would have.

Thanks,

Jim

ps The gun guide mentioned the various chokes available for the red label. I assume there is non screw in chokes for this gun?
 
It'd have to be in worse condition to not be worth $650.

TTBOMK, all Red Labels come with choke tubes...
 
gunsamerica.com, shotgun news, and the local gun shows (depending on where you live) all have TONS of used shotguns available for sale all the time. if you have an FFL or know someone who does, shipping is usually $25 to a FFL holder.

used 870s and Mossberg 500s here in the Ft Campbell area are cheaper than a new barrel. 1100s and 1187s are also, but harder to find but worth the look. for clay shooting, especially if you're going to do a lot of it, look into the 1100 or the new 930 from Mossberg. easier on the sholders...

i still haven't (if you see my other posts) figured out which gun i'm going to buy (REM, Stoeger, or MB) or if I'm going to go used or new...

hope the info above helps.
 
Thanks for the help. The local bookstore doesn't have shotgun news. Gunsamerica seemed to show that it's a good price.

Still not clear on the chokes. I went to Ruger's web site on this model and DL'd the manual. It shows screw in chokes. This gun has smooth bore all the way; no choke that I can see in there. The manual showed a toothed end for the tool to bite on. Nothing like that in those barrels.

A model with no choke capability?

Jim
 
TTBOMK, all Red Labels come with choke tubes...
Click to expand...

The early production Red Labels came fixed chokes with the option of choke tubes soon after, then all were made with choke tubes as standard equipment. If it had a stainless receiver, I believe it should be a newer model with chokes with it. $650 isn't bad, if it seems decent.

All the small spots are where rust is starting to show, a good cleaning and oil rub would do wonders to it. All the interior mechanism is mostly stainless steel except for the springs, so that should be in good shape. Ruger has very good service on their shotguns if something would go wrong down the road.
 
While I am always up for an excuse to buy another gun, 650.00 would buy a ton of range time and a nice longer barrel for you 870 or another old 870 Wingmaster and ammo.
I shoot SC almost exclusively now with my 870's and I do OK. Many folks here are better than me with their pump guns and I can shoot in the 80's regularly. The ones that get away are not because I am shooting a pump.
If you are a new shotgunner, I would recommend BA/UU/R before buying another gun though.
Just my opinion,
Mike
 
I shoot sporting clays about once every 2 weeks (sometimes more) and have used Rem. 11-87, 870 and an 1100. I also use a Browning Citori O/U 28” barrels with invector choke tubes. I can honestly say that I prefer the Browning to all the other guns. I am not an expert at sporting clays, but consistently shoot in the 75 to 85 out of 100 bird range.
Ruger makes a good O/U. If it has choke tubes it would be just the ticket for shooting sporting clays. JMHO
 
I need to investigate the Ruger some more. It has fixed chokes but a stainless receiver. Someone mentioned that they thought if it had the stainless receiver it was the next version and would have screw in chokes. Maybe this is a mongrel gun? :rolleyes:

A friend at dinner this evening mentioned he used to do a lot of hunting with his Weatherby o/u and it had fixed chokes. I think he said it was a full choked barrel on the top and mod or improved on the bottom barrel.

This might be workable if the Ruger was similar although would still like to be able to change chokes...... even though I might well end up with the layout the fixed choke barrels use on the Wxby.

Also eyeballing in new CZ o/u in the same price range. Other threads have indicated these are decent guns (Huglu (sp?) I believe).

More education needed. Appreciate the replies and help!

Jim
 
If I remember right, the first Red Labels came with a blue receiver and fixed chokes. Then they went to a stainless receiver with the option of choke tubes or fixed chokes. The majority of the first guns had 26" barrels as the longer barrels weren't as popular as they are now. Since it is fixed chokes, it should have the markings of the chokes on the barrels somewhere, usually near the receiver; Mod/IC, Full/Mod, or SK/SK. The top barrel is usually the tightest choke, as it is usually the second barrel to be fired.

I put close to a eighty thousand rounds through my first Red Label, it went back to Ruger twice for wear problems that they fixed for free. I doubt that you will get that kind of service life out of a CZ/Huglu/DeHaan gun, and service is not proven with these guns either. I have a little Huglu SxS .410 that I enjoy shooting, but I have my doubts on how durable it will be in the long run.
 
I have an early Red Label - stainless , fixed chokes in Mod/IC, a good rugged gun, from the condition you state I would not go over $650, I have seen some in near perfect condition go for not much more than that.
 
Again, thanks for all your help.

I'll go eyeball the gun again. I'll be going over to my brother's house today or tomorrow. The pawn shop is near his house.

I'll verify the choke markings and see what I can do on price.

Jim
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top