School me on Over/Unders

Win 101 are very good guns, over the years I've had 5, still have 1 and 2. The others were pure competition guns and got sold when I quit the shooting games.

#1 was my international trap gun and got fitted with new wood and rechoked for upland hunting and shooting birds for hunt tests.

Older 101's have fairly thin barrels that wern't designed for steel so if you think your going to have to go steel look at more modern shotguns. Fitting an older 101 or Superposed with steel safe tubes will run around $500.


AWS
 
I also like the CZs and the Franchis. I fell into a Browning Superposed 20ga. at my LGS 1957 model pretty decent wood, and about 85% blue. They must have been drunk when they priced it at 400.00. I couldnt get my wallet and that shotgun to the counter fast enough!!
 
You did not go wrong with the 101. You will enjoy it. I have 2 citori's one in a 20ga and one in a 12. Have not shot more than 2 boxes of shells through the 12. The 20ga is my go to bird gun. It has see alot of shells through it and love it. I looked at the berreta's and shot one long ago and could not hit sqwat with it. I have shot a few 101's and they pointed and swung like the browings. And as far as the one poster saying to get a semi for the extra shots. There is nothing like carrying a double. It is just classic.
 
Read GC's post above and then read it again! The man speaks the whole truth.

That was exactly my experience last year when I got the craving for a double.

I made the classic mistake of fixating on brands and models rather than keeping an open mind and letting the fit and feel guide me. So I went in to gun shops and tried Berettas, Rizzinis, and others.

I was trying VERY hard to like a Beretta but I just had this nagging feeling that the fit wasn't what I was looking for. On a total whim, I tried a Browning 686 Superlight 20 gauge that was a limited edition with high-grade wood.

Wow. It was like it was made for me. I have to confess, I'm a little bit of a gun snob and honestly Browning was not on my list, but I could NOT ignore the fact that the fit was sooooo good and the gun was so light it felt like it had to be anchored down when I'm not holding it.

I shoot it very well. Probably better than any shotgun I've ever owned.

So just to riterate what others have said, buy quality and buy the best fit regardless of preconcieved notions about which brand you "want". Instead decided to want the gun that fits.

Also, remember that a quality double will most likely outlive you, your children, and quite probably your grandchildren. Long after you can remember how much you paid, you'll be patting yourself on the back for paing it.

Grouse
 
I would strongly urge you to bite the bullet and save a little longer until you can afford a little nicer O/U. Not only will it be a better functioning gun, but it will be something you will be proud to hunt with for years to come. I bought a Citori a few years back to hunt pheasants with, and thought I would only shoot it a little each year. Now I use it for everything except waterfowl. It points so naturally and feels perfect to shoulder. Dont sell yourself short on a cheap shotgun, you will regret it.

Like was suggested, you can find some good guns for a fair price that are used. You just need to keep your eyes open on gunbroker.com and gunsamerica.com and local shops...

Good luck!

PS: I personally dont like the Ruger shotguns... just preference though
 
Just to clarify, I haven't bought anything yet, just looking for info and you guys have been a great help. Guess I will hold myself back and save some more.
 
One thing that I did was I waited until Davidson's had one of their monthly sales on a Citori and bought it that way. I ended up saving about $400 if memory serves me right.

Browning is also running a promotion where they will reimburse you for sales tax
http://www.galleryofguns.com/genie/default.aspx?pg=promodetail&id=340

Take a look at this page regularly and look for the month's e-flyer. They currently have a Citori that has an MSRP of almost 2K but it is giving me quotes of about $1600 in my area. This one isnt an amazing deal, but still better than normal.
http://www.galleryofguns.com/genie/Default.aspx?pg=promo
 
Check your local trap and sporting clays clubs alot of guys will take up the game with an upland guna and then sell it off to finance a competition gun. You can get some pretty good deals as they are motivated to sell and you can try them out first usually.

AWS
 
Bought a used fixed choke Citori at the local Gander Mountain for $630 a couple years ago and a like new Red Label with 5 chokes from a private seller, for the wife, a couple months ago, for $800. I would look for a deal like one of those before the CZ. Lots of fixed choke doubles out there at a bargain if one will work for you.
 
I've hunted with SKB's for 40 years for everything from pheasants to waterfowl as well as trap. They're a quality O/U and, as someone else mentioned, you may find one in the $650-$750 range online or at a gun show. I actually picked another one up two years ago at a show for my son for $550. At least pick one up and see how it fits you.
 
You get what you pay for with O/Us and thats just the way it is. Ive had my SKB for 9 years been through a few firing pins and thousands of rounds and I love the wide ventilated rib for my own sight picture. Also have a browning cynergy and its a great gun I just do not shoot it as well as my SKB but that may be due to the difference in round count. I may have missed it but if your looking at used O/Us you can tell the amount of abuse in brownings and berettas by the angle of the chamber release lever. When brand new they angle to the right slightly. When the lever is straight with the barrel it is broken in. Saw many of my shooting buddies guns with thousands of rounds through them even start angling to the left and I would not advise buying one that is to that point
 
Also couldnt agree with GC more fit is everything. Good rule of thumb is high cheekbones line mine call for a high profile rib and vica versa. Most quality guns offer a few different options in that area
 
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