What do you think of Weatherby Shotguns?
I was looking at some over/under shotguns and then I saw the prices. Forget that. I have always passed on automatics because I figured they were way out of sight but not really. Anyway, most of the auto shotguns I have looked at are in the $700-$1000 range. Then, in Petersen's gun value magazine, I came across a Weatherby auto that runs somewhere between $500-$600. I assumed anything with the name Weatherby on it was out of sight. But this is actually cheaper than some of Remingtons and other American auto shotguns. Was I imagining this price? Does anyone have an opinion on the Weatherby's?
0
-
IMHO the EAA shotgun is a step up from the Weatherby. Had one for 6 months (bought new, skeet loads only) and it started firing both barrels with one trigger pull, traded it in ASAP on a Browning Cetori. 50,000 rounds later the Cetori still hasn't malfunctioned.
Some guys like a mag full of lead, I still prefer one round to the head.0 -
weatherby didnt make their own guns, they subcontracted with howa of japan. the weatherby is the same style gun as a mossberg 1000, s&w 1000, iga, nikko, and hi standard type imports. i see your still shopping! have you thought about going to the range, chum up to someone, and ask to shoot their gun? one shot from a great designed gun is all it takes to make a believer sometimes. 0 -
For Tailgunner1954:
Am I glad I asked this question. I was thinking about bying the EAA but was afraid it was not of good quality. But the Weatherby was no good? Wow. Anyway, I have always liked the Brownings. If I can find a way to swing it...0 -
For Bobski,
Thanks for the information. It is a big help. Yeah, I'm still shopping but I don't want to bore everyone with the same question about each brand. So, I had best take your advice and see if I can try a few out. I still like my old Winchester 1200 pump but have been toying with the idea of going to an auto or over and under. How do the auto's stand up to the pounding of shooting clay pigeons? I'm not talking about huge amounts either. I'd probably go a half dozen times a year at best.0 -
if you dont reload...go with a semi. if you go more than 6 times a year, get an O&U. if you shoot 500 rds in warm up, get the o&u, it will last longer. funny......most people i know that shoot pro's use 12ga semi's for doubles and 12 ga event. they kick less. i still shoot my winchester super xm-1 in 12 ga events. if you go semi, dont miss shouldering a win super xm-1. its by far one of the best semi's ever made. youll fall in love with it. 500 600 will get you a nice used skeet or trap gun. new ones are pricey if you can find them. they stopped making them around 81, if i remember correctly. im away from my books. cant remember. love those solid all machined parts on a gun! you cant beat them. 0 -
"...the pounding of shooting clay pigeons..." Do you not use target loads? Any shotgun will go on forever with target loads as its diet. Mind you, anything that has 'Weatherby' on it is over priced. Considering nothing made by or sold by Weatherby is or does anything better than anything sold by any other manufacturer. Don't pay for a name. 0 -
and for the record....if you shop for a whetherby o&u, they are made by skb in japan. skb is a fine gun...until whetherby puts his name on it and charges you an extra 500.00! 0 -
You sound like a fugal guy. Look at the SKB 505 or 585 models or the Bretta starting line O&U's. These will last a lifetime and give you great results. There are much better guns made, but were talking "best value". Either of these will take you through the competition if you wish to compete. After you shoot "A" you'll understand "why" you want to spend more and what you want. You can normally get these (with a little discussion) for under $1200.
Auto's kick less, if you want a good gun at a reasonable price look for a Remington 1100. They take all types of barrels, parts are available, most will take any reasonable reload. AND there are lots of good used one's for sale. I have seen several lately at the range where guys paid $350-$450 (I know the guys here will tell you it's to low, but they are available if you are willing to look and wait)
In reading the last few posts, you aren't going to be happy with keeping your 1200, and I wouldn't recommend a pump for skeet or clays (I know many good shooter use them), and even an auto will lose you a bird in competition every so often. Go the extra few bucks above the "no name" brands, you can get a good gun without going broke.
Us fugal guys always struggle with the choices, but in the long run I have always found that buying quality is the cheapest way in the end. I have also found that if I look around, I can buy quality at a reasonable price.
