Entry level Over Under

The deals are out there if you're patient----in this past year I picked up a '91 Citori for $1395 that had maybe a box of shells through it---it looks brand new and also picked up a NIB(yes- new in box) SKB 600 for $995 from the early '80's----I did spend extra and got a full set(by full set I mean every flush fit tube Browning offers CYL to FULL) of choke tubes for the Citori and the SKB is fixed MOD/FULL.

Right now(covid/riots) everybody wants everything tactical and the hunting guns are getting little attention---except from me.

a2x4bbl said:

I said entry level and decent brand . I know good and cheap doesn’t happen .

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Entry level and decent brand is a stretch, too. My question to you is; Why must it be an O/U? Good multi barrel shotguns (more so with SxS than O/U) cost more because of the detailed work that goes into regulating them correctly, plus they usually have better fit and finish, and better metallurgy. (practically speaking, higher round count between major downtime.) Browning, Beretta, and above have quality you will be able to pass down to your kids; you might have to replace springs and firing pins after many, many rounds. Stoegers are great guns for the guy who shoots a round or two of Trap or Sporting Clays a year, and maybe a box or two at birds. Since you indicated you want a gun that you will keep handy so you can shoot more, I don't recommend them for your intended use. SOME of the new Turkish guns would be ok for what you plan, but the key is which ones.

My suggestion is to look for a used Browning Citori, or a used Japanese, not Turkish, SKB, like a 500 or 600, if it absolutely must be an O/U. There are autos, and even pumps that will work and good ones can be found for less than a good O/U. Something to think about.

Omaha-BeenGlockin said:

The deals are out there if you're patient----in this past year I picked up a '91 Citori for $1395 that had maybe a box of shells through it---it looks brand new and also picked up a NIB(yes- new in box) SKB 600 for $995 from the early '80's----I did spend extra and got a full set(by full set I mean every flush fit tube Browning offers CYL to FULL) of choke tubes for the Citori and the SKB is fixed MOD/FULL.

Right now(covid/riots) everybody wants everything tactical and the hunting guns are getting little attention---except from me.

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And me.


Picking this Model 12 up payday. Someone must have traded it towards an AR. They had $300 on it. Made in 1960, looks brand new, not redone. The really nice wood doesn't show well in this pic.

A couple of years ago I bought an American Tactical O/U. I have used it for ATA Trap , for Sporting Clays and as a field gun. It has been 100% reliable.
No, i do not use it for high volume trap....I have a BT-99 for that.
The gun works. It looks good. It was affordable. It has ejectors.
https://www.americantactical.us/4629/detail.html

Understood. I wanted a single barrel trap gun, a very specific one, enough to wait 40 years to get it.
Just be sure to match the price point and the expected usage, and when in doubt, go higher on the price point. The longeviety return and less hassle when repairs are needed is well worth it.

entropy said:

Understood. I wanted a single barrel trap gun, a very specific one, enough to wait 40 years to get it.
Just be sure to match the price point and the expected usage, and when in doubt, go higher on the price point. The longeviety return and less hassle when repairs are needed is well worth it.

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As is the resale down the road if one upgrades even further.

A coworker recently bought a Yildiz O/U, the sporting version with longer tubes and adjustable comb. Seems good for the price. Briley is the US warranty provider.

I agree with the Browning/Beretta posts. Avoid like the plague Stoeger, and like the flu most of the Turkish guns. CZs seem nice but I'm wary.
I recently found a Beretta 686 Essential 12 with tubes and ejectors for $700. Kind of an Express model of their good 686. I'm giving it a workout on skeet.

As far as CZ goes I have a 20 O/U that I shoot skeet with and also use it for practice and I really like it. I have several of their rifles and liked them so when I wanted a 20 that's what I bought, it is the G2 version done by CNC, wood fit is good shoots where I point it. So far probably only have about 5000 rounds thru it and it is still the same as it ever was. Meaning it was never as stiff as my Italian O/U's which got easier as they were used the CZ has stayed the same. On one of the shotgun websites there is a "I love my Turkish shotguns" forum suggest you might look at that site for more info on CZ's. Just like anything there are well made shotguns, then there are the others and the Turkish guns are the same. By the way I just bought another CZ O/U, well my wife bought it for me for Christmas.
JW

Omaha-BeenGlockin said:

Right now(covid/riots) everybody wants everything tactical and the hunting guns are getting little attention---except from me.

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Yup. It's a good time to be looking for clay-busting firearms.

Oldschool shooter said:

In my neck of the woods, Brownings and Berettas in the $1200 range look like WWII battle rifles. I looked at a used Citori this spring, field model. Good bores, worn bluing and the stock and forearm had lots of scratches and nicks. $1500. No thanks alot.

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That's too much for a badly used Citori. I bought a Grade III with cosmetic damage for much less than that. It was a lucky find, but if you find a good LGS and go there enough, you eventually see some interesting opportunities.

I make the rounds weekly, have done business with all 3 of them. Sooner or later something should turn up.

