Over/Under Shotgun Specialists, need some advice!!!

[Greenhead22]

Guys, I need some help on this one. I am strongly considering buying an over and under shotgun in the near future. I am trying to decide between a Browning, Ruger, or a Beretta. My main decision is whether to get a 12 ga. or a 20 ga. I could buy a 12 ga. and use the Little Skeeters or a Briley gauge reducer and turn the gun into a 20 ga. I would prefer to have a lightweight gun, like a 20 ga. If I get a 20 ga. I want it to be a 3" magnum.

[WNE Driver]

Greenhead22 -

Which models are you looking at from the Mfg's? I managed a sporting clays range for 10 years and could give you my 1st hand experience with each.

12 vs 20, I would go with the 12 and full length 20ga tubes for the versatility. More important than weight is how the gun is balanced.

[Greenhead22]

I've shot a 20 ga. Browning Citori before, and it's the sweetest shooting gun that I've ever put up to my shoulder, but Anatidae won't give it up in fear of his wife killing him. One of my friends just bought a Ruger 12 ga., 3" mag, very light gun, can't remember what model it was. I have a Beretta 390, so I'm also looking at the Beretta's, maybe a 686. For a good over/under, I'm looking at about $1,000??? How much do the full length gauge tubes cost?

[no angel]

they can put a mercury cylinder in the buttstock and it won't kill at all. i shot mine even with broken arm. 12 is the way to go but it is your gun. always liked the browning but the red label is sweet too

[WNE Driver]

Full length tubes are expensive. The last ones I saw were a Briley 3 guage skeet set (20, 28, .410) and believe the owner told me they were around $1200. The thing is all the tubes weighed exactly the same, their point of impact was dead on and they patterned great.

If you are staying in that $1000 budget, then new you are most likely going to be looking at the following -

Browning's Field Grade Citori. These will most likely be over $1000 new. I like the Citori Lightnings in this grade. The Citori Hunter is a good choice also but they all seem heavy when compared to a Beretta or Ruger. Also, without porting they tend to have the greatest muzzle jump. This is do to the reciever design and the location of the barrels in relation to the butt.
http://www.browning.com/

Ruger Red Label. Close to but still just over $1000. I have shot these many times, but never owned one. Seems owners loved or hated them. The SS reciever is nice. They are light and seem to have the most "felt recoil" of the three. My experience with Ruger customer service (Blackhawk pistol) was top notch!
http://www.ruger-firearms.com/

Beretta 686 Onyx. Again, I think you will be hard pressed to find one for less than $1000 new. Very well balanced and fit/finish that is second to none in this price range. Less felt recoil than either the Browning or Ruger even though the 686's are light guns. Most of our customers with O/U Berettas either kept them or traded them for another Beretta. Those that traded for another brand usually moved up to the Perazzi/Kriegoff/Renato Gambas that were big $$$. Rarely did you here of someone trading a Beretta for a Browning or Ruger. Beretta would be my choice, even if I had to go used. http://www.berettausa.com/

Just my .02

[ January 21, 2002: Message edited by: WNE Driver ]

[ January 21, 2002: Message edited by: WNE Driver ]

[FranchiMan]

Look at Franchi's new Veloce. Lightweight gun(always with Franchi), aluminum alloy frame, straight stock, etc. You can get it in 20 or 28ga with 26" or 28" barrels.

Don't know how it handles, but its THE BEST LOOKING over/under I have ever seen in my life.

Try to get your hands on February's American Rifleman magazine (02). That's where I seen it.

If you appreciate great craftmenship in a gun then that's the way to go. Made ole one eye stand up when I saw a picture of that gun. [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[GulfCoast]

Ditto WNE Driver. Look at the Beretta 686 Onyx. See if you can find one of the discontinued Hunter/Sport models, they are a real steal, especially in the 30" barrel version. I personally ADORE the old silver sider 682's, one of the best guns ever made, pound for pound, dollar for dollar, world championship for world championship.

