It’ll be used for skeet and sporting clays, two things I only do a handful of times a year.
I already have my hunting and trap needs well taken care of so, like I said, it wouldn’t get a lot of use - but when it does it’ll be 100 rounds at a time.
I’m only interested in a double barrel, I’ve had a history of issues with semi’s in these situations
I’d like to keep the cost as low as possible, under $750 would be nice
I’ve always been skittish about the Turkish guns, none seem to be very reliable for anything more than field use, which entails very few shots.
I would definitely want a very good condition used gun. I’ve been keeping my eyes open for a while now with no luck. I’ve run into a few Citori’s but they’ve all been in the multiple thousands or field grade fixed choke, which doesn’t work for me.
I feel as though I’m missing something, that there’s something that would be perfect but I’m overlooking it.
I was skeptical as well with Turkish guns but I have 2 and used 3. All great. Zero issues. Zero.
Cannot recommend enough the CZ brand.
I own a CZ bobwhite 20ga which is a SxS with double triggers (old school). Not one issue it’s been great on quail and pheasant.
The other one is a CZ teal on 12ga. It’s an O/U. My friend used it at Bent Creek last Friday. And I used it Saturday for opening day at Collier Mills. Zero issues and I dropped birds that my buddies 28ga just dusted. Lol.
Another guy in our group has the same gun(teal) in 20ga and he uses it for pheasant and duck. He loves it.
Now these guns aren’t gonna have the same sleek lines of a browning or Beretta but I think they are one of the best values out there for under $1k. Well under actually.
Every year I said I’m gonna spend some coin on some fancy gold inlaid gun with a gold trigger and hand carved birds on the receiver but my brain won’t let me do it. Not for a dozen or so hunts a year for some stocked chickens. Lol.
I have been looking for something along those lines also. I really like the Weatherby Orion Sporting in 20G. It has 30 inch barrels interchangeable chokes and an adjustable comb.
I have shot a 12 gauge Weatherby O\U and was impressed by the quality.
If you are patient, the right Citori will come your way at the right price. They are worth every penny new or used. If you are not patient, then go for a CZ made O/U. Almost all the turkish guns are field grade. I have read tons of posts where low volume shooters love them, high volume shooters complain they wear or break less than a couple thousand rounds.
What’s your budget? You can often find used Beretta Silver Pigeons on GunBroker (20 and 12) for a decent price. You’ll most likely get a lot more mileage out of a used Silver Pigeon in comparison to a CZ field gun. As mentioned earlier, the field guns aren’t designed for constant high round sessions and will loosen up and beat themselves “off-face” much more rapidly than one designed for a high round count
I personally like the Miroku made SKB over and unders as a lower priced used clay gun. You can always take a ride over to sarco if you want a real fixer upper. They have gondolas of double barrels right now out.
There is an top grade wood field grade available right now for $850 on that other site I moderate on, but I have to have removable chokes and it does not.
The Mossburg silver series is around that price but, only in 28” I think. Not sure what length barrel your looking for. I’m guessing at least 30” for clays. I just picked up their Gold reserve Super sport. It’s a good O/U with a lot of stock adjustments for the price. A little over what you want to pay. Usually can find them for around a G. Is a Turkish made gun though.
I have a 12 ga. Weatherby Orion sporting. Paid about $850 for it. I started with it for trap and sporting, never had an issue with it, shoots well, well over 5000 rounds through it, maybe closer to 7500.
I brought to the Clinton meet up years ago.
If anyone wants to try it, I’m at the Fairfield trap club, let me know and I’ll bring it.