opinions on affordable over under

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myersc

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Hi, I'm new to hunting and want to buy my first over under for pheasant hunting. I'm looking at either a Stevens 555 or the Stoeger Condor. Can anyone offer any advice on either of these two guns or offer up a suggestion of another gun in the price range of these guns.

Thanks
 
If I were buying a new gun in this price range, I would favor a good quality pump over a low-end over under. The quality is just not there in an o/u at this price point. Something like a Nova or BPS will hold its value and you can sell it off when you are ready to upgrade later. Another good option is a quality used o/u. If you spend some time monitoring retailers or the EE, you can find something like a used Citori for under $1k that will be leagues better than a new Stoeger. Of course, gun fit should be a primary factor in your decision as well.
 
Baikal and Mossberg also make low budget O/U. You could also step up a bit and try CZ or Yildiz. But at that price you could probably find a used Browning. For pheasant hunting, you could be doing a lot of walking... and carrying. So a lighter gun has advantages. Most of the lowest-priced O/U are pretty heavy.
 
Being in a similar situation to you and having dropped a few dollars on cheap doubles that felt wanting I have concluded that most of the "budget guns" are actually trickery to pry more cash from buyers. Yes, Baikal, CZ (Huglu), and Yildiz often produce a reasonably quality all around gun and are much cheaper than a Beretta or Browning. For a hunting double I demand a means of choosing which barrel and choke I fire first, be it double triggers or a selector, to me part of the reason for choose a double gun is to have the choice between two chokes also guns without a means of selecting usually need recoil to switch to the other brrel so in the event of a misfire ( weak primer strike etc) you may not be able to try the other barrel on a rapidly departing pheasant or other game of choice.
As has been said many of the cheaper doubles can be a touch weighty for some people when it comes to all day carry, but that is not a bad thing if it balances well and feels good in your hands (or you also hunt waterfowl with it).
So for me Stoeger would be out of the running the stevens 555 while interesting I'd be more inclined to either spend more or buy a Baikal, CZ or Yildiz gun. None of them are going to be 200 + rounds a week sporting clays guns for very long but for a bit of practice and recreation in the summer and chasing game during hunting season they should provide a long service life, remember to consider parts and customer service availability which is part of how Browning and Beretta have come to command the respect and price they do. A 600 dollar double with broken firing pins waiting on service or parts may end up costing you even more if it is your only gun.
Just pray that the SxS bug never bites, now there is an expensive habit I am trying not to develope.
When it comes to budget guns here in North America pump actions rule the roost in part to some of the great early models like the model 12, Ithaca 37, 870 wingmaster that cemented them into our hunting culture and established a reputation or reliability. Even the 870 express that is so heavily dismissed and often cited as being unreliable can usually be made to function reliably with a little at home finishing, and I suspect given my personal experiences with them, probably there are more out there providing yoemans service and getting no reviews than the percentage of lemons that leave the factory. Percentage wise I would say that more 870 express owners are happy with their gun than Stoeger Condor owners.
 
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When I was 19 I bought an O/U I could afford at the time telling myself that it's BS to pay double for the same thing in a used gun of another brand when I could get a brand new of a brand I was looking at. Well?? Lesson learned was skip the "bargain" double gun and save for the better quality gun. I bought a really nice looking Italian made O/U called a Pole Gardone. If looks counted for anything it was a winner. It looked nice!! First day out I pull up and shoot a wood duck scooting by just above the water. The gun goes off with a roar and about kicks me like I am shouldering a howitzer. Mr Wood Duck dies instantly and I am thinking all at once man did I smoke him and man did this gun ever smoke me! I open it to eject and replace the round to get ready for the next bird and both ejectors "pop" out an empty? I'm thinking I am sure I only pulled the trigger once. Next bird in, a teal, same thing? I try the gun out a third time wasting a round at the water and sure enough both rounds fired with one pull of the trigger!! That was my one and only bargain double gun!!
 
I was lucky to find a used Citori last year for the price of a new Stevens (with tax). Everything I read said stay away from Stevens but those are guys who may be elitists? For hunting I think they would be good but I was still nervous to get one. If you look around you could find a quality double in that price range. I sold my Citori to go back to a semi but it was a beautiful gun!
 
