Khan O/U - Update

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Posted: 1/2/2006 7:41:48 AM EDT

Well, as some here know, I bought a used Ithaca 51 skeet gun with warranty from gander mountain about a month and a half ago. The first outing the stock came loose in my hand after about 20 rounds. I took it to the smith at GM and he repaired it. No problem I figured, used gun stuff happens. I return to the range, another 30 rounds and the extractor snaps. Back to GM and there it has sat for nearly a month. He is waiting for the part. Now here is my problem. Skeet league starts tomorrow.

I am tempted to ask the manager to take it back and give me credit towards something else. I am not thrilled with aloooominum framed shotguns so in my price range that brought me to the lower end O/Us. In browsing those I noticed the Khan. The fit and finish seemed quite good. The wood was excellent and it seemed very smooth and solid. Also came with 5 choke tubes. What do you guys thing?

Posted: 1/2/2006 3:56:24 PM EDT

[#1]

Well, I did the deal, they gave me a credit and I bought the Khan. It is the new Supreme model and looks pretty good. It is a field grade gun but came with 5 tubes and seems pretty solid overall. Its still a little stiff but I'm sure that will work in with time. The trigger is a little gritty, but I would bet that would also improve with use. The only negative I found about them was that the chokes don't like steel shot so well even though they are supposed to be rated for it. Most reccomend swapping them for Beretta tubes if you are going to shoot steel. Not a problem for me as I only shoot clays and don't hunt. