Cheap double barrel shotguns?

That is precisely why I wanted my Remington Spartan (Baikal) 20 gauge coach gun, because I was riding my GoldWing up to Waco some years back with my Winchester 1400 in a gun case strapped on the back and i was paranoid to leave the bike to go in a convenience store. Then I got to thinkin' about if I had trouble and needed to catch a ride, what would I do? The little 20 locked up in the top case of that Wing. I don't own the Wing anymore, but it fits in an innocent looking back pack which I could take with me if I had trouble. I've been shooting it at doves for about 5 years now, many limit days under its belt. It's a fine shooting little gun and only ran me 300 bucks. If I have one criticism of it, was fit and the whippy nature of the little short shotgun, but I shimmed it to fit pretty well and I knew it'd take some getting used to going in, trade off for its compact size. I have shot 50 percent with it on dove and that's about as good as I do with my 12 gauge Winchester gas gun and its 28" tube. I just have to concentrate a little more on swing and follow through. The gun itself has given me NO trouble, is a sturdy built gun if not the prettiest. It is a utilitarian gun for me. You're not going to get hand checkered walnut and engraving for 300 bucks, ya know. I didn't buy it for cosmetics, bought it to USE and had a niche to fill.

 

As did I with my Browning - guns of many types and price ranges can fill that bill

 

Well, in my case, the bill I had to fill is the gun, disassembled quickly, had to fit inside a 24" long top box. None of my repeaters wold do that, either piece disassembled. My other double has 28" barrels. I really didn't want an H&R single shot for this. The Spartan worked out for me. I'm sure it's not the first choice of Olympic skeet shooters, but that's okay since I'm not shooting skeet and, I suspect, neither is the OP, call it a hunch.

 

McG - if what you got worked out or you, then that is what counts

 

"you had a dumb seller and you knew it"

Around here $100 would have qualified for a really dumb seller. I was talking 311's with my uncle today and we agreed we hadn't seen a decent 12 ga. for less than $300 is a long time. (Decent = still has most of the finish)

He's got me looking for one for him now; a .410 SxS with a Tenite stock. He's 80, he can shoot what he wants.

John

P.S. - He bought a 311 20 ga. in the early '50s and I was once again unsuccessful at getting it away from him. Pfui. But it was fun trying over a light lunch of pork and gravy, creamed corn, green beans, cole slaw, biscuits and more gravy. And five kinds of sweets.

A cousin tried to buy his first-year BAR .30-06 yesterday. No, no, no. Mine. If I live long enough.

 

Divide that number by 25 (a round of skeet or trap) and you'll see that means 9,600 rounds of skeet or trap. Divided by 18 (years), it's 533.33 rounds per year. Divide that by 52 (weeks), it's only 10.25 boxes a week... 256 shells. A small handful more than a flat of shells.

A flat of shells a week is nothing for a serious shooter.

Before kids, I was shooting 6 days a week. A minimum of 100 shells at a time, 150 shells at least two of those days. I did that for 17 years until my first child was born. That's a conservative 618,000 shells.

Parenthood, in both time commitment and the associated financial implications has forced me to cut down to about 20,000 shells a year for the last 6 years. That's another 120,000 shells.

738,000 shells in 23 years... and I know people who shoot more (and for longer) than I do.

240,000 rounds? No big deal...

 

I have had very good luck with zastava doubles. I have 2, not the prettiest girls in my safe but they work like dogs for me. They do well on the wobble trap range and take down squirrels and rabbit just fine. They both were under $200.00.

 

I have found used Stoegers, Stevens, etc in pawn shops at reasonable prices on occasion. One of my current Cowboy shotguns is a pawn shop $250 Stoeger Uplander 24" side by side choked IC and M. It is an older gun, with the original stamping "E. R. AMANTINO", and tagged as such, which is probably why it was $250, not $350-$400. It has been used in Cowboy matches for 5 years. Still good. Works decently from the 16 yard line in Trap.

If you bargain hunt second-hand guns, you can find decent side by sides under $300. Finding them at $200 is possible, but does not happen very often. In addition to pawnshops, try the classified ads in a newspaper under sporting goods. Some folks are getting rid of an old back-of-the-closet burglar gun. On rare occasions, they turn up at yard or estate sales.

 

I would like to know which states to look in.

John

 

So would I, but then I want clarification about what constitutes a "decent" SxS.

There are the AyA models made for Sears in the 50sand 60s that are a good deal, and they are in that low range and handle nicely

 

Agreed on both counts-- it would seem that for some "decent" means "goes bang", with no further criteria of quality.

The AyA 100, if you can find one, is one of the best deals out there.

 

Well, when the OP states the category is to be 200 bucks or less, would seem to me the primary requisite would be to go bang. What more can you expect for 200 bucks? Heck, finding a decent quality 200 dollar PUMP is tough enough. LOL

 

I got my 12 ga. Rem Exp Magnum on sale for $199.95 and thought I stole it two days before Christmas. They were marked down that week from $219.95.

In 1993.

 

Yeah, but you can pick up 870s and Mossbergs all day long in pawn shops for 200 or so. Dang hard to find a USED cheap double for 200 bucks that even goes bang. 311s go for 300 and up around here.

There's always Maverick, I guess. I don't own one. The tang safety on the Mossberg is worth the extra money to me if nothing else. Lefties can't compromise on such things.

I gave about 200 for my Mossberg camo 500 in 1992...but I had a FFL and got it at dealer and on sale at that!

 

Looking online, I have seen the aforementioned AyAs going for 2-300 bucks. Yes they are 50-60 years old, but most are in good condition with well-regulated barrels and designed for the States with pistol grips and beavertails

 

Forgot till now...

Zabala imported by Richland...

 

Kim rhode gets her ammo and perazzi free. 1 million rounds is a testament to that high end gun though. although target shot shells are not nearly the pressures that a rifle is. So lower quality steel could last longer even in a high use gun. Hmm my lgs has a Steve s 311 20 for $200.... Not the Winchester 21 I would prefer but It would be plenty serviceable for years. Maybe I shoot 100 rounds or so of skeet or trap every few months plus I'm still working the same box of game loads for hunting pheasants the last 4 seasons. And have had or given away at least a dozen or so pheasant dinners. My used 870s Probly will last a few lifetimes at that rate

Just last week bought an 870 express 28 inch 12 ga. Wood furniture. $200 used and if it's seen any shots at all I'd be surprised. No brass marks at all on the shell lifter. was at one of my local shops and like I need another 12 ga 870. I couldn't pass it like new for only 200. Hell I could part out the barrel magnum receiver and stock set for almost double that Still in California gun jail

Anyway. To the op shop around. Deals are out there. Increasing your budget by a few hundred more can get you into a used browning or other top quality gun

 

USED deals are out there on pumps. I picked up a similar condition Mossberg 535 a few months back for 170 bucks.