Whats a Shotgun you own that was better than you expected?

17308 Views 206 Replies 153 Participants Last post by Bahama Joe, 6 mo ago

KYLongrifle

Discussion Starter · 9 mo ago

What was a shotgun that you've owned that was better than expectations?
Mine has been a Charles Daly 20ga auto(the older 600 version).. Ive owned it for 19 years and its had more than a few thousand rounds through it. My wife bought it for me to bust brush and bad weather with.. Very plain black synthetic, cherekoted(or something like it) barrel,and its been rock solid all these years.. Its been crazy reliable with all loads in all kinds of weather..
Have you had a shotgun that exceeded expectations or reputation?

Reactions: 3

41 - 60 of 207 Posts

Okgobbler

· #41 · 9 mo ago

Stoeger nickel coach gun. Not a fan of the o/u but like that sxs.

DKW1

· #42 · 9 mo ago

Fabarm Waterfowler.

uplanddan

· #43 · 9 mo ago

Okgobbler said:
Stoeger nickel coach gun. Not a fan of the o/u but like that sxs.

Sold mine. Won it at an NRA banquet. Worst shotgun I think I've ever had the displeasure of owning. Maybe yours is 10000% better?

rons1957

· #44 · 9 mo ago

Caesar Guerini Summit 28 gauge with 30 inch barrels. Friend of mine was selling it and let me try it. Loved it. Bought it. First time out shooting sporting clays with it I shot an 82. That surprised me, in a good way. A little more practice with it and I may make the 28 my gauge of choice for sporting clays.

Reactions: 2

MNGunner

· #45 · 9 mo ago

I guess the first FAIR 16ga I bought I was surprised how gorgeous the wood it came with ....so much so that I ordered another.

Reactions: 2

sneem2

· #46 · 9 mo ago

Bought a Remington 11-48 16 gauge. No rib very basic gun. Took it to SD and slayed with it. Shot it better than any of my more expensive fancy guns. It’s a keeper.

Reactions: 3

Maser

· #47 · 9 mo ago

Not a shotgun, but rather shotgun ammo. Those mini shells from Aguila were so much fun! I don't mind hard kicking handguns, but I can't stand hard kicking long guns and the mini slug loads were a dream to shoot all day.

Okgobbler

· #48 · 9 mo ago

uplanddan said:
Sold mine. Won it at an NRA banquet. Worst shotgun I think I've ever had the displeasure of owning. Maybe yours is 10000% better?

Fair enough. We bought one for my dad and my brother got it when he passed away. Probably enjoy it for the memories way more than the quality. I have a strong dislike for the condor. That is what the school shooting team is forced to use at some competitions. Hard to go from a citori or 686 to a stoeger.

Reactions: 1

Pine Creek/Dave

· #49 · 9 mo ago (Edited)

Gentlemen,

I own many high quality double guns, however the gun that surprised me the most is gun I recently purchase from a man in Va. The gun is a Huglu 200A 28 gauge SXS double gun. I bought the gun to see what the quality was like on the Turkish made SXS double guns. So far I have killed 4 Grouse with it and 3 Woodcock. The gun is extremely light at right around 5.0 Lbs. I was surprised that the gun was actually a Trigger plate gun, pretty much a knock off of the Beterra 28 gauge SXS double guns, with the same Beretta type SST and Beretta selective safety. Conservative engraving, screw in chokes with 28" Barrels. Different sportsman have advised me that the gun has a over laid lamination stock on it, if so they did one heck of job on the lamination. It does look very nice, is articulated well for bird hunting and I have shot a few rounds of Clay with her. The gun is actually to light for shooting Clays, but is one heck of a nice Grouse & Woodcock gun. The gun has about 1000 shells thru it now, and I have had absolutely no problems with the gun, nice
trigger pull on the SST, 4.8 and 5.2Lbs which is a might heavy IMO for a light 28 gauge double gun. Never any doubling and the gun patterns great with both RST SpredR's and B&P high grade shells. With 5 Screw in Beretta type chokes, the gun throws real nice bird killing patterns. I payed right around $950.00 - $1000 after picking the gun up at my FFL dealer. For the money expended, the gun surprised me, in both shoot ability and light weight. We will see what the longevity quality is like, after we have used the gun for many year.

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

The Huglu 28 gauge 200A SXS double gun. Very surprised at the quality of the gun. So far I am glad I purchased the gun.

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Reactions: 5

Swampy16

· #50 · 9 mo ago

FAIR Iside

castnblast2

· #51 · 9 mo ago (Edited)

K20 Parcours with 32" 28 gauge barrels for Sporting Clays. Never had interest in owning a Kgun before and got talked into it by a gun salesman that knows what I like. Love the gun.

dogchaser37

· #52 · 9 mo ago

A 16 ga. Remington Wingmaster 870. Bought it because it was a little beat up and inexpensive. Turned out being a shotgun that I shoot pretty well and is very reliable. I have since turned it into the shotgun I do all my turkey hunting with.