Citori would be my second choice, then the Ruger. I don't have anything against the Ruger mechanically or durability wise, they just always have a funny feeling stock to me.

[Anatidae]

'Specialist'?.......not me! The Citori was an anniversary present my wife and (as you know) will remain mine 'til death do us part (me and the gun, that is). Don't forget the other O/U you can say you've shot.....that little 20ga Superposed (also an anniversary present).....and as you might surmise, it's not for sale, either.

Where you gettin' all this money all of a sudden? Oh yeah, the best things in life (up 'til now, I presume) have typically been the cheapest. [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] By the way.....you were right about that Mossy Oak coat (you know, the one that's good for attack-dog training)......they finally got rid of ALL of them.

I would suggest shooting as many other brands of O/U's you can get your hands on, before you decide. After all, you don't buy a truck without driving it, do you?

Berrettas are fine guns and are probably more durable than any Browning in the same price range, but the ones I've shot, 'tag' my ole high cheekbone......even with an adjustable stock (a $500 option). There are some Berrettas at the club, and even a couple of Rugers. Maybe those guys will let you shoot their guns to give you an idea about what FEELS right, for YOU.

Gauge?......that's purely a matter of individual preference.

[ January 21, 2002: Message edited by: Anatidae ]

[Greenhead22]

I've got around $400 saved up plus two shotguns to sale, including that Belgium made A5. I'm leaning towards the Citori, and if I can find a FFL dealer, I can probably save a lot of money.

[Judd Irland]

greenhead,
I'm no specialist, but if you can wait, go to the DU festival in Memphis this summer. You can shoot all of em there and then decide. The only other advice I have is to get measured/fitted. Your big gunsmiths/sellers can do this for you. It will usually cost around $150, but the measurements are good for life. Case in point, my brother has a Browning Midas O/U that was handed down to him. It fits no one we know and we cant hit diddly with it. My Citori field grade on the other hand shoots like a dream, but it does kick a bit. Also, you might wanna try different stocks; my friend has a Citori field grade with an english stock and I swear I've shot .22's that kick more. Hope this helps.

[WNE Driver]

Good advice fellas about trying out different guns at the local gun club.

The only thing is it can be dangerous!

I wasn't even looking for a gun when I tried one of our regulars Browning Ultra...Two months later I had one!

Anatidae, I think it is a toss up as to which is more durable, Browning or Beretta. Brownings seem like they rust if you look at them wrong but we had a Citori Lighting we used as a loner. After nearly 50,000 rounds it just falls open but the release is still canted and the breech face is still tight when closed.

[Greenhead22]

What about the Beretta 686 Whitewing? I found some for under a $1000.

[torch]

Greenhead if you know a police officer you can save a lot of money on a beretta. Mississippi police supply in Ruleville MS. Bought my 686 5 years ago new for about 750.00. you might want to check it out.

[Model12]

As a Beretta OU shooter I suggest you wait just a little longer and get up around the $1500 range and go with a 687 or 682 used. There a plenty of very nice used guns on Auction Arms etc. My first OU was a Ruger and they are nice guns for the money. Like GC said earlier, I just don't like the feel. Same for the Citori, It's too "blockly" for me personally. Some of the old 20 Superposed on the other hand have a very nice feel. Still, I'd go with a Beretta 686,7,or 682 in 20 gauge. Briley tubes are a VERY nice option if you go with a 12. Standard weight drop-ins, are $399.00 on there web site I think...good luck....

[GulfCoast]

I have 3 682's, two of them have very little use, and one has over 45,000 rounds. If I took the stock off the one with the most use, I doubt very seriously many folks could pick it out from the other two. They are some kind of durable guns. Plus, everything on them is modular and replaceable. They are outstanding weapons. I would stay well away from the "Essential" Beretta O/U, but the Onyx guns are quite good, and the 682's (especially the old silver sided ones) are great feeling, good handling, and tough as a sherman tank. Don't wait around for pretty wood, though.