Over/Under recommendation

rogerius

rogerius

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Kitchener, Ontario
I’m looking for some feedback (pros/cons) about O/U style shotgun 12Ga under 1200$ for hunting. Back in Europe I had an “IJ-12” but, here I really don’t have any feeling about the variety of guns on the market. Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks.
Gabriel
 
You can hunt with anything you want to be honest, if you can shoot it and have patterned it well and know where it shoots. It would make a good gun for Waterfowl and Upland game. As for hunting big game, that's out of the question.
 
There are lots of O/Us under the $1200 mark. For instance there is the Stevens 512, Mossberg Silver Reserve, CZ, Baikal, Stoeger, Yildiz, and probably many others. Then you could also go used on a higher quality unit, sometimes you can find Brownings, Franchis, Berettas and Benellis in that price category.

The double barrel is the quintessential upland game gun in my opinion. More traditionally minded hunters prefer the side by side, and others like the O/U. I have both but I prefer the O/U for I seem to shoot it better. Pumps and autos are typically used more for waterfowl for their extra ammo capacity.

Use what you like and fits you best!
 
rogerius said:
I’m looking for some feedback (pros/cons) about O/U style shotgun 12Ga under 1200$ for hunting. Back in Europe I had an “IJ-12” but, here I really don’t have any feeling about the variety of guns on the market. Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks.
Gabriel
Click to expand...

Used Bowning Citoris come up for sale here on the Equipment Exchange (EE) in the $1000 - $1200 range. Winchester model 101 is a good quality O/U that sells used for $800 - $1000 here on the EE. Same thing for Japanese made SKB O/U, and Beretta.

Most of the new O/U in the under $1200 range are not the same quality level and will not last like Browning Citori, Winchester 101, SKB, or Beretta shotguns. The Baikals are a good quality shotgun but don't apeal to everyone. Check www.tradeexcanada.com . Tradeex has some O/U Baikals in the $350 range that are as good a deal as you will ever find. Good luck.
 
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I don't believe you need to spend anywhere NEAR $1200 to get something very decent.

For example, I bought a used Stoeger IGA 20ga O/U last year for $450 - with manual ejectors, removeable chokes, and the ability to to break it down quite easily... I got exactly what I paid for - something that works flawlessly, and is quite comfortable to shoot.
 
rogerius said:
I’m looking for some feedback (pros/cons) about O/U style shotgun 12Ga under 1200$ for hunting. Back in Europe I had an “IJ-12” but, here I really don’t have any feeling about the variety of guns on the market. Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks.
Gabriel
Click to expand...

You could get the more current models i.e. Baikal MP-27 previously also known as IZH-27 or Remington SPR310 (same firearm but also offered branded as Remington until 2008). Those firearms, in used condition, are available at reasonable prices and new ones generally cost around $800 + tax.

However, as already suggested, for $1200 it'd be best to look for a used Browning, SKB, Winchester etc - better overall value in terms of both build/finish quality.
 
Baikal IZH-94 O/U - 12 gauge / .308 Win.

:D
Have a Baikal IZH-94 O/U 12 gauge / .308 Win. that I bought at Ellwood Epps a few years back.

It's a fantastic combo........a bit on the heavy side but the .308 Win. barrel is amazingly accurate.

I have a Warne "return to zero" scope mount assembly so I don't have to carry the Leupold 2-7X scope while bird hunting.

When I remount the scope it's bang on accurate each & every time.......an amazing 1 MOA for a modestly priced O/U.......better than most of my bolts.

I use the O/U during the "off" years when I don't have an adult moose tag. It'll pop a calf at 200 yards & keep the stew pot full of grouse at the same time.
 
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pricedo said:
:D

It's a fantastic combo........a bit on the heavy side but the .308 Win. barrel is amazingly accurate.

When I remount the scope it's bang on accurate each & every time.......an amazing 1 MOA for a modestly priced O/U.......better than most of my bolts.
Click to expand...

A bit off-topic....what was your experience in terms of accuracy using irons? how well is the SG bbl regulated?
 
