The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Hide > The Dave McCracken Memorial Shotgun Forum

Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old April 8, 2011, 05:14 PM   #1
gaseousclay
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 4, 2010
Posts: 1,210
who makes an affordable O/U shotgun?

It'd be nice to have something to shoot trap with, but I can't afford a $1500+ O/U shotgun right now. so who makes an affordable ($800 or less), but decent quality O/U shotgun for someone looking to get into occasional trap shooting?
gaseousclay is offline  
Old April 8, 2011, 05:26 PM   #2
Rob228
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 29, 2010
Location: Hampstead NC
Posts: 1,450
Might be able to catch a good used Browning, I managed to get a deal similar to this, also on gunbroker, though this one looks to be in better condition than mine was.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=223143119
Rob228 is offline  
Old April 8, 2011, 06:07 PM   #3
IowaYoungGun
Member
 
Join Date: April 7, 2011
Location: Iowa
Posts: 31
There are some pretty decent O/U scatterguns at Dick's Sporting Goods. They also have a 30 day like it or return it policy which is really nice!
IowaYoungGun is offline  
Old April 8, 2011, 06:29 PM   #4
BigJimP
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 23, 2005
Posts: 13,195
You can sucessfully shoot Trap singles with most any gun that fits you well / a pump or a semi-auto even ...but since you asked about an O/U ....

Honestly, a dedicated Trap gun / a good one - is going to cost you more than $ 1,500. One of the most dominant - dedicated Trap guns - and affordable - and still versatile for Trap Singles, Trap Doubles and Continental Trap where you can shoot 2 shells - is the Browning Citoir XT Trap with 32" barrels / but new they're in the $3,000 price range.

http://www.browning.com/products/cat...-comb-firearms

However, there are a lot of used Citori XT's out there / since its been a very dominant gun in that market for at least 20 yrs...( and I don't remember when the first XT's came on the market ) ... The 30" barrels on the XT's have fallen out of fashion these days ...and I see a few of them used / at very good prices.

Most - if not all - of the O/U's in the under $ 1,500 market have angled combs on them ( field combs ) - and they can be a real problem getting them to fit properly / and they don't shoot high enough to let you float a bird over the bead on a "Trap" gun. The XT's have a parallel comb / parallel to the rib ....and then if you go with the adj version / you can adjust the gun to fit you ...and so it hits with a 70%/30% pattern above and below point of impact or 60%/40% or whatever you prefer.

I used a Browning BPS pump gun for many years - when I started shooting Trap casually ...and ran lots of 25's with it / put a comb pad on it - to level out the comb ...until I could afford the guns I really wanted. Not that you can't shoot Trap with an O/U version of the BPS angled stock / like the Browning O/U Lightning series ( where you can find used ones in the $ 600 - $ 800 price range / made in the mid to late 80's ) ...very solid guns / and ok for casual Trap shooting as well ... ( a little light / no adjustability / but ok ).

So picking the next gun -- kind of depends on where you are on that curve ...do you really want a "Trap" gun ....or a gun you can shoot "Trap" with ...where a gun with a field comb might work for you for several years...
BigJimP is offline  
Old April 8, 2011, 07:36 PM   #5
zippy13
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 23, 2008
Location: SoCal
Posts: 6,442
Along Big Jim's Browning vein, there's the venerable Browning BT-99 single barrel trap gun that can be had for less than $1,500.
zippy13 is offline  
Old April 8, 2011, 07:46 PM   #6
seansean1444
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 28, 2010
Location: ithaca, new york (home of the ithaca shotguns!)
Posts: 395
i have a savage stevens 512 goldwing o/u and love it. cant say enough good things about it. brand new at dicks sporting goods for 615 bucks. highly recommend for trap
seansean1444 is offline  
Old April 8, 2011, 11:43 PM   #7
warbirdlover
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 13, 2009
Location: central Wisconsin
Posts: 2,324
You might laugh at me (many others have) but I bought a Stoeger Condor O/U and it is a nice shotgun for very cheap. You have to look them over good as some have better wood fit then others. They're made in Brazil and much better then the cheap Mossberg and other O/U's we're seeing.

http://www.stoegerindustries.com/fir...ger_condor.php
warbirdlover is offline  
Old April 9, 2011, 07:29 AM   #8
gaseousclay
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 4, 2010
Posts: 1,210
Quote:
You can sucessfully shoot Trap singles with most any gun that fits you well / a pump or a semi-auto even ...but since you asked about an O/U ....

