Leaning towards a Mossberg O/U

[Sagetown]

Pete409 The Spec's say the stock is 'Satin Walnut'. I'll test it to see if the wood will absorb oil or repel it. Didn't think about the possiblity of it being poly coated.

 

[Sagetown]

Pete; I've got a couple of coats of Tru-Oil on my SR now. Needs more I know, but got anxious and put-er back together.

Took it out this morning for a little Snipe shooting. Should have taken more birds than I did. I was using 2 1/2" shells, and though the birds were clearly hit, they wouldn't fall. Tough little birds. better get some 3" for next time.

 

[Native_omnivore]

As for the Mossberg SR, I would find a dealer that has the serial number info and go from there. It is not junk, nor has it ever been junk. It had a couple of problems that Mossberg corrected. Call it like it is.
Well, those I know who have bought them and shot them certainly used the word, "junk" when they broke. That's calling it like it is.

AFAIK Mossberg will not say what the serial number range is.

You're taking a chance if you buy one. That's calling it like it is. Sometimes you win when you take a chance on something unproven, sometimes you lose.

In slightly over 1 year and far from 10.000 rounds, I've had my SR back to the factory twice for "new and improved" firing pins. The last time, even hough it was fitted with the new style pins, they sent an extra set.. ????
They've now busted and been replaced and I am currently waiting on my fourth set to be shipped.

.... JUNK is most certainly "calling it like it IS".

 

[ArmedBear]

We can all agree that a Silver Reserve is not ideal for sporting clays, trap, or skeet. Rabbit hunting? Perhaps.

It's always interesting to watch the guys who go out and hunt with shotguns, but aren't willing to do any practice. Hitting fast-flying birds is hard enough when you do practice. The field offers so many more variables, so much more adrenaline than the range.

A few thousand rounds over a few years is certainly not serious competition. It's just the practice one does if he intends to hit anything at all in the field. At least I can't just never shoot and expect to hit anything when it counts. Maybe you have a God-given gift for wingshooting without any practice, but I don't.

Say you shoot three rounds of trap or skeet twice a month for a year. That's not all that much. It's a few minutes of shooting per month. That's 1800 rounds through the gun, plus whatever you shoot in the field. If it breaks after 3000, it won't make it to the second hunting season.

Now if it's a spare gun that you seldom take out for anything but hunting, and you mostly practice with another, similar gun, that may not hold true. I still wouldn't want to find out when I'm chasing the best covey of fat quail I've ever seen...

Just things to think about...

 

[Smitty in CT]

Over on Shotgunworld.com, slk12407 posted the following that he got from the factory:

12GA TR12046393 and on.
20GA TR20015092 and on.
28GA TR28005777 and on.
.410 TR410006194 and on.

Supposedly anything AFTER is good, time will tell...

Hope this helps somebody.....

 

[Native_omnivore]

A few thousand rounds over a few years is certainly not serious competition. It's just the practice one does if he intends to hit anything at all in the field. At least I can't just never shoot and expect to hit anything when it counts. Maybe you have a God-given gift for wingshooting without any practice, but I don't.

Say you shoot three rounds of trap or skeet twice a month for a year. That's not all that much. It's a few minutes of shooting per month. That's 1800 rounds through the gun, plus whatever you shoot in the field. If it breaks after 3000, it won't make it to the second hunting season.

First, I should apologize for coming in ranting/.."venting" actually. Sorry. I do like my SR, or I wouldn't continue to 'fix it'.. .. and it further enforces the old saying "you get what you pay for".. I shouldn't complain I guess.
I'm shooting a couple hundred rounds per week at the range right now, but in fall/winter I only hunt.(far less shot per week if the practice has paid off) .
After recalculation, I would guess I'm right around 10,000 rounds through it. But I am still on my fourth set of fireing pins, that's a set every 2500 rnds. Every set was the "new 'n improved" version.

I'm shopping for another o/u. I like the Rugers, but they've gone insane I think. Their priced up there with some pretty high end models IMO. I've shot a couple of citori's and wasn't crazy about the feel, fit. I'm hoping to get my hands on one of the lower to mid range Barretas for a test drive.
SKB might be an option, too?

 

[ArmedBear]

I have an Ithaca SKB 500 that's 30 years old (I think) and still working great. It's essentially an engraved SKB 505, but the new one has screw-ins and an improved stock/receiver fit to fix a problem the old ones had with hairline cracks in the wood.

Also, a Beretta White Onyx can be had for $1500 new if you look around, and it's well worth it.

I am still on my fourth set of fireing pins, that's a set every 2500 rnds. Every set was the "new 'n improved" version.

That's about average for the people I've known with them. And as I wrote above, 2500 rounds is not "serious competition", it's just casual practice. That means the gun will break every season if you use it. Suddenly, a Beretta starts to look like a good deal.

 

[dogsoldier0513]

Sagetown....I shoot a Remington 1100 in .410 w/IC barrel. You don't 'need' 3-inch shells...necessarily. Try UPing your shot size. REgardless of whether I'm shooting rabbits or birds, I've found #6 shot in ANY .410 HARD TO BEAT. Good shooting!

 

[noskilz]

ArmedBear said:

TANSTAAFL

I love that acronym. I was taught it long before AlGore invented the internet and "text messaging" actually meant something different from what you saw on the side of the Goodyear blimp. Wonderful idea to remember as you march through life. Thank you for the wisdom reminder, ArmedBear.