Traditions by fausti???

[thomaskingtut]

I am a newbie when it comes to shotguns. I am just getting started in an club that does skeet, trap, and 5 stand. I am on a limited budget, and wanted to get an over/under 12 gauge to get me started. I came across a Traditions by fausti in a pawn shop. I could pick it up for $400. I was torn, whether or not to take a chance. Again the price was good for me, because im limited to what I can spend. Are these Fausti guns, a good starter weapon or should I just go buy the tristar at Walmart for $360???

 

[Virginian]

A cheap O/U is not a good starting point. Many people have tried this before you and the search for the best cheap O/U is still in progress. My advice would be to get a good used Remington 1100 or Beretta 3** and have at it. An O/U will not hit targets any better than a semi, it just saves you having to bend over to pick up hulls. And no one who knows guns will be the least bit impressed because you have an O/U, either. After you shoot a while you will find you prefer certain things, and by then you may be able to buy a good O/U if you want one. And if you take care of that semi reasonably well you can sell it without losing a dime. Or you may find you are like me, after 53 years you find you actually prefer a semi auto.

 

[Sunray]

Fausti(owned by 3 sisters who could likely get us all to do stuff we don't want to do.) stuff is a lot pricier than $400. Think 4 or 5 figures. Cheap or 'starter' guns they ain't. Suspect the pawn shop doesn't know what he has.
No 'Traditions' model on their site. At least one on Gunbroker though. Runs about $750US.

 

[d2wing]

Fausti is an Italian company that makes good quality shotgun as Sunray said. They did make a model on contract for the traditions gun company. They were a cheaper version. I have one in 20 gauge and is a nice grouse gun. They are nice for the money but Franchi has come out with a nice line of over unders for around $1300. As Virginian said don't get the Tristar, And agree about the 1100.
400 does sound like a very good price for the Fausti. I would not go much over that.

 

[thomaskingtut]

great information

delete

 

[thomaskingtut]

my first thought was just a decently priced semi auto. My friend whos already a member pushed the o/u gun on me. I have an Remington 870 pump I could trade up and add some cash and get a good used something. Thanks for your opinion.

 

[MAKster]

Walmart sold the Traditions by Fausti o/u.

 

[KCJ]

As MAKster said, Wal Mart sold them some years ago. I bought mine new for $465, 20 ga. The break action was so stiff you could hardly open it. One night while watching tv, I lapped it with fine valve grind compound and added a slip on decelerator pad to length pull. I have had no problems and it looks beautiful, points well and fits like a dream. If it looks good, I would try to negotiate the price and good for it if you like it! It's a good gun and should have 3 choke tubes and extractors.

 

[Skeet]

Check out www.faustiusa.com, Fausti no longer produces any guns for US market except under the Fausti name

 

[jaguarxk120]

The Traditions and Ducks Unlimited guns made by Fausti were consired the entry level guns.

After all both Traditions and DU went to Fausti and said build me a gun for this price! Fausti and many of the other Italian gun makers did just that.

This price point building happened before those gun makers started exporting into the U.S.

The guns are not junk, but they do not have the fine figured walnut or hand engraving of the higher priced models of later years.

My Traditions by Fausti Field model has plainer walnut and rolled on engraving, it has extractors.

How well it would stand up to trap or skeet, I can not say, as good as my Charles Daly trap gun no.

 

[Jack R]

whats wrong with just using the 870?..they have been breaking targets since the 1950s..almost never wear out and can be rebuilt on the kitchen table..except the extractor? that is pinned in place...IMHO if it fits you use it....it's not the gun , it's the shooter....in case it's not obvious I shoot 870s & my 1100 for trap

 

[jaguarxk120]

Many do use 870's, 1100's 500's and others. But the O/U's really shine when it comes to skeet, trap, 5 stand, and sporting clays.

It comes down to how the gun handles and points. There are many guns that shoot but handle like a section of 4x4 in the hands.

When the gun is mounted the shooter never see's the bead, that is just for minor reference. Remember a shotgun is a pointing gun and should shoot where the shooter is looking. It is all about how the gun fits and the gun's balance. It depends on which clay target game you are shooting at the time.
Skeet guns have more open chokes and trap guns are full choked. Sporting clays, shooters will change chokes for different parts of the course.

And today not many shooters will use a pump gun for doubles, they want a instant follow up shot.

 

[Liberty1776]

I'd buy that Fausti in a second. That's a great price...