Tips for buying a used O/U shotgun

[bat119]

I'm looking at buying an O/U shotgun primarily for upland game price range $1000 -$2000. I'm swinging toward a 20 ga. however there are a lot more 12 ga. around. there is a lot of option choices manual or automatic ejectors, single or double triggers fixed chokes or removable. Anybody have any suggestions what do you prefer?

I've looked at few I know to check for bulges and dents, some of the ones I have looked at have light what looks like pellet marks just forward of the chambers is this a concern?

[amosfella]

First off, do you shoot right or left?? Friend of mine is a lefty who bought a right hand shotgun. He was not at all happy with it. Something about the butststock being angled slightly the wrong way for him... Kept bashing his cheekbone.

Check out the CZ line of double barrel shotguns. Good value for the money. They have several different models. There's a target and range gun. The ejectors make a loud crack when they fire the shells out of the gun when you open it. Then there's a field model where they just lift the shells up to be removed.

I prefer removable chokes. Just check once in a while to make sure that the chokes are in tightly. A friend of mine let his chokes get loose, and did a lot of shooting. It was not fun cleaning that mess up...

I've shot both single and double triggers. Makes no difference to me. I'd like a double trigger model, but that's because I have 2 single trigger models...

[elkhunter11]

First of all , does the gun fit you? If it doesn't, and you aren't prepared to have it fitted, keep looking. Secondly, when you close the action, is the release lever to the right of center? Usually on new guns, the lever is far right, and as wear occurs, the lever moves toward center. Is the action tight or is there any slop? Replaceable chokes is a non issue on an upland gun, as long as the chokes are IC/MOD or close to that. I prefer two triggers on an English stocked SxS, but it isn't a huge deal, and my O/U guns are all single trigger. I don't really care about ejectors, as I catch them as I open the gun, but ejectors can make for faster reloading if you find yourself in a covey of Hungarian Partridges of sharptails. Personally , I would be looking at a used Browning or Beretta in that price range.

[Ossie]

Browning Citori, or Beretta both quality guns that will last a lifetime if properly cared for. The lower grade (field guns) by Browning might be in your price range as a new gun.

[BPman]

Day and day out you will find a 12 ga outperforms a 20 ga for hunting upland birds on the prairies. There will be too many times that you will pass up shots with a 20 or risk wounding birds at the longer ranges often encountered on less than ideal days. For the number of shells you will shoot, the cost of ammo is irrelevant. Good pointing and balance means 28" or 30" barrels and 3" chambers are a nice option but not essential unless you want it also for waterfowl. Interchangeable chokes are useful but not essential and Full/Modified will cover most of the shooting but you could get by with IMP Cyl/Modified ( a good combo for steel shot) too especially with heavier loads on the days when birds get up long. If you shoot Sporting Clays, skeet or trap you could adapt to one of those styles of guns but they will usually exceed 8 lb and that is heavy to carry all day so look for a field gun closer to 7 lb. All the other features are just bells and whistles to suit your fancy and wallet. Do your best to TRY BEFORE YOU BUY. Good luck.

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by BPman

Day and day out you will find a 12 ga outperforms a 20 ga for hunting upland birds on the prairies. There will be too many times that you will pass up shots with a 20 or risk wounding birds at the longer ranges often encountered on less than ideal days. For the number of shells you will shoot, the cost of ammo is irrelevant. Good pointing and balance means 28" or 30" barrels and 3" chambers are a nice option but not essential unless you want it also for waterfowl. Interchangeable chokes are useful but not essential and Full/Modified will cover most of the shooting but you could get by with IMP Cyl/Modified ( a good combo for steel shot) too especially with heavier loads on the days when birds get up long. If you shoot Sporting Clays, skeet or trap you could adapt to one of those styles of guns but they will usually exceed 8 lb and that is heavy to carry all day so look for a field gun closer to 7 lb. All the other features are just bells and whistles to suit your fancy and wallet. Do your best to TRY BEFORE YOU BUY. Good luck.

Given that you can purchase up to 1-1/8 ounce 2-3/4" loads for a 20 gauge, if you can't get the job done on upland birds with a 20 gauge, then a 12 gauge isn't the solution. When it comes right down to it, the ability of the shooter is by far the most important factor.. Unfortunately, many people try to make up for shortcomings in their shooting, by throwing more shot at the bird.

[stob]

fit + fit + fit then get aftermarket muller choke tubes

[silver]

If I were you, I would go down to Prophet River and check out their line of Yildiz shotguns. A friend of mine had one, I tried it out and it fit me, I went and bought one and I love it. The action fit was very good, single trigger and extractors. I think ejectors were available but that was an option.

