starting o/u

BTC101

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hi was wondering what a good entry level o/u would be i shoot lots of trap with my remington 870 express but i like the look of the o/u's i was looking at the yildiz spzm and the CZ redhead deluxe is there any others in that price range any thoughts or opinions it would be greatly appreciated
 
I have a cz mallard, which is a very basic model, but it feels like a much higher quality gun.
My only gripe is that it doesn't have auto ejectors.
The redhead deluxe has a selectable trigger, and auto ejectors. I think you'd be quite happy with it.
All I use mine for is skeet shooting, and I haven't found a reason to buy a more expensive model for over 3 years now.
 
Purchase a good used O/U,...the stuff they make these days are of poor quality unless you have deep pockets.
Stay away from anything Turkish, the CZ, Yildiz and so on are not Trap guns,...they are very inexpensive field guns, not worth a nickle once purchased.
Take bdogg's advice and purchase a used Citori Trap or a used Beretta 680/682 Trap gun,...these guns will out-live you and parts are readily available. These guns also retain their value quite well.
Keep your eyes open on the net for a Browning/Beretta,...be patient,...better to spend a couple hundred more on these then to have more/less Turkish crap you wish you never saw.
Really don't need chokes if you only plan to shoot Trap, but it's a bonus if the gun comes with tubes.

my two cents
 
Cerare, I could not have put it better myself. Buy a used Beretta or Browning. Or SKB o/us are built like a tank, a good choice. Steer away from Turkish guns. I bought a "Score" semi-auto for my juniors to shoot, kept breaking down, seems the metal parts were not hardened properly. I sold it in an auction and bought a Remington 1100, well used, but you can rebuild them with all new parts, which I did. Parts are readily available almost anywhere.
 
I have a stoeger condor O/U its treated me well. And when your shooting the same amount of clays as the guys with a Beretta you have to wonder if it is really the gun.
 
Your two cents ? According to you unless you are shooting a Browning or a Berreta you're shooting n a piece of crap, that's what i think of your two cents.
Attitudes like yours Cesare are the reason I quit shooting registered birds years ago, I can't be bothered being associated with people that think you have to dress a certain way and shoot a certain gun and shoot a certain shell .
Cat
 
Sorry Cat, but I guess you won't like me either, but I don't think the comments have anything to do with being a snob ...

Here is my two cents (perhaps we better go to a nickle, since they don't make pennies anymore) ... Inexpensive guns are inexpensive for a reason. They wear out quickly compared to other guns that cost more because they are built using lower cost materials. I have seen too many of them break down on the line while shooting. Good conditioned, well maintained Brownings and 680 series Berettas can usually be found for less money than new inexpensive guns. You need to know what you are buying as a used gun can cost many dollars to bring it back into good condition, if it is worn.

Choke tubes are a good investment as they allow you to shoot different clay games with the same gun. However, most gun manufactures make crappy choke tubes and you may need to purchase some aftermarket tubes.
 
The Turkish guns are just fine. There is much more out there beside "b" guns. Yes they are nice, yes they are great quality and yes you are paying somewhat for their name. Also if they don't fit you right they aren't worth a pile of beans to you. Over on Shotgun World, you'll find reviews and ongoing logs of how both the CZ and Huglu guns are performing. Now if a good used "b" gun and the CZ were the same price - I'd be getting the Browning. But, that's not always the case. My opinion is that the CZ, Huglu, and Savage Milano's are all viable more affordable options.

Also guys, he's looking at a redhead delux. Which can be had for $900 brand new, you won't find any beretta o/u for that money especially not a 68x series. And the Citori you find will be rather old, fixed chokes and probably very well used.

I've looked on the EE and generally a good used sporting o/u starts at 1500.
 
As was stated, there are far more guns out there than Berreta and Brownings.
I gave nothing against them , in fact I own several of each.
NONE of the CZ guns I have ever owned malfunctioned, but I do know of older CZ's that had some issues .
I have had some $5,000 guns let go or need attention right off the bat, so have others I have seen, it's the " get this or you're shooting crap" atttitude that I can not tolerate from some people.
I have heard this at the club from some members that were talking to a new shooter that showed up with a cheaper gun - really a warm welcome for a new guy.
they then go pout and buy a Citori and shoot it no better than their Mossberg or the Akkar they first bought because the snob that told them their gun was crap couldn't be bothered to actually show them how to shoot!
That attitude spills over onto these gun forums as well.
Cat
 
Used Ruger red label, Miroku,(japanese version of citori ish) SKB, all are good and functional. Choices are endless, but your best value may be to find an old Superposed choked too tight for steel, and get it reamed to IC and Light Mod. Most will not accept being threaded for choke, but are great guns with long lives, especially if it has been a field gun rather than a clays gun.
 
I'm in the camp of buy something you will keep forever. Saves you money in long run and if it's the only gun you shoot you will be good with it. I shoot skeet with an autoloader, I want an o/u but I know at my rate I won't shoot any better. If I were to get one, Citori or 682 would be my minimum and that would last me and my off spring a long time.
 
