O/U Shotgun for a hunter not a target shooter

[sbarkowski]

Sorry guys,I know this topic has been beaten to death, and I did do a search but still havnt come up with a decent response other than "if it dont cost a $1000+ its not worth owning.
I'm looking to get an O/U in a 20ga model for bird hunting, not for trap shooting. It may see 100-200 rounds per season if that. Its going to be out in the bush, not sitting under a spotlight in a glass cabinet. My only criteria other than its fit is that it has decent wood and ejectors. I'm looking to spend under $1000. Out of the budget models out there (mossberg, baikal, stevens, stoeger etc..) is there anyone out there that actually owns a budget o/u that they can recommend for this purpose?

 

[MCgunner]

The Baikals are RUGGED, if ugly. I own a Spartan SxS I like a lot as a hunting gun. It won't impress your friends, but it impresses me. Pretty is as pretty does, after all.

I'd say, just go swing a few in the gun shops and figure out which has the fit and feel you like. People bad mouth the cheap doubles, but heck, I've owned a Spanish made Sarasqueta and other than beating it up in the bottom of boats and other such stuff I flog myself for now days (young and stupid) it still shoots. Lord knows how many rounds has been through that thing and it's still tight. Most of what it's seen is 2 3/4" high brass "magnum" and 3" waterfowl loads, though back when it was my only shotgun in the early 70s, it killed quite a few doves, too with 7.5" dove loads. It's pretty much retired now days what with steel shot laws.

If you have an Academy near by, check out a Yildiz. I was favorably impressed with 'em in the store and they get good reviews from actual owners, but wound up getting the Spartan instead. I STILL don't have a O/U, never owned one. I will get one in the future just because if for no other reason. LOL One thing I like about the Yildiz is that Briley in Katy (just up the road a couple of hours) does all the warranty work and repair on 'em. They seem to be well built guns, a little tight in the store, but that's to be expected.

 

[Hokkmike]

Doesn't American Arms make a decent O/U?

 

[TomADC]

Why not shop around for a good used O/U, friend of mine has a older American Arms in 12 ga its been trouble free.
Do you have a Cabela's close by? Not the cheapest but they stand behind what they sell.

 

[chas08]

I have a Lanber that has a few thousand rounds through it. It's been great, no issues whatsoever. They are made in Spain, the wood is european walnut and the fit and finish rivals much higher priced firearms. It also has chrome lined chambers and barrels with five screw in stainles steel choke tubes. I gave a little ove $450 for it NIB near 10 years ago. I have No idea what they cost now. At the time the only two lower end O/U's that I could compare it to were Baikals and Stoegers. It put those to shame.

 

[sfc_mark]

If Academy is in your area, you can pick up two of the Yildiz and a case of shells within your budget.

My son has the Yildiz (Turkish) 12 gauge and it's incredible for the money. He uses it primarily for clays, but it will get the job done for the feathered kind of birds as well. The wood is on par with that on my $2,000+ Beretta (Turkish Walnut, don't you know), and Briley handles any warranty work.

Unfortunately for some, Academy is the sole distributor in the U.S., so availability is an issue for most.

I'm personally going to pick up the 20 gauge as my next Shotgun. I LOVE the Beretta, but I can't justify another $2k to have a matching pair.

 

[sbarkowski]

Now thats the info im looking for! Thanks guys. Is there a particular budget gun I should just completely stay away from that has known problems or defects that wouldnt last a hunting season?

 

[kentucky_smith]

Look at CDNN's catalog. The 20 gauge Fausti's aren't bad guns and I would trust them more than the Turkish guns. They've got a 20 I've personally used quite a bit for $489.

 

[ArmedBear]

If you want to buy new, go to CDNN's website and get the Weatherby Orion for $879. It's the last of the SKB-made Weatherbys. Skip the junk and get something that handles well and will last forever the way you use it (PoW grip is a plus, also).

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

I've recently seen used Citoris in the $750-900 range. One was at a pawn shop, they started out around $1100 and ended up taking $750.

Lotsa guys getting laid off or cut back and are selling off the toys = Buyers market.

 

[ArmedBear]

I've recently seen used Citoris in the $750-900 range

20 Gauges?

Sure, you can pick up the overweight 12s that few people would want as field guns for relatively cheap, but not the 20s, especially not modern steel-compatible with screw-in chokes. The Citori 20 is a pretty good field gun, in every way that the 12 fails to be.

Very few decent 20s of any kind hit the used shelves here. Bubba only buys 12s.

That BRAND NEW SKB Weatherby at CDNN for $879 is an easy choice, every bit as good as a Browning, and much quicker to point. I've got the old Ithaca version and I love it in the field -- and it works great after over 30 years of use by a few owners.