Honestly, a dedicated Trap gun / a good one - is going to cost you more than $ 1,500. One of the most dominant - dedicated Trap guns - and affordable - and still versatile for Trap Singles, Trap Doubles and Continental Trap where you can shoot 2 shells - is the Browning Citoir XT Trap with 32" barrels / but new they're in the $3,000 price range.

http://www.browning.com/products/cat...-comb-firearms

However, there are a lot of used Citori XT's out there / since its been a very dominant gun in that market for at least 20 yrs...( and I don't remember when the first XT's came on the market ) ... The 30" barrels on the XT's have fallen out of fashion these days ...and I see a few of them used / at very good prices.

Most - if not all - of the O/U's in the under $ 1,500 market have angled combs on them ( field combs ) - and they can be a real problem getting them to fit properly / and they don't shoot high enough to let you float a bird over the bead on a "Trap" gun. The XT's have a parallel comb / parallel to the rib ....and then if you go with the adj version / you can adjust the gun to fit you ...and so it hits with a 70%/30% pattern above and below point of impact or 60%/40% or whatever you prefer.

I used a Browning BPS pump gun for many years - when I started shooting Trap casually ...and ran lots of 25's with it / put a comb pad on it - to level out the comb ...until I could afford the guns I really wanted. Not that you can't shoot Trap with an O/U version of the BPS angled stock / like the Browning O/U Lightning series ( where you can find used ones in the $ 600 - $ 800 price range / made in the mid to late 80's ) ...very solid guns / and ok for casual Trap shooting as well ... ( a little light / no adjustability / but ok ).

So picking the next gun -- kind of depends on where you are on that curve ...do you really want a "Trap" gun ....or a gun you can shoot "Trap" with ...where a gun with a field comb might work for you for several years...
when I went trap shooting for the first time last Fall I used both a 12ga pump shotgun and an O/U. unfortunately, something was wrong with the pump (maybe the barrel?) and it was causing my shots to go a foot under the target. even the trap instructor couldn't hit a moving target with it. so, the instructor let me borrow his O/U, which I believe was a Browning Citori, and it felt perfect in my hands, and I managed to hit 9 targets out of 25. my friend had a Weatherby O/U that looked pretty nice but I didn't get to experience using his gun at the time. I would gladly buy a Browning but they're incredibly expensive and I don't see myself shooting trap frequently, so I can't justify spending the money.

I suppose I could buy myself a gun to shoot trap, like a Browning BPS, that way i'd have an 'all-purpose' gun that I could use for hunting as well.
gaseousclay is offline  
Old April 9, 2011, 10:10 AM   #9
Jimbo-Indy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 27, 2008
Location: Owasso, OK
Posts: 334
I got a Stoger also, it's a Condor Competition. The main advantage over the standard Condor is an adjustable comb. Features 30" barrels, a wide rib and nicer wood than the standard. No, it's not a Browning, which I would love, but for new, out the door @ Dicks for $600, it's not bad. In full disclosure, I did have some problems with the stock not being inletted correctly which caused drag on the hammer spring = misfires and one of the trim pieces between the barrels came loose and had to be reattached. I like to tinker so I fixed these my self. Now it works just fine, patterns about 60/40 for me. Trigger is a little heavy but crisp. It should do for a few years to practice the basics while I save up money for a real quality gun.
Jimbo-Indy is offline  
Old April 9, 2011, 11:04 AM   #10
Vt.birdhunter
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 18, 2009
Posts: 637
Quote:
There are some pretty decent O/U scatterguns at Dick's Sporting Goods
Very true, I picked up a Franchi diamond there about 5 years and 5k rounds ago for $800 on sale. Its prettier than many, more expensive shotguns and points natural for me; love it.
Ive heard they make special, less expensive models such as the Diamond that are exclusive to Dicks. Good way to save some bucks and still end up with a nice O/U.
Be warned though, never before has a store been so aptly named Ive left the gun counter furious more than once, managers dont care.

Also...Baikal makes some great products, very inexpensive usually.
Vt.birdhunter is offline  
Old April 9, 2011, 10:00 PM   #11
big al hunter
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 12, 2011
Location: Washington state
Posts: 1,558
I purchased a new Kahn 12 ga o/u for $450 a few years ago. I have killed many ducks and clays with it. It does not have spring ejectors or anything fancy but the ducks and clays can't tell the difference and I don't mind that they are not there. But for less than half the cost of the fancy guns I have a nice balanced duck slayer that has become my go to for birds. But I still use my pump on occasion.
__________________
You can't fix stupid....however ignorance can be cured through education!
big al hunter is offline  
Old April 10, 2011, 06:24 AM   #12
hopper810
Member
 
