The Firing Line Forums

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

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old February 1, 2023, 03:09 PM   #26
GE-Minigun
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 26, 2008
Posts: 240
Weatherby...
GE-Minigun is offline  
Old February 1, 2023, 04:20 PM   #27
FITASC
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 6, 2014
Posts: 6,432
To the latter question re: Extended chokes. Easier to change without a tool; immediately lets you see what is in the barrel without looking down the muzzle to count notches or have to remove to determine; Adds a little extra weight right at the end - many like that as it can tend to add smoothness to the swing (MOI thing) ALL of my shotguns that have choke tube have extended ones. Some came that way from the factory, some were bought afterwards from Briley or Trulock.

For casual shooting, and by that I mean less than 1K per year of target loads, any of the higher end Turkish guns from a reputable company (such as the CZ) should be finished decently, have decent barrel regulation and function well enough. Just do not expect top tier target gun longevity in the hundreds of thousands of rounds.
Good luck in your search.
__________________
"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
FITASC is offline  
Old February 2, 2023, 09:36 AM   #28
darkgael
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 9, 2006
Location: Homes in Brooklyn, NY and in Pennsylvania.
Posts: 5,473
I bought a Weatherby Orion 20 gauge (SKB) about 15 years ago. It was a used gun and in good shape. Got my first ruffed grouse with that gun. I have it still. I have shot quite a few rounds of ATA trap and some sporting clays. The gun works just fine even when I do not.
Recommended.
__________________
“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 February 3, 2023, 11:41 AM   #29
jmr40
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 15, 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 10,792
Quote:
My opinion is that the best budget over and under costing less than $1,000 is a semi-auto.
I'll go as far as saying that you won't find a decent semi under $1000. Expect to spend somewhere around $1000-$1300 for a decent semi.

Not O/U, but SXS's for me. I used to really want a decent SXS. Nothing fancy, just something dependable that balanced well. I tried several and eventually gave up. Everything I tried was a disappointment and finally just started using semi's. I came to the conclusion that performance trumped aesthetics.

Quote:
I have handled my share of semiauto hunting shotguns. They swing odd.

I have handled a few over/unders. They all swung basically ok to me
Keep trying.

There is nothing magical about having 2 barrels and how they swing. There are an awful lot of cheap doubles, (SXS and O/U) that handle like a fence post. Lots of semis that work great.

While 28" barrels are the most common length, the longer receiver of a semi or pump doesn't need that much barrel to handle well. I like no more than 26" on a semi and find that goes a long way towards leveling the field in how they handle. It's not barrel length, but overall length.

Most serious clays shooters use O/U shotguns approaching 5 figures. Most casual clays shooters, and a lot of serious clays shooters choose semi's. There is a reason for that.
__________________
"If you're still doing things the same way you were doing them 10 years ago, you're doing it wrong"

Winston Churchill
jmr40 is offline  
Old February 4, 2023, 12:23 AM   #30
Nathan
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 1, 2001
Posts: 6,285
Well, I found an excellent Browning 525 with some room in the price. It has everything I was looking for except perfect condition and extended choke tubes.

I made what I thought was an unreasonably low offer….all I could afford….and they countered for a few $$ more. So I bought it.

I had this whole strategy of tough negotiation on 3 different guns. Well, my first(and most heavily discounted) offer was basically accepted.

The only bad thing is I never got to prove to myself if a high end Turkish gun is good enough!
Nathan is offline  
Old February 4, 2023, 11:07 AM   #31
MarkCO
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 21, 1998
Location: Colorado, USA
Posts: 4,295
Well done Nathan.

Now we need photos of you shooting it at some clays.
__________________
Good Shooting, MarkCO
www.CarbonArms.us
MarkCO is offline  
Old February 4, 2023, 06:28 PM   #32
GE-Minigun
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 26, 2008
Posts: 240
Carlson’s has any choke you could want
GE-Minigun is offline  
Old February 5, 2023, 07:10 AM   #33
bobn
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 30, 2006
Location: midwest
Posts: 1,098
congrats. another carlson choke guy. light modified does me.
btw i gathered up all the ithica pumps and rem semis i had and my citori was paid for. lol.
bobn is offline  
Old February 5, 2023, 04:15 PM   #34
eastbank
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 7, 2008
Location: pa.
Posts: 2,450
don,t worry your browning will out last a boat load of turkish shotguns.
eastbank is offline  
Old February 5, 2023, 05:30 PM   #35
FITASC
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 6, 2014
Posts: 6,432
Briley, Trulock, Carlson's, Pure Gold and a litany of others make chokes for your Browning
__________________
"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

Last edited by FITASC; February 5, 2023 at 06:13 PM. Reason: ten thumb typing
FITASC is offline  
Old February 5, 2023, 09:35 PM   #36
Nathan
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 1, 2001
Posts: 6,285






A few pics of the new fun gun. I’m not worthy! I detail stripped the ignition system, cleaned and lubricated. I don’t believe it was shot too much.

Put it back with weaker springs in the ejectors so it extracts only now. I prefer that for target shooting.

Can someone tell me why ejectors are all the rage?

