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Posted: 7/31/2014 3:41:52 PM EDT
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So, I got a chance to go to a sporting clay range and instantly got hooked. Took the wife and a few other couples we're friends with and got them hooked too. I've never really wanted an O/U until using one at the range and now I've got the wife's support to buy one, which leads me to my predicament. The gun I rented at the range was a Beretta Silver Pigeon I Sporting and I was surprised on how well I did with it. I've been pricing them out and while most places have them for $2k I've found them for 18-1900. The other one I was considering was the newer Ruger Red Label. I haven't shot one yet, but liked the feel, the price(11-1200), and that it's US made and lifetime warranteed. I haven't heard many real world reviews about the new Rugers, so I was just wondering if anyone here had any experience or advice between the two.
Thanks, CaRbZ |
| Find one that fits and shoots where you point it in a price range that's comfortable for you. I judge a few shotgun sports and it's the shooter not the gun that make the difference. The best shooters have guns that fit well to them like a glove regardless of cost. Some of the shooters use Purdey's, Favre's, Perazzi's, and Holland and Holland and although their incredible guns they won't out shoot a cheaper gun in the right hands. |
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The Red Label line is notoriously not built for the long-haul. They're hunting guns not made for the round count some clays shooters put through them. They tend to loosen up and get sloppy fairly quickly, but thing may be changing, this is just prior experience.
Fit can be changed fairly easily with adj. comb and buttplate.. Getting the fit RIGHT is hard, especially with no adjustability. I started shooting clays with a 686S (Hunting gun) Which would be the same mistake you would make with the red label. As someone who has shot competitively for many years and run many rigs, I am back to an autoloader. Hard to go wrong with the 391 or a Benelli (I am currently shooting a super sport). They are light, but (esp. the Beretta) soaks up recoil, they swing nicely, and I don't give two hoots if it rains on it, or a piece of clay hits it in the rack. That's a nice feeling after shooting DT-10's, Kreighoffs, and a Caesar Guerini. They all sit in the safe now. ETA: For your budget, look for a used 682, 682X, or 682 Gold E They are fantastic guns and can be had fairly cheaply. |
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Everything I've heard about the rugers is that they are good guns to avoid - especially in competition or clays sports where they get used a lot. They have reputation for breaking down and a reputation for fairly high recoil (in spite of the fact that they are a bit on the heavy side for a field gun) The RRL was discontinued and has been reintroduced - with some cost saving measures in fabrication which can't have improved their QC issues.
Depending on how much you are going to shoot stay away from budget o/u's. A used Beretta 68x series or the Brownings (though I personally don't care for Brownings) will serve you better. In the Berettas stay away from the field guns - they are a bit lighter, have narrower ribs, shorter bbls, and typically have automatic safeties (fairly easy to remove if you need to). In the clays games weight is your friend. Even in skeet the norm is now 30" bbls on an o/u and 32" is not unheard of. Sporting clays seems to trend to the 32" bbls now. If you're going to stick with the 12 gauge there is no reason not to consider an autoloader like an A400. I prefer O/U's myself, but I shoot skeet and you have to be able to shoot .410, 28, and 20. You can do that with an O/U but not an autoloader. |
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