I've been looking for an O/U for some time.....

Ed L.

Ed L.

Well-known member
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So on another trek to one of the local gun shops yesterday I spotted a nice looking gun. It's a Mossberg Silver Preserve. Seems to be a good price at $525. Fit and finsh seems good for a gun in this price range compared to some others I looked at and fits me well. I've spent yesterday and this morning trying to read some reviews and get an idea about the gun. It's hard to read other forums and get a good feel for what's being said pro or con. Does anyone have any experience with this gun?

Thanks,

Ed L.
 
Ed,

I'm not at all familiar with this model but I've owned a couple Mossbergs before. It has been a few years ago and things may have changed but for what it's worth here are my thoughts.

I would consider the Mossbergs that I had owned to be "entry level guns". They were dependable enough but internal machining was rough. The safety on one gun was sooooooo stiff I finally had to tear it down and do some smithing on it to truly make it functional. I'm sure like most products, individual guns will vary.


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Fit and finish seems good for a gun in this price range compared to some others I looked at and fits me well.
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I'd say (barring you finding some bad reviews based on function issues) if your happy with the fit and the individual gun you're looking at is smooth, then buy it. On the other hand, if you want a nicer gun, than you won't be disappointed it you wait a little and save up for something in a higher price range.[/font]
 
There was a post on shotgunworld.com where the guy blew the choke out of one...and the end of the barrel. It peeled the solder that holds the barrels together back about 8-10 inches. I guess you really want to check the fit of the choke tubes and make sure they fit square and flush to the bore..any cocked choke tube will catch the wad and create a high pressure spike. Personally, I wouldn't waste my money on one...sorry, you are 1/2 of the way to a good used SKB or Browning ay that price.
 
Are you planning of using it for duck hunting, what size chamber 2 3/4 or 3 inch? if it 2 3/4 would work on upland birds but I wonder if 3 in is not better for ducks. Also can you use steel shot in this gun ?
 
Check out the CZ ringneck or other o/u's. The price difference is worth it. I looked long and hard before I made a decision on which to buy.
 
good used citoris can be had in the 800 range. CZ's are also another option as my uncle has two of their sxs's and i love the fit and finish on them for their price. i would think the o/u's would be similar.

eddie
 
I've never been much of a Mossberg fan. I had one when I was younger. Model 500. I never liked where the safety was and it was loose. I had to constantly check it to make sure it was in the safe position.

Lee, I read that report in Shotgun News. That's pretty scarry. I also read several other proplems about ejector problems and firing pin issues. That's enough.

I'm going to keep looking. I've never had a nice upland gun but I'm not in any hurry. I have plenty of guns to choose from. I have a 20ga 870 I've never fired yet. I should probably use it first. I've always thought I'd like an O/U for dove hunting and the occasional pheasant hunt.

Take care,

Ed L.
 
Ed,
My $.02 is that you should probably wait to get a better quality O/U. I have a Browning White Lightning Citori and it probably is the one I shoot better than anything else I own. O/U's have more to them than most single barrel guns and if not made well they can be a P.I.A.. Try to shot some different ones if you can. When I got mine it was between a too light Berreta, a too heavy Red Label and a Goldilock's "just right" Browning. God luck.
 
I'd keep looking too. I'm also a citori fan. You can pick them up for slightly less than a king's ransom. My first one was $600 (used) if memory serves.

Not that you want/need a citori, get whatever fits you best... I'd agree with Tom that there are better guns out there for the money.
 
I saw a friend's O/U in his cabinet last week and it was a Stoger Condor made in Italy or Spain.He said he bought it a few years ago for about $300 new and he loves it.
He uses it for trap and for pheasants.

Anyway I went to look at a new one last w/e and saw that the "same" gun is now made in Turkey.Any one have any feedback on the Turkley gun for me and the Forum
Tom
 
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Ed,

In my opinion there are reasons the Mossbergs and the Stoegers are the price they are. Buy a good used Citori.

Mike
 
Stay away from Turkish made, entry level guns. Way too many issues surrounding their lack of quality control.

I've had two Huglu SxS's. The first one lasted less than a box of shells before it wouldn't cock anymore. The reason? - the forearm hanger was never soldered on. Sent it back and the second one didn't even last that long - it doubled on the first target of the first outing - sent it back.