Last edited by Nathan; February 5, 2023 at 09:42 PM.
Nathan is offline  
Old February 6, 2023, 10:36 AM   #37
GE-Minigun
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 26, 2008
Posts: 240
I hate with a passion "picking" the hulls out of the action. I tuck the stock under my right arm, hit the lever with the fat part of my thumb, while holding the forearm with left hand...gun breaks open and I catch the empty hulls about 6-8" out of the gun, drop them in the hull bag, grab two loaded shells and in they go. In the hundreds of thousands of times I've done it, I'm pretty sure I can count on both hands the number of hulls I've dropped. Everybody does it different.
GE-Minigun is offline  
Old February 6, 2023, 12:25 PM   #38
Nathan
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 1, 2001
Posts: 6,285
I think my prosthetic on my left arm leaves me sure I’ll drop many on the ground, but I can see how 2 handed folks could gather them.

I’m just wondering why there isn’t a ready made spring that pops them out about 1/2 to 1”!
Nathan is offline  
Old February 6, 2023, 03:45 PM   #39
Blindstitch
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 14, 2013
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Posts: 2,685
I did the same as you with the weaker springs on my citori. It had a lot of spring to it and everyone seemed to be like can't you catch them. There's no reason to modify that gun.

I mean it was springs and totally reversable. I like the mod and it works great for me. If you like the look of hulls shooting back out of your gun then go for it but I like them right there waiting for me.

My modification I found a page and I believe the suggestion was 1911 springs.
https://www.retrievertraining.net/th...mod-gdg.70746/
__________________
NRA Lifetime Member
Blindstitch is offline  
Old February 7, 2023, 07:28 PM   #40
FITASC
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 6, 2014
Posts: 6,432
Quote:
Can someone tell me why ejectors are all the rage?
Shoot flurries, driven birds/targets, etc. besides, ejectors are no issue to catch the empties in your hand as you open the gun. I have shot over 500K rounds through my guns and catch me empties - even the ones I do not reload - so they can either be reloaded or thrown in the trash
__________________
"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
FITASC is offline  
Old February 7, 2023, 07:31 PM   #41
FITASC
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 6, 2014
Posts: 6,432
Quote:
I hate with a passion "picking" the hulls out of the action. I tuck the stock under my right arm, hit the lever with the fat part of my thumb, while holding the forearm with left hand...gun breaks open and I catch the empty hulls about 6-8" out of the gun, drop them in the hull bag, grab two loaded shells and in they go. In the hundreds of thousands of times I've done it, I'm pretty sure I can count on both hands the number of hulls I've dropped. Everybody does it different.
Being LH, I do the same in a mirror image version.

If that proves too difficult, all one has to do is turn the gun somewhat sideways and open the gun close to your vest so they pop out, hit your vest in the stomach, and then you can place them in your vest or trash
__________________
"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
FITASC is offline  
Old February 7, 2023, 07:38 PM   #42
THEWELSHM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 20, 2015
Location: Brandon Fl
Posts: 236
I just bought a 28 " stoger condor 12 gage un used for $365.00 the company is owned by Benelli, which is owned by Beretta.. fit and finish great for the $.

Thewelshm
THEWELSHM is offline  
Old February 8, 2023, 08:50 AM   #43
GE-Minigun
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 26, 2008
Posts: 240
Another thing I've seen done...while opening the gun, place your index finger over the action at the centerline...hulls eject into your finger
GE-Minigun is offline  
Old February 8, 2023, 10:31 AM   #44
Nathan
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 1, 2001
Posts: 6,285
@THEWELSHM ….good to hear your Condor is treating you well. I looked at those, but several couldn’t be opened or closed without excessive force. I wonder if a good cleaning and som3 use makes this ok??
Nathan is offline  
Old February 11, 2023, 09:44 PM   #45
The Happy kaboomer
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 14, 2009
Posts: 219
Yildiz is a good choice in you price range. For over 6 years I've been shooting 3 Yildiz O/U's. A 12 ga, a 20 ga and a 410 bore. I use them on doves, quail, rabbits, skeet and sporting clays. ALL Yildiz O/U 's come with ejectors and 5 choke tubes. You can get with steel or aluminum receivers The walnut on these guns is better than any standard grade Beretta or Browning.
The Happy kaboomer is offline  
Old February 14, 2023, 11:42 PM   #46
Nathan
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 1, 2001
Posts: 6,285
Quote:
Yildiz is a good choice….
I don’t know anything about these, but I read they are great stuff.

As you can see, I moved some investment money around, made a shrewd offer and a Browning ended up in my hand. It is a nice gun. Wood was in excellent condition for the price. I would bet the $750ish Yildiz wood would be as nice or nice.

On the Browning, build quality is exceptional, features and upgrades are a bit spartan, but there are many quality repair centers and years of parts availability. Triggers are 4.5 lbs and quite well matched. Gun fit on me is good. It feels good and pops into a consistent mount with little effort. That said, my mount needs some work. I couldn’t ask for more.

Yildiz needs to be sold outside of Academy or Academy needs to expand. ATA has similar issues.
Nathan is offline  
Old February 15, 2023, 05:45 AM   #47
eastbank
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 7, 2008
Location: pa.
Posts: 2,450
you did well getting the browning grasshopper.
eastbank is offline  
Reply

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 05:27 AM.


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 0.08142 seconds with 10 queries