Shotgun poor

[wbraswell]

I have begun to realize that I have lived my life, so far, without a true "quality" shotgun. I currently have only 3, my first gun, an H&R 20ga. single shot, my utility gun, a Revelation (Mossberg via Western Auto) 12 ga. pump, and a defense gun, an 8-shot Ithaca 37. Thru the years I've had a couple of cheap doubles, a 311 Savage, and a Rossi Overland with 20" barrels, but both long traded away. I remember almost buying a Remington 1100, back in 1974 for $109 at K-Mart. One of these days, I'm going to pick up a Win. Model 12 or 25, that looks right, if I find out what to look for. The Win. 42 .410 is my grail gun, but I can't imagine turning loose almost 2 grand for a gun. Have any of you out there neglected your scattergun side like me?

 

[Rule3]

What's wrong with your Ithaca 37?

I am not a real shotgunner but picked up a nice Benelli (H&K) Super Nova for pretty cheap. That's as good as it"s gonna get for me. I also have a Mossberg 500 defensive shotgun with the do da grip and stock but would have to get it out of the safe, assemble and load it before a bad guy comes in the house.

I do lust over the expensive under/overs I see on the top shelf of the gun shop. But $2K just to show the boys at the gun club.

 

[hsguy]

I have a couple of shotguns and here is a Model 12 I had to pick up because of the serial number, excuse the poor photos.

 

[3daman!]

Again:
Whats wrong with your 37?

 

[pharmer]

I have been lusting at the Browning "Field Grade" 525 that CDNN has for $1400. Just can't justify a yard and a half for a gun I probably won't shoot, at least regularly. Joe

 

[bamabiker]

I've owned only 2 shotguns in my life and have only one now. It's an old Remmington Arms double barrel that I've never even shot. Looks rough but didn't cost me a thing.
Just never been into shotguns but I have been thinking about getting a pump for home defense.

 

[ohiococonut]

Nope. I've had many many shotguns over the years but only lusted after one, a Browning Citori. Back in the late 70's I got a chance to shoot one and immediately fell in love but couldn't justify the price with 3 kids growing up.
A few years ago I finally found what I always wanted. It's referred to as a pre type I Citori made in 1973 and she's in pristine condition. No choke tubes, nothing, but makes busting clays easy. My friends think I'm crazy for shooting it, but isn't that what guns are for?

There's certainly nothing wrong with a model 37 either.

 

[wbraswell]

Oh, there's nothing wrong with my 37 at all. Like I said, it's a defensive gun, a 20" 8 shot, parkerized, rifle sighted DS Police Special. Quite well suited for it's intended purpose, but not exactly the proper instrument for the pursuit of sporting birds, or even clay ones. Much more appropriate for 2 legged jail birds and vultures.

 

[don95sml]

It sounds like you don't have a specific use for an expensive gun. Now if you were to take a liking to skeet or sporting clays, then it would make sense to spend whatever it takes for a quality over/under gun designed for the sport. For trap shooting your Mossberg would do just fine.

 

[truckemup97]

I was lookin' in the safe the other day and there are a lot more shotguns in there than I thought. Not enough, but more than I thought.

 

[Bullet Bob]

If you want Model 42 made in the USA by Winchester, I can empathize and understand that feeling.

But if you want a well-made 42 for under a grand that you can shoot, the Miroku ones made for Browning are a lot of fun. Grade I's can be had very reasonably. I usually don't like gold on guns, but I bought this 42 under the "what the heck" plan. The model 12, also from Miroku, I bought for the puppy on it .

Both are really great to shoot, the model 12 in particular fits me very well.

 

[Injunbro]

I too had always wanted a nice shotgun but couldn't afford it. IMHO the best double barrel shotgun available today for the price is the CZ, they are very well made. My M37 Ithaca is a fine gun but not as nice as the Browning Citori I saved up for finally bought. I still go back to the CZ often enough to question why I keep the Browning.

 

[Rule3]

I see guys in the gun shop all the time, obviously with way more money than me. They buy all these fancy guns that I know will never see a hunting trip and doubt they are real proficient trap or sheet shooters. They just buy them to have and to hold and admire. Which is fine ,I suppose if you have disposable money. It would be nice to sit around the Rod and Gun Club in my smoking jacket with a fine cigar and some expensive drink and discuss the merits of such fine craftsmanship.
I don't wear a Rolex either.

 

[m1gunner]

I really like my A-5. When I was growing up, it was THE duck gun. Mine is set up for upland game. Wife got A-5 envy, so she got an unfired Belgian 20 ga.

If I ever win the lottery, I will buy a 20 ga 28" Beretta Silver Pigeon, stunning gun, and feels right in my hands.

 

[Rule 303]

Ohio,
that is the same O/U Browning I bought my son for a graduation present from College in the 90s. He's a bird huntin' fool with it.

Rule 303

 

[GJH77]

Nope. I've had many many shotguns over the years but only lusted after one, a Browning Citori.

For my 16th Christmas in 1972 , I was given a High Standard Model 200 pump. Used it for quail and squirrels for years and loved it, but always wanted a double. Then for Christmas in 1986 or so, I got myself a Browning Citori and it proved to be the best duck gun. It was a huge price of $700 at the time. I finally broke down and got a Mossberg 500 this year to keep from taking the Citori out in the mud. From looking around, I have now also realized how good the High Standard pump is.

 

[rimfired]

Still have my Dads Win. Mod 12, 1922. Just sold my Beretta
Silver Pigeon II .20. Hard times. Have an older Superior Grade Daly Miroku (Browning) .12 Superposed. Good enough for game. Have one for SD.

 

[bobelk99]

Last month I 'looked at' a very nice lightly used matched pair of Boss SxS 12 gauge priced at only 46K.

Now as soon as the lottery comes through...

 

[straightshooter1]

OCD1-You need to come up to the Silver Dollar and see some of those expensive guns. No dinner jackets, cigars, if any, smoked outside, but a lot of shooting. That Club throws more targets than any other trap or skeet club in the US except for Sparta where the Grand American is held.

Trap is a blue collar sport, so why do those guys spend thousands of dollars on a gun? Because they need one that holds up to thousands of rounds a year. I put over 40 thousand through mine from March of 2010 to March of 2011.

I used to shoot handguns and rifles exclusively, but got sooooo bored with shooting stationary targets (few places near me where one can shoot anything else) and tried skeet, then trap and then 5stand and Sporting Clays.

I like the challenge of shooting a target moving at 42 mph or more and my wife does, too. But to do so successfully and consistently, you need a gun that is (1) fitted to you and (2) will hold up for lots and lots of rounds without breaking anything.

About the least gun one can shoot that fits that criteria is a Remington 1100, but one needs to have a number of small parts on hand and they must be cleaned far more often than a breakopen gun. A Browning Citori or BT 99 is the next step up and they just shoot and shoot and shoot. The gun, for trap, should be a trap model as field and sporting guns shoot too flat for any real consistent success, though casual shooters often do fairly well with them.

I have two Perazzis and my wife has one. We have Citoris for skeet and sporting clays and I have a Model 42 (original with VR) and a Cynergy 28 for skeet.

If you get the chance to swing up to TampaBay, shoot me a PM and we can spend the day shooting. You can use one of my guns and I have a lot of shells available, too.

Bob

 

[Cyrano]

If I could ever learn to hit anything with a shotgun, I'd have a lot more than the three I have (a Benelli, a Darne and a Charlin).