Still Looking for that Over/Under for under $1000

[rickweed]

I have kind of whittled my search for a nice O/U for less than a thousand bucks to the CZ Redhead, the Mossburg Silver Reserve, the Traditions Field II, and the Sparten SPR 310. (I picked these because they all have a silver type receiver which I like the looks of) They seem to be in the $600-$900 +/- range in cost. I have seen all but the CZ but have heard good reports on them. Probably will use it for pheasant or some skeet. Need some help here deciding.  :roll:

[myronman3]

the best over unders i have found for the money are the ithaca's made my skb.  what  a gun!  i picked up a nice 20 o/u for less than i paid for a new cz ringneck 28; and if i  would have found the ithaca before the cz,  i wouldnt have bought the cz.  they are that nice.    i am including a link to  a few auctions,  just so you know what i am talking about.   i have no interest in any way with these auctions.   i am just using them to post some good pictures for you.  

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=44030363

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=46517579

i love mine.  it is a 20 gauge, and light as a feather.  very nice gun,  a real quality piece.  

that is the advice i have.

[Graybeard]

Those old SKB's were pretty nice guns and in the small gauges didn't hurt so bad. My friend's 12 kicked the face so hard that after a round of skeet it looked like he'd been punched several times by a boxer. My 20 wasn't as bad but I wasn't able to go a full 100 rounds at skeet with it before my face felt and nearly looked like raw hamburger. The 28s and 410s had no such problem and were just plain nice. After Ithaca stopped importing them they came in under the SKB name for awhile longer and were made in a wider variety of price ranges and styles. You definitely don't want one in 12 ga tho.

Of those guns you've listed the CZ imported Huglu is in my opinion the best of them. The Mossberg tho is a lot of gun for the money it's a real sleeper based solely on handling it in the gun store. I've never shot one or spoken with anyone who owns one. The Spartan's are so butt ugly there is no way I could own one of those ungainly monsters. I'd not even consider one for free if me using it was part of the deal. I've never seen one of the Traditions and don't even know who makes them.

I'd go with the CZ or Mossberg if I were you. If the silver look is what attracts you tho take a look at the Ruger Red Label if you can find a used one it should be in your price range.

[myronman3]

graybeard does bring up a good point about the way the ithacas recoil.  if i were going to shoot it alot,  it wouldnt be a good gun for that because of the way it recoils.  i shot it a few times and noticed the recoil most on my cheek.  i did think,  that if this were a 12 i would be really hurting.   and if i were to shoot it extensively in one day,  it wouldnt be a good gun for that.  but for carrying in the thickets all day, and snapping up to my shoulder for 20-40 shots on game,  perfect.  like i said, this gun is light as a feather.  

so i guess to answer your question better....what gauge are you leaning toward?

[msorenso]

For looks and price the traditions is hard to beats silver reserve darn nice too...But the traditions wow, i am impressed!

[Star1pup]

Our club raffled off a 12 gauge Silver Reserve last year and a 20 gauge this year.  I didn't get to shoot them, but did a lot of handling taking them back & forth to meetings.  Felt like a lot of gun for the money.  I really liked the 20 gauge.

[basdjs]

I've shot an SKB 500 12 ga. mod./ I.C. for about 35 years and its the first shotgun out of the case when I'm hunting any upland birds or trap and skeet. It's been flawless, still has the original recoil pad on it ,and I've never had a problem with recoil, even with trap.  I'm no fan of recoil either, which is why all of my rifles are .260 or lower caliber and I even use SIMMS pads on the Encore and a couple of others. All of the older 500 and 600 SKB's are chambered for 2 3/4".  I put my Browning away this last duck season and went to the SKB with 2 3/4" Impact shells.  Such a great combination, I'll stay with the double.  

To get to a 3" O/U for ducks and geese, I had a lot of interest in the CZ Redhead or Canvasback too based on what I'm reading about them.  However, I had a chance to handle the Redhead in a gun shop 2 weeks ago and it didn't shoulder well for me at all.  It was a nice gun but I was a little disappointed in the craftmanship of the gun as well,  although each gun may be made by a different "craftsman" and the next one could be great.  I'm still going to look at the Canvasback if I can ever find one to handle.  Looked at the Mossberg as well and liked it less than the CZ.  My first interest, if I can find a good deal on a used one to take into the duck swamp, will be an SKB model 505 which is 3" with choke tubes.  

I've seen 500's and 600's at gun shows for the same price or lower than the CZ's.  If I'm not mistaken the Weatherby O/U's are made by SKB so a used one of their entry level models is a possibility.   Obviously, regardless of the manufacturer, the gun has to fit you well when you throw it up and feel good in your hands.  If it does, you'll have confidence in shooting it.

[the rifleman]

I too like the look of the Silver Reserve. It had decent wood, comes with choke tubes, and felt well balanced (12GA).

Another choice may be a used Browning Citori. They are a pretty solid gun, and can sometimes be found under a grand.

[7.62X63]

I had always thought I might like an O/U shotgun but was always kind of scared(the ol' you get what you pay for thing)and I agree with some of the cheaper guns looking about as appealing as a cinder block!I had admiring the TRADITIONS FIELD HUNTER II at a shop in town for a while,when I went in last fall and they were getting rid of them.I bought the last one  he had for $450.00(12GA) NIB!These guns are made in Italy by STEPHANO FAUSTI which is supposed to be a well known and experienced firm.The B.B. list this gun for roughly $750-900 depending on condition and model.I thought even if I never shot it,I wasnt getting "hurt" in the deal.The only thing I dont like are any extra choke tubes are about $25.00 a piece!!
7.62x63

[texagun]

Do yourself a favor and check out the Weatherby Orion Upland, priced at around $1000 around here.  It is made by SKB and has an excellent reputation.