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What a springfield/savage/stevens? -those are the brands I saw around 150~220 ish. The springfields was like 185 ]
Time out, 9MM.................
How much $$$ YOU can buy a gun for has zip to do with either it's quality or safety - it all depends on the gun & the circumstances.
YOU may have available to you, in your area, SxS's for less $$$$ than any of us would be able to find in our area(s).
Savage Arms Co, is a huge firearms company, that years ago bought out some other firearm companies, Stevens Arms & Tool among them - and also makes some guns that are the same as their fancy ones, but with a plain stock & finish, under yet other names they make up (Springfield, for instance).
Gun guy's use the term "Savage/Stevens/Springfield" as a kind of shorthand that most folks familiar with SxS's understand.
If you can buy one for $185, and there's no rust, dents or bulges in the barrels, AND it's tight when properly tested (below) - BUY IT !
Stocks are easily stripped & refinished, and the metal can be recolored too.
To check ANY SxS for tightness, first remove the forend wood, then turn the gun bottom side "up".
Tuck the buttstock under one arm tightly & while holding the top lever to the side as if opening the gun, try to shake the barrels sideways on the frame.
There should be little or no play - if if shakes a lot, WALK AWAY.
The barrels should also be rung, to check the connecting top/bottom ribs for internal/hidden rust & soundness.
"Ringing" is done by 1st removing the barrels from the receiver, and hanging them muzzle-down from the knuckle of one hand, by the barrel hook.
A nuckle of the other hand is then used to sharply snap/strike each barrel in turn, about halfway down it's length - and listen for a nice even tone.
A "thunk" or dull sound is big (expensive) trouble - WALK AWAY.
Good Luck.
BTW, oneounceload - it wasn't ME who was short on zeroes.
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