Ahsan Ahmed said:
A bit off-topic....what was your experience in terms of accuracy using irons? how well is the SG bbl regulated?
Click to expand...

:D
Actually I've never tried the gun with iron sights with respect to printing of groups of rifled slugs & .308 Win. bullets @ say 50 yd.

Next time I take the Baikal O/U to the range I will.

If the barrels were regulated it would probably be horse shyt luck..........the Baikal ain't no H&H or Greener.

I can get the .308 Win. (factory Federal "High Energy" cartridges loaded with 180 gr. Nosler Partitions) within 3" at 100 yd. off of a couple of sand bags and if I had to take a fast shot at a calf moose or deer it would be with the rifle barrel as there would likely be bird shot in the shotgun barrel.

If I see calf tracks in an "off" year (no adult tags) & if I have time I'll mount the scope.......it only takes a few seconds with the Warne system.
 
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Fit is the most important factor

Brownings and guns patterned after the Browning superposed like the CZ Redhead fit me better than Beretta. 28" barrels allow a gun to be fairly well balanced for the field. Hunting guns don't have very many rounds fired through them so a $1,000 gun will last for generations if well cared for.

Most O/U have auto ejectors which are a bit of a pain when hunting. One shouldn't leave ones hulls in the bush.

Throw some to your shoulder to get an idea of which fits best. 28" barrels and removable chokes.
 
First of all, thanks to all for the good info. I'll go for Browning or Beretta as used guns; I can't aford a new one. Also, I checked the hunting show at Shooter's Choice here in Kitchener: great store great service. I tested couple Brownings Citori and Synergy but, also a superb Beretta 687 Silver Pigeon II (pret reduced to 1695$ from 2995$). I came home and ask my wife about an increase in my budget........without luck, so I have to fit in my initial 1200$ budget :mad:.

If somebody will see a Browning or Beretta, over/under for sale please send me a PM.

Thanks again.
 
I picked up a Yildiz O/U 12 guage from Prophet River total was just under $800 and Im really impressed with it. Beautiful wood, light and handles like guns costing 3x it. I wanted a light upland gun and this just works perfect.
I researched alot and they are great guns for the $$ spent according to most owners.
 
rogerius said:
First of all, thanks to all for the good info. I'll go for Browning or Beretta as used guns; I can't aford a new one. Also, I checked the hunting show at Shooter's Choice here in Kitchener: great store great service. I tested couple Brownings Citori and Synergy but, also a superb Beretta 687 Silver Pigeon II (pret reduced to 1695$ from 2995$). I came home and ask my wife about an increase in my budget........without luck, so I have to fit in my initial 1200$ budget :mad:.

If somebody will see a Browning or Beretta, over/under for sale please send me a PM.

Thanks again.
Click to expand...

these guys always have them used
w ww.accuracyplus.biz/index.php
 
Rogerius, just ask for access to the EE (Equipment Exchange) forums. It's easy but takes a few days since a moderator or other site official has to OK it.

If this is for hunting and you're not going to be doing a lot of clay sport shooting then even going with a used Beretta, Browning, Franchi or other $1000'ish used O/U is more than you need to spend. These options are all fantastic guns but their reputation comes from clay shooters that go through literally hundreds of times more shells than a pure hunter will ever manage in their lifetime. I've been out a few times now to do some trap practice and each time I go through 4 or 5 boxes of shells. A typical hunter won't go through that much a season, let alone a day.... unless they miss a lot... :D

If you'll only be doing hunting along with the occasional day of clay shooting then one of the other options already suggested will serve you just fine. I'm not saying that the guns suggested from the Browning, Beretta, et al lineup are not fantastic guns. They are. But if you want to save some cash for other things and hunting is your main purpose then you don't need to spend that much on an O/U. Something more like a Mossberg Silver Reserve at half the cost will last you for many a year and even a few clay days a year as long as you don't get bitten by the clay bug. If you do then it'll be time to upgrade soon enough when you feel the action begin to loosen up... if it ever does.
 
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