O/U on a budget

Reeltime
(2/28/03 10:41:52 pm)
O/U on a budget

Newbie here.....I currently shoot a 12 ga. pump and a .410 break-open single shot. I would like to try a 20 ga. O/U for upland birds.

My question is this; Do any of the low budget O/U's made by Baikal, Fausti, Stoeger, Huglu, etc., stand out above the rest as a best buy? ......Thanks for your input. --- Brett

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dks
(3/1/03 10:32:06 am)
Re: O/U on a budget

Try to avoid guns made in 'exotic' countries. Most western europe (spain italy france) or japanese guns should suffice. However, not all makers will make 20 gauze guns.

note: that baikal nickel izh7 looks just like the zabala hermanos (ZH) shotguns.

Are these baikal russian made?
ITS NOT HOW WELL YOU SHOOT, ITS HOW MUCH NOISE YOUR GUN MAKES.

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GordonSetter
(3/1/03 1:41:07 pm)
IZH27 O/U SHOTGUN

A budy of mine just bought this gun a month ago. It is great. it has just enough heft to it, it swings nice and looks pretty (the nickle and engraving a nice). It has selectable barrels and a well placed safety, plus screw in chokes. His only complaint was it was stiff, but getting better. The gun is very inexpencive ($539 msrp) and comes in 12ga or 20ga. It has the features of a more expencive gun including chrome lined barrels. There is also an all blue version that comes in 12ga, 16ga, 20ga, 28ga or 410ga (about $509 msrp). Gander mountain is an eaa dealer and can help you otherwise call your fav gun dealer.

www.eaacorp.com/firearms/...kelt.shtml

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MTaylor
(3/1/03 2:18:41 pm)
Re: IZH27 O/U SHOTGUN

I bought an IZH27 in 12ga to use as a loaner gun. It works fine, goes bang, break clays, and is aptly priced. That would be my choice....

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john305
(3/1/03 7:37:54 pm)
Re: IZH27 O/U SHOTGUN

Yeah I will have to toss my vote in for the IZH 27 too. For the money I think it is the most reliable o/u out.

Yes dks they are the russian made ones.

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yotecaller
(3/4/03 1:34:57 pm)
Budget Shotgun

Reeltime I was going through the same thing the last few months of looking for a good Over Under at a low price.After all my searching I ended up with a Traditions(Fausti) field hunter.My wife paid $500 for it at Walmart.The fit and finnish is as good as the $2000 Shotguns.This was the only Over Under ( at the price that I could afford) that I considered after all of my searching.So don`t let the price fool you.I like the feel,fit and finnish of the Fausti just as much as the Browning Citori that I wanted to buy but couldn`t afford.Hope this helps you out on your decision.

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Bird Hunter
(3/4/03 3:27:36 pm)
Re: Budget Shotgun

i'm looking at either a baikal or a fausti please let me know which one you choose. i haven't had a chance to look at the fausti's yet but i know i did think the baikal was ok.

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Reeltime
(3/4/03 4:02:48 pm)
Re: Budget Shotgun

Thanks to everyone for your replies. The Russian made Baikal seems to be popular on this forum. Another forum I frequent is touting the Stoeger (Turkish made?). Yotecaller I too looked at the Faustis at Wally-World. You are right they looked well made. Unfortunately Wally-World doesn't stock it in 20 gauge and they want $200 more to special order it. Ouch! I'm going to a gun & knife show this weekend and hope to be able to handle all or at least some of these guns myself. I'm uneasy about buying a gun from a politically/economically unstable country like Turkey or Russia. If the %$#@ hits the fan over there will I be able to get my gun serviced if I need to? Thanks for the input and keep it coming. --- Brett

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goldenhunter02

(3/4/03 6:48:09 pm)
Re: Budget Shotgun

Well the stoeger O/U I looked at had "Made in Brazil" stamped on it so.............

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Howie1049
(3/8/03 12:32:31 pm)
Re: Budget Shotgun

Myself, I would save my pennys and wait to get a better O/U. Live with what you got until than. I prefer the Ruger Red. American made, Americans paid.

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David Frank
(3/10/03 8:30:32 am)
Budget Shotgun

Go to Dicks Sporting Goods and get you a Verona for $599.00. I think you'll love it!!

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ChuckD
(3/12/03 3:40:26 am)
O/U

I have a bit of experience with several of the guns mentioned here. 11/2 yrs ago I bought my 15 y/o daughter a Baikal IZH-27 shotgun for YHEC sporting clays. The finish lasted about a month, the gun is difficult to close(very stiff), and we both love it! It shoots precisely to point of aim, is absolutely bullet-proof, and in several thousand rounds it has loosened up to a "normal" level. It has only cost me for TruOil, sand paper, and stain--now looks great. we have another kid in YHEC who has the same gun, but in 12 gauge, with similiar experiences--except he is shooting a lot of 23's with his. Because I did not find a Baikal with checkering that I could stand, when I bought my first O/U, I picked through a LOT of boxes to get my Traditions Field Hunter--the wood is nicely figured and well matched--And with the extended chokes this gun patterns really well. That said, it is NOT as strongly built as the Baikal, but the fit and finish is truely excellent. I borrowed a friends Ruger a few times for our club shoots, and think it is also a very nice gun--highly underrated. Stoegers do not fit me at all, but fit and finish is not bad, and these guns are strong, also---several of our YHEC kids have these. I do not claim that these guns are as nice as Berettas, Brownings, or Perazzis, but then they cost a lot less. The Traditions I have is very close , at least in appearance. And the Baikal will likely last as long as a Beretta......................Chuck

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Reeltime
(3/12/03 10:46:05 am)
Re: O/U

Thanks to everyone who responded to my query. I got a chance to handle some of the guns I mentioned at a gun & knife show this past weekend. The Huglus had the best overall appearance followed by the Stoegers. The Stoegers had very nice walnut stocks but the metal parts showed a lot of tool marks. The Baikals were utilitarian in appearance but looked to be and well made and strong. Since this will be a "working" gun and not a show piece I don't care too much about fancy walnut stocks or hand checkering and fancy engraving on the receiver. Based on the majority of favorible comments in this string and the fact that the Baikals have screw-in chokes (unlike the Stoeger) I have diceded to go with the Baikal just as soon as I can get the cash together. Thanks again for your input. --- Brett

p.s.: Why does two-thirds of my post disappear when I attempt to use the Spell Check function?

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efarley
(4/30/03 2:50:19 pm)
O/U on a budget

I bought a baikal izh-27 6 months ago. I have used it for sporting clays, rabbit hunting, bird hunting and now turkey hunting - to make a long story short, I use my shotgun a lot! The gun is very "stiff" but easy to work with. My biggest complaint is the quality of the Walnut wood. The wood scratches, niches and chips very easy. The finish of my gun looks as smooth as the face of the moon. It seems a new chip or scratch is discovered with every trip to the woods. But at least EAA now offers replacement stocks and parts on their website - once the new stock is received, I won't have to be embarrassed about how my shotgun looks. In summary, the IZH-27 is a good gun for the average gun owner - but don't get it if you can't handle it getting beat up and scratched.