Silver Reserve II Sporting O/U... any good!?

ShaneN.

ShaneN.

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I've recently decided I want a sporting over under. I don't plan on making this an everyday hobby but would like to get into some trap and skeet, perhaps shoot a few hand thrown clays with friends, etc. I've got 26" 870 but am realizing it's just not going to cut it. It's quickly come to my attention that there really isn't much under around the 2200 mark. It sounds like the franchi instinct SL is decent but maybe a bit too light for sporting. The red label seemed like a nice gun but discontinued again and also not really set up for trap and skeet. The franchi instinct L seems a bit heavier than the SL but still a bit pricey and I don't really like the look of it (not sure if that should really matter). Then I came across the silver reserve II sporting. It comes with a 32" ported barrel, extended chokes, a raised flat comb, etc. I really like how it looks, it seems to fit all the specs to be a sporting o/u and I've read a couple threads on the internet about it being a pretty good beginner O/U but I also can't find much in the way of reviews. The funny thing is, the low price is actually what is scaring me most - I'm worried a bit about the quality. Does anyone know anything about these or have any experience with them?
 
With what you described how you will be shooting, a sporting gun is not necessary. Although the Silver Reserve II Sporting service life should be fine enough for you. ATA actually has some pretty nice over/unders in that price range and they're Beretta knockoffs so from a distance people will think you're cool and maybe has money for the ladies. Just think how much of a pimp you could be.
 
Like stubblejumper said look for a used Citori, Cynergy, or Beretta. There are some wicked deals to had with Patience and a persistent search. It might be helpful if you go to the range and talk to guys about what they have and shoulder different guns, maybe shoot a round with one you are interested in. Look at new ones at the gun counter and get a feel for what fits you. Narrow down your search then when you find a deal on what fits, pull the trigger.

My current sporting O/U a super fugly cynergy synthetic took me about 5yrs to find the right deal. For most guys that's too much patience, lol.
 
I'm on the same bandwagon as the others, look for high quality used.
I had a Browning 725 Sporting for a couple years, with an older SKB 500 o/u as a rainy day/backup gun. I still have the SKB, I preferred it over the Browning. My fine weather sporting gun is now a Cynergy Euro Field, I bought it used for half the price of a new 725.
A new high quality (Japanese, Belgian, or Italian made) o/u is going to cost you close to $3k, more most likely.
They're worth every penny of it. Because they're high quality to begin with, that durability carries through to a used gun unless they've been abused, which is unusual.
I have a CZ sxs I play around with and hunt from time to time. Nice little gun, but not even half the gun a Beretta or Browning would be.
Turkish quality is so-so, better in some cases than others. I will say this, you get exactly what you pay for.
Whatever you buy, it should weigh over 7 pounds, 8 is better. Recoil gets nasty after a lot of rounds with a light gun.
 
don't want to sound like a cheapskate but Tradeex has some used imported over/under shotguns that were fit designed for trap skeet. All for under $800. I bought a lincoln No2 from them last week. Why $hit the big one if you aren't going to be making a full time hobby out of it. I am perfectly happy with my used $600 Lincoln over/under
 
Talk to the folks at the trap club, someone is almost always selling something it seems. Mossberg is a stop over gun for trap. Sometimes you find awesome deals on trap guns new online. Also, franchi makes some good guns even though it doesn't start with B. If it were me, I would enjoy shooting the 870 until I could save enough money for a hardier trap gun then the Mossberg.
 
"I've recently decided I want a sporting over under. I don't plan on making this an everyday hobby but would like to get into some trap and skeet, perhaps shoot a few hand thrown clays with friends, etc. I've got 26" 870 but am realizing it's just not going to cut it."

This interesting statement in itself. The 870 actually comes in a Trap specific model, why would you assume it wouldn't work? Alot of trapshooters still use slide-actions, some of use also shoot skeet & sporting clays with them as well. So I guess my question is this, what is your goal switching to an O/U that you can't achieve with your Remington 870?
 
