Best Cheap(ish) Over/Under?

Voodoorhythm

Voodoorhythm

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I've decided I'm going to buy myself a new shotgun as a graduation present this spring, and I'd like to own an over/under. The problem is, I won't have a whole pile of cash to spend, so what's the best bang for my buck, so to speak?

It'd be used mostly as an upland gun, and probably ducks too, ideally. Some clay shooting as well, though that's not a priority at all.

I've looked at a Stoeger Condor and a Mossberg Silver Reserve. Both are within reach, price wise. So, of those two, which is a better gun? And is there another that I could get for a similar price that's better?

My apologies if there's other threads on this. I searched, but came up with nothing.
 
I have a stoeger Condor that I bought second hand for $300 and I am satisfied with it. I use it for small game mostly and have had zero problems. Try either one on for fit to see which fits you better. Just remember you get what you pay for.
 
Good Shotguns

Check out the Trade Ex Canada website. They have lots of good quality shotguns for reasonable prices.

O/U are available---I prefer sxs myself, and I have ordered 3 in the last year. Last one was a Brno, 12 ga. f&m chokes, with EJECTORS, and the price was very reasonable.

You can access their website from the dealers sponsor links above....T E C - Trade Ex Canada in the third row down.

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I have my Baikal 12 O/U for over 25 years. The fit and balance is just perfect for me. It was a little tight when it was new, but after a few boxes of shells it loosened up and has been a great shotgun.

Before purchasing, compare each brand by repeatedly picking them up, shouldering and pointing them. The better fit and balance shotgun will be evident to you as your cheek and eye will be nicely in line looking down the barrel. The gun should fit you and not you trying to fit the gun. Or else, you can forget about being a good wing shot.
 
I've recently been wanting an O/U. Sorta wanna start off with a cheap one myself...
Gonna go with what Buffdog says... check out TradeEx, they got some good stuff.
 
Now don't get me wrong guys, I am not a snob and I can not afford to throw money around. But there is a saying..."Only a rich man can afford to buy a cheap gun". I believe this is true. I am not saying go out and buy the most expensive gun there is, I am saying buy quality and buy it once. There are lots of great deals around on quality O/Us if you look. Just recently my buddy scored a Savage Milano which is made by F.A.I.R. Rizzini (approx$3000for the F.A.I.R. equivalent) for $850 at Bass Pro in Toronto, I hear they have some left but they have gone up to about $1100 which is still a steal!

I have bought and owned and been a proponent for the less expensive shot guns, but they almost always leave you wanting for something more. Save your money, and look around, maybe even buy a gently used quality shotgun and then you won't be replacing it in a few years.

I am probably going to get murdered for this, so let the $h1t storm begin!
 
Crashman said:
Now don't get me wrong guys, I am not a snob and I can not afford to throw money around. But there is a saying..."Only a rich man can afford to buy a cheap gun". I believe this is true. I am not saying go out and buy the most expensive gun there is, I am saying buy quality and buy it once. There are lots of great deals around on quality O/Us if you look. Just recently my buddy scored a Savage Milano which is made by F.A.I.R. Rizzini (approx$3000for the F.A.I.R. equivalent) for $850 at Bass Pro in Toronto, I hear they have some left but they have gone up to about $1100 which is still a steal!

I have bought and owned and been a proponent for the less expensive shot guns, but they almost always leave you wanting for something more. Save your money, and look around, maybe even buy a gently used quality shotgun and then you won't be replacing it in a few years.

I am probably going to get murdered for this, so let the $h1t storm begin!
Click to expand...

The Milano is a good gun, its F.A.I.R. counterpart is a LX692IIRC, about $2,250.00 IIRC Add tax and yup, and the price for the Milano ROCKS.
Personally, I've shot lots of Turkish guns that were great to shoot , and their owners have had them for years with no problems, but they are considered by many to be inferior .
I hate CZ's so much in fact, that I decided to get my 28 GA. Bobwhite back in a trade !!:Dw:h:
Cat
 
catnthehatt said:
The Milano is a good gun, its F.A.I.R. counterpart is a LX692IIRC, about $2,250.00 IIRC Add tax and yup, and the price for the Milano ROCKS.
Personally, I've shot lots of Turkish guns that were great to shoot , and their owners have had them for years with no problems, but they are considered by many to be inferior .
I hate CZ's so much in fact, that I decided to get my 28 GA. Bobwhite back in a trade !!:Dw:h:
Cat
Click to expand...