Join Date: November 3, 2009
Location: East Tx
Posts: 60
Here's a link to a well written topic about the different price ranges of O/U's
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/view...?f=14&t=253741
__________________
Jerry
hopper810 is offline  
Old April 10, 2011, 08:34 AM   #13
oneounceload
Junior member
 
Join Date: April 18, 2008
Location: N. Central Florida
Posts: 8,518
The link Hopper posted should be saved over on the forum as well. It would give first timers some good food for thought
oneounceload is offline  
Old April 11, 2011, 05:48 AM   #14
darkgael
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 9, 2006
Location: Homes in Brooklyn, NY and in Pennsylvania.
Posts: 5,472
Trap

When I finally get a "real" Trap gun, it'll be a single (unsingle?). Or maybe a combo? Or maybe....? The sky is really the limit.
For now, I'm using a second hand Mossberg pump with a 30" FC barrel. I'm a slow learner and haven't gotten beyond 24 but that'll happen.
The old Mossy wasn't made to do this kind of thing, however, and with 5K shells through it in the last year, it's starting to act up.....bits are loosening.
Fitting....I put some spacers in to increase LOP and added a lace-on comb to the stock to raise my eye.
Great fun.
Pete
__________________
“Auto racing, bull fighting, and mountain climbing are the only real sports ... all others are games.” Ernest Hemingway ...
NRA Life Member
darkgael is offline  
Old April 11, 2011, 10:53 AM   #15
BigJimP
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 23, 2005
Posts: 13,195
A Browning BPS Hunter model ...is a good solid gun / and a gun you'll have long term. Even though I've moved on to some dedicated Trap and Skeet guns ....I still have the BPS's in both 12ga and 20ga that I bought in the late 1970's and they're still great guns.

When you say your instructor had a "Citori" ... the problem is, there are about 26 different Citori's ....and they all have pluses and minus in terms of being a dedicated "Trap" gun. Not all Citori's are adjustable / and not all of them are created equal in terms of how they fit .../the barrel to receiver connections are the same / and they're all very strong guns ...but some of them may be a poor choice.

Like others suggest - I'd stay away from a lot of the lowe end O/U's on the market / Browning and Beretta have long since set the price on what is a "good solid long term O/U" ...and to go below that price level ...gives you suspect metalurgy and sometimes some big time nightmares. But if you really want to go down that path - at least pick a gun that has a solid warranty - like the TriStar sold thru Cabelas with a 5 yr warranty.
BigJimP is offline  
Old April 11, 2011, 11:06 AM   #16
BigJimP
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 23, 2005
Posts: 13,195
The link to the essay by Jeff Hunter is interesting ...although I don't agree with some of his asessments on guns like Huglu ( which I think are junk ) ...

What isn't written there is why some of these guns are ok / and some of them just don't hold up ..... the quality of the internal components, the quality of the steel, the sturdiness or lack thereof of the barrel to receiver connection, is the point of impact on the barrels set to hit the same spot ( you'd be shocked to find out over 50% might not be - and some are way off ) ....my point is, its not just about fancy wood. The internals /and the steel matter ...

I'm a big Browning Citori fan - and have owned or shot every model of O/U they've made in the last 30 yrs ....but when we use the term "Citori" none of us know what we mean. As an example / the 625 series - is a beautiful gun - but it has way too much drop at heel and comb for many shooters. For me personally, the 425, 525, 625 series beats me up ( pushes the meat in my face against the cheek bone - bruising / breaking skin ) ...so its a horrible $3,000 mistake for me personally. Citori Lightning model -- is their entry level field gun ...and its a great gun / but again a lot of drop at heel and comb ... The guns I shoot Skeet with, sporting clays and bird hunt with is the Citori XS Skeet model with the adj comb in 30" barrels ....the gun I shoot Trap with is the Citori XT Trap in 32" barrels. I can shoot Skeet or Sporting with an XT Trap ...but at 32" barrels and almost 10lbs - its like swinging a big ole sewer pipe out there ...at fast moving left and right targets like sporting and skeet or bird hunting ....so its just not my best option for an all around gun ( and I'm 6'5" and 290 lbs ) ...but its just a little too big and clumsy for fast moving targets left and right vs Trap - where its a great gun.

In Mr Hunters essay - he uses the term Citori generically .../ and thats too general / there are too many models - and they're way too different to be that general in my opinion.
BigJimP is offline  
Old April 11, 2011, 12:08 PM   #17
hopper810
Member
 
Join Date: November 3, 2009
Location: East Tx
Posts: 60
You're right Big Jim,but for folks that that have little to no experience to draw from,I thought it might help those in the above category.At least a hint anyway.

