"Cheap" over and unders

R

rc

New member
I had a chance to closely look at some Brazillian over and unders this week and I saw that the locking mechanims was a bit weak! Now I thought I would ask what over and under guns under $600 have significant locking lugs?
 
CDNN MIGHT have a Lanber close to that amount - about as cheap as I would want to venture;

Otherwise, looking for a used Browning/Beretta/SKB (realizing it will be an older one)would still be better than what the current "cheap" guns are.

Remember, cheap is not the same as inexpensive - you DO get what you pay for
 
Its not just locking lugs you need to worry about ....but the answer is none.

Browning and Beretta have set the standard on O/U's that are durable ...with very good quality for a long time. In the Browning Citori line -- there are some guns in the $ 1,500 price range new ...that may work for you ..( and some of the better guns in the Citori line - get into $ 3,000 - $ 4,000 as well ) ...

O/U's are not inexpensive to mfg...and you have to ask yourself ...on guns that are under that $ 1,500 plateau ...why ....quality of the locking mechanism in the receiver, on the barrel, quality of the barrels, the ribs, the triggers...and what kind of warranty do they have / where do I have to send it to get it fixed, get parts, etc...

There are guns like the TriStar sold thru Cabelas and others that at least come with a 5 yr warranty ...that might work for you .../ but at least be cautious ...and understand the pricing is not just fancy wood / its in the internals that you can't see...the steel, etc..

Of course quality / durability are relative too ....do you want a gun that will last a lifetime / is a shotgun for your lifetime going to fire 10,000 shells a yr ( mine fire at least that many per yr) ...or is it 1,000 shells a yr .../ is it a gun that you expect to "use up" in 10 yrs or a gun you want to pass on to your kids or grandkids ...what is the resale value of it ( as an example a Browning Citori lightning, 12ga, 28" barrels with screw in chokes sold new in 1988 for $ 750 / today 23 yrs later...with some scratches, that gun is still worth used - having fired maybe 100,000 shells - at least $ 1,000 ). Is that value / maybe / maybe not to you ....

You have to weigh all this stuff in evaluating one O/U over another ...and cost..etc.../ and have fun with your search !
 
They're great, for firing maybe 10 shots/season, and spend the rest of the time being shown to everybody - "Look at my O/U - only $500 ! "

.
 
Get a Stoeger Condor. They are right around $400. I have a Stoeger Uplander,(Side by Side) and couldn't ask for anything more for the price.Now don't get wrong, it's not a L.C. Smith, or A.H. Fox(I have both), but it is a good inexpensive hunting gun. I have a 12 and .410 in the uplander.

The Condor comes with screw in chokes, 3 inch chambering, and is available in both 28 and 26 inch barrels.

It is a quality gun, you can't go wrong with it!

Antique Shooter
 
I've been shooting my Stoeger Condor at the local gun club for a little while now and the only thing I wished it did that it doesn't is eject the hulls instead of extract the hulls. Other than that, it's been flawless and I would buy another. The only possible issue I can see down the road vs. an expensive o/u is long term is that I can't see the Condor lasting 10-15 years of gun club use but a high end unit will be something that will last for generations with a occasional tune up. Something to consider.
 
I looked at a used Condor the other day, which someone had added an old-school recoil pad to. Dang thing fit me like a glove; I could mount the gun and see nothing but the front bead, I've always been a SxS guy but I could see birds being real hard to miss with this shotgin.

I probably could have bought it for 250 bucks. Only thing that put me off of it was that it had a gap between the barrels, ahead of the forearm and I see the newer guns don't have this.

All I'm looking for is a reliable field gun that will handle a couple hundred rounds of field loads every year, between informal clay bird shooting and hunting. Judging from what I read, the Stoegers will do that. If anybody here has had one fall apart in 1000 rounds, I'd like to hear about it.
 
There should be stickies on every forum about cheap o/u,s. I see Brownings and Berettas as the cheap o/u,s. They are good bottom end guns. Anything below that and the marketing guys are all sitting around the table saying "see they will buy anything as long as it's cheap".
 
What about the CZ O/U's,,,

The CZ Mallard 104A lists at only $521.00

CZ-USA had several other models listing around $700-800 bucks.

I know very little about shotguns,,,
But I do know my handguns.

CZ makes some of the best rifles and handguns on the market,,,
Does their quality extend into their inexpensive O/U shotguns as well?

I'm asking, not stating.

Aarond
 
CZ makes some of the best rifles and handguns on the market,,,
Does their quality extend into their inexpensive O/U shotguns as well?
Click to expand...

While CZ makes their rifles and handguns, they farm out their shotguns to Huglu in Turkey, who has had a lot fo issues with quality trying to deliver to a certain low price point. There ARE some good Turkish makers, UTAS is one, but Huglu needs more time.

DeHaan used to sell Huglus, especially "higher end" ones - but he took them completely apart and basically did all the finishing and handwork necessary to make them more reliable
 
I second the Stoger Condor. I have a Weatherby that I love, but my son has a Condor that he uses and it has close to a 600 hundred rounds of MY shells through it, so I have a pretty good idea of how it shoots. For the money, an excellent buy.
 
On these lower end shotguns ...it isn't just a matter if one of them fell apart at 1,000 rds / or if they go bang when you pull the trigger....

a. But its will both barrels shoot to the same Point of Impact / or at 25 yds will one barrel shoot high and 8" left ...and one low and 6" to the right ...( and I've seen Stoegers, Weatherby, TriStar's, Huglu's etc - that have that issue). Now what are you going to do with it ?? Maybe the mfg will try and fix it / or maybe they'll replace it ...maybe they'll just say, sorry, its yours !

b. If the stock or forend are not fit properly ...will it crack ..and now what to do ..../ will they warrant it - or alledge that you must have mistreated it ??

c. What if the lock mechanism is weak / or not hardened properly ...and it weakens / or it galls when you're connecting or disconnecting the barrels...and they say, no, it was abuse ...they won't fix it ??

d. What about the internals - the springs, firing pins, trigger system... / what if they aren't hardened properly ...and they break or fracture after every 1,000 shells or less ...now what do you do to make it better...

but seriously, most any shotgun made will go bang for a couple of thousand shells..../ ....but if these low end guns were really going to hold up anywhere close to the standards that Beretta or Browning have set for well over 30 yrs ...they would be demanding higher prices in the used market or selling for higher prices on the front end ...or these companies have to be cutting corners.

To me - a gun of value --- has to be able to shoot at least 4 boxes a week / so call it 5,000 shells a yr ....for at least 10 yrs --- so call it 50,000 shells without any issues - or I'm suggesting its a waste of money ! But if you go into this with your eyes open, I'm happy. I hope for the best for you, if you try one of these guns ...but please don't expect them to last for 100,000 shells or more with no issues or you're kidding yourself.
 
All I'm saying is I've had it for a little while and have shot well over 1000 rounds through it, no problem.
 
Thanks oneounceload,,,

I knew it seemed too good to be true.

Thanks for the info on who actually makes them,,,
I've read a small bit about Huglu and none of it was very good.

Thanks again.

Aarond
 
Savage/Stevens makes a decent O/U. 20ga around $500. 12ga a little more than that. Got mine for free at a Quail Unlimited banquet raffle, so it was cheap for me.
 
Petah...
That is what i don't want for it to sit around.

I really want a double barrel.. They make anymore?

What is real use for over under. 2 shot heavy and expensive. For trap sheet?
 
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