o/u or sxs for upland

[GermanShorthair]

hey guys my birthday is monday and my parents are taking me this weekend to look at some new guns bacasue i have been wanting an o/u or sxs for about 2 years now, and i was wondering what would be a decent reliable gun for a budget of about $700. thanks in advance

[guyg]

unfortunately, that kind of cash is  not a lot of money for a fine gun.  That doesn't mean you can't find something.  There's a lot of brands out there, in the end it's all about personal preference. Pickem up, swing em, feel the heft, the positioning, the trigger and safety location.

No matter what brand, make sure it fits, that the rise and length of pull are right for you.  A fine imported gun costing thousands, if it doesn't fit, will just be a source of frustration for you during your ownership. Trust me.

That money will get you a very nice remington or winchester autoloader.  You may consider them. 

Ruger red labels (o/u) are nice guns, they're at least close to this price range. I don't think it will touch a gold label sxs.

Stoeger makes a fine working-man's grade gun, and I've friends hunting with some of the russian imports, again, the fit and finish isn't what it is in Brownings or something, but they are functionally fine.

You might consider saving the cash and shopping for a bargain in the used market, putting it down on a new gun on a lay-away situation, or something. Remember, a thing of beauty is a joy forever.

Happy birthday.

[270Shooter]

CZ makes some relativly inexpencive O/U and SxS They are around your budget.
Heres a link
http://www.czusa.com/products_shotguns.php

[GermanShorthair]

i was looking at some used guns at cabelas not long ago and the most plentiful sxs was the stoegers, but there is a franchi for 799 that i am hoping is still there
thanks for the link to cz, haven't thought of them, i like the ringneck

[jackelope]

if you have the option of taking the 700 and adding another 300 of your own or so, you should be able to find a real nice browning over/under or something along those lines. you can look at gunsamerica.com or gunbroker.com to look at other options in or around your price range...

[sisu]

These are worth a look.

http://www.dhshotguns.com/overview.html

[Intruder]

I totally agree w/ Jackelope and GuyG (especially the part about fit).  I think you're gonna have to do a lot of searching to find a better quality double gun in that price range.  A lot will depend on how much you want to shoot.  Some of the less expensive guns may serve you pretty well if you aren't firing hundreds of rounds through them. 

1K is about the bare minimum a guy can spend on a new O/U and get what would be categorized as upper-mid quality guns.  See if you can find any of the SKB made Weatherby Orions.... they were being closed out for just under a grand.  Used.... ya may want to look into some of the Italian stuff (Fausti, Rizzini, Franchi, ect (sp?)).  S/S are may be hard to find even used for a grand. 

If you have access to a Cabela's Gun Library, a couple hours spent fondlin the merchandise will be a big benefit to ya.

Sisu.... aren't the DeHaan's all custom now?   I'm not sure they are making any of the less expensive off the shelf models.  Just thought I remember hearing that. 

[shorthair-on-point]

Are you set on an o/u or have you considered a semi-auto? I thought I wanted an O/U until I shot a couple of them. For whatever reason they didn't feel comfortable and I couldn't shoot them worth a darn. I got a really nice semi auto for less then I was going to pay for the O/U and wouldn't trade it for anything now.

[GermanShorthair]

yeah i am set on a o/u or sxs but they had a franchi o.u for only 799 that i had my eye on

[Intruder]

Franchi isn't a bad gun.  There right there w/ the high end CZs... maybe a lil better made.  I don't remember for sure but I think there are a handful of those Franchis w/ mechanical triggers vs. inertia.  Mechanicals are usually consider "better" and on higher end guns although not quite to the degree as it was say 20 years ago.

[sisu]

Sisu.... aren't the DeHaan's all custom now?   I'm not sure they are making any of the less expensive off the shelf models.  Just thought I remember hearing that. 

Yep, the older ones that I lusted over are all gone. But if you look at the site(I don't have that kind of cash) what they are asking for their guns is very competitive for what you get. Beautiful wood and the engraving is out of this world.

[high country]

if you go with a ring neck, be SURE it has the beretta style safety. the first safety that operates like the red label...as in the whole safety is the selector as opposed to the beretta style where the selector has a switch in it. the early safety would get hung up between barrels on me and piss me off. I traded it for the new style and am all smiles. I have the 12ga red label, 12ga franchi alcione in O/U and cz ringneck in 20ga, and a belgium guild gun in 16ga (sweet) I find myself really using the sxs's waaaay more. when I do pack a 12ga it is the franchi. my red label is a beautiful gun, has better finish, better chokes and less recoil, but is heavier. I have killed more wild birds with my 20 ga in the last 2 years then my 12's and I never feel under gunned. the speed and handling is worth it.

if you find an older 16 or 20ga SXS with mod or less chokes don't even be a little afraid. they are typically way faster handling.

as you know fit is 100% of shotgunning.

[zelda02]

Happy Birthday... Like the other posts have said FIT is everything when shotgunning. I own a CZ redhead that I like very well. I have used it quite a bit without a problem. All 2 barreled guns cost more because of the added barrel, darn. Good luck on finding that special gun.

[T-Bone]

Another vote for the CZ SXS's or O/U's. I own a CZ 28ga. SXS and a DeHaan 16ga. SXS and I like them both very much. I would buy a new CZ and not used as some of the earlier guns had weak firing pins and other issues. Due the "crude and rude" factor, I would stay away from the Remington Spartan line as well as the Stoegers.

The Traditions Brittany SXS (made in Spain) is worth a look, too. Cabela's in Post Falls has them on sale for $799.00.

[Intruder]

Another vote for the CZ SXS's or O/U's. I own a CZ 28ga. SXS and a DeHaan 16ga. SXS and I like them both very much. I would buy a new CZ and not used as some of the earlier guns had weak firing pins and other issues. Due the "crude and rude" factor, I would stay away from the Remington Spartan line as well as the Stoegers.
The Traditions Brittany SXS (made in Spain) is worth a look, too. Cabela's in Post Falls has them on sale for $799.00.

I've heard the CZs have gotten better and better over the last several years.  I agree w/ you on the Russian made Rems and Stoegers.  Tend to handle like a 2x4.  DeHaan's, I believe, are made special for him by Huglu.  Then he does more finish work one em or something