You can have good or you can have cheap. They rarely come in the same package with double guns.
The most economical choice for good quality is a used "B" gun. Unfortunately used Citori guns of modest price are not light weight for upland hunting, but they are lifetime reliable.
 
novacam said:
I was lucky to find a used Citori last year for the price of a new Stevens (with tax). Everything I read said stay away from Stevens but those are guys who may be elitists? For hunting I think they would be good but I was still nervous to get one. If you look around you could find a quality double in that price range. I sold my Citori to go back to a semi but it was a beautiful gun!
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I always love it when the guys who can't afford or can't justify spending $$ on quality call those who prefer to buy quality "elitists". f:P:
 
the spank said:
I always love it when the guys who can't afford or can't justify spending $$ on quality call those who prefer to buy quality "elitists". f:P:
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It is entertaining! That being said, there are people that really don't understand the difference between the different quality levels of firearms.
 
You might want to look at SKB/Ithaca O/U as I believe these are the most undervalued guns around and would certainly meet your requirements for a good hunting O/U. In a hunting gun fixed chokes are not a detriment , at least for me as I have never changed a choke in mid hunt for upland.
 
I obviously had the cash, I bought it. He wants an affordable (cheaper) o/u. He wants to hunt. A Stevens will probably do it, I said I still be nervous. He doesn't want to shoot trap or 1000s of rounds so he probably won't need a high end B gun. I understand quality but he doesn't want to spend high dollars and ppl, like you, always chime in about junk...I kill just as many birds with a $100 Cooey as I do with my $1000 semi or did with my $2000 o/u.
 
novacam said:
I obviously had the cash, I bought it. He wants an affordable (cheaper) o/u. He wants to hunt. A Stevens will probably do it, I said I still be nervous. He doesn't want to shoot trap or 1000s of rounds so he probably won't need a high end B gun. I understand quality but he doesn't want to spend high dollars and ppl, like you, always chime in about junk...I kill just as many birds with a $100 Cooey as I do with my $1000 semi or did with my $2000 o/u.
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Very true, any guns will kill birds. However, I agree that if one is on a limited budget, the gun that costs a bit more always ends up being the cheapest one in the end. We aren't just talking the up front cash laid out but the better gun is going to hold its value and be an easier sell down the line. But, as already mentioned, one does not need to buy new and it doesn't have to be a "B" gun. A few examples have been given that can be bought for the price of a new Stevens or Stoeger but they are far superior guns. And you can find many that are in quite nice condition. I have owned several over/unders that I bought used and would again ,if I wanted another over/under, before I would buy the bottom of the line budget guns. But, in the end it is the OP's money and if he wants to go the budget gun route at least he can make an informed decision. Either way, happy shooting!
 
novacam said:
I obviously had the cash, I bought it. He wants an affordable (cheaper) o/u. He wants to hunt. A Stevens will probably do it, I said I still be nervous. He doesn't want to shoot trap or 1000s of rounds so he probably won't need a high end B gun. I understand quality but he doesn't want to spend high dollars and ppl, like you, always chime in about junk...I kill just as many birds with a $100 Cooey as I do with my $1000 semi or did with my $2000 o/u.
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I'm of the same belief as most other guys. I've had many people ask what to buy in an entry level O/U and my answer is always "save up for another 6-8 months and get a used SKB, Miroku, Beretta, Browning, Winchester, etc." Many do follow the advice...those that don't always come back disappointed!

And in all honesty I'd put my money on an old Cooey before 95% of Turkish O/Us when it comes to durability.
 
novacam said:
I obviously had the cash, I bought it. He wants an affordable (cheaper) o/u. He wants to hunt. A Stevens will probably do it, I said I still be nervous. He doesn't want to shoot trap or 1000s of rounds so he probably won't need a high end B gun. I understand quality but he doesn't want to spend high dollars and ppl, like you, always chime in about junk...I kill just as many birds with a $100 Cooey as I do with my $1000 semi or did with my $2000 o/u.
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Not all "B" guns are high end , either.
A name is just that, Ive seen issues with Kriegoffs as well as Stevens shotguns, and te bottom line is they are all crap if they are broken and won't shoot!
Cat
 
VLT79 said:
And in all honesty I'd put my money on an old Cooey before 95% of Turkish O/Us when it comes to durability.
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I don't recall a Cooey shotgun other than single shots, and unless I'm going to cut one down for a camp gun I would not consider even looking twice at one any sooner than I would a high end Italian single shot for hunting and would never consider a Cooey for the amount of trap I shoot.
Cat
 
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