Good Shooting0 -
You didn't say if this was going to be a dedicated clay target gun or if you want a field gun that you can take target shooting 6 times a year. You also didn't specify if the clays game you play is Trap, Skeet, or Sporting Clays, since the games you play lend themselves to different stock styles (mounted or low gun), barrel lengths (short for skeet, middling for Sporting Clays, and long for Trap) and chokes (unless it's a screw choke gun. Also do you need more than one shot? A single barrel gun is fine for Trap singles but you need an O/U or Auto for Sporting Clays, Skeet, or the doubles Trap games.
Since I'm a Trap shooter you'll be getting my bias. If you want a gun that can do duty as both a field and a target gun ignore what follows and get the 12 gauge Beretta Whitewing or Onyx O/U with a 28" or 30" barrel, 3 inch chambers, and Sporting stock wih the Strada (wide) rib.
A short list of target guns that I've tried and liked:
1) Browning Superposed or Citori - the Superposed Belgian Brownings are the best bargain going on a handmade gun and Grade Ones in nice shape can be had around $1000 to $1700 - the price of new Berettas or Citori Brownings (made by Miroku in Japan). I know people who shoot and like the Browning Gold Auto ($700) but I see more Remington 1100s and Beretta 391s ($800) at my Trap Club. The BT-99 ($900)is an excellent Trap gun if you only shoot singles and the Citori is a well-made good gun that lives up to the Browning name.
2) Beretta - The Whitewing ($1100) O/U is basically the same mechanicals as their more expensive grades and is a bargain. You can still get an inexpensive Trap Combo with an O/U barrel and a longer top single barrel for handicap shooting - expect to spend more for the 2nd barrel. The AL 391($800) Urika autoloader is a nice but expensive gun and can be taken to the target range one day and hunting the next. I personally find the trigger slow on the 391 and cleaning is more complicated on any autoloader. I had two of them but both are gone now.
3) Remington - the 1100 ($700) seems to be the gun to have if you like an autoloader at my Trap Club. I shot my first 25 with one. They are a little clanky compared to the Beretta gas guns but they are less expensive and there are lots of good used ones out there. Hard to go wrong with this gun - its a classic. However, if you get a shell chucker to shoot at the range spend another $10 bucks and get a T&S shell catcher. The other shooters, especially the ones next to you that are getting pelted with your spent hulls - will thank you.
On the high end I see people (not frugal guys) shooting Krieghoff and Perazzi but most of these guys are serious competition shooters who are shooting 400+ targets a week and regularly entering shoots. Spending $5000 or $10,000 on a gun is something that (I guess) they can rationalize. Anyway, every Krieghoff owner seem to need to send their gun out once a year for expensive "maintenance" work and both Krieghoff and Perazzi are pricey to buy and maintain. I've decided that the reason that they have detachable triggers is because they need to have them.
Forget the exotic stuff like Ljutic and Seitz - too pricey for the frugal guy. Also look out for out-of-production guns. It's clear that bobski loves his Winchester Super XM-1 but my experience has been that old gun parts are hard to find and gunsmiths to fix broken old out-of production guns (and fix them right) are harder to find. Been there - done that -never again! You won't have this problem with a Browning, a Beretta, or a Remington.
So there you have it. If it were me, I'd bite the bullet and spend the money on a new or used Browning O/U Superposed or Citori. You will hand it down to your kids (and they to their kids) and they will fight to be the one who gets it. They shoot forever and if it breaks Art's or Browning will fix it and it will shoot forever again. If I wasn't getting a Browning O/U I'd buy a new or clean used Beretta O/U.
Besides Gunbroker, check the web sites at ***********, Cabela's, Jaquas, New England Arms, Eurochasse, Gamaliel, and Griffin & Howe to see what's out there. Don't be shy to ask for a deal - this is a buyer's market - I see a lot of stuff at reduced prices. Gun dealers need to eat too.
Good Luck and Good Hunting! Be sure to let all us armchair experts know what you finally bought.0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
9 comments