Any issues with XL 300 models? found a fairly clean one in the 350.00 range. ?

I do not have any first hand knowledge of the SKB / Ithaca series of shotguns however I have watched a lot of chatter about them over the years. No one seems to have anything bad to say other than spare barrels and the like can be a bit of an adventure to find. The price seems to be what I would consider a far value.

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My late BF/hunting partner had one.

They were of good quality, and were house-branded as Ithaca's by the maker, SKB.

It was a reliable gas gun and exhibited zero issues over the 20 years we both shot it.

$350 was an average price for a used example in great condition - 20 years ago.

That was then, this is now - and IMHO that's a decent price today.

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....had one goin on 20 yrs now..... never had an ounce if trouble from it. I have a 28" mod barrel and a 30" full barrel for it. Nice handling , light gun and chrome lined barrels to boot. Mine is a gas model... I understand they also made a recoil model although I am not too familiar with that model.

The recoil action guns predate the gas action guns by 5 years or so, and continued to be made concurrently with the gas guns for a couple of years at least. They were the 300/900 models (no XL). I have owned a 900 20 gauge since 1969; first gun I bought with my own money. Bought a 12 gauge 900 a few years ago on GB and have accumulated an assortment of barrels for both over the years, including a Deer Slayer for the 12 gauge. The 12 gauge is 2.75" only but the 20 is a 3". Like a Browning, you have to reverse the friction ring for heavy/light loads. Great carrying guns, very light and they shoot fine assuming the loads are matched to the friction ring correctly. And they do have an auto mag cut off so you can change the shell in the chamber without unloading the whole mag.

I have seen very little troubles with the XL models. I've owned both 12 & 20 gauge. Still shoot the b'jesus out of the 20ga. No problems. Do Not Shoot Steel Shot in these
Les Hovencamp
Diamond Gunsmithing
www.diamondgunsmithing.com