 

[Wildyams]

You might look at CZ USA. They are sub 1000, but still very nice shotguns. They are a more spendy than the Stoegers, but they are a high quality product with both single and double trigger models available.
http://cz-usa.com/products/view/redhead-deluxe-reduced-length/

 

[sbarkowski]

Yes, I was orginally looking at the SxS CZ Ringneck. Nice gun at a good price but damn hard to find in my area. I wasnt aware Weatherby had a line of decent o/u's, I'll have to take a look.

 

[jerkface11]

The Stoegers are nice.

 

[lebowski]

I have a CZ o/u in 12 that I bought used for $500. I've only used it for trap, but it's served me pretty well (I've only had it a few months).

 

[oneounceload]

Under a thousand, used SKB field guns (model 500 & 505) come to mind - I have two. Great field guns, not QUITE as light as I would prefer, weigh what all the rest do - but head and shoulders above the Turkish, Brazilian, Chinese stuff. Typically available in 26 or 28 inch barrels for around 750 or so with screw-in chokes (505)

They are based on the Merkel action

Here's a Fausti - made in italy:
http://www.gunsinternational.com/Traditions-Faust-Field-1-20-Gauge-3”-NIB.cfm?gun_id=100090540

has fixed chokes

Also a Ruger or two available:
http://www.gunsinternational.com/Ruger-Red-Level-20GA.cfm?gun_id=100099962

and yes, a Browning:
http://www.gunsinternational.com/Browning-Citori-Japan-20GA.cfm?gun_id=100100041

 

[ArmedBear]

oneounce -- if the OP acts quickly, he can get a brand new one for $879 (Weatherby Orion Upland) from CDNN. This will not last much longer.

Still, my old Ithaca 500 is a pretty light gun. I just weighed it, and it comes in just a hair under 6 lbs. 7 oz.

It's a 20/26", though, which is the lightest field gun they make (the 28, on a 20 frame, weighs more). I'm surprised that yours don't seem light. I don't think I'd want mine to be an ounce lighter than it is.

 

[wrong-eye/dead-eye]

Doesn' tradition arms make the fausti? I did here it was a good gun for the money spent.

 

[oneounceload]

I added a spacer and recoil pad to increase my LOP - mine is more like 7# - which is still nice, but if I still lived in NV chasing chukar uphill all day, I'd be wanting something around 5.5 to 6 max

 

[oneounceload]

Doesn' tradition arms make the fausti? I did here it was a good gun for the money spent.

Fausti is the maker - three sister run the company in Italy - make a variety of guns, some for other folks, at various price points - some good, some just OK, some VERY nice

 

[ArmedBear]

How much did you increase your LOP?

 

[ArmedBear]

some good, some just OK, some VERY nice

The sisters are pretty good looking, too.

Some of their guns are INSANELY nice. Even their mid-range production stuff can be really good. I handled a 20 Gauge SxS the other day, and I was shocked at the beautiful appearance and balance that $1199 would buy, retail.

I don't know how it would fare after 100,000 rounds, but I wouldn't mind finding out.

 

[oneounceload]

made it right around 15, IIRC

need to do something with my 28 I bought off the web - the ONE thing I didn't ask was LOP - figured it was the 14-1/4 to 14-1/2 like normal.....nooooooo, someone had it shortened for a youth or woman down to 13-1/2....WITH a recoil pad already - if I add a spacer and new pad, the balance may be somewhat weird - not sure - maybe add a spacer and hollow most of it out

But to the OP - those few I posted are there and took about 3 minutes looking at a few sites. I prefer to start looking on GunsInternational.com because it is NOT an auction site - the price you see if the price you pay - and these are mostly from very reputable companies - their index is well broken down by type and brand

 

[oneounceload]

THIS is one I would like to try, especially in a 28:
http://www.faustistefanoarms.com/cat_scheda.asp?id=62

 

[sbarkowski]

oneounce -- if the OP acts quickly, he can get a brand new one for $879 (Weatherby Orion Upland) from CDNN. This will not last much longer.

Still, my old Ithaca 500 is a pretty light gun. I just weighed it, and it comes in just a hair under 6 lbs. 7 oz.

It's a 20/26", though, which is the lightest field gun they make (the 28, on a 20 frame, weighs more). I'm surprised that yours don't seem light. I don't think I'd want mine to be an ounce lighter than it is.

I'm not familar with CDNN.. I also live in Ontario Canada if that is significant as to where I may find one. I dont know how it works for buying and shipping firearms across the border.