SKEET under $1200

1697 Views 19 Replies 5 Participants Last post by javven, Nov 24, 2003

javven

Discussion Starter · Nov 21, 2003

If you were going to have one gun, and preferred a 20ga (so I can shoot 20 and 12 bore events) and were going to purchase one gun for the purpose, and had to budget $1200 or under, what would it be??

Thank you in advance.

1 - 20 of 20 Posts

winders

· #2 · Nov 21, 2003

javven,

The problem with buying any 20 gauge O/U is that they are too light. It would be better to buy a 12 gauge and get a Briley 20 gauge tube set for it.

I would look for a used Browning Citori or Beretta 68x 12 gauge O/U (Skeet or Sporting) and get a Briley 20 gauge tube set when you can afford it.

Scott

javven

Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 21, 2003

I have a Citori now... it's really a fit issue as much as anything. I've been considering getting it tubed, but I'm not sure the increased weight will offset the recoil as much as a gas gun will.

javven

Discussion Starter · #4 · Nov 21, 2003

The more I look at it, the more I think I may work with the Browning. It's just been -severely- back-bored to remove some rust pitting in the bbl. I could use this (now lighter) barrel as a 'carrier' and just shoot 20 in the 12 gun for 12 and 20 events, and I'd have 28 and .410 for the other events... so instead of going to two games I could shoot all four (five).

Thanks... I was debating Kolar's fixed-choke conversion (lower end) vs Briley's removable-choke conversion (a little more but within budget...).

Any thoughts here?

winders

· #5 · Nov 21, 2003

What kind of Citori? How much does it weigh? What loads are you shooting? What kind of recoil pad does it have?

My Citori XS Skeet weighs a little over 8 lbs and has a Kick Eez recoil pad on it. It kicks pretty soft when shooting 2 3/4 dram loads.

You can get a nice hydraulic recoil reducing system installed AND a 20 gauge tube set for less than $1200.

Scott

winders

· #6 · Nov 21, 2003

javven said:
The more I look at it, the more I think I may work with the Browning. It's just been -severely- back-bored to remove some rust pitting in the bbl. I could use this (now lighter) barrel as a 'carrier' and just shoot 20 in the 12 gun for 12 and 20 events, and I'd have 28 and .410 for the other events... so instead of going to two games I could shoot all four (five).

Thanks... I was debating Kolar's fixed-choke conversion (lower end) vs Briley's removable-choke conversion (a little more but within budget...).

Any thoughts here?

javven,

What are the barrels backbored to now? I would get the Briley tubes even if they do cost more. From what I have been told, you will get better service from them than Kolar and I do like the fact that you can get various chokes.

Scott

javven

Discussion Starter · #7 · Nov 21, 2003

It's a standard Citori - Hunter/Sport(ing) (not clays). 28" bbls.

I'm wondering if I'm better off with a double than an auto... I can tolerate a tremendous amount of recoil (I learned to shoot young, shooting 3 dram eq. 1 1/8 loads with an 870 in what was frequently small-squad trap) even over a long time. Recoil's an issue more for the gun and for shot line-up than how many owies I've got the next day.

I'm told I'll definately have to have the trigger converted to shoot the .410 bore.

The gun also needs:

New trigger guard (rusted to heck in storage-I chromed it for a temp fix, works but is ugly, lol)
Some TLC to the stock (but I'll probably leave it, if I start shooting competitively again it'll just get re-torn asunder).

Essentially this gun was abused (all in the family, ugh) but no longer. I care for it like it was my own child now. It's still tight, the action should pretty much be fine. It does fit me, but not quite as well as a Beretta Teknys I've been eyeing for the same purpose (how odd is that?).

Thanks.

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javven

Discussion Starter · #8 · Nov 21, 2003

Update:

The gun had rust down the bores, and I was having it back-bored to see if the problem could be corrected. The gunsmith did five thousandths and he says there's no point to going further because he didn't even dent the rust pits. I'd be better off rebarreling it.

Or, I could have the action re-work done to set the lighter bbls, and get a three-gauge set made. The 12 would then be a 'carrier' for the lighter bores... That'd push my budget into $1400 or more.

Or, I could just buy a Companion tube in 20ga from Briley and slap that in there, permanently.... 20 should reset the 12ga action OK....

Or, I could just go out and get that Beretta, rack the Browning and call it a day.

ShootingStar

· #9 · Nov 21, 2003

I've had my K-80 with Kolar tubes for 14 years. I've shot a grand total of 1 1/2 boxes of 12 ga. through it (signed up for 2 rounds, couldn't take it :shock: ), and I've even got the Kolar barrel weight! I've shot 1 oz. 20ga. loads for all 12 ga. and doubles events for years with great success. A 20ga. gas gun MAY reduce the recoil to O/U levels, but there's more to the equation. The added weight of a tube set (mine's slightly over 10 lbs.) allows you to aquire and maintain a smoother, more stable swing. VERY IMPORTANT. I've shot skeet with a 5lb. .410 side-by-side Parker. It's like trying to track a target with a flyrod. Fun, but not the way to break 100's.

