Entry Level O/U Shotgun Recommendations

[wade06]

I am looking at my next gun and a shotgun is more useful to me than a center fire.
Having two different chokes is more important to me than 5 rounds so i'm looking at a sporter O/U not a lever action. It will mainly be used for hunting and the occasional clay.

My budget is up to $1500 max. At the moment I've looked at Akkar Churchill (cheaper), Miroku MK70 & Browning Citori. A second hand gun isn't out of the picture either.

I know a lot comes back to how the gun feels but some feedback on quality, other options etc would be appreciated.

[MR. WINCHESTER]

Japanese over Turkish made, every day of the week !

[AusTac]

Have you used a shotty before? Generally people have a favorite brand, i'm beretta through and through, just the way they point/handle suits me

Brownings are generally a ' bigger ' gun which suits larger guys

Don't know much about miroku another than they sleep in the same bed as browning

If your not punishing it ( few hundred rnds a week ) you can get away with spending a little less

My best advice is go into a shop, shoulder every brand they have and don't be pushed by the sales guys, shottys are a personal thing

Good luck

[MR. WINCHESTER]

^^^^

Yeah .... far more valuable advice than mine.

I sometimes am accused of shopping for quality and ( maybe ? ) brand, compared to 'shootability'.

As always, choose a 'size' of gun that suits / fits.

[juststarting]

Stoeger?

[MR. WINCHESTER]

Boito ?

..... just as ridiculous !

( have I woken the sleeping giant ? Lol )

[juststarting]

Eh, well, not all of us are ready to drop thousands of dollars on what is essentially a couple of pipes and two nails.

[brett1868]

I have the Akkar Churchill Combo package that comes in a nice plastic case with 20" and 30" barrels, 3" chambers, Ejectors, Choice of 5 chokes and the tool to change them. A reasonably priced and made entry level U/O that does the job till you want to get serious with a better branded shotgun. I'm more a casual shooter of feathered clays up bush when the sunflowers are out, this does the job and didn't cost a fortune. Just ensure they are well oiled if storing as they like to rust in humid conditions if stored for some time.

[MR. WINCHESTER]

Yes, that's another important variable Brett ...

How 'serious' is the O.P / what sort of shooting does he / she intend to participate in ?

Casual use .... then maybe a 'bargain basement' Turk; high volume use .... maybe, a 'better quality' gun ?

Notwithstanding such .... some of my fellow club members use the Turkish made guns and I have never witnessed a 'FTF' !

The more I toss this about, the more I'm torn ....

[Deacon]

Depending on where and what you're hunting you could get away with something like the thunder ranch mossberg does. I've seen those and the stoeger tactical things ( I don't know what they are actually called) make pretty handy scrub guns in denser areas going after pigs and the like.

[juststarting]

MR. WINCHESTER, but really... My Stoeger shoots just fine. It goes boom boom and everything. Even looks like a shotgun. Being someone who wanted a shotgun for occasional clay, I couldn't care less about fancy crap engraved into the action, on thighs of vergins. I break, I load, I close, I shoot. Works fine. I know, I know, heathen!

Depends what the OP is after. But if he's anything like me, Stoeger is just fine.

Centrefire is a different conversation

[bladeracer]

MR. WINCHESTER, but really... My Stoeger shoots just fine. It goes boom boom and everything. Even looks like a shotgun. Being someone who wanted a shotgun for occasional clay, I couldn't care less about fancy crap engraved into the action, on thighs of vergins. I break, I load, I close, I shoot. Works fine. I know, I know, heathen!

Depends what the OP is after. But if he's anything like me, Stoeger is just fine.

Centrefire is a different conversation

I'm with you, the Stoeger Condor is incredibly good value.

[juststarting]

Yeah rite ...

"couple of pipes and two nails" !

F**k off to the centrefire sub-forum.

Hehehehe. Hug?

[juststarting]

LOL

[bladeracer]

ignoramouses attract ignoramouses ....

That explains it...which thread do we follow you to next?

[juststarting]

2 barrels - 1 Shell

[brett1868]

Deacon, The first 12ga I ever owned was a Mossburg Mariner 20" S/S pump and I loved it. I currently have a Thunder Ranch (amongst others) in the safe at the moment, it's the first thing I pack, take out, load when up on my block. It's a cheap & nasty pair of pipes on a plastic stock BUT I've been unable to destroy it and it's never let me down. Choice comes back to what type of shooting the O/P has in mind and how much he'll be shooting.

[Deacon]

Yeah Brett, the best thing about a gun like that is they can be a pure workhorse that you don't have to worry about knicks and scratches. They aren't worth much more than the asking price but they don't claim to be anything they are not, and they get the job done. Can't ask for much more than that.


EDIT: apparently I'm a corporal now. So my opinion is worth more right? Get around it lads.

[Supaduke]

Deacon, The first 12ga I ever owned was a Mossburg Mariner 20" S/S pump and I loved it. I currently have a Thunder Ranch (amongst others) in the safe at the moment, it's the first thing I pack, take out, load when up on my block. It's a cheap & nasty pair of pipes on a plastic stock BUT I've been unable to destroy it and it's never let me down. Choice comes back to what type of shooting the O/P has in mind and how much he'll be shooting.

