September 18, 2009, 12:32 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 13, 2007
Location: Fond du Lac, WI
Posts: 115
|
20ga O/U Search
Folks: I'm looking for a 20ga over/under for grouse that won't break my wallet. I saw a Savage at a recent NRA banquet that looked and felt very nice. So, that's on the list. Any other recommendations. Nothing fancy, it will be a well used field gun. Thanks,
|
September 18, 2009, 12:46 PM | #2 |
Junior member
Join Date: April 18, 2008
Location: N. Central Florida
Posts: 8,518
|
What's the budget?
|
September 18, 2009, 01:34 PM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 23, 2005
Posts: 13,195
|
I would say Ruger or SKB ...on the less expensive side ....around $1,250 / both good serviceable and durable guns.
For a little more money - Beretta White Onyx series or Browning Lightning series ( about $ 1,600 ) are good solid long term guns. All 4 of those are solid long term field guns / my personal bias is for the Browning Citori models. There are a lot of used guns around / for all 4 mfg's - for $ 300 - $ 500 less than new...that are good buys. As an example, Browning Citori Lightning field gun ( in 12 or 20ga, sold new in 1988 for about $ 750. Today that same gun, used, in good condition is still worth $ 1,000 - $ 1,250 even if its had 20,000 shells thru it. ------------------ I think the Savage is retailing for around $ 600. I don't know who is making them .... there are a lot of O/U's these days retailing under $1,000... Remington, Mossberg, etc ....but generally they're all short term guns / hit and miss on whether you get a decent amount of usage out of them with no problems. If you're only going to put 200 - 500 shells a year thru it / most of these guns will hold up for 5 years or so. But they won't retain any resale value to speak of. |
September 18, 2009, 06:20 PM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 23, 2008
Location: SoCal
Posts: 6,442
|
+1 to BigJimP's and oneounceload's responses.
Do you recall if you were looking at the newish Milano O/U (MSRP $1,714) imported from the Brescia Valley of Northern Italy, or a Savage (Stevens) 512 Gold Wing (MSRP $699)? I'm guessing, if it was at a NRA banquet, then they where showing off their new Milano. Typically, a 512 doesn't get much more than a ho-hum reaction. Obviously, these guns are aimed a two different markets. |
September 18, 2009, 06:25 PM | #5 |
Junior member
Join Date: April 18, 2008
Location: N. Central Florida
Posts: 8,518
|
A nice used Browning, Beretta, or SKB can be found in a field version for around $1,000 that will last you and your kids and their kids through grouse seasons. IME, Ruger quality has been hit and miss. Are you looking for single or double triggers?
|
September 21, 2009, 10:11 AM | #6 |
Junior Member
Join Date: September 14, 2009
Posts: 5
|
20ga O/U Search
I bought a Remington SPR 310 O/U a little over a year ago for $500. They're made in Russia, and they're very well made at that. Selective single trigger, choke tubes (not Rem Chokes, but Trulock makes some for SPR's). It was stiff as heck until I got about a thousand rounds through it, about half of which hit clays (so the gun must be at fault somehow!).
|
September 21, 2009, 10:56 AM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 19, 2008
Posts: 4,678
|
Unless you're willing to look/buy a used gun, you can't go wrong with either the Savage 512 Gold Wing or the Mossberg Silver Reserve, each selling for around $550 - $600, less than half the cost of the high-priced spread.
. Last edited by PetahW; September 21, 2009 at 11:03 AM. |
September 21, 2009, 01:38 PM | #8 | |
Junior member
Join Date: April 18, 2008
Location: N. Central Florida
Posts: 8,518
|
Quote:
And before someone starts wanking how "us regular folks aren't in that stratosphere" - a lot of folks are and choose to buy something that not only looks nice, but functions flawlessly for the task at hand |
|
|
|