G

· #10 · Nov 21, 2003

no slam on Beretta...but with a 20 ***** auto you can still only shoot 3 events, doubles, 12, and 20. With the Browning and 3 tube set you got all the events covered, no need to go home early. Besides I think you'll find the 28 to be even sweeter than a 20 and all you need for skeet. In addition it sounds like you wanna shoot more...that'll lead you down the road to reloading...now the Browning will keep you from having to go back and pick up your hulls. Remember, a tubed set can be used for other stuff besides shooting skeet...like 12 ***** pheasant in the morning and 28 ***** quail in the afternoon...they are very handy to have!

javven

Discussion Starter · #11 · Nov 22, 2003

Well, here's what I'm going to do. I bought the Teknys today (about the only one I could find) because the gun just feels right. If I decide I need more weight I can always clamp it on. Though it's got a 26" bbl, it's got the sight plane of a double with a 30" bbl.

Also - the Browning needs intensive work. I'll do it, and here's the plan:

1. Mill out the bbl by twenty to twenty-five thousandths. This will render it unsafe to shoot, but will make it lighter and get rid of the pits.
2. Possibly braze the chokes in place. I'll let Kolar or Briley tell me if this is necessary.
3. Have a 3-gauge set made for the gun, using the 12-bores as a 'carrier' barrel.

This should get the weight PERFECT with a set of sub-gauge tubes.

ShootingStar

· #12 · Nov 22, 2003

javven, I think your Browning will make a nice carrier for a tube set. I don't see why you'd need to have the 12 ga. chokes in at all. I'm sure Kolar or Briley will be able to advise you and do that work for you. The only issue might be a liability one. Normally when they make a 2-barrel set with one being just a carrier, that barrel it is not useable as a 12ga. If it's gonna be unsafe to shoot, you want to make sure that NOBODY will EVER be able to shoot it.
Regards, Mark

javven

Discussion Starter · #13 · Nov 23, 2003

I thought about that and really what it'd come down to is milling it to the absolute max where it'd still be safe to shoot, or some paperwork to the point of not being able to shoot it as a 12-bore shotgun.

ShootingStar

· #14 · Nov 23, 2003

javven said:
...or some paperwork to the point of not being able to shoot it as a 12-bore shotgun.

Yeah, except paperwork won't cut it. If it's unsafe, it has to be made unshootable. Who knows who will own the gun 50-60 years from now? You wouldn't believe how much companies like Kolar must pay just for the liability insurance on each and every gun manufactured.

javven

Discussion Starter · #15 · Nov 24, 2003

Well, then like I said it'll just have to be opened up to the point where it's still safe, twenty thousandths should still be OK.

It must be tough making a gun unable to fire in one bore but still able in another. Some [email protected]$# will of COURSE find a way...

Natural selection. It's against the law.

G

· #16 · Nov 24, 2003

You could engrave the barrel "Do not shoot without out carriers in place" or something like that. right next to the gauge and chamber length.

javven

Discussion Starter · #17 · Nov 24, 2003

Somehow there's a way they do it. I'll let them figure it out

Jag

· #18 · Nov 24, 2003

Here is just a thought. (If I didn't catch this in the other posts I apologize.) Why don't you just get the Browning tubed for 20, 28, .410 and shoot your Beretta for the 12 ga. event. Iv'e seen pros do this all the time. Although many of them are shooting the 1100's for the 12 ga. event, they use thier Brownings, Beretta's, Krieghoff's, Kolar's, Perazzi's for the sub ***** events. Just a thought instead of going through all the other options, but it is fun isn't it! Good luck!

Zenak

· #19 · Nov 24, 2003

Semi? O/U?

In that range the Beretta AL391 Teknys fits for both the 20 and 12 and it shoots erallllly soft and looks nice too.

Its my new fav

javven

Discussion Starter · #20 · Nov 24, 2003

Well, I got the Teknys (20) this weekend. Also picked up a Nova. Eventually as I get better I'll work my way into the Citori. I'm probably going to have the stock cut, with an adjustable recoil pad put on it, with an adjustable comb. I'll have the BBLs milled out to the max safe-to-fire dimension for 12 bore to remove some weight. The action will be converted to cycle the little 28 and .410 loads reliably.

Then in go the ultralite tubes.

For the next three years I'll probably shoot the Teknys I got this weekend in the 20 and 12 bore games. I don't understand the reluctance to shoot 20-size guns in both games if the 20 fits you better than the 12... you can always add weight... it's tough to take out, though.

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