Best Budget O/U

They don't seem to go for much under 1k. Even so my dad sold a cased field grade one with fixed chokes last year in vgc++ and was hard pressed to get $1100
 
I owned a Stoeger for more than a decade. It fired 1000's of shells without issue. Its ugly and heavy but always went bang. I smoked a lot of clays with it.

I bought a Citori and don't miss the Stoeger, but I don't bad mouth it either. It was 1/3 the price of the Browning.

I would consider looking at the CZ shotguns. I thought it was a decent gun for the money. I have never shot one but I would love to. Fit and finish seemed pretty good.
 
For the nostalgia buffs I will mention the late Harold Lister had a Model 12 Trap gun hanging on his wall that he actually shot out. The gun rattled but in it's day ran around Western Canada and the US in his hands. He passed back in the 70's but even then he was still shooting from 28 yards with a 2nd Win 12 Trap gun he had bought. Might be some on this board who might remember him. Shot out of the Edmonton Gun Club out at Sherwood Park

Take Care

Bob
 
I began using a Baikal this summer for trap just ot see how they were. I got the gun new on a labour trade. Seems like a very capable shotgun. I manage to hit as many birds with it as I do/did with my Model 12, Ithaca SxS, Mossberg Defender, Norinco Model 97 and Browning pump. I recently picked up a O.U CZ Mallard and will use it next week-end. Fit and finish is quite acceptable and I expect I will manage as many birds with it as I do with the other guns 20 - 21 @16 yards. For a casual shooter just about any O/U will do as god as the next. Spending the extra dollars won't make you a better shooter. Practice will, and in time a better gun might help as well. For most not likely but most like to think so.

Take Care

Bob
 
stubblejumper said:
While the alloy framed shotguns like Yildiz are well made for the price, and work well for hunting guns, I would prefer to have a steel framed gun for high volume shooting, such as trap or skeet.
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My Yildiz tips the scale at 6.5 pounds..... It is a great hunting gun, but I concur, maybe a little light for a lot of consecutive shots.....
 
I have a Canvasback 12 ga, bought it in 2009 and it's a tank, heavy but tough. I dropped it in the water while duck hunting 3 years ago, was completely submerged, gave it a cleaning session when I got back home and it is still like new. However I do not shoot clays so I can't evaluate the durability when hundreds of round go through it per session. But I heard good things about the CZ shotguns that Huglu in Turkey manufacture. They are probably the best value for money in the league of new o/u under 1000$.

And then I needed a lighter weight shotgun o/u or sxs for grouse hunting, so I got a Yildiz 20ga 2 years ago, very light, but handling it was like a toy. I traded it finally this summer for a used Marocchi. I love this one despite being a tired shotgun, it is not too light, not too heavy, handles beautifully. It is Italian made but learned that they are not in the same league as Beretta. They are more like Franchis as far as I learned. Cabelas has them now, new of course, but for around 1400$ + tx and shipping... More exepensive than CZ but I recommand them for their balanced design (weight vs handling)
 
enabler said:
I looked at the Marocchi but I'm not convinced I like an aluminum receiver.
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An aluminum receiver makes for a fantastic carry hunting gun.... But as I stated above about my Yildiz, it's very light and kicks a lot.... I am not recoil sensitive, but I have limited trap experience and not sure how I would feel about going lots of 12 gauge from it in a short time span.....
 
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