Old school blue and walnut o/u?

Grouser1865 · December 18, 2021, 08:11 PM

Just an old salt looking for a traditional deep blued and walnut, small gauge over under for upland birds. I am relying on my 1928 VH which should tell you the era that I come from. I’d like a small gauge o/u but will not buy the finish or horrible machine engraving that B and B offer as standard on their field guns. The closest I’ve found is the current Winchester 101 but it is available only in 12 gauge. If it were available in a 20 or 28 it would be perfectly fine. I’m not averse to spending money but it would need to be a manufacturer with a strong presence in the USA for parts and service. I’m asking her because I’d prefer not to go swim in the used swamp if I can avoid it. If it must be used, there are plenty of options (Superposed, Charles Daly, Beretta BL…, blued Red Label, original 101,…) but I’d like to first ask if I am unaware of any new models.
Thanks everyone,
Ed

HKFanNC · December 18, 2021, 08:29 PM

I own a CZ, 20ga, OU.

It’s Made in Turkey but supported by CZ. I got my model, which I don’t remember, for just under $1K OTD.

EDIT: It was the Wingshooter Elite

As for support…my neighbor bought the same gun 2 weeks before I did. He got it home and while showing it to me, we noticed a small flaw in the bluing. He contact CZ customer support, got a RMA, sent it in and got a new gun within 10 days.

That impressed me enough to buy my own CZ.

Hope that helps you in some way. Good Luck in your search!!

Steve

JasoninSD · December 18, 2021, 09:44 PM

Grouser,

I'm like you, I like the classics too. My favorite pheasant gun is a 1910 LC Smith in 16. But last year I bought a Franchi Instinct SL in 16 and it serves well on the days I don't want to take the LC. It has an aluminum receiver but if you want blue steel, they have the Instinct L version.

If you are looking for an older gun, they can often be had in decent shape. The Weatherby Orion is a good option as well as the SKBs and the Charles Daly or Brownings. The Winchester 101 is nice but they are generally on the heavy side.

Jason

jaguarxk120 · December 20, 2021, 07:10 PM

Just as one guy says on another board.
"Life is too short to hunt with a ugly gun."
Better wood and great bluing go a long way
to making a hunt enjoyable.

hammie · December 20, 2021, 08:07 PM

@Grouser: I know this is a stupid question, but who is "B and B" (whom you abhor)?

Second: What is your budget? How much are you willing to spend?

stinkeypete · December 21, 2021, 10:08 AM

If I had $4,000 that I could justify spending on a shotgun, the Fabarms Autumn would be high (very high) on my list.

Ricklin · December 21, 2021, 10:15 AM

Beretta and Browning are B and B in shotgun circles.

Darn few serious clay shooters dislike both.

bamaranger · December 21, 2021, 11:05 AM

Didn't Ruger make blued versions of the Red Label? I think the Rugers are plain sided, some of them anyhow. I've heard complaints on the Red Label from high volume clay bird shooters, but I'd think one would hold up just fine as a bird gun.

FITASC · December 21, 2021, 03:14 PM

A lot depends on your budget; CSMC makes a very nice O/U, but it is a tad pricey. Both Browning and Beretta make versions that are plain with minimal engraving. Personally, I had a Ruger in 28; I wouldn't touch one of those at all; there is NO support from Ruger for them and frankly, the quality sucks.
B Rizzini makes some some round body O/Us as does Ceasar Guerini - both have excellent support here in the US

bamaranger · December 22, 2021, 11:41 AM

With no personal experience on the Red Label I will thus moderate my previous endorsement. My pal that did stock work for years for clay bird shooters had made the comment regards durability and high round counts, but we both speculated that a Red Label would hold up with average field use. I have a couple of Ruger rifles that Ruger no longer supports and that has been a disappointment, I was not aware they had relegated their O/U to the same fate.

I've wanted a 20 ga Red Label since they first came out (and were less than $500).

