Best O/U 12ga Shotgun

Status
Not open for further replies.
O

ozzyrules

Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2004
Messages
16
You will have to excuse me for my ignorance but i'm more of a pistol, rifle guy who recently got interested in clay and bird shooting. Right now im using my cheap-but-getting-the-job-done mossberg pump gun. Its not bad but it gets a little hairy when shooting doubles(still hitting 19/25 from an overhead thrower).
But enough about my story and onto my question. With cost taken into consideration, What is the best O/U 12 ga shotgun? Any and all suggestions are highly appreciated and helpful.

Thanks Again.

By the way, you shotgunners have a lot more fun target shooting than my fellow paper punchers.
 
Welcome ozzyrules,

You asked for it, IMO the Krieghoff K-80 Superscroll would be about the best shotgun in the O/U class, the Kolar O/U would be right up there also.

For a litle bit of $ ($10,000) plus or minus you could be the new happy owner of either of these shotguns.:D :what:

Seriously the Krieghoff is one of the best out there for durability, Kolars have only been on the market for about 9 years so they haven;t proven themselves yet. Someone may vote for Perazzi shotguns also. A good gun in the same price bracket.
 
Not much money? But a semi auto, Beretta 391 or Remington 1100.

More money? A Beretta 682E or a Browning 525

Even more money? A Perazzi MX8, a Beretta DT10 or maybe the Krieghoff or Kolar listed above.

So much money that you can't stand it? A Fabbri.

The best shotgun IMHO is the Perazzi. Over the years I've owned over/unders made by Browning (2), Beretta (2) Krieghoff (1) Winchester (2) but when I bought a Perazzi I stopped wanting other guns.

Well that's not precisely true. I did want another Perazzi, a 28 gauge to keep my 12 gauge company. ;)

If I weren't shooting the Perazzi, I'd be shooting a Beretta 682E.

Paul
 
Let me just say - I should never have sold my Browning Citori Hunter!! If you had found it available used and bought it - I fancy you'd have been a happy camper ... for around $700.


<mutter - why do we always regret selling a gun ... sheesh ... I never learn>
 
Piddle on cost, poop on names. The one that FITS is the one for you. You would be better off with a freakin' IZH $299 import that fits than you would with a $60K Kolar that doesn't.

If you can afford to have any shotgun fit to you then I would vote for the K80 and more advanced Kreighoffs. Mechanically they should last for EVER with only minor tuneups.
 
http://www.eaacorp.com/firearms/longguns/sporting/izh27e.shtml

This will get the job done. With the money you save vs a K-gun go get the gun fit to you, buy some lessons and lots of shells. In the immortal words of the scattergun guru: BA/UU/R

I have one of the earlier versions of this gun and love it. If you become good at the sport and want to advance, keep this as a spare gun and THEN invest in something more expensive.
 
For a moderate amount of money, I'd go with the Browning or Beretta...whatever feels best. Used is a good way to go on these durable guns. Expect to pay $1400-$2800 used to new. Buy at least the 30" bbl IMO.

Perazzi is, overall, the best designed O/U IMHO. Very simple and durable. If you like the way it feels, it's hard to beat. All the high end guns are good though.
Again, used is a great way to buy these guns. Expect to pay anywhere from $4500- $6500 used to new.
 
OK, I seem to have worded myself incorrectly. I'm sure a $10k shotgun is awesome, but when i spent $850 on a kimber 1911 I felt like a millionaire, if you catch my drift. The question should have started with the statement that i have limited money to spend.

By the way what can you do with a $10k shotgun that you can't do with a $2000 shotgun. Just curious.

Thanks Again Gentlemen.
 
Given your price limitations, a used Browning or Beretta for $700 - $1500 would be the most inexpensive, yet durable SG for clays. As always, you would want to choose which ever brand and model that "fits" you best as is the case with any shotgun, reguardless of price.
I bought a Browning XT Trap last year because it fit me best of all the Brownings and Beretta's I tried. Good Luck!
 
By the way what can you do with a $10k shotgun that you can't do with a $2000 shotgun.
Click to expand...
The short answer is nothing. The longer answer is more complex and understanding the direction a thread like this can take here's what I believe the value is in a higher grade gun like a Kreighoff or Perazzi.

