Affordable O/Us - New CZ Redhead Target

[MCgunner]

Well, a 2K shotgun is over a month's income for me. I'll continue to delude myself that my Spartan handles well enough to shoot 50 percent on doves (it has when I did my part) and you, oneounce, can continue to delude yourself that a 60K gun is worth the cost.

I'll be on social security soon. I'm going to let my gubment check buy me a Browning or Winchester. Well, it'll take 2 gubment checks, but you get the point. Gotta spend it before social security goes bankrupt, which won't be too long sounds like, but that's another subject.

 

[hAkron]

I have a CZ 912 semi-auto shotgun that I use for trap. It was cinexpensive, it fits me well, and it looks great. On the downside, after 100 shells I do have to give it a quick cleaning or it starts to get finicky. CZs (Huglu) shotguns are not generally bad guns for the money, but they are also not without their quirks.

Also, for trap, my $220 Mossberg 500 from Walmart shoots as well as anything else ive shot.

 

[oneounceload]

oneounce, can continue to delude yourself that a 60K gun is worth the cost.

Actually, I was thinking of an Uggie - base model is about $1350 or so - well-made Spanish gun. I also own a S&W Elite Gold Turkish gun - half price at $1200 - another excellent gun; 60K is out of my price range as well - but I still look at them in the catalogs........

 

[ATLDave]

I was in the same position about a year ago, though I was interested in skeet, not trap. I finally was persuaded to go for one of the B-guns (I went Beretta), and I have not regretted it.

As others have noted, double-barreled shotguns are not all that amenable to inexpensive manufacturing. I toyed with the idea of Yildiz, Huglu, Stoegger, and whatever the name of the Russian one that EAA imports is, and then decided to suck it up.

BTW, the "pro shop" down at the Wolf Creek range actually has good prices on Berettas... I was surprised, but they beat the other local retailers and online stuff (once you figured in an FAA transfer fee and shipping for online, it wasn't even close).

 

[SHR970]

Amazing how the conversation always ends up being B brand or junk.

Lanbers aren't one of the B&B brands but they do alright. So do some of the "off" Italian brands like the FAIR (aka Verona), Fausti, Fabarm.

This article may be about 8 years old but it is still a good one: Shotgunworld crosslink

 

[19-3Ben]

I learned to shoot trap with a first year of production Remington 1100 with a 30" barrel and a fixed choke that patterned extra full.

I also learned trap and skeet shooting on an 1100. Nothing wrong with them, and you can get a nice used one for well under your budget. Save the rest of the money to spend it on lots and lots of ammo!!!

Edit to add:
This for example.
Or This.

 

[oneounceload]

Amazing how the conversation always ends up being B brand or junk.

Lanbers aren't one of the B&B brands but they do alright. So do some of the "off" Italian brands like the FAIR (aka Verona), Fausti, Fabarm.

Fausti makes guns to various price points, and their high-end guns are very well made. Fabarms, now part of Cesar Guerini, currently markets one of the most expensive semi shotguns on the market today.

FAIR is one of the Rizzini family guns companies; Cesar Guerini is B Rizzini and Fausti is aligned with E Rizzini - all make decent guns in their respective price points, and are much better made and handle better than the garbage coming from Russia and China and Brazil

 

[ATLDave]

Amazing how the conversation always ends up being B brand or junk.

I don't think anyone said "B brand or junk." I merely said that I had been persuaded to buy a Beretta and did not regret it. The B guns are readily available and are high-quality guns that will work, endure, point well, etc. There are obviously more exotic and expensive ones. And there are cheaper ones, which can have their uses. My dad has a Browning OU, but he's also got a Stoeger, which is perfectly suitable for field work.

But the OP said he was interested in getting into trap. If he's going to hang out at the range and bang out hundreds of shots in a single day, and thousands a year for several years, there's a lot to be said for guns with designs that have been proven to take the abuse, and for which there will always be spare parts and knowledgeable gunsmiths.

 

[SHR970]

ATLDave:

I did not single ANYONE out. I count at least 5 different posters that went straight to the B brands. Little was given in the way to alternatives that may make the OP's price point AND would provide good service. It is as though it is either B brands or Junk....no middle ground.

I have seen CZ quality looking for a 410 O/U, I bought a Verona 702 instead (and got a screaming deal to boot ). That Verona is a Fabbrica Armi Isidoro Rizzini; it isn't a Beretta but it is still a quality gun. I added that to my matching 12 and 20 Fabarms Silver Lions.

But the OP said he was interested in getting into trap. If he's going to hang out at the range and bang out hundreds of shots in a single day, and thousands a year for several years, there's a lot to be said for guns with designs that have been proven to take the abuse, and for which there will always be spare parts and knowledgeable gunsmiths.

A valid point, but even the well known SKB went under. And as far as used go, a novice could get a not too heavily used gun or one that looks pretty but has had the stuffing already kicked out of it and not even know the difference. Maybe you would like to post a buyer's guide on how to tell the not so knowledgeable what to look for so they don't get hosed.

Add: You can gat a Win 101 from CDNN right now for $1100; although in a 26" barrel. They're made by FN...guess who makes the Browning Superposed? I'm willing to bet it would hold up pretty nicely, have parts available for a while, and smiths that know how to work it. And Wseatherby doesn't make shotguns, they have them made for them. My point is that there are other good options out there.

 

[drsfmd]

ATLDave:

I did not single ANYONE out. I count at least 5 different posters that went straight to the B brands. Little was given in the way to alternatives that may make the OP's price point AND would provide good service. It is as though it is either B brands or Junk....no middle ground.

You might not like it, but you made a fairly accurate statement. Browning, Beretta, and SKB are generally considered to be the low end of acceptable quality by serious shotgunners. Below that you get off brands that often have reputations for breaking, are hard to find parts and service for, and are quickly orphaned by their importers.

CZ seems to be trying hard, but they still have a long way to go before they are even in the same game as the B guns, much less on a level playing field.