SHOTGUN - over under or semi auto

[Phauxtoe]

thinking of getting a used gun for occasional trap/skeet and future bird hunting.
dont want to spend a bunch. never had a semi auto shot gun before, anything i should look out for or Not Get!

budget not fancy price (600-800)

 

[ArmedCorgi]

CZ Drake CZ Drake - CZ-USA

 

[Phauxtoe]

CZ Drake CZ Drake - CZ-USA

that is at the top of my O/U list.
any own it?

 

[ArmedCorgi]

My sister has it in 20ga. She loves it. It's a nice shotgun.

 

[Mk44]

I got into upland hunting using an old 12ga pump. Hit every bird I shot at, so I'm not complaining. But wanted to upgrade and was considering a O/U. I went with a semi-auto instead.
I may still pick up a O/U because I love the function & looks of it.

For trap/ skeet, I believe most guys use a O/U or SxS.

Maybe look into places that offer rental to get a feel for it and see which is your preference.

 

[Greywolf224]

Its personal preference. I don't like auto anything in a long gun and only auto I have is a Marlin Glenfield .22. All else is Bolt or Lever action in a rifle.
I have a number of side-by side's, and a few Amish machine guns. The O/U look pretty sleek and will eventually add one to my collection. Presently am looking for a Lever action 12 ga. No Chinese junk.

 

[Bushmaster]

Its personal preference. I don't like auto anything in a long gun and only auto I have is a Marlin Glenfield .22. All else is Bolt or Lever action in a rifle.
I have a number of side-by side's, and a few Amish machine guns. The O/U look pretty sleek and will eventually add one to my collection. Presently am looking for a Lever action 12 ga. No Chinese junk.

Find a super slugster Ithaca 12ga. lever action single in 3in mag. Think mine model 66? https://www.gunbroker.com/item/735683540

 

[ArmedCorgi]

I personally prefer side by side to O/U.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

thinking of getting a used gun for occasional trap/skeet and future bird hunting.
dont want to spend a bunch. never had a semi auto shot gun before, anything i should look out for or Not Get!

budget not fancy price (600-800)

I've owned both. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. Currently I own a Browning Maxus Hunter. Since acquiring it, I stopped buying shotguns. No need to look any further.

 

[S&W Fan]

I’m a nostalgic kind of guy and actually prefer the older square back semi auto shotguns. Browning , Remington,Savage there were a couple others I think that also used the Browning square back pattern.
These guns with some regular maintenance will continue to last a lifetime and beyond and there a riot to shoot.

 

[Shoots100]

thinking of getting a used gun for occasional trap/skeet and future bird hunting.
dont want to spend a bunch. never had a semi auto shot gun before, anything i should look out for or Not Get!

budget not fancy price (600-800)

A 12 or 20Ga 28" O/U with chokes.
Stay away from the Turkish gun's, unless you don't plan on shooting more than a couple hundred rounds a year.
I prefer a 28ga, because of the weight, but I recommend you should start with a bigger gauge because of ammo availability and price.
Visit a local gun store and shoulder some guns, see what fits and is more comfortable in your hands.
I've never had a quality O/U jam or malfunction.
The design is simple, more durable and it's an easier action to show clear at the range and afield.
They also look a lot better in my eyes.
The best advice I can give, is for you to practice with and pattern whatever type of scattergun you buy.
If you can't hit shit with it at the range, your not going to hit shit with it in the field, where it really matters !
SJC

 

[GuyMontag]

A used Benelli Ultra Light, all day long.

The Benelli is more than you want to spend, but it's WELL worth the premium and an absolute pleasure to shoot and carry.



Or you can go old school pump and get a Featherlight

 

[hooked]

For your budget you can get a new semi-auto Beretta.. Should be fine for whatever you want to do .

 

[FrankenCub]

Or you can go old school pump and get a Featherlight

Oh man those were good days! Used to shoot trap with my uncles on weekends. At the time I had an Ithaca 12g Featherweight. I didn't believe in buying low brass shells seems it was a hunting gun. It was pretty brutal by the end of the session lol. After a couple hundred birds I'd be flinching, thinking damn this gonna hurt like hell lmao. I swear Ithaca must have thought a pussy pad weighed too much and stuck with the Bakelite.

 

[Acer-m14]

my first time at a skeet shoot i had a single shot 20ga .. so couldn't do doubles .. but dang I had fun ..
i had a old old moss 500AT pump in the closet i hated .. kicked like a mule .. no recoil pad on it , just a plastic plate .. lol
so looked for a O/U .. found me a SKB by Ithica and both barrels SK (skeet) choke .. and got it .. and shot for months ..
then i got around to the old Moss 500AT .. i'm fixing you to be a shooter .. got a limbsaver recoil pad , rigged up the table saw
to cut down the stock for it .. mounted the pad and ground it down to fit .. oh what the heck .. striped the all the wood and re stained it
too .. filled the hole in the stock with lead shot .. omg a whole new gun feeling when shooting it .. so one time i decided to try skeet with it ..
20/25 .. 19/25 then 24/25 .. man its a blast shooting skeet with a pump .. don't forget to rack that slide on the doubles LOL ..

 

[Celt]

Find yourself a used Benelli M1. You will not regret it. In my opinion the Benelli semi-automatic shotguns are the best out there. You can find a used M1 which functions identically to the newer M2 for your price range.


https://www.gunbroker.com/item/736211941

Thats just 1 example.

 

[Calculon]

Remington 1100 12 gauge. Reliable and soft shooting. There’s a reason they’ve been making by them forever.

 

[Phauxtoe]

thanks, tons of Great input!

 

[Acer-m14]

just want to say .. look deep deep down ... sure its nice 1K to 12K gun is nice and reliable .. but what puts the FUN into shooting too ... could its be that old beater in the corner that's just a blast to shoot and have fun with .. lots of nice choices put out here ... I'll take one of each lol ..

I got my SKB 600 i think is the model number for 700 used .. 25/25 with it one time so far , no problems so far with it ..

happy shopping @Phauxtoe

 

[Saltwater60]

I’m going through the same dilemma. I’m torn because I know I’m going to beat it up hiking through the woods.

 

[FrankenCub]

I just picked up a Baikal O/U, $300 for a gun I'm not afraid to beat up. Isn't real pretty but is rock solid.

 

[zzrguy]

What ever you buy make sure its a quality gun dont cheap out. My buddy has bought 3 o/u till he said fuck it and found a nice used broning Citro what he spent on the other three he could have bought the Browning new.

 

[Phauxtoe]

CZ makes a great gun!
i have a couple old pump 12gauges, but skeet with a pump is not fun. I am not good enough for the doubles.

 

[Shoots100]

What ever you buy make sure its a quality gun dont cheap out. My buddy has bought 3 o/u till he said fuck it and found a nice used broning Citro what he spent on the other three he could have bought the Browning new.

"The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price has faded from memory" , Aldo Gucci
I went on the usual gun sites and found plenty of quality used shotguns for sale in your price range.
I'm sure you can find something new or used in a local shop.

 

[oc shooter]

OU beretta only way to go. Benelli is also making an OU sort of strange looking but has good reviews . most of the people I know that have the Turkish guns have a lot of trouble with them it seems they double a lot don't know if it's a bad design or just poor workmanship. Untill a few years ago i was an avid trap shooter and the Italian guns seem to dominate Mainly Beretta and Perazzi a little expensive but you can find them used a fair price. Not many brownings on the trap fields then but they have always been considered a well made gun. Auto's Benelli or Remington