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USP

USP

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Can anybody recommend a decent Over Under in a 12 Gauge? Want something that has a nice wood stock. A plain receiver in stainless/nickel/chrome type finishes would be nice as well.

Lastly Im on a budget so nothing to fancy. Want to use it only as a field gun for hunting.

Any recommendations? many thanks for any help.:)
 
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I bought a used Stoger Condor this fall for $300. Shoots nice, easy to carry and fits your description. I don't think it would stand up to a pro trap/skeet shooter, but for regular bird hunter it should last a life time. Good luck in your search. Elwood Epps has new listed. He may even have a used.
 
So Baikal is the bottom and Stoeger is the next grade up from that? Is there anything just alittle nicer looking just above those brands?

Something maybe in 1K range alittle less or alittle more?

I looked at Beretta and Browning websites but am not sure as those seem to be about $2500 and up.

What are the key features I should be looking to get here? What is a reasonable weight? Barrel length 28"? Chokes? Also I am not a big fan of bead type sites are there any other options for O/U?
 
Look for a used Browning Citori. Leaps and bounds ahead of a new Stoeger or Baikal.
 
Ithaca/SKB is good too, and right about your price range for a good used gun. One thing I've heard about used Citoris, the loading lever should be slightly RH bias. If not, meaning the lever appears centred (or LH bias) when the gun is closed, this is the bad sign of a heavily used shotgun.
 
One thing I've heard about used Citoris, the loading lever should be slightly RH bias. If not, meaning the lever appears centred (or LH bias) when the gun is closed, this is the bad sign of a heavily used shotgun.
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The newer Citoris seem to have locking levers that are way to the right,my older Citoris had levers that weren't that far off center.
 
Whats peoples opinions on a Franchi Renaissance Field? Seems to be new priced similiar to used Citori or close.
 
USP said:
So Baikal is the bottom and Stoeger is the next grade up from that? Is there anything just alittle nicer looking just above those brands?

Something maybe in 1K range alittle less or alittle more?

I looked at Beretta and Browning websites but am not sure as those seem to be about $2500 and up.

What are the key features I should be looking to get here? What is a reasonable weight? Barrel length 28"? Chokes? Also I am not a big fan of bead type sites are there any other options for O/U?
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I wouldn't necessarily put the Stoeger a grade up from a Baikal. I think the Baikal is a slightly better gun.

A step up would be a CZ IMO. In the $1,000 neighbourhood you also could find a decent used gun if you are comfortably with buying used and know what to look for.

In strictly a field gun 28" is a good length. For the game you want to hunt choke tubes would be a good suggestion. Grouse generally means tight cover and pheasants are more open field shooting are may require tighter chokes. In a fixed choke gun I'd go no tighter than IC and Modified.

On the last question I have no experience with the Franchi Rennaissance but the ones I've seen are in the $1,500 range and from all reports don't seem to have an unusual or unpleasant tendencies.
 
Win/64 said:
Look for a used Browning Citori. Leaps and bounds ahead of a new Stoeger or Baikal.
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I'll second that, even though it does not have a stainless/nickel/chrome reciever and for sure will have some form of bead sights. For quality, a used citori is way ahead of baikal, stoeger, yildez and cz etc.
 
Guys on the choke tubes is there any type that is preferable for O/Us for upland game? Do you want guns with a set of them? Or just 1 type? I also will try trap. Thanks for the help on this. I have alot of shotguns, but they are all the black type, smoothbores and not nice looking like these hunting guns.
 
Have you considered a Ruger Red Label? I have an older model in 20ga Mag that I picked up years ago and, good fast handling gun for Ruff Grouse.

ModelRedLabelRugerOU20gaMag.jpg
 
I thought about Ruger Red Labels. I recall reading a few places about some problems with them, this was on a US board so Im not sure, but reading it put me off abit. Nice gun in the pic.

I sort of what to buy something that is half decent that will last awhile. What sort of life expectancy do you get on O/Us when used for a mix of trap and hunting? Barrel life?
 
there are used browning superposed o/u out there from 1936 that are still in the field you can find a used Citori ruger R.L Win 101 or skb out there from $600- $1200 you will haveto shoot 10.000 rounds a yr for many yrs to ware out one of these shotguns as far problems with each make there are millions of these makes out there being used and the percentage oh issues with each manufacture is insignificant just make sure you buy a well maintained gun with no problems to begin with .
 
USP said:
I thought about Ruger Red Labels. I recall reading a few places about some problems with them, this was on a US board so Im not sure, but reading it put me off abit. Nice gun in the pic.

