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Low cost O/U...?

pinshooter13
I'm looking at my first O/U, and can't decide between the Stoeger Condor, and the EAA import from Russia. Anyone familiar with both models? Pro's and con's? Any serious imput would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Edward Milliron
pinshooter@therange.com

Dillon XL650 "Crank & Shoot"
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Comments

11 comments

Date Votes
  • nord
    There is no such animal as a low-cost O/U. There are cheap one's, but you get what you pay for.

    Consider a used Ruger or something on that level. Then you'll have an inexpensive gun that will last beyond your grandkids.

    Nord
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  • bobski
    wrong country. go jap....skb 300, or usa...an old stevens 311.
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  • 1KYDSTR
    I have a Baikal myself, and aside from having to replace the forend (EAA took care of this quickly and well) it has absorbed a few thousand rounds with no malfunctions. Several of my shooting buddies also have them and we tend to drag them around the field as opposed to the more expensive O/U's we own. I will NOT attempt to tell you that my Baikal is on the same order of quality as my 101 or Citori, but it deftly gets the job done. I agree that you may want to get a good used product, but will not go so far as to say that they are THAT preferable to a new Russian or Turgish gun. As long as you are comfortable with the warranty, I say go for the less costly option, and then some day splurge and get yourself a nice SKB, Browning or Berretta that is as much a work of art as it is a utilitarian device! Knowing that you have enjoyed shooting the O/U that you payed $450 for will make the $2000 you spend on a higher quality gun a little easier to justify.

    "When I cease learning...I'm dead"(Me)
    "Power corrupts...Absolute power corrupts absolutely"(Descartes?)
    "History is written by winners"(Patton)
    "You get a lot farther with a kind word and a gun than you do with a kind word alone!"(Al Capone)
    "There is nothing lower than the human race...except the French" (Samuel Clemens)
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  • 1KYDSTR
    I have a Baikal myself, and aside from having to replace the forend (EAA took care of this quickly and well) it has absorbed a few thousand rounds with no malfunctions. Several of my shooting buddies also have them and we tend to drag them around the field as opposed to the more expensive O/U's we own. I will NOT attempt to tell you that my Baikal is on the same order of quality as my 101 or Citori, but it deftly gets the job done. I agree that you may want to get a good used product, but will not go so far as to say that they are THAT preferable to a new Russian or Turgish gun. As long as you are comfortable with the warranty, I say go for the less costly option, and then some day splurge and get yourself a nice SKB, Browning or Berretta that is as much a work of art as it is a utilitarian device! Knowing that you have enjoyed shooting the O/U that you payed $450 for will make the $2000 you spend on a higher quality gun a little easier to justify.

    "When I cease learning...I'm dead"(Me)
    "Power corrupts...Absolute power corrupts absolutely"(Descartes?)
    "History is written by winners"(Patton)
    "You get a lot farther with a kind word and a gun than you do with a kind word alone!"(Al Capone)
    "There is nothing lower than the human race...except the French" (Samuel Clemens)
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  • Hangfire
    I also vote for the Ruger...factory service[if you ever need it] is excellent. Purchase price is right as well!!

    Bobski- a 311 is a side by side....but you knew that[8D][8D]

    Love them Pre-64's!!!!-Bob
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  • eastwood44mag
    DON'T GET A CONDOR!!!

    My buddy at the club shoots one, and it's a POS. It's single, non-selective trigger, which forces you to shoot bottom barrel first, and it gets awful hot awful fast. Won't be worth having as a field gun, and too much of a disgrace as a target gun.

    The Russian and Turk guns are absolutely gorgeous, and work fine. Baikal is a heavy SOB, the Turks make some light ones though. My 3.5" 12 has 28" barrels and is less than 7.5 pounds, plus, I can discharge both barrels at the same time, or switch to either one (and it was less than $360, so I can't complain there[:D])

    Good luck, and happy shooting.
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  • Robin
    Dear Pin Shooter:
    I was in your position a month or so ago. I was looking for a new inexpensive O/U in .410. I settled for a Khan. I shot almost a box of shells through it with very few problems. The gun came very oily, even after cleaning what I could, it "leaked oil". The model I bought has extractors not selective ejectors and I'm not wild about that. The Khan is built on a small frame, which I like. The selector switch is mounted on top of the safety and allows for both barrels to be fired at the same time. For what reason, I have no idea.

    The suggestion about a Red Label Ruger is a good one, I have a 12 ga and a 20 ga. Is the Khan the same quality? No. Will the Khan work OK for shooting a squirrel or two at the farm? Yes. How well will it will hold up???? Nord makes an excellent point, you get what you pay for.

    I would prefer having a vintage Remington, Savage or Winchester .410 but it ain't in the budget! All in all, you won't beat a Red Label. Good Luck

    Worry is the interest humans pay on the debt of miscalculation.
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  • gogolen
    I just purchased a Gazelle 20 ga. O/U for $500 from a local dealer it is a beatiful shotgun for the money. I think the quality is all there but only time will tell. I have read some good reviews about these. Here is the website check them out. http://www.gazellearms.com/
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  • bambihunter
    I'd say it depends what you're wanting to do with the gun. If you're wanting an occasional range gun or occasional duck gun then I'd go with the E.A.A. I have had many fine O/U's over the years and believe it or not I have sold every one of them in favor of my Benelli Super Black Eagle. I used to have a different gun set up for trap, one set up for sporting clays, one set up for duck hunting, etc. I found that I wasn't very good with any of them because they all felt different, they all swung different, the safeties were in different places, etc. So, I started narrowing it down to my favorites (which in the end was a Ruger Red Label All-weather, a Browning Citori, and my Benelli SBE). However, due to the capacity and the ability to shoot the 3.5" mags I always used the Benelli hunting and once I started using it at the sporting clays and wobble trap range I found I actually did as well in in most cases better than my over/unders. I would like to get a Benelli with a trap rib some day, but currently that's my least favorite clay's game so it's way down my priority list...

    Sorry to get off the topic there, but I guess the point I was trying to make (and took WAY too many words to say it) is that people often feel they need a special gun for certain tasks when many times (not all) it's better to use the ones you have (provided you already have some) and get better at them...
    Sorry for the tangent... [:I]
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  • rhmc24
    1KYDSTR nailed it I think. I have a Russian Baikal and a Turk by Sarcilmaz. I like both. I don't shoot enuf to want to lay out $2K for a bigname yet. Maybe sometime. I also have Win Mod 12 and 1897, but that's another good story.
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  • Pearyw
    I have 2 of the Condors, a 12 and a 20. I have been happy with mine. I also own a Ruger Red label 20 and a Belgian Browning Superposed Lightning 12. I hit very well with the Condors. I wouldn't want them for trap or skeet, but I have found them to be fine as a hunting gun.
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