Gentlemen

I have been offerd a Krieghoff k-32. I have only seen these shotguns at the range. What is important to look at ot keep in mind when you shall buy a used one?

What is you opinion about this shotgun? Both bad and good sides, please

/ JOHAN

[ 09-27-2003, 16:58: Message edited by: JOHAN ]

Johan,

Make sure the fore end is secure - some of the 32's will work loose with lots of use. You can check for wear on the locking slide by very closely examining the engagement surfaces - you should not see it bottomed out. If it is, it has about reached the end of its service life and another top catch should be fitted.

Excellent triggers though the gun is too heavy for my tastes, it designed for volume shooting.

redleg

redleg

thanks for the advice. I think the gun is quite boxy.

What is your favorite shotgun?

/ JOHAN

Johan,

I don't know if I have a favorite shotgun...? I do have a few that I prefer to use for a given purpose.

Sporting Clays: A Browning SP 325 O/U with 32" barrels - the Euro version. It has about 80,000 targets behind it and keeps going. Choke tubes in both barrels.

Hunting, foul weather or no-tox shot, general do-all gun: A Benelli Legacy with 28" barrel. It balances very much like the Browning above, but is about 1/2 pound lighter. It is deadly for waterfowl and clays. I shoot it about as well as the primary clays gun too. Funny, it is within 1/8" of the overall length of that clays gun too...

Trap and especially doubles trap: Browning, superposed grade I, Lightning, with 30 barrels. IM and Full choke.

SxS gatherings (field or range), informal sporting, and dove shoots: Joseph Lang sidelever, 12 ga. with 29" Damascus barrels that are nearly mint in measurement, ca. 1884, nearly 100% engraved with English scroll. It is a sideplated, trigger plate action where the sidelever actually cocks the strikers upon opening the gun, and it is an extractor gun. It is the lightest of the bunch and shoots pretty much where I look. Both barrels are choked, and were originally choke-bored, IC or .010"

A couple things I've learned about myself and shotgunning. I like longer barrels and I like lighter guns. Often, those 2 things are hard to find in the same gun, but it's worth the search. And gun fit, gun fit, gun fit is the most important aspect of shooting well beyond sound, basic fundamentals.

Regards - redleg

[ 09-19-2003, 02:53: Message edited by: redleg155 ]

Johan,

It's Kriegoff K-32,not "Kreighoff k-32". LOL. I should talk, as poorly as I type. In any event, it is based upon the Remington 3200, which I own a nice 5 tube set. Kriegoff bought the patent rights from Remington and produces an superb gun, K-32, which I have shot often.

In over 20 years of shotgunning, I have not heard of anyone having either loose fore-ends or any wear problems. I have never seen a Kriegoff action that was defective or shot out...barrels maybe. You could try http://www.halkguns.com or http://www.krieghoff.com for more advice.

Most competition shooters in the US shoot Perrazi, Kriegoff, Beretta...but its more sponsership and trends than product driven. One of the best shooters I ever saw used a NEF single shot. Perrazi, Kriegoff, Beretta, Browning[Belgium ], etc. are all top grade.

Chose the gun based on type of shooting and most importantly fit and feel to you. Pick it up and shoulder it many times. Swing it from side to side.

If you are just "picking up" a "good buy"...I'd say pass. Shotguns should be fitted more than most other guns as they are usually shot at moving targets and shot more often. But to each his own.

As to tips for inspection, I would say have a gunsmith who specializes in shotguns look at it. I know that you knew that, but aside from reading Kriegoff on the underside, the ability to spot imperfections usually comes from looking over a lot of guns. It may cost you more now, but it will save you more later.

Or you could do as I do, buy another gun whether I need it or not.

Good luck.

Carcano,

LOL. I stand rightly corrected. I said that I typed poorly [98 out of 100 this time]. You'd think I would have caught that from the posted url. Krieghoff Ulm, DE. Regardless of spelling an excellant competition shotgun.

Dave...you should have stayed in bed.

The original K-32 is based on the old Remington 32 and the not the Rem 3200 that was introduced in the early '70's.

The K-32 has since been replaced by the Krieghoff K-80 which is one hell of a shotgun... as is the Krieghoff K-32.

So why is there such a big difference in price between the K-32 and the K-80? It appears to me that the K-80 is the next generation of K-32 but it (K-80)is seriously expensive both new and used.

The receivers on the K-80 are hardened (not that the K-32s are soft).....the trigger mechanism is much, much better, the dimensions of the wood and the quality of the wood and checkering is 1000% better.....the barrels, in my opinion, are also much better and there are a more types of ribs.....and the final reason.....every time Perazzi raises their prices so does Dieter 'suz he believes (rightly so) that his shotgun is at least as good as the Perazzi.

So, what is a fair price for an unfired K-32 Standard Skeet or Trap model cica 1979?

A K-32 with a single set of O/U barrels in nice shape...where there is still some space between th top hood latch and the barrels....$1500 to $2000 depending on how bad the fellow wants it.

Skeet guns with 26" barrels are almost impossible to sell and the 28" barrel skeet version will normally sell for a little less than the trap...unless it has more than one set of barrels.

Take a look at www.gunsamerica.com under "kreghoff" for some idea of what people are "asking"

DB BILL. Thanx. I did that already. There is normally some difference between what folks are asking on Guns America and what one might expect to get. Seems like I saw somewhere that new bbls for a K-32 were 4500. Looks like the complete gun sells for less than new bbls. Seems like an unfired 32 should bring more than 2K. The Trap model has a silver colored receiver with "Krieghoff" written on it. Is this a standard Mod -32? The skeet gun is standard w/28" bbls. Thanx for taking the time to respond to my questions.

Don't confuse the K-32 with the newer K-80. If it has Dieter Krieghoff's signature on the side then it is a "Signature" grade and a K-80. By the way, 1979 was the last year they made the K-32 which was replaced by the K-80 (hence K-80). If the gun you're looking at is truly unfired it would be worth a bit more but not a lot as you would be approaching the price of a K-80 which is much more desireable. You should also know that with routine care and periodic maintenance you can expect a K-32 or K-80 to last basically for ever.

The good thing is that K-32 barrels and K-80 barrels, while they have some differences, can normally be fitted to either a K-80 or K-32 receiver. The triggers and trigger guards are not interchangable but the K-32 trigger can be upgraded with the K-80 trigger and except for a small difference at the rear of the trigger guard the stocks would interchange.

Two web-sites to look at;;;

www.krieghoff.com is the site for Krieghoff America and has a lot of information on it.

www.halkguns.com is the site for Hal duPont who is probably the biggest Krieghoff dealer around. He has a very large used gun section with photos that will give you some idea of the prices....with the caveat that Hal also has about the highest prices around for used guns.

I was under the impression that both shotguns are K-32's. The skeet gun was purchased in 1978 and the Trap gun in 1979, in Germany. Both are unfired with box. But the Trap gun has that chromed looking receiver with "Krieghoff". Nobody has ever mentioned signature grade. where do I look for information. Darn things are heavy too. Thanx.

If it's possible for you to send me a photo I can resolve your problem. Barring a photo a detailed description might help. One thing to look at is the triggers and trigger guards.

K-32 ---trigger is kind of straight and not adjustable back and forth. Trigger guard is oblong looking and the rear portion is rounded.

K-80 ---trigger is distinctly curved and has a back and forth adjustment. Trigger guard is more rounded looking and the rear portion comes to a point.

If you take a look at the Krieghoffs on GunsAmerica you can see what I mean about the shapes.

If the guns were bought in Europe it may be the chrome-looking one was an early transition model. I would call Krieghoff and ask them. There is a phone number on the web-site I referenced.

Bill. my camera is on the way to a wedding. I emailed Krieghoff and asked them. Thanx for your help. I will look at the triggers. Forgot to ask if I could shoot steel shot in them. I think not in the trap gun for sure.

If you want to shoot steel shot in any quality shotgun the best thing to do is have Briley install a set of screw-in chokes and specify that you want chokes for steel shot.

I have a Perazzi O/U that I use for hunting and it has had Briley chokes in it for years so when steel shot became required for certain areas where we hunt pheasant I called Briley and had them send me the approprtiate chokes.

Thanx Bill I may do this if I do not find a Side by Side Beretta. I have carried the Krieghoffs around unfired for so long I may just leave them as is.