I sort of what to buy something that is half decent that will last awhile. What sort of life expectancy do you get on O/Us when used for a mix of trap and hunting? Barrel life?
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With my Red Label, so far so good. No problems so far. For a little different concept in O/U's, I also have a Brno ZH-304, 7x57R/12ga. Good for those wet windy days hunting skid roads in the river bottem areas where you may run into a Ruff Grouse or a Deer. For the days where a more traditional O/U set-ups may be the order of the day, a set of standard 12ga O/U barrels.

ModelZH-300BrnoCombo7x5712gaSkeetba.jpg


Not as refined looking as many others available in the market today but definately very functional and has it's own little niche:).
 
Johnn Peterson said:
With my Red Label, so far so good. No problems so far. For a little different concept in O/U's, I also have a Brno ZH-304, 7x57R/12ga. Good for those wet windy days hunting skid roads in the river bottem areas where you may run into a Ruff Grouse or a Deer. For the days where a more traditional O/U set-ups may be the order of the day, a set of standard 12ga O/U barrels.

ModelZH-300BrnoCombo7x5712gaSkeetba.jpg


Not as refined looking as many others available in the market today but definately very functional and has it's own little niche:).
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No picture is complete without the moose! :p:D

Nice combo you have there.
 
With sporting shotguns you MUST handle them before you buy. When one just feels right it's instantly worth the extra $$$$$. We all have budgets, I understand, but you have to weigh that against the feel of the gun. A good quality shotgun will last a couple life times, a few extra $$$$$ is totaly worth the pride of ownership on something that fits you. We can all live with a less than perfect pistol or rifle, but shotguns are a whole different story.

For a budget o/u how about a FAIR, they're reasonably priced. Obviously the EE an option, and the vast majority of guns can be considered barely broken in for the most part. A basic Beretta or Citori would be my pick as they are well proven. Lots of choices, but play with some first, it will make a big difference in your decision.
 
For a budget o/u how about a FAIR, they're reasonably priced.
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The FAIR is a good gun for a reasonable price,but be very careful where you choose to buy one.A friend of mine ordered one last summer with a custom,made to measure stock,and the whole experience has been a nightmare.When the gun arrived the length of pull was out by 3cm,there was 6mm too much drop in the stock,and the gun had a wooden buttplate instead of the recoil pad that my friend ordered and paid for.The dealer shipped the gun to my friend,knowing full well that the gun was not what he had ordered and paid extra money for.The dealer refused to supply either a new gun,or a new stock,and insisted on shortening the stock and having the recoil pad installed.The gun was sent back to the dealer,and when it was altered and returned,the fore end was split.The dealer insisted that the stock was not split when the gun was shipped,and that my friend would have to purchase a new fore end.It has been months now,and my friend has a broken gun,that doesn't fit,because the drop is still wrong,and the dealer refuses to take any initiative to resolve the issue.FAIR is a good gun,just be very careful who you choose to buy one from.
 
USP said:
Can anybody recommend a decent Over Under in a 12 Gauge? Want something that has a nice wood stock. A plain receiver in stainless/nickel/chrome type finishes would be nice as well.

Lastly Im on a budget so nothing to fancy. Want to use it only as a field gun for hunting.

Any recommendations? many thanks for any help.:)
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:stirthepot2:

Why Over/Under?

But just my little story here...

I've had that Bailkal SxS for ummmm 7 years or so - nice, lite, well made, and cheap - but, as was mentioned before, just don't feel/fit right.

Then two years ago I bought new Stoeger Condor 12 ga - beautiful gun, let me make it bold beautiful gun.Awesome wood, quality metal work - but HEAVY for field use. Needles to say I was quite happy with Stoeger quality and this is why ...

I bought Stoeger Model 2000 this fall. price was $610+tax on sale at LeBaron.
I cant stress enough how well this gun made. Recoil operated action makes it so simple and also easy to clean. There is literally less parts in it then in any pump action shotgun!
I have seen enough shotguns to say that this model will be as popular as 870's one day. New comes with 5 chokes including turkey choke, waterfowl plug, and no crazy brake-in was necessary.
I took this gun for duck'n'geese, partridge, pheasant and so far from September I have had more birds harvested with my Stoeger M2000 than with all my shotguns I owned before.

Stoeger.jpg


:D Did I mention that I love my new Stoeger M2000? :D

Unless you really really really want Over/Under... mine is on sale by the way ;)
 
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