Help buying new o/u shotgun
- Thread starter muddy42
- Start date
I dont. I said I think a newer gun is more likely to be more reliable than a used side by side. I could buy a new turkish side by side but arguable that is a fairly small market now.
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
I'd say a new gun, going off how the world is run today , is less reliable than one made when people still cared.
tusker
Well-Known Member
I agree, I have a 687 20 bore that I have had for over 30 years and I love it. It has never let me down, which reminds me I really should get it serviced.Got the good news today my beloved 1980s Beretta S682X trap that does every discipline way better than my ability will be good with wider chokes for steel in due course.Get a good s/h Beretta, they are just an utter joy.
Tusker
Get one that fits from a reputable gun shop where they will spend the time with you. Then practice your mounting until it’s automatic and consistent. Fit us much more important than make, but the three big names - Browning, Beretta, Miroku will serve you and your budget well, especially used. I have had many many different guns and now prefer an older Miroku 7000 Grade One - £600-700. I don’t shoot clays like I used to as it’s 3x more expensive now and the cost is on,y going to up, so I can’t justify a row of lovely O/U that would rarely get used now. I have a Beretta 692 with lovely wood that is now a cabinet queen so that will be sold or traded soon - a shame but moving with the times.
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tackb
Well-Known Member
this is great advice , i fall into the browning camp - nothing wrong with beretta but they just don't feel right to me whereas browning does ?
£3k will get you a very nice O/U so take your time and find one that you like and points well for you , i would be inclined towards browning/miroku or beretta for ease of parts if you ever needed any ?
theres a lot of niche advice on this thread suggesting some weird and wonderful old stuff which is lovely but with your requirements i think it's not perhaps the way to go ?
you want shorter barrels on your gun (28'') i think this will allow you to find a bargain since by and large longer barrels are more popular now
Scarpa
Well-Known Member
Also, read up on fit. I'd had shotguns before when I bought mine, in the shop when mounting with my eyes shut I could open them and be perfectly aligned along the barrel, it just felt natural to me and fitted in all the right places, stock length was fine for a 5' 9" medium build man. I'd also advise going for the gun that excites you, you won't regret it years later. I got a Silver Pigeon 3 sporter but despite being short of cash I found one of the limited editions (one of 500 numbered) with extra engraving and better wood. I got a great discount and ended up paying only £1950 new, these days I've seen some still selling second hand for the same price. I've put about 15000 cartridges through it with no issues at all. There are so many great manufacturers to choose from, not many bad guns about.
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Lots of good "everyday" O/U's for that money that meet all your requirements. Get yourself into a decent RFD and handle as many as possible.
Browning 525
Beretta silver pigeon
Ceasar Guruni tempino
Mirokou MK70
Also loads of decent low use shotguns on dealers selves
Browning 525
Beretta silver pigeon
Ceasar Guruni tempino
Mirokou MK70
Also loads of decent low use shotguns on dealers selves
Hook'N'Bullet
Well-Known Member
IMO, stick with the 3 Bs. Beretta, Browning and Benelli. Tried and true, they'll be better quality and you'll have an easier time selling them on.
Pretty much all new guns these days are reliable. If reliability is key for you, then stick with the big makers where parts will be available.
As for which particular gun, then that's personal choice and you should handle as many as possible and if you narrow it down, see if you can get to use them ideally. If I was forced to to make a specific choice then I'd have to point out that the Beretta Silver Pigeon is by far the best seller for a reason. But, as you can read on here, no shotgun suits everyone.
As for which particular gun, then that's personal choice and you should handle as many as possible and if you narrow it down, see if you can get to use them ideally. If I was forced to to make a specific choice then I'd have to point out that the Beretta Silver Pigeon is by far the best seller for a reason. But, as you can read on here, no shotgun suits everyone.
Having used every type of shotgun I found I favoured double trigger 28" barrel sbs ejectors. However my favourite Hellis dating from the '50s is about due for retirement so having tried a fair few options I settled on a Browning B725 'game'. Decent finish, nice balance, and reportedly reliable (except for dissolving- but easily replaceable- firing pins). 3" chamber, multi choke and steel proofed it has become my go to shotgun for everything (except squirrels which I use a moderated 20b Bettetta auto for). It also has a mechanical trigger mechanism which copes with a 'quirk' in my release style that means a lot of recoil activated single triggers fail for me.
Must admit to never having got on with Beretta OU's, they just never 'feel' right to me.
Must admit to never having got on with Beretta OU's, they just never 'feel' right to me.
ColinJ
Well-Known Member
How long are you going to keep it? If you are going to sell it again then stick with the established names like Browning or Beretta. There are some very good Turkish guns but they don’t hold their value 2nd hand.
I’d be looking for a 2nd hand Beretta 687 Silver Pigeon 30” multi choke with an adjustable stock. You’ll never have a problem selling it in a few years.
I’d be looking for a 2nd hand Beretta 687 Silver Pigeon 30” multi choke with an adjustable stock. You’ll never have a problem selling it in a few years.
Eiretilady
Member
I also am a sxs fan boy, but with regards to the over under, fit is more important than a specific brand ( traditionally a sxs is shot differently) folks are not wrong with suggesting browning, miroku and beretta....Good brand and its important to think about resale value.....anything Turkish is worthless.....but they do shoot so horses for courses. Get the shooting ground your going to to see what fits you and have a go on as many as possible. Good luck 
And if trying a gun for fit and having had a lomng car journey arrive a good half an hour early AT LEAST and sit and have a coffee so that your shoulders can relax back to your normal posture!
Buy what ever you finally decide to go for, but then look at fit. speaking as a non expert, fit makes a huge difference. Hence the try before you buy. Some guns fit better than others.
Couldnt tell you which is the best. I have a browning cynergy and like it, but it spends most of its time in the cabinet. I have a hatsan escort semi and that is also great. Worthless, but great.
Couldnt tell you which is the best. I have a browning cynergy and like it, but it spends most of its time in the cabinet. I have a hatsan escort semi and that is also great. Worthless, but great.
Pick a point 25m away, shut your peepers then mount the gun briskly, open eyes and you should be looking straight down the rib. Old farmer / shotgun dealer taught me that before I knew what a
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