• This Forum is for adults 18 years of age or over. By continuing to use this Forum you are confirming that you are 18 or older. No content shall be viewed by any person under 18 in California.

Shotgunners

nmkid

Silver $$ Contributor
Looking at getting an over/under shotgun. Been away from shotguns lately and have decided I need one. At this time I don't see much use for one but, I still want one. Looking for 12 or a 20 in the $450-$650 range. Any suggestions?
 
You can only find decent used shotguns in that range.
The SKBs with fixed chokes are pretty good in that price range.
You are better off spending enough to get a nice gun. A cheap OU is a huge mistake. You would be better off forgetting shotguns rather than buying a cheapy.
 
I agree with ireload2, spend the money for a good shotgun and you'll be happier.

10 years ago I was talked into a Ruger Red Label for $1100. It was trouble free for 3 years, after that it spent more time with the gunsmith and a lot less with me. Last year I parted ways with the Ruger and got a used Browning Superposed. I learned a lesson that I should have already known, buy quality.
 
I also agree w Ireload2. The old Japanese SKB’s are good guns that often go for that money. Otherwise I’d get a slightly used auto loader. A Beretta a300 or 390 comes to mind.
 
Last edited:
Save your money up and grab a used Browning Citori. If you keep your eyes peeled you can find them for right around $1k. Sometimes less even. I have been using Citori’s since 1979. I still have that shotgun and use it.
They keep their value and are built to shoot..
The advise you have received in the previous posts about buying a good shotgun is correct. Buy a good one and you’ll be able to pass down to the next generation..
 
I used to compete in the sporting clays game and saw several budget-priced over/unders fall apart.

That said, the competitive shotgun sports involve several usual lifetimes of shooting per season. As the OP does not seem to intend on heavy volumes of shooting maybe a cheaper gun would serve OK. But I haven’t found a cheap O/U that even felt good or pointed well.
 
I was the first in my group of shooting friends to buy a nice O/U, Browning Citori. I was also the last. One bought an autoloader and the other two bought Stoeger Condor O/U. We tend to trade guns around at the range, and even though the Browning is a beautiful gun, the Stoegers mount and shoot for me with equal accuracy. After over 15 years of friendly competition, All of them are in very good condition with no problems. I told someone before, even though I love the look and feel of an O/U shotgun, If we are betting money or beer, I want my old Remington 1100 in my hands. IMHO

ps: They also tend to remind me they could have bought three stoegers for the price of my browning, and we still all shoot within a bird or two after a round of Clays
 
For hunting only or a gun that's not going to see a ton of use the choices above are ok.... If your going to shoot it alot like skeet shooting then save up and get a Browning or Beretta etc... They hold their value also....

Take a look at the ones online at Cabela's like the CZs etc if your looking for a hunting gun in that price range.. I was in your same position but have just decided to use what I have now and save up the money for a Beretta or Browning...

A little research and going to the skeet range and talking to some serious shooters will help you make a decision...
 
I agree with the posters that buying a really inexpensice new O/U is not a smart idea if you are going to do a lot of shooting. If it will be used for occasional causal hunting, that is one thing, they do not hold up on the Skeet, Trap or Sporting Clays circuits.

A Older Used Citori, as pointed out, can sometimes be found for $750.00 or even less and the same for an early Remington 3200. You won't get all the bells and whistles for that price, but it is a gun that will hold up to 10s of thousands or rounds fired.

If you want one gun though to do a lot of things, now you want an adjustable comb and screw in chokes, so the prices on used quality ones start to rise.

There are usually a lot of shotguns for sale on www.ShotgunWorld.com.

Bob
 
Hunting gun? The Stevens 555 or the CZ Redhead will serve you well and you should be able to find both within your general budget with some careful shopping. Heavier use, such as informal sporting clays, trap and/or skeet? I'd look around for a used Browning Citori.

The Stevens and the CZ are put together pretty well but I don't think they'll stand up to long term use like the Browning.
 
Based on my personal experience, if I was going to have just one shotgun, I would find a good used Beretta 390 Sporting Clays model w/30" barrel & pay the money. I have one & it could fill the bill for hunting, skeet, trap & sporting clays with just choke changes, and maybe an adjustable comb later. They do hold their value and you will never wear it out. Also, the recoil impulse is much less than a pump or O/U. When I shoot a 100 rd sporting clays course with my Beretta 682, I am feelin' it by the end. When I shoot the 390, I can shoot it all day & never feel it in my shoulder. If you are of small stature, look at the 391. They have a slimmer feel & profile than the 390 & an even better recoil reduction system. And if you want a 20 ga, the Beretta's are hard to beat there, too. One other thing if you aren't familiar with Beretta shotguns: some have a "hump" back on the receiver and others have a rounded back. This difference is important to some shooters, so keep that in mind. Another also, Beretta brought the 390's back as an entry level shotgun as a model 3901 and sometimes these can be had at a bargain price, but it is actually the same shotgun as the 390 from what I can see.
The Tri-Star was mentioned above, as was CZ, both being a lot of shotgun for what you pay.
 
Well, this is going to take a little more thought than I thought!. Because of my wife's careful planning, (not mine that's for sure!) I could spend much more than I posted. However, my last shotgun, a few moons ago was a 20 gauge Browning and I'm thinking I'll be going with a 20 again.
 

Upgrades & Donations

This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.


Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.

You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.


To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.

Forum statistics

Threads
169,776
Messages
2,281,114
Members
82,290
Latest member
Nigeloni
Back
Top