You know the one's I'm talking about...

Sart around $100, there are 2 pump variants, and a 5rd clip-fed autoloader... Century imports them, Dunhams Sporting Goods sells them (along with some of Century's more 'PC' products (i.e. no AKs, G3s, or FALs))...

I may be interested in a cheap 1st shotgun between now and 9/94 (As soon as a certain law expires, I plan to call CDNN for a Saiga 12C)...

My other 'possibility' is a used Westernfield, of the really old 'humpback' variety (I'm guessing Stevens or Savage)... Or of course, I could wait for some more cash and get a Mossberg...

As I understand it, all of these are lead-shot only, none can handle 3", and the chinese semi is prone to (typically chinese) breakage...

Any other comments???

Sadly I do know what you are talking about. They also at least the Duhnams by me has a normal looking semi for I think $279 or $249. They have two one is turkish(maybe Khan or Gazelle) and one is the Century import black dimond. Norinco is as low as I would go (I would not even go that low since my 2 Maks, a sks, and a 1911 knock off). The only ones I could see is the Gazelle SPA300 o/u or the Khan ARTHEMIS usually on sale for $299. It has choke tubes, 3" chambers, and can shoot steel. I would stay away from the chinese stuff.

Yes the pump YL12-IJ2 is 2 3/4" lead only it has a 19" full choked barrel . The YL12-IJ4 has 3" but is only lead and has a full choked barrel. They are Ithaca mod 37 knock offs. The SAS-12 clip fed has a 22" barrel not sure the choke type but is 2 3/4" lead only. Sorry it has been awhile since I stopped in there.

The Khan line (turkish) has some semi auto's the Centurion one is a 3" the other is a 3.5" they can take steel. In this case I would go the turkish stuff before the chinese. However I think your best bet is to go used like a mossy, savage, rem, win, J.C., or ithaca or if you want new the Maverick (mossberg) model 88 for $149 at walmart.

Just as an FYI the steel comming out of China can be quite good, but in firearms it usually isn't. In fact, it's almost always total junk.

I own a sas-12 weigong semi clip fed
What a piece of >")*
It has a three round clip and I have fred approx 50 rounds thru it and hav yet to have it feed ONE clip of three without every comcievable jam you can think of.
If you ask me keep you $ 249.00 (dunhams)
Also no owners manual and tyhey would not take it back the next day (unissued)
POS
**&^%$*&**^^^^^ chinese guns
that's what I get for bein cheep
Got me a 11-87 now and it is flawless in it's function.

I would agree. In fact, I wouldn't buy any gun coming out of china. I know the older chinese firearms (anywhere from beginning in the 1950's-60's were POS. Think about it, would you buy a firearms froma country whose government had its people make steel in their backyards? This isn't a joke. The quality of that steel is so poor that it is practically useless. However, lots of this have changed in the last 50 years in China, as they have had an economic turnaround. The production quality overall has dramatically increased, but I would still be weary of buying a Chinese firearm. I would stick to an American made or good European made firearm.

I always forget to login. that was me.

Hmmm... I have both a Norinco 982 (870 clone w/ghostring sights) and a Hawk '88' (870 clone w/bead sight). Both have taken numerous 870 parts/accessories (including 870 factory bolts) and so far they've been 100%. The 982 bbl says "2-3/4 & 3 inch shells" and the 88 bbl says "3 inch shells, lead shot only". A bit crude, yes, but perfect (IMHO) for a budget/beater shotgun. The only difficulty I've encountered to date is the ghostring sights loosening under heavy recoil (easily fixed w/Loctite). I'm more concerned about the durability of the springs than I am about anything else. However, should any springs give out my 'smith said there'd be no problems using 870 parts/springs.
Tomac

Hey Tomac

I'll be happy to sell you my chinese sas-12 12 ga semi auto for $ 175.00
It oly has 50 round thru it.
You seen to have good luck with the stuff, it's a bargin

Jim

LOL! Don't need much luck with a good copy of the 870 pump action (however, I would be cautious about buying their semi-autos or Ithica clones!)
Tom

I spent one year working in China, four years ago. I would not use anything that was made from their steel. They don't even use their own, they import from Japan.

Just my .02

Augie...

I've seen some of their "domestic" steel used in everyday products and for those I'd have to agree with you. However, their firearms (whether using better or imported steel) seem to be of higher quality. The Norinco M1911A1 clone, for example, is very highly regarded in 1911 circles and the steel used in the slide & frame are actually *harder* than domestic offerings making it one of the few foreign clones that high-end 1911 'smiths will work on.
Tomac

Tomac,

Good point! If they are using imported steel, there is no reason that they can't compete with the rest of the world when it comes to manufacturing firearms.

Augie...