A buddy bought a 20 ga Huglu when I got my first one - he liked it but was convinced to sell it to another friend and figured he would just go buy another. The second one is going to the gunsmith this month because of consistent and progressive issues with the safety.

Mark DeHaan, the owner of the defunct Huglu USA and until recently the owner of the DeHaan Guns business has now closed up shop because of consistent issues with the lack of quality of the Huglu guns or responsiveness of the factory.

I have seen and heard of issues with the CZ name as well. Wonder why? Look on the barrels - they are Huglu.

I'm not against buying outside the USA ........just Turkey. I have an Italian made Rizzini O/U I love to shoot and recently picked up a Japanese made SKB SxS that has close to two cases through it already without problems.

You want to buy a gun from Turdkey go ahead, but before you do, find a local gunsmith that is willing to work on them some won't!
 
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Ed,

Pete pretty much summed it up. That Mossberg is not made by them and it's just barely an ecuse for an O/U. They are mostly being sold by Wal-Mart here Stateside. The plain hard truth is......$800 is about the bottom price for a decent used O/U today.

You even have to watch what you look at when it comes to Rizzini's as there are THREE Rizzini's that make shotgun and the least quality guns are teh Rezinni's imported under the Cortona name. It sells fro about $2,395 bare bones model. The better Rezzini's are closer to $4,500 and up.

The only decent Turkish made guns IMO are the ones made for Kimber and their price reflects their quaility again around $4,695 for the Marias model.

A good used Citori will run close to $900- $1000 today. Maybe $850 if you are lucky. The new retail prices have driven up the used prices due to the weak US dollar currently.

New Ruger O/U's have gone up also and used ones are running $850 and up. The best scenario is to keep an eye out for a used one from a private party. Don't get in a hurry and just keep looking, pawn shops are often a good place since they don't seem to keep up with the currentr prices. Just put a slush fund together and have it ready when that special buy comes along.

Thought for the Day:

If guns kill people, then.......pemcils miss spell words, cars make people drive drunk and spoons made Rosie O'Donnel fat.

Dave
 
Any one of the following if you are buying used:
Remington 300 Ideal,
Ruger Red Label KRL-1226-BR
Or Browning Cynergy Field Combo or Euro Combo

If your pockets are deep the Browning Cyerngy Field Combo is an excellent gun with 3" chamber for Waterfowl and a 2 3/4" match set for dove, quail, and etc...

Also if you are not sure the SPR310 is made by Remington...It is a European model purchased several years ago by Remington....The only down side to these guns is that if you are looking for a standard Remington Choke system they have there own type of threaded choke...Can't remember the specifics...The SPR310 is a fairly low price, quality gun with bang-up gun mentality...
 
Thanks Dave and Pete,

I know you have to be careful with all the buying and swapping of manufactures anymore. Some years ago I bought a dandy looking Italian O/U. It had some of that nice engraving and polished stocks you could use for a mirror. First time I shot it on claybirds it pulled both barrels. Man was that a surprize. I took it back to the shop and the sales guy pulled money out of the draw placed my gun on the back shelf. His only words were "that's the third one in a month and that's enough"

My sister ended up with dad's belgium made Browning O/U so I do know what a good gun is like. Just a bit out of this working mans budget. I'll keep looking. One of these days I'll run across something. Come to think of it my sister won't even shoot that gun. She shoots a Winchester O/U! Of course she does make more money than I do...hehe

Thanks,

Ed L.
 
stay away from the 300 ideals ive heard nothing but scary stories from remington dealers about them opening up on their own after going off, doubling and safeties failing/accidental firing. the model 332 which came after the ideal is the one they made after they fixed most of the problems with the 300.

i love rem guns but wouldnt keep a 300 if someone gave it to me.

eddie
 
I just got a flier from a chain store called Gander Mountain. They have the Stoeger Condor OU 12 ga (26" or 28" barrel, 3" chamber) on sale for $349 plus $50 of free ammo. (in store only). That sounds like a good deal to me.

If you're itching for an OU, this seems like a good start for a nice price.

You could buy five of them before you were in the price range of a new citori.
 
Thanks Charlie....and I was there just yesterday buying shells. Picked up Winchester 2 3/4" Xpert #4 steel for $9.99 a box. I know a lot of people don't like them but they work fine for me. Wish I'd had picked up the flier. Might have to stop on my way home again today!

Ed
 
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