The Mariner..... I owned one as well. Lusted after it for a while , stared at it in a gun shop in Cairns. Used to take my remmy 870 express out to sea but keeping the rust off was a constant chore. The stainless shotty with synthetic furniture was so Hollywood and when I found out it was called a mariner I had to have it.
Nearly cried handing that in back in 97 :/
Now I'm annoyed at John Howard, thanks Brett ....bastard

[Bigjobss]

The Mariner..... I owned one as well. Lusted after it for a while , stared at it in a gun shop in Cairns. Used to take my remmy 870 express out to sea but keeping the rust off was a constant chore.

Now that you're a Victorian how do you feel about sharks?
Take what we can get down here, between a bronzie and a 'red carp' I'll take the bronzie most days

[wade06]

Thanks all. Ive only ever used semi autos and pump actions in the past (some clays, roos and the odd rabbit and duck)... No idea what brand they were.... Never used an O/U so it's a bit of a learning curve.

My use will be pretty light.. Maybe once or twice a month and not big numbers of shells. Hunting and clays on a farm.

[Supaduke]

Never do a lot of fishing down here in Vic. When you are catching 6ft Spanish mackerel and 16ft hammerheads, catching a 1ft flatly that is smaller than the bait I used to use is a bit.......lame. Now days I sit on the dock and drink while my mates fish lol. Doing fishing for a job for 5 years kind of sucked the fun out of recreational fishing. Happy to just watch now.

[brett1868]

Deacon, The first 12ga I ever owned was a Mossburg Mariner 20" S/S pump and I loved it. I currently have a Thunder Ranch (amongst others) in the safe at the moment, it's the first thing I pack, take out, load when up on my block. It's a cheap & nasty pair of pipes on a plastic stock BUT I've been unable to destroy it and it's never let me down. Choice comes back to what type of shooting the O/P has in mind and how much he'll be shooting.

The Mariner..... I owned one as well. Lusted after it for a while , stared at it in a gun shop in Cairns. Used to take my remmy 870 express out to sea but keeping the rust off was a constant chore. The stainless shotty with synthetic furniture was so Hollywood and when I found out it was called a mariner I had to have it.
Nearly cried handing that in back in 97 :/
Now I'm annoyed at John Howard, thanks Brett ....bastard

I drilled the top of mine for a rail then fitted a Tasco ProPoint, Had a set of Pachmyer pistol grips as well. The thing was awesome with the Brenekie rifled solids on roo's and bunnies out to no more then 50m on roos and 25m on the bunnies. I actually shed a tear or 20 handing it in as I also lost a S/S Winchester pump along with it

[brett1868]

Striking Distance is on TV at the moment, Bruce Willis just climbed out of the water onto a boat carrying the exact same Winchester S/S pump I had in the 80's. Talk about rubbing salt into wounds

[on_one_wheel]

If it's any help, I've been very happy with my $600 Stoeger coach gun.

You can pay much more ... if you want a flasher set of nails and pipes.

[wade06]

If it's any help, I've been very happy with my $600 Stoeger coach gun.

You can pay much more ... if you want a flasher set of nails and pipes.

I'm even tossing up just getting a cheap second hand shot gun to start with.

The expensive shotguns look and feel great and are obviously better quality but may not be any more effective for occasional hunting.

[bladeracer]

I'm even tossing up just getting a cheap second hand shot gun to start with.

The expensive shotguns look and feel great and are obviously better quality but may not be any more effective for occasional hunting.

That was my plan too, but why would I buy a secondhand shotgun when I could buy a new Stoeger 30" Condor for $550.
Couldn't be happier with it.

[happyhunter]

Shotguns are part of the culture I'm from and you get given one as a kid, usually the old mans hand me down. One is nearly 70 years old. I've owned a few, favorites being the Beretta 400s like the PB409, 410, 411s, a A300 self loader and a couple of cheap Kmart pumps back in the day.

A few years ago I went and bought a Stoeger coach, 20" barrels and what not for shooting off the dirt bike. Worst firearm I've ever used. Six months later I sold it back to the LGS.

[bladeracer]

Shotguns are part of the culture I'm from and you get given one as a kid, usually the old mans hand me down. One is nearly 70 years old. I've owned a few, favorites being the Beretta 400s like the PB409, 410, 411s, a A300 self loader and a couple of cheap Kmart pumps back in the day.

A few years ago I went and bought a Stoeger coach, 20" barrels and what not for shooting off the dirt bike. Worst firearm I've ever used. Six months later I sold it back to the LGS.

In what way was it the "worst firearm you ever used" exactly?

I had a 20" pump when I was a kid and I wouldn't bother again with short barrels if I wanted a useful gun.

[dpskipper]

Not sure how "entry level" Beretta is, but their 686 Silver Pigeon 1 at $2850 ish dollars is their cheapest model I know of. I've shot it and it feels sturdy, lightweight and really easy to swing for trap/skeet shooting. Basically everything you would expect from Beretta.