December 18, 2021, 08:11 PM	#1
Grouser1865 Junior Member Join Date: November 4, 2019 Posts: 10	Old school blue and walnut o/u? Just an old salt looking for a traditional deep blued and walnut, small gauge over under for upland birds. I am relying on my 1928 VH which should tell you the era that I come from. I’d like a small gauge o/u but will not buy the finish or horrible machine engraving that B and B offer as standard on their field guns. The closest I’ve found is the current Winchester 101 but it is available only in 12 gauge. If it were available in a 20 or 28 it would be perfectly fine. I’m not averse to spending money but it would need to be a manufacturer with a strong presence in the USA for parts and service. I’m asking her because I’d prefer not to go swim in the used swamp if I can avoid it. If it must be used, there are plenty of options (Superposed, Charles Daly, Beretta BL…, blued Red Label, original 101,…) but I’d like to first ask if I am unaware of any new models. Thanks everyone, Ed

December 18, 2021, 08:29 PM	#2
HKFanNC Member Join Date: May 17, 2014 Posts: 25	Old school blue and walnut o/u? I own a CZ, 20ga, OU. It’s Made in Turkey but supported by CZ. I got my model, which I don’t remember, for just under $1K OTD. EDIT: It was the Wingshooter Elite As for support…my neighbor bought the same gun 2 weeks before I did. He got it home and while showing it to me, we noticed a small flaw in the bluing. He contact CZ customer support, got a RMA, sent it in and got a new gun within 10 days. That impressed me enough to buy my own CZ. Hope that helps you in some way. Good Luck in your search!! Steve Last edited by HKFanNC; December 18, 2021 at 08:45 PM.

December 21, 2021, 10:08 AM	#6
stinkeypete Senior Member Join Date: July 22, 2010 Location: Madison, Wisconsin Posts: 1,293	If I had $4,000 that I could justify spending on a shotgun, the Fabarms Autumn would be high (very high) on my list. __________________ My book "The Pheasant Hunter's Action Adventure Cookbook" is now on Amazon. Tall tales, hunting tips, butchering from bird to the freezer, and recipes.

December 21, 2021, 10:15 AM	#7
Ricklin Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2008 Location: SW Washington state Posts: 2,013	Beretta and Browning are B and B in shotgun circles. Darn few serious clay shooters dislike both. __________________ ricklin Freedom is not free

December 21, 2021, 11:05 AM	#8
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,312	Ruger Didn't Ruger make blued versions of the Red Label? I think the Rugers are plain sided, some of them anyhow. I've heard complaints on the Red Label from high volume clay bird shooters, but I'd think one would hold up just fine as a bird gun.

December 18, 2021, 09:44 PM	#3
JasoninSD Member Join Date: March 21, 2006 Posts: 86	Grouser, I'm like you, I like the classics too. My favorite pheasant gun is a 1910 LC Smith in 16. But last year I bought a Franchi Instinct SL in 16 and it serves well on the days I don't want to take the LC. It has an aluminum receiver but if you want blue steel, they have the Instinct L version. If you are looking for an older gun, they can often be had in decent shape. The Weatherby Orion is a good option as well as the SKBs and the Charles Daly or Brownings. The Winchester 101 is nice but they are generally on the heavy side. Jason

December 20, 2021, 07:10 PM	#4
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,620	Just as one guy says on another board. "Life is too short to hunt with a ugly gun." Better wood and great bluing go a long way to making a hunt enjoyable.

December 20, 2021, 08:07 PM	#5
hammie Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2009 Location: Temple, TX Posts: 959	@Grouser: I know this is a stupid question, but who is "B and B" (whom you abhor)? Second: What is your budget? How much are you willing to spend?

December 21, 2021, 03:14 PM	#9
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,446	A lot depends on your budget; CSMC makes a very nice O/U, but it is a tad pricey. Both Browning and Beretta make versions that are plain with minimal engraving. Personally, I had a Ruger in 28; I wouldn't touch one of those at all; there is NO support from Ruger for them and frankly, the quality sucks. B Rizzini makes some some round body O/Us as does Ceasar Guerini - both have excellent support here in the US __________________ "I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only so long as) individual citizens give it a 'temporary license to exist'—in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy, you own the government—it doesn't own you."- Frank Zappa

December 22, 2021, 11:41 AM	#10
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,312	surprise With no personal experience on the Red Label I will thus moderate my previous endorsement. My pal that did stock work for years for clay bird shooters had made the comment regards durability and high round counts, but we both speculated that a Red Label would hold up with average field use. I have a couple of Ruger rifles that Ruger no longer supports and that has been a disappointment, I was not aware they had relegated their O/U to the same fate. I've wanted a 20 ga Red Label since they first came out (and were less than $500).