Budget over unders worth it?

Astaziel

Astaziel

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Shawinigan, Québec
So right now I'm giving up target shooting, I find it too boring.
I think clay pigeon might be more "dynamic".

I figured maybe I should give skeet a chance, because I gave trap a try 1 year ago and loved it. It was with a rented mossberg Silver Reserve II and according to the trap launcher operator (is that the proper term?) I was pretty good for a 1st timer.
Then I bought a mossberg 500 persuader, (Open choke). After a few embarrassing rounds I was discouraged from the sport.

So my question is, are the more budget oriented over/under (CZ, Stoeger, stevens, Churchills) worth it? do you have any other recommendations?
Right now I'm fixated on O/U & SxS, I just like the look and feeling.
Also, are the used Merkels and other german brands worth it? They sure and affordable...

My budget right now would be around 800$
 
A well cared for, used, high quality gun is always better than a new but cheaply made gun. German guns are almost all high quality. The older German guns may not fit a modern shooter, they tended to have more drop at comb than is currently fashionable. Try the fit before you buy.
 
I cannot attest to the the reliability of the Stevens 555, since I have not shot with it just yet. I did just a few weeks ago find a great deal on the EE for a 12ga model. There's also a 20ga one on the EE ATM...which is what I really wanted, but the 12ga came up first! lol.

If you want something affortable, don't forget about TradeExCanada. A friend bought a SxS in 12ga (a Husqvarna) that locks up tight. He's a wood worker...so he asked to get the one with the best looking metal and refinished the stock. Looks beautiful now. All for like 400-500 bucks.

Keep your eyes opened.

David
 
To simplify things, you have to decide what your main shooting is going to be. Sounds like you want to shoot skeet or some such clays sport. If you think you will be shooting any kind of volume, or plan to eventually, then a new budget priced gun is not the way to go. Also, you seldom see sxs's on the trap range anymore. So likely an over/under is the way to go for your intended use. And you'd likely be better off with a nice condition used quality gun over budget new.
 
I have seen CZ and Churchill guns stand up well to 2,000-3,000 rounds of trap per year for a year or two, then the owner traded upscale but the guns were still working fine and weren't loose or off face, no problems. For heavier use or long term I wouldn't expect these guns to chug along without problems, they are cheaply made as a hunting gun, designed to digest perhaps a couple of hundred rounds per year, not thousands. As a beginner gun they may be OK for a few years to learn with but if you really enjoy the sport you will soon be looking at better (and more expensive) guns. These inexpensive guns have poor resale value but the initial cost is low so the potential loss is also low. Get a gun, try to find one that fits you and shoot lots, everybody has to start somewhere.
 
Grab a cheaper O/U and try it! If its something you enjoy and want to continue, upgrade to a higher quality firearm and sell the cheap one. Especially if getting a high quality shotgun is out of the question at the moment and will prevent you from getting out and shooting.

I started with a cheap Turkish made shotgun, once I got the knack for it, I could keep up with the other guys and there $3K+ guns. I ran into firing pin troubles with mine, decided I liked skeet, trap and sporting clay enough to shell out the big bucks for a nice Browning.

I fixed up my crappy O/U and kept it as a starter gun for friends and family interested in trying out shotgun sports. To its credit, it has convinced a few people to get into shooting.
 
Well - Most of the older guns are fixed choke, with relatively tight chokes (eg full and mod). If skeet is your interest, these guns wont serve you well. A gun with choke tubes allows you to use the gun for all disciplines. A gun with an SST is also advantageous. Look for a used Baikal, if you can find one. They go for less than 500$.
 
I used to shoot a lot of trap and skeet, and hunt migratory birds. I started out with one of the original "bargain" O/U for Trap and hunting; a Baikal. Served me fairly well, but did not fit me to the point where recoil was very painful. Huge bruise after 100 rounds of target loads. I up-graded to a "New Model SKB" and it was great!! I sold it about a year ago for about $300.00 more than I paid for it. They are amazingly well built, loaded with features, and the fit and finish is second to none. Still good value if you find a good used one!

Skeet was a different story; I used two guns. Basic Baikal hammerless S X S 12 ga. with double triggers. I asked a gunsmith about reaming the chokes to cylinder for skeet; he said nope; chrome bores will ruin his reamers; he suggested sawing 3" off the gun to get rid of the chokes. Since I only paid $99.00 new in the box back in 1978, out came the saw. I also reworked the fore end from a beaver-tail fore-end to a much finer classic shape, reduced the thickness of the but stock, removed the pistol grip for a more traditional straight grip, and canted the rear stock so the guy would always fall straight to my eye. I was super competitive with that gun; it always shot where I intended it to go.

For more challenge, I bought a slightly used Boito S X S .410, which the Gunsmith was able to ream the chokes out of it. I never shot a perfect round with that gun, but I rarely shot less than 20.

Moral of the story; your gun needs to fit in order to point. Cost is not always a factor when it comes to functionality.

Happy shooting!
 
cosmic said:
Well - Most of the older guns are fixed choke, with relatively tight chokes (eg full and mod). If skeet is your interest, these guns wont serve you well. A gun with choke tubes allows you to use the gun for all disciplines. A gun with an SST is also advantageous. Look for a used Baikal, if you can find one. They go for less than 500$.
Click to expand...

Like in my post above (#10), get a used gun cheap enough, and have the chokes reamed for skeet. I never found a S X S conducive to trap; but for me, they are the best for Skeet.
 
A used gun with fixed full and modified chokes will do fine for Trap.
For Skeet, it would be an exercise in frustration. You need Improved Cylinder or more open choke for Skeet, the targets are 20 yards and under.
It would be a very skilled shooter that could shoot good scores at skeet with full and modified choke.

If you absolutely insist on a new cheap gun, meaning $500 or less, you will get better service with a good old fashioned pump shotgun.
Really cheap over/under shotguns do not last in high volume shooting.
 
Just a word of wisdom. If you are going to shoot any amount of clays the gun is the cheapest part of the equation. You can burn up more than $800 a month in ammo not counting the clay costs. Buy yourself something decent. Check the used gun section. It makes it the experience more enjoyable. Also if you decide it's not for you a good used Browning or Beretta is an easy sell.
 
Not to stray too far off course, but if your budget is $800.00, you will be far better off with a decent quality semi-automatic shotgun than a lower quality O/U. You can find some pretty nice used Remington's or Winchesters in that price range that will come with multiple choke tubes, and digest just about any target load shells you find.

I know people have recommended Stoeger, or Baikal, and while they are serviceable, they tend to handle like a 2X4. Put a lot of shells through any lower end gun and you will be spending another $800 to replace it in quick order.
 
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