What you are paying for is more skilled handwork on the gun, better fit and finish and more choices when it comes to stock dimensions and other custom options. I believe the more expensive guns are more durable and will last longer under the sustained shooting of a serious clay target shooter compared to other o/us. You are also paying for vastly better trigger pulls, consistent barrel regulation, choke tubes that are the proper dimension and better balance and handling.

At a certain point you get into paying for what I call non-shootable assets, better quality wood, ornate engraving, gold inlay, etc. At this point, the sky is the limit. A shooting acquaintance of mine owns a Perazzi SCO Gold with absolutely fantastic hand engraving and superb gold inlays. It is magnificent but the replacement value of this gun would be double the value of every gun that I own and I own some good ones.

If you are seriously considering an o/u purchase I'd stay with the brands that have the proven track record of endurance. Try a Browning Citori or a Beretta 686 or 682. I'd also look into the used market. Target shooters are very fickle in their choices and often guns with a lot of life left in them are sold at very reasonable prices. Best of luck in your search.

Paul
 
I have a Krieghoff Model 32 that I really like alot. They aren't made anymore but can still be had for a price.
 
I'm tellin' ya- a Baikal IZH-27 (MSRP $569) will shoot as well as a B-gun costing 4 times its price. "Built strong, like bull." Sure- it ain't as pretty- but I bet your 1st girlfriend wasn't as purdy as the one ya married, but she got the job done! Even a bad deal would cost you $500. Spend the other $1500 on things to make you a better shooter. I know quite a few people that shoot the Baikal's. All are pleased.
 
By the way what can you do with a $10k shotgun that you can't do with a $2000 shotgun. Just curious.
Click to expand...

Not a thing, I started competing in skeet tournaments with a Ruger Red Label with an economy set of Kolar gauge inserts, 20ga, 28ga, and .410. I had about $1800 wrapped up in it and was in AA class the second year with it shooting against the K-80s and Browning Grade V Citoris. I put over 40,000 rounds through it with 1 trip back to Ruger for some firing pin springs.

I shoot a Beretta 682 Supersporting now with a full tube set up, got about $3700 in it and it will probably be the most expensive shotgun I'll ever have. And all I'll ever need. :D But not all I'll ever want. ;)
 
By the way what can you do with a $10k shotgun that you can't do with a $2000 shotgun. Just curious.
Click to expand...

1. Financially a gun in the 5 to 6 figures can be counted on to appreciate at a certain rate, and can be used as valid colateral.

2. Psycologically they project a sense of value and self worth.

Some people do understand that quality is preferable to quantity. They understand that the value is not all in the price of an object, and that intristic values are one people remember and pass on as values.
 
I gotta say too that you should try different guns if you can but don't overlook the Red Label! I flat love mine and it fits me. Don't have an accurate count of how many shells have been through it but its been a bunch. No problems ever and I only paid $1050 for it brand new:D I also have this thing for American made items so Ruger also fits that criteria:)
 
I really like the Brownings too. 525 is a very good shotgun, I sure like mine.

But to throw out another possibility, I recently picked up a new Winchester Select Energy Sporting OU that is great, especially considering it was only about $1600 or so. Something else to look at and consider. Seems to be a good bargain. They are designed by Browning, I think, and are made by FN in Belgium, and then imported by Winchester. Wood on mine is gorgeous.

http://www.winchesterguns.com/prodinfo/catalog/detail.asp?cat_id=513&type_id=019&cat=007C
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

A
  • Locked
Looking for more info on CZ O/U
Replies
6
Views
999
New_geezer
N
H
  • Locked
Marocchi o/u value
Replies
2
Views
3K
Hastings
H
W
  • Locked
Looking for a nice O/U shotgun
Replies
20
Views
659
Dave McCracken
D
S
  • Locked
Mossberg O\U
Replies
15
Views
12K
Ed/Pa
E
D
  • Locked
Entry Level O/U for Recreational Clays
Replies
7
Views
687
1KPerDay
1KPerDay
Back
Top