Recommendations on a O/U 20 guage

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JoeMal

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The wife told me today that she wants to get a 20 guage...so I'm in the market for a 20 guage :evil: To keep costs down I'd like to stay under $700, so I'm probably looking at used guns. Though I did see a decent looking CZ at Cabelas a week or two ago and I think they wanted $800ish for it...so I might be willing to splurge a bit to get something NEW. I'm not really a fan of used guns...

Anyway, is there any particular brand or model to look into? I know everyone will recommend the 'Bs'...Beretta and Browning. Which is fine, I'm just not sure I will find one in my price range. All my shotguns are 12 gauge so I've never really shopped for 20 gauges. I assume prices are very similar to 12 gauge. Does CZ make a quality shotgun? I know their handguns and rimfires are highly recommended by their owners, so I assume their shotguns are equal in quality.

Are there any quality choices out there in the new market for $700? I'm thinking not...but some of you will know better than I do. This doesn't need to be top-of-the-line...she will shoot maybe 1000 rounds a year out of it. But I don't want junk either. Thanks for the help in advance.
 
Check out the closeouts on CDNN. You need to download their PDF file format. Lanber is usually on there, a decent Spanish-made gun. Sometimes they have some of the B guns for closeout prices, like last year's model that was dropped or similar.

Field models tend to be less expensive than target models; they are also lighter, so recoil could become a factor, depending on your intended usage
 
JoeMal said:
Does CZ make a quality shotgun? I know their handguns and rimfires are highly recommended by their owners, so I assume their shotguns are equal in quality.
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No. CZ in fact doesn't make ANY shotgun. Their shotguns are made by Huglu in Turkey, and are fraught with quality control problems.


JoeMal said:
Are there any quality choices out there in the new market for $700?
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No. You might get lucky and find a closeout from the now defunct SKB in that price range, but you'll need to step up to Browning and Beretta prices to get a modicum of quality.
 
i think its an overstatement to say that cz/huglu shotguns are fraught with problems...do you own research....make your own descision
 
I have a Huglu and it is indeed frought with problems

I have a ARMSCO/Huglu (ARMSCO imported them before going BK and CZ then took over the imports of Huglu shotguns). My gun is very similar to today's "Bobwhite" SXS. It is probably 10 years old or so, and cost around $800 new when my late father purchased it at a gunshows. I had it to my gunsmith who reworked all of the guts including springs, sears, bushings, firing pin, extractors, you name it. Cost more than a couple bills.

His quotes "I have never seen anything like the poor quality of parts and workmanship in all my years of gunsmithing." (which I guess is around 30 or 40 years) He stated the guts were full of miss-shaped, misaligned, and soft metal parts. Ordered new springs from CZ twice before making his own.

The left barrel still misfires on occasion, I just smile and ask for another clay. I have come to simply accept it knowing I would never repeat my late father's mistake and buy another Huglu.
 
A used SKB, Winchester 101, Miroku, etc, will fit your budget and gve decades of service.

More crucial than brand will be fit. Have someone who knows how set the thing up for your spouse.
 
Big thing with shotguns is make sure the stock fits the shooter, since it is pointed, not aimed. I had one of the CZs, but could hit nothing with it. The stock was too long and straight for me, and I am 6', with long arms. Used guns are often better than the current crop of new ones for fit and finish.

I would tend to look hard at a Browning Citori. Rem 1100 auto is a proven winner for many years, and very soft recoil. Franchi can make a nice gun for the money, but I have been told parts are iffy, and slow.
 
A used SKB, Winchester 101, Miroku, etc, will fit your budget and gve decades of service.
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I'll look into the 101. I have a 101 from the 60s in 12 gauge and that's the gun she love to shoot. One of my favorites, too.

Thanks everyone for the advice and tips
 
Well what do you know...

My wife has always loved my Winchester 101 that was passed to me from my Grandpa. Loved the looks, the balance, the way it feels in your hands, the craftsmanship of the older guns that you just don't see in today's market.

Well I had some cash in my wallet and we went LOOKING to see what kind of 20 gauges we could find on the shelves so she could handle them. Walked into a Cabelas and what do you know - a Winchester 101 in 20 gauge was on the shelf. We (She!) couldn't it up. Needless to say she's a happy camper.

I'm going to look into getting a recoil pad for it...and a few boxes of shells! My wife is gonna get a takedown/cleaning lesson tomorrow and a trip to the range next weekend.

My '67 Winchester 101 12 gauge on top, her '70 101 20 gauge on bottom (sorry for the crappy cell phone pic)
b4460530.jpg
 
You can also look for a deal on a Verona 501 or 702. These are made by Fabbrica Armi Isidoro Rizzini. I got my 702 410 during a sale a little over a year ago for $740; the chain I got it from was no longer going to carry the brand. I literally got a 1/2 off price. Also, don't sell the Fausti's short either. They make to several price points and you should be able to find one in or close to your range.

I looked at the CZ's before, even on a visual there were discrepancies with quality control; so much so that I won't consider them. I don't know if it still holds true but for the first two years of them coming in, CZ USA wouldn't fix the guns under warranty, they would simply replace them. That in and of itself is not a ringing endorsment.
 
Nice looking 101s there Joe. I have a 20ga 101 that Dad bought new in 1974. He passed it on to me in about 81 when he bought a new 101 Pigeon Grade.
 
Thanks all

On top is a 101 in 12 gauge from '67 that belonged to my grandpa. He passed it down to me a few years ago.

Bottom is a 101 in 20 gauge that belongs to my wife. It's from '70 I believe. She liked shooting my 101 so much she always told me she wanted her own. We were at Cabelas a few weeks ago and what do you know....an ol' 101 in 20 was there on the shelf. We couldn't resist. Had the money in the bank so we went for it. She shoots great with it and I shoot great with mine.

The pictures don't do them justice...
 
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I have a CZ 20 gauge with about 3000 rounds through it and it is just as reliable as my Browning Citori, that means 100%. I have only had it a year but so far so good.
 
I have a CZ 20 gauge with about 3000 rounds through it
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And hopefully when you add another zero and then a second zero to that total, your gun will still be going strong.

It isn't that the Turks can or can't make good guns - they can. The issues comes down to their making a good gun consistently and reliably for the given price point. They are having trouble with that aspect, just as we do with trying to make cheap O/U guns - which is why Ruger dropped them.

The only current US makers of O/Us that I know of are Kolar and CSMC, and Galazan's CSMC A-10 starts at $8,000. The A-10 was a steal at $4,000 when it was introduced for preordering.

Kolars are running about $12,000 now - give or take a little
 
20 gauge for wife

If you want to stay under $700 for a 20 gauge for your wife, stock to a semi-automatic. There are plenty of good ones for around that price range. If you want an o/u think in terms of $1500 new or $1000 used.
 
You can go EAA/USSG MP310. Russian gun. about 400-450 bucks. Built like a tank. I love my 12g 310, about 1500 rounds through it since August without a glitch.
 
Thanks all of the new posters...but if you read the thread....you would see I bought a gun several weeks ago.

Thanks anyway
 
Built like a tank which makes it poor for handling
Guns that are moved while shooting need balance not ungainly weight, poor balance and pig on a shovel handling characteristics
 
o/u 20 ga

If you check the listings, good deals can be found on SKB over and unders. A good deal less than some others. Plus it's a great gun.
 
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