And how many times does the question come up? A bunchso instead of having to repeat the same answer every time,put the link in a reply and go from there.

But it's all good,so break um all


Jerry
__________________
Jerry
hopper810 is offline  
Old April 11, 2011, 12:22 PM   #18
zippy13
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 23, 2008
Location: SoCal
Posts: 6,442
Quote:
Originally Posted by darkgael
I'm a slow learner and haven't gotten beyond 24 but that'll happen.
Pete, my friend, that's what I used to say about my jumpy little Winchester 101, .410 Skeet gun. Never could get a 25-straight with it. Twenty+ years later I got a tubed 12-ga and was soon broke the barrier with the .410-bore. Please, don't wait 20 years without admitting that you may have reached your plateau with the Mossy. Get a nice trap combo, your scorers will soar and you'll wish you'd changed sooner.
Of course, with all of your other shooting and loading, I don't know when you find time for trap.

Quote:
Originally Posted by BigJimP
The link to the essay by Jeff Hunter is interesting ...although I don't agree with some of his assessments on guns like Huglu ( which I think are junk ) …
My friend, we're of like minds here. I was curious to see what Hunter recommended for high end guns, and his answer was perfect:
I've got over $5000 to spend
Dude, why are you asking me? If you're spending this kind of jack, you already know what you want. If you don't know what you want, stick with an off-the-rack gun until you know what you want.
zippy13 is offline  
Old April 11, 2011, 01:47 PM   #19
BigJimP
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 23, 2005
Posts: 13,195
Hopper and Zippy ...you're both right .../..that link is a good place to start ...

As I get closer to retirement ( and I don't really want to work too hard ) ....I'm thinking of opening up a small shop ...that will do some gunsmithing ...and do a little bit of retail on used gun sales ( higher end used guns ) ....handguns and shotguns primarily ...stuff I know...

I hang out in some used gun shops now ....and its just amazing
BigJimP is offline  
Old April 12, 2011, 06:49 AM   #20
Radtechy
Junior Member
 
Join Date: April 12, 2011
Posts: 2
If you want to get your feet wet cheap get a pardner single shot open acrion from dicks form 130.00 then when your hooked save up for an o/u. I bought an 870 that I really won't use and wish I did that. Form 130 how can you go wrong for now. I got a 525 citori used and love it

Sent from my Droid Incredible using Tapatalk
Radtechy is offline  
Old April 12, 2011, 10:00 AM   #21
schmidty
Member
 
Join Date: April 12, 2011
Posts: 17
look through the walmart catalog you can order them from there. I saw a few in there the other day.
schmidty is offline  
Old April 12, 2011, 10:58 PM   #22
shooter1911
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 16, 2010
Location: DFW Area
Posts: 265
I found a Browning grade 1 hunter O/U that had good barrel lock up and the barrel finish was in good shape, but the stock was a wreck. I offered the guy $300 for the gun, and he took it. I paid $80 to have the stock refinished, and had the receiver and all small parts re-blued for $100. Then I had the stock fitted to me and installed a kick-eez pad for $45, and I now have a great hunting and skeet gun for about $525-$550 including some extra chokes I bought.

I personally would rather have a reworked Browning of Beretta than a cheaper foreign O/U.
shooter1911 is offline  
Old April 13, 2011, 05:39 AM   #23
hopper810
Member
 
Join Date: November 3, 2009
Location: East Tx
Posts: 60
Nice find Shooter,congrats
__________________
Jerry
hopper810 is offline  
Old April 13, 2011, 07:34 AM   #24
Radtechy
Junior Member
 
Join Date: April 12, 2011
Posts: 2
I prolly would have done the same. A browning is a browning that's it. I bought a used 525 citori 30inch sporting barely used. Great condition with all the parts and 5th chokes paid 1500 the gun retailed for about 3000 new. Everyone said I got a good deal so far

Sent from my Droid Incredible using Tapatalk

Last edited by Radtechy; April 13, 2011 at 07:50 AM.
Radtechy is offline  
Old March 11, 2015, 07:04 AM   #25
qwed1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: April 9, 2009
Location: Florida
Posts: 2
Affordable O/U

I recently purchased a Huglu (pronounced Hoo-Loo) 12 gauge o/u model 103FE from Gunbroker for a reasonable price. This gun is normally listed for $1200 - $1500. I paid around half of that. Check it out. This is a highly rated Turkish built shotgun.....check out their website at: http://www.huglu.com.tr/
qwed1 is offline  
Closed Thread

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:21 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.10027 seconds with 7 queries