You should be able to find a used Browning Citori for what a new gun would cost. I had one I shot weekly for acouple of years with no problems. If you are looking for a new one I would suggest Stoeger. They are decently made thought they are produced overseas. Another option would be a Turkish made one they are of decent quality. Mossberg o/u are Turkish made. I am not sure about ejectors Having had one with ejectors I personally like extractors better. Less bending over to pick up cases when they fly over your shoulder or you drop one. Ejectors are great if you are hunting and need a third follow up shot otherwise extractors are fine.

JudgeHolden10 said:

Yup. It's a good time to be looking for clay-busting firearms.



That's too much for a badly used Citori. I bought a Grade III with cosmetic damage for much less than that. It was a lucky find, but if you find a good LGS and go there enough, you eventually see some interesting opportunities.

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I would also look on internet forums like ShotgunWorld and similar sites in their classifieds for good deals on shotguns for a variety of uses.

1 Cor 2:9 said:

On one of the shotgun websites there is a "I love my Turkish shotguns" forum suggest you might look at that site for more info on CZ's.

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It's not on Trapshooters.com....

It's on ShotgunWorld; there's a huge group who love their Huglus.

Look for info from Randy Wakeman. He is the world's leading authority on all things shotgun. He says so. That's his home forum. He broke 200 straight with a 20 ga i.c. from 27 yards. LOL

A legend in his own mind.

EccentricInTexas said:

If you are looking for a new one I would suggest Stoeger. They are decently made thought they are produced overseas.

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Stoeger O/U’s are made in Brazil and are the last O/U I think I’d purchase.

Years ago I picked up an O/U 410 because I always wanted one. At the time money was tighter than it is today and I bought a Turkish made O/U. It has been fine for the limited shooting I do with it. If I was still shooting multiple rounds of skeet per month, I definitely would have bought a better shotgun. The better made brands will last longer and are better regulated.

Now days, I rarely shoot any skeet and will use the O/U for quail and dove hunting. Now if I am doing a lot of dove hunting, I will have the O/U and my Mossberg 500 with me and switch out.

The only O/U I have is an inherited Valmet Leijona of 60's vintage. 16/70, light and nimble. Great build quality. Actually a very nice gun. I've thought about getting a very basic O/U in 12/76 or 12/89 "just because", but given up the thought. I rather get a Browning Citori, Beretta 680/690 series or something equally nice so that I'll probably like to shoot it too and not just leave it rot in the safe. Maybe a Benelli 828U or even a Blaser F16. I don't know yet.

I've bought quite a few cheap guns just to have one of certain type/make/model or use them as custom projects, only to realize I rarely have time to work on them and I don't like to shoot them as they are. I have much better guns I rather pick when going out to the range or field.

So after decades of hoarding I've decided I only buy what I'm going to use at least somewhat regularly from now on.

While I'm not an O/U expert by any stretch, it does seem like the lower priced O/U's don't handle the same as higher priced guns. I remember a particular Baikal O/U that was won in a raffle and to me, it swung like a length of treated 4x4. I actually got refused at one gun shop on a traded discussion. He didn't want it to the point of refusing to talk about a trade or an outright sale. I assume it was for a reason. I think a Citori or Beretta from the used market would be a good choice, even a Ruger, but I am a Red Label fan.

hq said:

The only O/U I have is an inherited Valmet Leijona of 60's vintage. 16/70, light and nimble. Great build quality. Actually a very nice gun. I've thought about getting a very basic O/U in 12/76 or 12/89 "just because", but given up the thought. I rather get a Browning Citori, Beretta 680/690 series or something equally nice so that I'll probably like to shoot it too and not just leave it rot in the safe. Maybe a Benelli 828U or even a Blaser F16. I don't know yet.

I've bought quite a few cheap guns just to have one of certain type/make/model or use them as custom projects, only to realize I rarely have time to work on them and I don't like to shoot them as they are. I have much better guns I rather pick when going out to the range or field.

So after decades of hoarding I've decided I only buy what I'm going to use at least somewhat regularly from now on.

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Which is why I have been downsizing guns bought years ago and I do not shoot. And I am replacing those with fewer and higher end guns. I would rather have fewer of excellent quality than a safe full of cheap crap.

George P said:

Which is why I have been downsizing guns bought years ago and I do not shoot. And I am replacing those with fewer and higher end guns. I would rather have fewer of excellent quality than a safe full of cheap crap.

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If only I had done that.

George P said:

Which is why I have been downsizing guns bought years ago and I do not shoot. And I am replacing those with fewer and higher end guns. I would rather have fewer of excellent quality than a safe full of cheap crap.

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Me too! At one point I owned over 20 shotguns. Now I have 4-5 that I shoot. I enjoyed learning about each and every one I owned. None were junk. But as I am past the hump of life, I have started dwindling my collection a little and only keeping my favorites.

I just went through this whole mess. After trying to use a pump and ‘hunting’ semi for casual clays I finally had enough and decided on an O/U.

Long story short, I had a budget of under $1000 so used Italian guns were out of the question. Lots of reading, and ironically as I have a few CZ rifles and pistols I...got a CZ. Redhead Premier and a few hundred rounds it has been flawless in operation.

Not perfect, I need to shorten the stock somehow and the bluing comes off easily. Everything else so far is great, and it ran me $850.