Please learn me some Over Unders

[GChambers]

New here. Great site. Lots of good information.

I'm looking to purchase an Over Under. I caught the Sporting Clays bug and would like to find a decent Over Under that won't put me into bankruptcy. I'd like to keep the spend around $1000 or less if possible.

1. Not crappy quality
2. Reliable
3. Accurate
4. Not ugly to look at

Pretty much in that order.

I'm assume this will be like anything else I've done in the past like race cars and mountain bikes where I did some research, bought one then used it for a while while I learned what I really wanted the 2nd time around. I'd like to avoid that here. Can someone help me along and let me know what I should be looking for? Also, why are these things so damn expensive? They seem like fairly simple guns. Is it all about the fancy engravings?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

 

[Cameramonkey]

Fit and finish, name, and fancy-ness seems to rule the price. I've got a no frills field grade Stoeger Condor and I love it. $400 new.

Its a little stiff, but it's getting easier to open. No frills, basic wood furniture, and it looks like a working gun, not something you would fine in a display case. But dammit, it busts clays just like one 10x the cost.

Im sure it won't hold up to prolonged use (several rounds of sporting clays a weeekend every weekend) like a browning, but for my occasional use its perfect.

 

[SSGSAD]

Ruger Red Label ?????

 

[Kirk Freeman]

What is our price range?

Bang for the buck? Maybe a CZ Redhead. Or Beretta 686?

Or, are you going all out?

Is it all about the fancy engravings?

I like this guy already.

 

[hoosierdaddy1976]

What is our price range?

Bang for the buck? Maybe a CZ Redhead. Or Beretta 686?

Or, are you going all out?



I like this guy already.

New here. Great site. Lots of good information.

I'm looking to purchase an Over Under. I caught the Sporting Clays bug and would like to find a decent Over Under that won't put me into bankruptcy. I'd like to keep the spend around $1000 or less if possible.

1. Not crappy quality
2. Reliable
3. Accurate
4. Not ugly to look at

Pretty much in that order.

I'm assume this will be like anything else I've done in the past like race cars and mountain bikes where I did some research, bought one then used it for a while while I learned what I really wanted the 2nd time around. I'd like to avoid that here. Can someone help me along and let me know what I should be looking for? Also, why are these things so damn expensive? They seem like fairly simple guns. Is it all about the fancy engravings?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

exhibit A, your honor.

 

[GChambers]

What is our price range?

Bang for the buck? Maybe a CZ Redhead. Or Beretta 686?

Or, are you going all out?



I like this guy already.

Ha!

Thank you all for the help so far. I'll look at the Ruger, CZ and the Beretta.

 

[Zoub]

Used Beretta or Browning under $1k will be worn, but reliable, good shooter and reliable. Emphasis on reliable. Good balance and design.

You said sporting clays so I assume you mean sporting clays and not backyard stuff at a friend's farm.

To answer your question, they are not simple and high volume shooting is hard on a cheap O/U and the shooter. You see grasshopper you actually WANT a heavier gun. This is a gun you shoot a lot and carry a little. Direct opposite of a field gun. So today's cheap O/U's are cheap and light. You will feel it and wish you had bought a semi auto instead.

After 300-400 rounds in a few hours with one you will also wish you had used lighter loads.

 

[Black Cloud]

I bought my SKB585 for less than 1k, and it's been fantastic.

 

[Fishersjohn48]

Consider going to the Indiana Gun Club and trying out several different guns. They usually have a good selection of used guns in various price ranges and you can actually shoot most of them to give you a true feel for what fits you.

 

[ThatOneKid]

Used Beretta or Browning under $1k will be worn, but reliable, good shooter and reliable. Emphasis on reliable. Good balance and design.

You said sporting clays so I assume you mean sporting clays and not backyard stuff at a friend's farm.

To answer your question, they are not simple and high volume shooting is hard on a cheap O/U and the shooter. You see grasshopper you actually WANT a heavier gun. This is a gun you shoot a lot and carry a little. Direct opposite of a field gun. So today's cheap O/U's are cheap and light. You will feel it and wish you had bought a semi auto instead.

After 300-400 rounds in a few hours with one you will also wish you had used lighter loads.

This is the exact route I went with my trap gun. Bought a used BT99 from a buddy, and couldn't be happier. The heaver, the longer you can shoot it.
Before I had my BT99, I had a like new field grade Citori. Sold it the next week.

 

[451_Detonics]

Valmet/Tikka 412s and 512s are great shotguns that are often available well under a 1000 used. I own two currently, one set up as a double rifle in 9.3X74R which is close to a 375 H&H load...it has held up great with many rounds sent downrange through it...I know these guns are reliable. And, I think, good looking as well.

