HELP WITH STEVENS 311 SxS PLEASE...

[Northrunner]

I've recently become interested in owning a SxS. I've taken a liking to the Winchester model 24's and yesterday came across a very nice Stevens 311 in 20 guage with 28" barrels. The asking price for the 311 is $300.00.

I think I'd prefer a 12 guage but that little 20 is in very nice shape, wood (walnut) and metal. I hunt mostly pheasant, turkey, Hungarian partridge, and quail.

1. I'd be interested in your opinions of the 311 versus the 24.
2. The barrels are not marked; what chokes would this 311/20 have with those 28" barrels?
3. Is $300 a fair price for this 311?
4. The Stevens has no serial number? Is that normal?

Thanks...

 

[Dave McCracken]

Buy it. $300 is not a screaming deal, but a decent price nowadays.

I had a similar Stevens, told about here in a thread called "Mom and the $5 shotgun".

Most of these were choked "Tight" and "Tighter" but a few were IC and Mod.

HTH....

 

[GCBurner]

I've had a Stevens 311 since I was 16, and bought it new with money I'd earned mowing yards. It was $86.50 at the local hardware store, as I recall. Still have it, still works fine, though the stock finish is looking somewhat worn after 40 years or so. One day I might refinish/reblue everything, but it still doesn't look too bad.
If I recall correctly, 28" barrels on a 12 ga. like mine were available as Modified/Full choke, and the 26" barrels were Imp.Cyl/Modified.

 

[Slugo]

Read this...
http://www.gundigest.com/article/sqa-stevens-letter-prefix-serial-numbers

 

[okc-zee]

I'd go for the stevens'...300 isn't a bad price if it's in good shape...I've seen a couple of them go for 350 to 500 that were in good shape...I've seen a couple of trashed ones for 250 to 300...I own a 12 and a 20 311's...They're great shooters..like everything else,the nicer early ones are getting harder to find... Here's a pic of my 20ga.