Reactions: 1

Joe Rinehart Jr

· #53 · 9 mo ago

LOVE this thread!

Reactions: 2

cwi4pipe

· #54 · 9 mo ago

Winchester Mdl 42 (.410) from my father. "If it flies, it dies"

Reactions: 2

Alex D

· #55 · 9 mo ago

CZ Sharptail Target - great workmanship, meh wood but mechanical triggers, wow!
Rizzini BR110 - nicely done, great action, shoots where I look.

Reactions: 1

boray

· #56 · 9 mo ago

I was pleasantly surprised by the semi-auto Stoeger inertia guns in both 12 and 20 gauge. I'm not much for semiautos but I got a hankering for one and knew I wanted an inertia gun. I didn't want to part with the jack a Benelli commanded so I bought a 20 gauge Stoeger M3020, specifically the model with the walnut stock and bronze finish. It's a handsome gun and worked perfectly right out of the box even with cheapo Winchester Universal. Heck I've had 870s choke on that ammo. I liked the first one so much I got another one. The whole time I'm waiting for the next one to come in I'm holding my breath just knowing that these are Turkish made and by all accounts should fall apart in the box during shipping. This next M3020 was the silver receiver/blue barrel/walnut model and it was as handsome as the bronze M3020 and like the bronze model functioned perfectly. Figured I was pushing my luck but I was on a Stoeger roll and batting 1000 so I ordered up yet another Stoeger this one being an M3000 M3K tactical style blunderbuss and just like the 20 gauge M3020s it worked perfectly. One other thing I noted upon disassembling all these guns was the attention to detail inside the guns that probably didn't matter but didn't go unnoticed. All the sharp machined edges, like on the barrel extension, were broken and radiused. No razor sharp finger slicers. Yep the Stoeger inertia autos REALLY surprised me.

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Reactions: 3

Kevin22

· #57 · 9 mo ago

KYLongrifle said:
What was a shotgun that you've owned that was better than expectations?
Mine has been a Charles Daly 20ga auto(the older 600 version).. Ive owned it for 19 years and its had more than a few thousand rounds through it. My wife bought it for me to bust brush and bad weather with.. Very plain black synthetic, cherekoted(or something like it) barrel,and its been rock solid all these years.. Its been crazy reliable with all loads in all kinds of weather..
Have you had a shotgun that exceeded expectations or reputation?

American arms silver o/u. Super smooth opening, barrel selector, chrome barrels, safety is smooth as can be, shoulders and swings nicely, and very low recoil. It has been a very nice gun

Reactions: 1

reddog reddog

· #58 · 9 mo ago

28 ga. Ruger Red Label! Does it all with ease. Wonderful to carry and shoot.

Reactions: 2

crickery13

· #59 · 9 mo ago

Pine Creek/Dave said:
Gentlemen,

I own many high quality double guns, however the gun that surprised me the most is gun I recently purchase from a man in Va. The gun is a Huglu 200A 28 gauge SXS double gun. I bought the gun to see what the quality was like on the Turkish made SXS double guns. So far I have killed 4 Grouse with it and 3 Woodcock. The gun is extremely light at right around 5.0 Lbs. I was surprised that the gun was actually a Trigger plate gun, pretty much a knock off of the Beterra 28 gauge SXS double guns, with the same Beretta type SST and Beretta selective safety. Conservative engraving, screw in chokes with 28" Barrels. Different sportsman have advised me that the gun has a over laid lamination stock on it, if so they did one heck of job on the lamination. It does look very nice, is articulated well for bird hunting and I have shot a few rounds of Clay with her. The gun is actually to light for shooting Clays, but is one heck of a nice Grouse & Woodcock gun. The gun has about 1000 shells thru it now, and I have had absolutely no problems with the gun, nice
trigger pull on the SST, 4.8 and 5.2Lbs which is a might heavy IMO for a light 28 gauge double gun. Never any doubling and the gun patterns great with both RST SpredR's and B&P high grade shells. With 5 Screw in Beretta type chokes, the gun throws real nice bird killing patterns. I payed right around $950.00 - $1000 after picking the gun up at my FFL dealer. For the money expended, the gun surprised me, in both shoot ability and light weight. We will see what the longevity quality is like, after we have used the gun for many year.

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

The Huglu 28 gauge 200A SXS double gun. Very surprised at the quality of the gun. So far I am glad I purchased the gun.

Woe that's a super nice double barrel! If that's some kind of overlaid on the furniture you could've fooled me because it looks like Turkish walnut to me with excellent checkering!

Reactions: 1

TDKK

· #60 · 9 mo ago

A lowly BRNO ZP47 12ga. Great no BS bargain of a simple sidelock SxS.

41 - 60 of 207 Posts