You can't condemn any gun based on where it comes from. I've seen Turkish guns that were serviceable and others that were complete crap. Same with Spain, USA, Russia and, gasp, even Italy. Who remembers the Frigon or the Winchester 1001? Crap is crap no matter where it comes from.

But with each of them one thing generally held true. You get what you pay for.

If you are even moderately serious about shooting clay targets a cheap gun is a false economy. At our club a round of trap is $4.00 and a box of shells is around $6.00 after taxes so each round is $10.00. A regular trapshooter will easily shoot 4 rounds a week or 200 rounds a year, some shoot a lot more. That $2,000 per year in shells and targets alone. If you are going to spend that much in shells and targets why wouldn't you choose a gun with a proven record of reliability, ease of service and is built well.

I believe the best value is a used base-model Beretta 68x or Browning Citori. The designs are proven, spare parts are easy to get, gunsmiths know how to fix them and if kept in good repair can be sold for about what you paid for them, sometimes more. They are also currently in production and there's every indication they will continue that way. I wince when someone recommends to a new shooter a gun that is almost three decades out of production like the Remington 3200. Decent enough guns but a terrible recommendation for a new shooter.

Good advice to new shooters isn't always our favourite gun but what is right for them.
 
You can't condemn any gun based on where it comes from. I've seen Turkish guns that were serviceable and others that were complete crap. Same with Spain, USA, Russia and, gasp, even Italy. Who remembers the Frigon or the Winchester 1001? Crap is crap no matter where it comes from.

But with each of them one thing generally held true. You get what you pay for.

If you are even moderately serious about shooting clay targets a cheap gun is a false economy. At our club a round of trap is $4.00 and a box of shells is around $6.00 after taxes so each round is $10.00. A regular trapshooter will easily shoot 4 rounds a week or 200 rounds a year, some shoot a lot more. That $2,000 per year in shells and targets alone. If you are going to spend that much in shells and targets why wouldn't you choose a gun with a proven record of reliability, ease of service and is built well.

I believe the best value is a used base-model Beretta 68x or Browning Citori. The designs are proven, spare parts are easy to get, gunsmiths know how to fix them and if kept in good repair can be sold for about what you paid for them, sometimes more. They are also currently in production and there's every indication they will continue that way. I wince when someone recommends to a new shooter a gun that is almost three decades out of production like the Remington 3200. Decent enough guns but a terrible recommendation for a new shooter.

Good advice to new shooters isn't always our favourite gun but what is right for them.


:agree: Excellent advice.
 
I have just purchased a new Winchester 101..i agree with the comments of most. If you are going to shoot for a long time...suck it up and buy something higher end...you break it in rather than someone else!!! You get what you pay for!!
 
You can't condemn any gun based on where it comes from. I've seen Turkish guns that were serviceable and others that were complete crap. Same with Spain, USA, Russia and, gasp, even Italy. Who remembers the Frigon or the Winchester 1001? Crap is crap no matter where it comes from.

But with each of them one thing generally held true. You get what you pay for.

If you are even moderately serious about shooting clay targets a cheap gun is a false economy. At our club a round of trap is $4.00 and a box of shells is around $6.00 after taxes so each round is $10.00. A regular trapshooter will easily shoot 4 rounds a week or 200 rounds a year, some shoot a lot more. That $2,000 per year in shells and targets alone. If you are going to spend that much in shells and targets why wouldn't you choose a gun with a proven record of reliability, ease of service and is built well.

I believe the best value is a used base-model Beretta 68x or Browning Citori. The designs are proven, spare parts are easy to get, gunsmiths know how to fix them and if kept in good repair can be sold for about what you paid for them, sometimes more. They are also currently in production and there's every indication they will continue that way. I wince when someone recommends to a new shooter a gun that is almost three decades out of production like the Remington 3200. Decent enough guns but a terrible recommendation for a new shooter.

Good advice to new shooters isn't always our favourite gun but what is right for them.


It's very true that we shouldn't knock a gun based on it's origins, I bought a brand new DT-10 Beretta from Gagnon's shot maybe 4-6 rounds of skeet, went to a 4 gun shoot in oshawa, first station in the doubles event, wouldn't fire a single shell, pretty embarrassing, for that to
happen after the pre shoot show and tell to the squad I was shooting with.

Pulled out from the doubles event, Chuck Cresswell, rest in peace my friend, let me try his 1100 to shoot the event but after a few stations it was belting me something fierce in the face.

Any who, Gerry was there of course and he got another trigger group for me, and I was able to shoot the rest of the weekend, thank god for drop out triggers!

But a brand new $8000 gun failing from the start goes to show even the best screw up.

Side note: Beretta's warranty gun smith in canada, those in the know will know who I mean, had adjusted my triggers before I received the gun originally to reset for the .410 So did he screw up or was it from the factory? I lean towards the former.
 
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