Best O/U for $2000 or less

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MagKnightX

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Note, please, please do not suggest that I buy a Stoeger or EAA and use the rest on ammo unless they really can, out-of-box, outperform whatever Franchetta Italiana Moneygrabbia there is out there. Also, I would far, FAR rather have a new gun than a used one, but if a used one will definitely perform better, then...

I am, of course, aware that the best way to find a good gun is to see what fits. However, that can be impossible when your local stores do not have a good selection. That being said, what is the best O/U shotgun for definite clays usage (Trap, wobble trap, skeet, 5 stand, sporting clays) and potential upland hunting usage? I'm thinking probably Beretta 686 White Onyx with 30"bbl... good choice or bad? I'm a large person, but Beretta stocks have fit me well in the past. Oh, and a rubber recoil pad would be nice; hard plastic plates and my shoulder do not a happy combination make.
 
Sounds like you have pretty much made the choice for yourself. I have the Beretta 682 Super Sport with a 30" barrel and full set of Kolar tubes and carrier barrel for them. I heartily recommend Beretta shotguns for strength and durability, not up to par with Krieghoffs, but not any where near as expensive. There are some of the Browning line that may fit you as well, but that would be for you to decide.

Here is a site that may interest you, Jaqua's fine guns in Ohio.

http://www.jaquas.com/gunlist/Search.asp

You may find another type of gun that may interest you. For doing it all you may need to put an adjustable cheek piece on your shotgun to customize it for each clay game, like raising the comb for trap shooting. No one gun can be great for all games unless it has adjustments. Happy gun hunting, I hope I was a bit of help.:)
 
I two would go with one of the B guns.
Interesting story about a faulty Beretta a friend of mine had. He was a long time browning man then bought a Beretta. Brand new gun and had a horrible failure on one of his two trips to the range. I'll have to ask to get the exact details because I've forgotten them. Short story was something went badly wrong with the gun and the end result was a twisted reciever. I want to say the gun doubled but I also want to say Beretta doesn't make any guns with mechanical trigger. I'll have to ask when we shoot together tomorrow night. No, it wasn't a bad reload or an obstructed barrel. This isn't a bash on Beretta, it just goes to show that anything is possible with any maker. FWIW, he took it back and the store exchanged it on a Browning 525 sporting which he shoots very very well. Once again I will check with him tomorrow and get the full story again.
Matt
 
Browning and Beretta are the safe bets, both new and used.

There are so many around because they shoot well, depends what you like, and are reliable and durable. You can't go wrong.
 
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Browning Citori Hunter ...... (like the one I so stupidly parted with a year ago!) ...... would probably fit the bill. Add on a good choke set.

I believe by shopping around this can be obtained for well under the approx $1500 list price .. nearer $1200 to $1250 IIRC.
 
I love my Browning Citori (both of them)
Berettas are nice ( I don't own one) and know people that really like their Rugers.

It might be wise when considering with departing with $2k on a shotgun to figure in a road trip to a well stocked store or gun show so you can handle as many as possible.

Smoke
 
Don't even think about a Beretta Blackwing/Whitewing. They skimp on metal in various places to save money and the result is a very light inertia trigger driven O/U that will not recock the trigger on the second shot if you do not shoulder the weapon well. They kick like mules and are butt heavy if you ask me.

I duck hunt. I usually have a call in one hand, one hand on the shot gun, one eye on the ducks coming in and one eye on my stubborn black lab male. Perfect form is not always there for me and thus I had a blackwing that would not cock on the second shot often.

The citori is a heavy, working man's O/U. So are SKB's and Bakail's. If you go Beretta, don't skimp.
 
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