20ga O/U---help me decide

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Been getting a real bad itch for a 20ga stackbarrel-----26in barrels only.

Have kind of narrowed it down to the Ruger Red Label----Weatherby Orion---and Browning Citori Lightening. Beretta stocks are too long for me---so pretty much out of the running----the others seem to fit me OK.

These are within a few hundred $$ of each other---so cost isn't much of a factor in the final selection.

Also---I HATE shiney stocks(if I wanted to be "pimped out"--I'd live in the 'hood)----if I get the Weatherby or Browning---they will be getting the triple-ought steel wool treatment.


1. Red Label----currently the front runner.
Pros---American made---solid feel---easy opening---satin finished stock---stainless receiver---mechanical trigger----overall better looking than the others.

Cons----heavier weight----floating rib.

2. Weatherby Orion
Pros---light weight------decent wood---comes up well----Briley chokes-----and lowest priced of all of them.

Cons---foriegn made---an un-nearving "clink" when closed----I don't like the look of the back of the receiver when sighting down the barrel----I know its being picky--but it is my $1000 after all--------------barrel selector in a bad location-----inertia trigger.

3. Browning Citori Lightening
Pros---very good rep--although looking at the action--I'm not all that impressed(just me I guess)----solid feel.

Cons----soft wood(All Brownings have soft wood that can be indented with just a finger nail----have an A-Bolt and BL22 that are bad in this reguard)-----foreign made----inertia trigger-----highest price of all of them.


Really like the Citori 525----but I'm unwilling to spend half again as much for something that will see hard field use.


Which would you choose and why?? OR do you have any suggestions of other models I should be looking at??


Thanks for any help.

OBG

 

[sm]

What are you going to this SG for?
Which gun actually fits you?

Personally I prefer the 28" bbl, my Citori 3 bbl set had 28" and I ran as much as 20K + rds through it for years and years. Only problem, I've ever had, I banged the mid bead and broke it by hitting the gun rack upon entering the club house. These break "in" not wear loose. I prefer the longer bbls to smooth swing. I know from experience there is no difference in length of bbl and getting on target. I have and can still get on target with a 32" bbl from low mount as quick-most often-quicker than someone whom uses a short bbl. Less "apparent lead" also.

I would advise to try before you buy. A club, range often has a variety of guns and personable fellows to let you try a round, the seasoned shooters will "sell" on fit, not brand name...tho', they will be honest as to what works and holds up and what does not.

Didn't see many Ruger's or Weatherby's on the line.

Browing, Beretta, Kreighoff,Remington 3200 , Winchester 101, and Perazzi did take the monies all the time for a fact. I'm not knocking other guns and all, but not all winners and Big Boys are Sponsored. Being self sponsered and winning means the guns worked and held up.

Just my .02 from my experiences.
HTH

 

[PJR]

Assuming this is a hunting gun and were the choice mine to make I'd take the Browning by a nose.

The Weatherby is a good gun but why pay the additional amount when the exact same gun can be bought for less from SKB, the company that makes the gun for Weatherby in the first place? I'm not sure what the problem is with the barrel selector on the Weatherby/SKB. You aren't going to use it during a flush and the uncomplicated safety system of the SKB is a plus compared to the H style safety of the Browning. I agree the humped back receiver created by the cross bolt locking system looks odd but your eyes should be on the target not on the rear of the gun (or the beads for that matter).

Rugers don't impress me. I don't think they are that well made, quality control in those that I've seen varies considerably, They are barrel heavy and the triggers aren't good and not amenable to improvement. The safety is very inconvenient to use. The most positive thing I've heard about Ruger is how good their customer service and repair operation are. This leads me to conclude a lot of Rugers get sent back to be made right.

If the Beretta stock is too long, ask the dealer if he would have it cut and have a new recoil pad mounted. I know of some dealers who will do this for free or at a reduced rate to make the sale. I like the Berettas over any of the aforementioned guns because of the shallow receiver which makes them very sleek looking. I've also owned a couple and they are better handling and more reliable guns particularly in rough conditions. The Browning has a more open receiver and misfires can occur if any gunk or snow or freezing rain gets into the action.

What I would be doing is considering a used gun. Good condition Winchester 101s in 20 gauge are about the same price as any of the above guns. They have inertia triggers and are very similar to the Browning pattern although without the open receiver. IMHO they are better made and I've owned both Browning and Winchester.

But at the end of the day the advice remains the same. Buy the one that fits.

Paul

 

[kudu]

I would go for the Ruger myself if the Beretta is out of the scene. I have had three, an early one with chokes was my first skeet competition gun, with all gauge tubes, went through about 60 K of shells with that gun. Had a 12 gauge sporting clays model, shot to low for a good target gun, but great on skeet doubles. My third is a 28 gauge that I still shoot on occasion but is not my main target gun, but I do use it for rabbits and doves.

I have never cared fo Browning citoris, can shoot them alright but they just don't have the "feel" to them.

Weatherby/SKB's have an overall clunky feel to them that I find annoying, and that blocky reciever that that you pointed out.

The rugers do let a certain percentage slip by with some cosmetic or mechanical problems, but I have lucked out and not gotten a lemon. Had to replace the firing pin blocks on my first red label at about 50,000 rounds, turn around was only about three weeks from Ruger, shipping paid by them.

 

[Red Label]

I'd go for the Ruger too. Listen to the guys that have them. I've not yet had one problem with mine and shoot a round of sporting clays with it every weekend. It's the 12ga. sporting version and I really want to add a 20 ga. to the cabinet. Great gun, I can't say enough about it!

 

[HSMITH]

I've got over 75K through a 12ga Red Label with nary a hitch. Triggers still suck, but if you can shoot triggers are just an excuse IMO. Other than the triggers a tad heavy the Red Label is a SUPER gun for the money.

 

[Tom Held]

I've got a Ruger, Weatherby, Browning, and Beretta in 20 bore configurations. The Browning (Belgium) is by far the best of the group overall but value/performance goes to the Ruger. I've run as many as 3,000 rounds through it in one day in Argentina shooting doves (did the same with a 28 bore Red Label) without one malfunction. These were guns right out of the box, never fired. The Weatherby was manufactured in Italy and is very well made but I'm underwhelmed by the new Orions.

All have 28" barrels, the 26" are a little too "whippy" for me. Even now the Beretta still swings too fast. I don't think you would be disappointed with a Ruger.

 

[Gila Jorge]

Would prefer the SKB over the ones mentioned except for Barettas of any flavor. Baretta is arguably the best the maker out there today. Kreighoff and Perazzis are strictly competitiion guns to shoot thousands of rounds per year throguh. Although for many years I used a straight stocked Perazzi live bird for hunting.