Ride out the 870 until your sure you will shoot enough then spend the money on quality gun. I made the mistake and paid the price when I upgraded within a year. 2 warranty returns later....
 
I ran into a couple threads about the silver reserve II and everyone seemed to have nothing but good things to say about it for the price. It's interesting that everyone here says the opposite. I went and looked at one in person and actually quite liked it. The sporting model seems to be setup perfect for what I'd want to use it for, but I left without buying it with this thread in the back of my mind.

Aside from that I don't know what to buy. There is a local new model ruger red label for sale but they're more setup to be a field gun it seems. Franchi has the insinct L and SL that I could consider stretching my budget out to but they're more setup for field too. Both don't came in a 30 or 32" (at least sold locally) and SL which I favor isn't any heavier than my 870. It's too bad because I keep hearing Franchi is owned by Benelli and make a quality gun for the price. Aside from those few everything seems to be a bunch more expensive. Buying a quality used O/U doesn't really interest me unless one falls in my lap. The only place I really have to buy one is on this site and I don't have the patience to sit around waiting for something that peaks my interest to pop up.

What are some recommendations with a 30 or 32" barrel, heavy enough to get through a full day of recoil and something quality?

Maritime Storm said:
"I've recently decided I want a sporting over under. I don't plan on making this an everyday hobby but would like to get into some trap and skeet, perhaps shoot a few hand thrown clays with friends, etc. I've got 26" 870 but am realizing it's just not going to cut it."

This interesting statement in itself. The 870 actually comes in a Trap specific model, why would you assume it wouldn't work? Alot of trapshooters still use slide-actions, some of use also shoot skeet & sporting clays with them as well. So I guess my question is this, what is your goal switching to an O/U that you can't achieve with your Remington 870?
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I'm just under the impression it's too light. Also, I simply just WANT an over under to add to the collection, if I'm going to be honest with myself. lol
 
rci2950 said:
Another thing to consider is that the Mossberg silver reserve is made in Turkey by Khan. http://www.khanshotguns.com

Some people have strong opinions on Turkish shotguns.
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I've spent a couple hours looking around and it looks like browning is a good gun for the price. The replacement for that browning crossover I posted above is the citori CX (current model). It's supposed to be the same gun with a better buttstock pad. I might go see how one fits me tomorrow in the store but no mechanical trigger seems like the only negative. However, I'm reading that most the beretta and browning guns at this price range are inertia driven and no one seems to see that as being a fault.

http://www.browning.com/products/fi...i/current-production/citori-crossover-cx.html

/\ /\ After a lot of looking around and research since I made this thread, that's my top contender.
 
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"I'm just under the impression it's too light. Also, I simply just WANT an over under to add to the collection, if I'm going to be honest with myself. lol"

It's not too light, mine weighs in at the same weight as my Model 12 Deluxe. If you are convinced that you have to have an O/U, CZ, ATA, Pointer, Weatherby & Akkar are all well made Turkish O/U's that are sub-$1000. My preference if I decided to back to an O/U would be another Akkar Churchill 206, I was quite impressed with the quality of it for the money I paid for it.
 
Nothing wrong with that Browning, I have a Citori and an SKB with inertia triggers, no trigger problems with either gun. SOME of the Browning and Beretta o/u guns have issues with piercing Cheddite primers in ammunition such as Challenger, Estate, etc. Not all do this, but some will. I've had two do this, one was a 12 ga 725, the other is a Citori Lightning 20 ga.
The cure is to either shorten firing pins slightly, or not use Cheddite primed ammo. Both solutions have worked for me.
Put it in perspective, I'd buy a Browning or Beretta knowing I'd have that problem before I'd buy the Mossberg knowing I wouldn't.. there's that much difference.
If you don't see your way clear to get a B gun, then give a CZ, Mossberg, or Yildiz a try. Check some reviews first, see what people have to say about them. It might be an ideal gun for you. We're all different people, after all.
I quite like my CZ Bobwhite sxs, as a low shooting volume shotgun. It ain't no Browning, but it wasn't a Browning price, either.
 
