Hello

I was wondering what everyone thinks is the best Over/Under shotgun made today under the $2000.00 price tag?

Thanks

Steve

It's not made today and hasn't been for a long time, but you can still buy Winchester 101 pigeon grades in excellent condition for less than $2000 with some shopping around. 27 1//2 inch barrel, screw in chokes and 3 inch chambers plus likely being one of the tougher shotguns to break ever made. Only downside to them is they are a bit heavy, which is truly not a bad thing unless you're doing a lot of chukar hunting or similar. Be sure to get one of the original Japanese Winchester 101s, not the later copies.

I'm no O/U expert but about 4 months ago I bought a Browning Citori Satin Lightning 12 gauge chambered for 3 1/2 magnum. It's a no frills limited production run without any scrollwork on its blued receiver. I paid $1049.00 for it brand new at a local gunshop.

I don't shoot trap, skeet or sporting clays. I just hunt small game, grouse, Ptarmigan, and might try it on waterfowl this fall. I'm perfectly happy with it. I expect more sophisticated shooters will pooh-pooh the Browning Citori as an entry level gun. One that Thurston Howell III and Lovey would never be caught dead carrying but I like it and it shoots well. You can certainly spend more money on a shotgun, particularly if you're serious about the shooting sports but this one for under $2K worked for me.

For the money I’d go with the Beretta 686/687 line.

My first nice (a relative term I know!) shotgun I bought some years ago was a Beretta 687 that I’ve put over 12,000 rounds through with absolutely nothing done but bit of cleaning and lubing in all that time. My wife shoots a left handed Browning Citori 525 and it looks to be just as good as the Beretta, it just has not had as many rounds through it (yet)

I am told the Ruger O/U is very strong indeed and falls within your budget range. Good luck with your eventual choice and as the others mentioned the Beretta and Browning are excellent choices. Browning is a premier source for O/U shotguns.

The best return for a sensible amount of money? A Beretta 687 is hard to improve on. The Japanese Browning/Miroku's are also excellent, but different in style to the Beretta.

Ixnay on the Ugeray.

For an entry level O/U that will last your lifetime and beyond, the Browning or Beretta is the way to go.

Opinions are like assholes.
Everybody has one and most of them stink.

Trophyman

In that price range, Browning and Beretta are the way to go.

Jim

Browning! I own a Beretta 687 Silver Pigeon V, which is a nice gun, but I prefer my Browning Citori. I shoot sporting clays, so I go through a lot of rounds. They are well built. Browning has increased in popularity where I shoot and no one has ever had a complaint with one.

The best is the one that fits you best. I shoot Beretta because the Citori doesn't fit me as well.

Browing Citori -- find a used one. I found a 425 used for $1500, like new. It's a dedicated skeet gun, sporting clays. Compensated, back bored, choke tubes, adj. comb., 28" bbl.

Also, it's a clays gun and weighs a ton. That's what you want in a skeet/clays gun, heavy, long barrel, solid enough to shoot week in and week out at a meet and not "shoot loose."

For a production gun at the skeet/trap club the Brownings lead the pack (work horse gun for a working class club).

In the pack for clays/skeet/trap is Beretta, Remington, Winchester. But Browning pretty much has the market cornered.

New they're running $2,300 -- $3000 more or less depending what you're getting.

The Browning site has lots and lots of choices. It's worth a look if for no other reason than to figure out differences in guns for different applications.

quote:

Originally posted by carlos111:
The best is the one that fits you best. I shoot Beretta because the Citori doesn't fit me as well.

I agree! I have tried a Ruger Red Label and owned a Browning Citori, but I have settled on an english grip Beretta 686 Onyx.

You can still find 12 gauge Browning Superposeds in very good condition for less than $2,000. Look for a long tang, round knob version with 28" barrels in IC/Mod and a buttplate. They are very good guns and have only been getting more expensive. No gun made today offers near this quality of workmanship for the price.

I shoot Beretta 686 and 682's. I've handled and shot a lot of Citori's and they just don't fell as good to me. So try some before you put down your money. I'm sure there are as many who feel the Citori feels and shoots better than the Beretta's.

I have a B325 and it works very well for me. If you can find a used Citori I think you will be happy with it, and it will probably be less expensive than a Beretta. I have also shot a Kemen and it is a nicer gun for sure. But, like a Perazzi, beyond my budget.

The best o/u is the one that actually fits you,I've picked so many that didn't fit that I gave up .On June 6,7, & 8 2008 Raahauges Shooting Sports Fair will take place on River Rd in Corona,CA http://www.raahauges.com It's a show where one can try out all of the latest rifles,shotguns,handguns,archery equipment for a nominal fee prior to buying!

The one (yet to be built so far as I know)that lets me drop shells into the barreles just like a sxs.