 

[jimbo-indy]

I went with the Stoeger Condor Competition about 4 years ago. Had a couple of QC problems that I fixed at home, nothing big. I did remove the ejector springs (very easy) since I use it for trap only. It's not a lightweight and has 30" ported barrels, standard choke tubes and adjustable comb stock. A few rounds with the pattern board got it shooting where I look with a high point of impact (for trap). If I miss, it is my fault, not the gun. Action was stiff at first but is starting to loosen up now, after about 5000 rounds. Out the door at Dick's for $610. Now they are offering a single barrel trap gun (The Grand) and also a Condor Competition set with 12 and 20 gauge barrels. It's not a Barretta, Browning or such but I don't cry if it gets a scratch and have more money left over for black powder guns.

 

[KJQ6945]

Used guns are out there, you just have to be in the right place at the right time. If Sporting Clays is your game, hang out at the range and get to know the regulars. The guns will find you.
My first Citori was referred to as the "Duck Gun". Everybody at the club had owned it, and it was ugly, but I loved it. It looked like it been used as an oar more than a couple of times.
I've probably had 10 since that gun, but it will always be the first. Find a GOOD used gun as opposed to buying a cheap used one. You'll understand why later. Good luck.

 

[GChambers]

Used Beretta or Browning under $1k will be worn, but reliable, good shooter and reliable. Emphasis on reliable. Good balance and design.

You said sporting clays so I assume you mean sporting clays and not backyard stuff at a friend's farm.

To answer your question, they are not simple and high volume shooting is hard on a cheap O/U and the shooter. You see grasshopper you actually WANT a heavier gun. This is a gun you shoot a lot and carry a little. Direct opposite of a field gun. So today's cheap O/U's are cheap and light. You will feel it and wish you had bought a semi auto instead.

After 300-400 rounds in a few hours with one you will also wish you had used lighter loads.

Yes, Sporting Clays.

I can understand why I would want a heavier gun. Of course, not heavy for the sake of being heavy but strong and sturdy.

I definitely felt the difference between different loads. Shot a lot of lighter loads then a few rounds of Remington Premiere Nitro Sporting Clays. HUGE difference!

After checking, it turns out the gun I shot Saturday and really liked was a Browning Citori GTI. Also shot a Winchester 101. I think I'd be pretty happy for either of those to start. Put about 50 rounds through the Browning and a few through the Winchester.

Thanks everyone for the help. It's greatly appreciated.

 

[GChambers]

Used guns are out there, you just have to be in the right place at the right time. If Sporting Clays is your game, hang out at the range and get to know the regulars. The guns will find you.
My first Citori was referred to as the "Duck Gun". Everybody at the club had owned it, and it was ugly, but I loved it. It looked like it been used as an oar more than a couple of times.
I've probably had 10 since that gun, but it will always be the first. Find a GOOD used gun as opposed to buying a cheap used one. You'll understand why later. Good luck.

Stopped by Indiana Gun Club yesterday for a few minutes. It was extremely busy so I didn't really make any progress. I like the idea of buying a GOOD used gun as opposed to an affordable new gun. That's the route I'll probably take. Turns out there are a few on Arms List and there was quite a selection there yesterday.

 

[triggerhappy]

Try and get back to Indiana gun club on a weekday

 

[chef1231]

I am also in the market for a O/U and am pretty sure I decided on the 828U but I started out my shopping with the Weatherby Orion, Cabals sells them for just under $900 and seems to be a nice shotgun.

 

[Bfish]

I am also in the market for a O/U and am pretty sure I decided on the 828U but I started out my shopping with the Weatherby Orion, Cabals sells them for just under $900 and seems to be a nice shotgun.

If you do buy the 828U please post your thoughts! I am dying to shoot one!

 

[98cirrus]

Lots of Used Berettas out there. I bought a basic blued ONYX model from an acquaintance for 700$. It had all the choke tubes i needed. It wasn't perfect but it hadn't been shot that much. My son in law uses it when we hit the clays range and does fine.. (Idid add the best recoil pad i could find because it's a tad light.) I also heard that Savage had Rossini (Italy) make some over unders for them back about 10 15 years ago? They bring about 8-1200$, but you might find one of those. You would have to do a little research, but that's the one i would look for. Not certain they are available in 12 ga though. I agree that regular shooters of sporting clays like the swing of heavier guns, but the nice heavy ones usually have a higher price tag.

 

[fastwally]

Find a nice used Browning BT99 combo and shoot it, you will forget about the over and under. I had several Browning Citori's until I found the BT99.