Most o/u's are inertia not mechanical. I have never had any of mine fail to reset for the second shot even with the lightest of factory and reloaded target loads. You would be much better off from a quality and resale standpoint with the Citori. They are well made proven guns. I have owned a number of Citori's in different configurations over the years and have yet to ever have one fail.
 
In this thread, a few times I have read the phrase "they seem to be good guns for the money". What does that really mean and what/how is it being applied to a gun versus intended application. The OP stated he wants to shoot clays of some type. Are people who are telling him that a lower priced Turkish gun is the way to go basing their opinion on fact as far as volume shooting goes or are they stating it on the fact that they own one or know of people who own one and have had no problems using them for hunting or the odd clay. And that is where "good gun for the money" comes in. If for hunting , or low volume shooting, then yes, many of these Turkish guns are fine and offer good value for intended use. But "good gun for the money" doesn't say anything about true quality. If said guns were priced several hundred dollars higher would people buy them? In most cases no because the quality isn't there compared to other guns in a higher price range which coincides with "good gun for the money" for its intended/designed use. This post isn't meant to offend anyone, just to point out that the phrase "good gun for the money" means different things to different people. OP-I don't know what volume you plan on shooting and I'm not telling you what brand to buy. I have had over/unders in the past, some Turkish guns, some B guns (both Beretta and Browning). There is a difference in the guns. Suit the gun to your intended use.
 
the spank said:
Most o/u's are inertia not mechanical. I have never had any of mine fail to reset for the second shot even with the lightest of factory and reloaded target loads. You would be much better off from a quality and resale standpoint with the Citori. They are well made proven guns. I have owned a number of Citori's in different configurations over the years and have yet to ever have one fail.
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I'm starting to think that too. Sure it might cost twice what I initially thought I'd spend but if it's going to last a lifetime then it's probably worth it. I also didn't think I was going to find anything quality that fit the bill for under 3500. I guess with the cx I'm still in the beginner gun category with it but it should be a good balance of quality and versatility to have a go at different types of clay target shooting.

gunsaholic said:
In this thread, a few times I have read the phrase "they seem to be good guns for the money". What does that really mean and what/how is it being applied to a gun versus intended application. The OP stated he wants to shoot clays of some type. Are people who are telling him that a lower priced Turkish gun is the way to go basing their opinion on fact as far as volume shooting goes or are they stating it on the fact that they own one or know of people who own one and have had no problems using them for hunting or the odd clay. And that is where "good gun for the money" comes in. If for hunting , or low volume shooting, then yes, many of these Turkish guns are fine and offer good value for intended use. But "good gun for the money" doesn't say anything about true quality. If said guns were priced several hundred dollars higher would people buy them? In most cases no because the quality isn't there compared to other guns in a higher price range which coincides with "good gun for the money" for its intended/designed use. This post isn't meant to offend anyone, just to point out that the phrase "good gun for the money" means different things to different people. OP-I don't know what volume you plan on shooting and I'm not telling you what brand to buy. I have had over/unders in the past, some Turkish guns, some B guns (both Beretta and Browning). There is a difference in the guns. Suit the gun to your intended use.
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When I started looking I knew I wanted to get an over under just to be a weekend warrior type gun (although not ever weekend) and I set out to find something decent but cheap (well cheap for over unders). Something like this citori cx seemed like more than I wanted to spend but now I'm kind of justifying the price based and realizing I could own and shoot this gun for a very long time. The silver reserve becomes now so cheap if you have to go through more than one of them. Also like you guys have said, if I either lose interest or want to advance into something more serious, it would be nice to have the good resale value.

I really don't want to spend a penny more than that though, and at the moment I can't seem to find anything that's good AND setup for target that's cheaper. There is a 30" model at my local store I might check out in the next couple days. It's my birthday in a week so maybe I'll treat myself. I just hope it fits me.
 
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