help buying first O/U shotgun

UncleWalther

UncleWalther

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I want to buy a relatively nice, but not outrageously expensive O/U shotgun for bird hunting.

Reliability and overall quality are important to me. I could care less, however, about paying big dollars for exotic woods and fancy engraving on the reciever.

What would you folks suggest?
 
I bought a new CZ SxS last year and was quite happy with the purchase. The CZs (O/Us & SxSs) get good reviews on most of the American gun sites.

I might look to buy a CZ O/U myself. They are priced well below Brownings and Berettas :D




sc
 
Depending what you want to do with your new shottie several models will suit your needs. My first choice is ALWAYS Beretta. I shoot a 686 Special Sporting and probably won't buy another O/U ever. I shoot about 5000 rds. per year in Sporting and a little Trap & Skeet. Mostly 1oz. handloads but I put a lot of Wally World cheapie shells through it also. Several of my buddies shoot the Browning Citories and they function very well. I like the fit and finish of the Beretta's better. We also have some Ruger Red Label Sporting guns here and I'm really impressed with these babies. Dollar for dollar they are the best buy. Have heard good things about the CZ shotguns but haven't fired one yet. Whatever you buy try and handle and shoot as many O/U's as possible. If you can't afford the gun of your dreams, WAIT. Don't buy something that you won't like just because of the cost. An O/U is a lifetime investment.;)
 
What do you intend to hunt? Small upland? Pheasants? Ducks?

In a world where you can pay $100,000 for an o/u what do you consider outrageously expensive? $1,000? $2,000?

How many rounds per year? Will you use it for clays as well?

There's no free lunch. There are good shotguns that cost money and cheap shotguns that aren't very good. The CZ shotguns are interesting guns but haven't been around long enough to establish a track record for durability and reliability but I like them better than any of the Russkie guns.

I think the best money you can spend is on a Browning Citori or Beretta 686. Not cheap but they are proven guns.
 
Just jump right in and save yourself lots of money, and buy an expensive gun from the 'get go' :rolleyes:

By doing that, you will save yourself lots of money, :confused: instead of buying a lower priced gun, and then, after a while, you will sell it/ trade it for a more expensive/better gun (many times over):D

It's like 2 foot itis in the boating world---you are never satisfied :rolleyes:
Allways wanting something better :D
 
Gatehouse said:
Buy one of my Citoris.;)
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ACTUALLY; all kidding aside, that would be a smart move for you as those guns are really nice, i've handled them and i own 4 Browning shotguns.

I can't hit as many clays as 'Gatehouse', but as both 'He' & POPCAN point out, it's not the gun, it's the shooter :confused:

If you don't want to buy 'Gatehouses' gun, i'll sell you mine for 50% more money 'cause mine has fancy wood and it shoots better because of the nicer wood, although it is the same gun
 
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My personal favoite is Beretta. While shooting sporting clays, I used to put 7500+ handloads/summer through my 686, as well as 2500+ factory loads. I use the same shotgun for waterfowling as well. I like the slim receiver of the Beretta, and they fit me well. Fit is most important in a shotgun... much more so than rifles. Get one that fits you well.... and spend as much as your budget will possibly allow on a good one the first time... will be the last one you buy if you do it right (rephrase that... the last one you'll NEED to buy (grin)).

280_ACKLEY
 
One of the entry level guns from Browning or Beretta would be a fine choice and they start around $1700.00. After you get used to shooting a Beretta O/U you likely won't want to shoot anything else and all of the cheaper makes will feel just that, cheap. I recently had a look at a Ruger Red Label that was priced at $1800.00, NO comparison to a Beretta or Browning, seemed to made cheap, the action was loose and clunky, like someone made it in their basement.;)
 
I was looking at the Stoeger Condor line before. I got a lot of replies about it being reliable and economical. Definitely cheaper than a beretta and browning but not quite as good of a finish as I hear.

Having said that I've never handled one and this is a compolation of replies from other owners who replied.
 
Raider556 said:
I was looking at the Stoeger Condor line before. I got a lot of replies about it being reliable and economical. Definitely cheaper than a beretta and browning but not quite as good of a finish as I hear.

Having said that I've never handled one and this is a compolation of replies from other owners who replied.
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Your point is---:confused: :confused: :confused:
 
i suggest

UncleWalther said:
I want to buy a relatively nice, but not outrageously expensive O/U shotgun for bird hunting.

Reliability and overall quality are important to me. I could care less, however, about paying big dollars for exotic woods and fancy engraving on the reciever.

What would you folks suggest?
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i suggest a savage O/U like a 410 gauge and a 22 or a 20 gauge and a 22mag

good luck
 
Raider556 said:
I was looking at the Stoeger Condor line before. I got a lot of replies about it being reliable and economical. Definitely cheaper than a beretta and browning but not quite as good of a finish as I hear.

Having said that I've never handled one and this is a compolation of replies from other owners who replied.
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Those thing are butt ugly. :eek:

If you going to buy an O/U, buy a half way nice one or get a beater 870 Express instead.




sc
 
UncleWalther said:
I want to buy a relatively nice, but not outrageously expensive O/U shotgun for bird hunting.

Reliability and overall quality are important to me. I could care less, however, about paying big dollars for exotic woods and fancy engraving on the reciever.

What would you folks suggest?
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Then buy yourself one of the shotguns suggested to you by several members, ' A Decent Quality Gun' without the fancy wood etc. as you mentioned.
There are many guns that are reliable and priced well in todays market, 2 of the most popular ones being the ones that have been suggested to you as in 'Beretta & Browning'
Both manufacturers ( which have many models to choose from ) would be an excellent choice, giving good quality and long life !!! All you have to do is handle and shoot several guns and decide which is best suited for you :) :rolleyes:

Step 2 is 'Buy One' ;)
 
Boer seun said:
I have a Baikal and they are reliable and rugged shotguns, if you want something fancy go with a Browning
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Actually, the 'Browning' shotgun line is, overall, not that fancy:confused:

Agreed, some of them can be, as in any gun manufacturer, lower & higher priced guns, totally depending upon your desposible income :rolleyes:

The overall gun design, is actually the same, the money spent in most cases is on the wood and engraveing etc.

Best to buy a good quality gun ( non fancy) than buy a cheap qaulity gun and think that you are actually saving money :rolleyes:
 
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