[bat119]

Originally Posted by silver

If I were you, I would go down to Prophet River and check out their line of Yildiz shotguns. A friend of mine had one, I tried it out and it fit me, I went and bought one and I love it. The action fit was very good, single trigger and extractors. I think ejectors were available but that was an option.

I think head over and check the Huglu's, Yidliz look good the selection is low right now I would assume they will be getting more in soon.

Lots of good information in this thread thanks guys

[gtr]

Originally Posted by bat119

I think head over and check the Huglu's, Yidliz look good the selection is low right now I would assume they will be getting more in soon.

Lots of good information in this thread thanks guys

You might be better served finding a used but no abused, gun in your price range. Good luck with your search.

[bat119]

Originally Posted by gtr

You might be better served finding a used but no abused, gun in your price range. Good luck with your search.

I'm leaning toward buying new because the used Beretta's, Browning's, Winchester's etc, come in so many grades and configurations it becomes confusing if I try googling a certain model its almost like they only made one.
I would be mostly using for Hun's and grouse, I have a Dbl .410 for ruffies and bush partridge. When I lived by Estevan I used a 12 ga. pump (modified choke)for pheasants with good success.
The only type of shotgun I've never owned is a O/U and the only clays I've ever shot was in the pasture with spring type thrower, just kind of an itch I need to scratch.
I was thinking of a 20 being lighter to carry with less recoil I would be shooting light loads with a 12 or 20.

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by stob

fit + fit + fit then get aftermarket muller choke tubes

A competitive target shooter might notice a slight difference with aftermarket chokes, but the OP is looking for an upland gun. He would be further ahead by spending the money shooting some clays.

[stob]

Hi #11

Patterned a lot of shells and choke tubes, and although they cost a premium, I can't find any holes on the patterning board with them (12ga invector for a Browning and a Winnie)... that said the Briley's in my 28ga are almost as good but not quite as good as the muller's ... no sense throwing lead at clays with a crappy pattern from average chokes you will just defeat yourself - that is why the after market choke's got legs

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by stob

Hi #11

Patterned a lot of shells and choke tubes, and although they cost a premium, I can't find any holes on the patterning board with them (12ga invector for a Browning and a Winnie)... that said the Briley's in my 28ga are almost as good but not quite as good as the muller's ... no sense throwing lead at clays with a crappy pattern from average chokes you will just defeat yourself - that is why the after market choke's got legs

You keep missing the fact that the OP is looking for a gun to hunt upland birds, not a competition gun for clays. I do however shoot a lot of clays myself, and I have shot plenty of clean rounds of skeet with both factory and aftermarket chokes, and with fixed choke guns as well. You can drink the Muller cool aid if you choose, but they are not going to change a B level shooter into a AA shooter, or even an A shooter. For every person that raves about Muller, there is someone else raving about another manufacturer. I shoot sub gauge guns myself, where the patterns are less dense and the uniformity of the pattern is the most important, and I don't bother with Muller myself. If I honestly thought that Muller would gain me even two or three targets out of a hundred, I would be using them.

[ruffy71]

The debate always see saws between 12 and 20 gauge. The answer is 16 gauge. I would love to own one, but very difficult to find.
Elkhunter, fix that would you?

[stob]

Hi #11 2.0

Look, friend ... I am not missing the "fact" nor are you. I have shot a ton of clays and loads of wild pheasant in CA and NZ ... mostly wild birds ... guns used vary from Purdy, Boss down to a cooey single shots and depending who brought what, and it all boils down to fit-fit-fit ... currently run a red label 28 with brileys that is a delight to carry, ugly as sin, but will knock anything down anything out 40yds with a load oz#5's 1oz Winchester's ... I routinely use a 20ga cooey ss imp-mod ( I have to use imperial #6's for best patterns with this gun) that I have shot since a kid that puts more birds down than those around me with their doubles and repeaters ... you will improve your shooting with a perfectly fitted gun and chokes that work as advertised ... currently for me those are the muller's ... never had such brilliant patterns consistently ... just like golf you can improve your score only so much with technology, but using the right ball with fitted clubs helps too!

[nohlan_4]

For upland I have shot a lot of Browning and Beretta and there price is justified if you plan on keeping the gun a long time. Also if you go with some type of synthetic stock the prices come down noticeably. Citori's are nice and the field versions are in your price range. Get the right fit and what you are comfortable with swing weight as that has a huge factor on accuracy for upland I find. Don't buy anything without a removable choke system for an O/U its nice to have the flexability for sure.