Buying an Over under shotgun. What should I get.

bigbore14

bigbore14

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I need some advice out there.
I am looking for a wedding gift for my brother. I am wanting to buy and O/U shotgun. I am thinking he will use it for a bit of targets, ducks and grouse. Probably not geese or anything larger. I want something that has a classy kind of look to it, not something tactical. I would like to buy used, but dont know what is what in the used section here. I am willing to spend $1000 and would like something that will hold its value and he will hand down to his grandchildren one day. Any thoughts ideas or links to guns here for sale that would fit this bill will work. Dave
 
I think that you'll find that most new o/u shotguns are priced well above $1000, but there are a few on the market. CZ has one on the market for about $1000, I think it's called "The Redhead". Browning makes a number of models if you can find a used one, and I've always that that the Ruger Red Label looked like a nice gun. I'm sure you'll get some better opinions from guys who use their shotguns more than I do...
 
I absolutely love my Browning Citori. I've had it almost 20 years not a single problem...nice wood, instinctive point shooting. I ve added a fibre optic front bead, beautiful gun for grouse, bunnies...I paid $1200 for it brand new, don't know what a used one is worth.
 
Your post in the shotgun forum will likely yield more responses. Nevertheless, this would indeed be a very nice (gift) gesture on your part. I'm assuming that you are fully aware of your brother's preference in terms of the shotgun action type.

Admittedly, you may have to look hard and long to acquire a quality used o/u (let's say Beretta/Brownings etc). On the other hand, acceptable new makes/models $1k or less (read Turk - CZ, Yildiz etc) will carry with those long term durabilty questions.

Should you re-consider options around $1.5k then FABARMS, Rizzini, Savage would be worth looking at.

Another idea (read best of all worlds :)) if your brother has a preference for autoloaders as well.....the Beretta 391 ($1300+tax)....this will serve (IMHO, superably, if I may add) the various use types that you have indicated.
 
A thousand buck is a lot of dough....unless you are trying to buy an over and under that is.....likely the best bang for your buck in the price range would be the Yildez. While a decent shotgun....not sure it would ever turn into a family heirlom but a decent gun for the money.
 
Personally, I would buy a new Fabarm Axis, but you're looking at $1800. Nice gun.

Or, buy a used Citori - you should be able to get one with choke tubes for around $1200, or an older fixed choke model for $900-$1000. Spend the extra and get one with tubes - you'll thank me later. :)
 
bigbore14 said:
I need some advice out there.
I am looking for a wedding gift for my brother. I am wanting to buy and O/U shotgun. I am thinking he will use it for a bit of targets, ducks and grouse. Probably not geese or anything larger. I want something that has a classy kind of look to it, not something tactical. I would like to buy used, but dont know what is what in the used section here. I am willing to spend $1000 and would like something that will hold its value and he will hand down to his grandchildren one day. Any thoughts ideas or links to guns here for sale that would fit this bill will work. Dave
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Im no expert but Ive used the same beretta for 15 years and it instantly improved my upland game skills by 20%. Again, Im no expert but it is so balanced etc that it is vastly superior to the Remintons I owned.
 
I really like the late 70's vintage Citori I inherited from my father. I also have a side by side that swings so nicely and drops grouse from the sky like nothing else, for me.
 
Look for a good used Beretta or Browning.

You won't go wrong with either of the "B" guns.

They are more $$ than you suggested spending but they will last a lifetime+ with reasonable care.

Sometimes a cheaper gun can end up being far more costly than a quality one.
 
Are you already at odds with your prospective sister-in-law? A wedding gift should be something for the couple to use together, or at least equally. You should be getting her a shotgun, too. (Or is that why you are thinking double-barrelled?)
 
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A nice used Beretta BL-3 or 4 might be nice too. Another option might be a new Semi. They are very versatile. And you could go new.
 
Okay, after reading and reading I have decided on 2 options. The citori or the superposed. The superposed is 700 in excelent condition and the citori is 1976 also excelent condition and around 1000 dollars. Which one would you get? They are both 12 gauge with fixed chokes. And good guns for the field or for the targets. Which is the better one?
 
I wouldn't worry too much about screw-in chokes. Full/Mod chokes will make him a better shot.;) For a dedicated skeet gun, open chokes are better. But for trap, ducks, geese, etc. the fixed will be fine.
 
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