I hear ya Cat, for sure. There are some great values out there. However I feel that once a person gets into a quality gun, regardless of the price (because I do believe there are quality pieces available for a great price) it is hard to recommend a cheap gun--and cheap does not have to mean inexpensive.
 
my dog,s gun is a mossburg silver reserve I got from epps its made by hatsan and works fine for a bush gun on birds.paid 399 for the 20 g with extractors and I don,t get mad over use marks like I would if my cortona duck gun got marked up.the 20 g was quieter for breaking in my golden retreaver.I had a bakal with ejectors and the bottom one broke and I was told that was common with those ,thats why I went with extractors.had 2 side by sides but found the doulbe trigger hard to get use to.
 
Crashman said:
I hear ya Cat, for sure. There are some great values out there. However I feel that once a person gets into a quality gun, regardless of the price (because I do believe there are quality pieces available for a great price) it is hard to recommend a cheap gun--and cheap does not have to mean inexpensive.
Click to expand...

I absolutely get where you're coming from. And that wasn't far from my mind when I made this thread. Maybe cheap was the wrong word to use in the title. I was referring only to price, not workmanship. Maybe it would have been better to say that I opinions on what is an inexpensive, but well made gun.

Woodsman said:
Before purchasing, compare each brand by repeatedly picking them up, shouldering and pointing them. The better fit and balance shotgun will be evident to you as your cheek and eye will be nicely in line looking down the barrel. The gun should fit you and not you trying to fit the gun. Or else, you can forget about being a good wing shot.
Click to expand...

Of course. That's the only worry I have with buying used and online, as some have suggested. I'm not sure how easy it'll be to track down some of the ones I've seen somewhere local where I can handle them.
 
I just bought a used Browning Citori 20 gauge for 1350 dollars. Its a 1992 field model,grade 1,with beautiful wood. Dont know if I got a great deal or not,but I do love it so far.
010-16.jpg
 
Crashman said:
Now don't get me wrong guys, I am not a snob and I can not afford to throw money around. But there is a saying..."Only a rich man can afford to buy a cheap gun". I believe this is true. I am not saying go out and buy the most expensive gun there is, I am saying buy quality and buy it once. There are lots of great deals around on quality O/Us if you look. Just recently my buddy scored a Savage Milano which is made by F.A.I.R. Rizzini (approx$3000for the F.A.I.R. equivalent) for $850 at Bass Pro in Toronto, I hear they have some left but they have gone up to about $1100 which is still a steal!

I have bought and owned and been a proponent for the less expensive shot guns, but they almost always leave you wanting for something more. Save your money, and look around, maybe even buy a gently used quality shotgun and then you won't be replacing it in a few years. I am probably going to get murdered for this, so let the $h1t storm begin!
Click to expand...

For the most part, you are right on.
 
I currently own a Citori white lightning, and soon another superlight feather. Before I bought a better quality O/U, I owned a Francarm..Don't think these are that common..But if you can find one, They seem to be of much better quality than the mossberg,stevens, and stoeger/IGA. I have owned several baikals as well with good reviews from myself..The Francarm is made in france (go figure)..I personally couldn't find out much about them..they look very similar to the older Marrochi?? correct my spelling if I'm wrong there.

My 2cents
 
I had a 12ga. Silver Reserve Sporting which shot very well and never gave me a moment's trouble. I know that these guns have a bit of a bad rep, but from my experience I would buy another. In fact I kinda regret getting rid of mine.
 
I was in the same situation as yours.. and I got myself a Franchi renaissance O/U for 1000$ new.. it is the nicest gun i have and it looks like a 2500$ gun. It shoot great too and only 6.3lbs.

I hate the idea of buying a used gun as a present...
 
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