Savage 12 ga O/U Shotgun
I would appreciate some help on this one, and I may even have some bum information. I briefly looked at a shotgun in the parking lot at work this evening and there wasn't any good lighting. I think what I was holding was a Savage 12 gauge over/under shotgun. Single trigger. 2-3/4" chambers. Plain barrel/no rib. Said made by Valmet, Finnland. I swear it seems to me it said Model 380 but I can't find that number in any books I have here nor at the online GB auction so I may have that wrong. 330? 388? 300? I don't know. Does this sound like anything any of you has seen? It has a fairly slender splintery forestock. Butt stock appeared to have been cleanly cut and tightly & neatly re-joined just rear of the pistol grip (it occurs to me that the stock may have some kind of recoil compensator inside?) The light-colored wood is sound (except for the earlier note that the stock looks to have been cut in two) with only very minor nicks and scratches. The steel is not really pretty but not badly enough pitted to remark. It could probably be cleaned up nicely with ultra-fine steel wool and Blue Wonder. The bores are nasty. Powder residue at the muzzle so maybe (hopefully) its been being shot. I saw no bulges or dents in the barrels while holding it up to the lights in the parking lot. I know it was a cursory and very superficial examination, but I would appreciate hearing from anyone that knows about this shotgun. The price is extremely attractive even if it is only a shooter for me or a family member. Thanks a lot for your time.
timbroman@aol.com
timbroman@aol.com
0
-
Model 330 on up to 330T. Should have a full forestock. Most probably pressed checkering and no cuts or modifications in the stock.
Value even in pristine condition is minimal (in the $400.00 area). Value as described would be in the "How much will you pay me to take it?" range.
Why purchase a piece of equipment that's been abused and mistreated for 30 years when so many good items are available?
Nord0 -
Nord, Thanks for insight & comments. You probably nailed it without seeing it. I believe it is a 330 indeed - I saw it in "Modern Guns" this morning along with vent rib 333 and the 333T. I just don't see many O/U doubles here at private cash sale that are moderately priced, and the seller was asking $200.00. I think it'll be around the yard today so I may take another closer and better look at it at noon and maybe find something out about that stock. May offer $100.00 and see what happens. I always appreciate the input here.
timbroman@aol.com0 -
You might give that "parking lot" gun some serious consideration if the condition isn't too bad and the price is low. I have used these "Savage/Valmets" for many years for upland and duck hunting. They are very acceptable "knockaround' guns; reliable and easy to fix. Actually I should say "easy to clean" because I've been using two of them for over 30 years and have never had to do anything more complex than remove the one-piece extractor and dig the weed seeds and gunk out from under it! I have a plain 330 12ga w/28" m/f chokes for late-season roosters and ducks (and have killed called coyotes with it)and a (slightly) fancier 333 12 26" sk/sk for upland. Got them cheap when a gunshop in Idaho went under in 1978. The basic design is a simplified Remington Mod. 32. I also had a 20 ga. 330 but found it too heavy for a 20. The Finns have made this gun very reliable for cold weather and left enough room in the trigger guard for gloves. So when the weather really sucks, I take a Valmet. Never had a bobble in cold weather down to -10 in Idaho, Washington State, Vermont, and upstate NY.
If the gun is mechanically good, have some gunsmith bead blast it, then you finish it with some commercial wipe-on or bake-on finish, and shoot the hell out of it. One word of advice, though. If the bores are really pitted, pass on it--it's been really abused, and those barrels are made of very tough stuff. You aren't going to clean them up with a hand drill, cleaning rod and steel wool! (Parts still may be available from Small Arms Shop in Florida.)0 -
These are good over unders. One of the models 330 or 333 deluxe grade had ejectors which are more desireable.
moc.murofsmraerifeht0 -
Thanks all. I don't want this to become a Discussion Forum post and aggravate the recently-returned and recovered CaptK, but I spent a little time with that 330 Savage today. The seller is trying to be firm at 200, and the gun actually looked better than I first thought. However, the stock has indeed been cut in two and it's had a piece removed (evident in grain shift) to shorten lop. I'll contact you folks later as to the outcome of the haggling.
timbroman@aol.com0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
5 comments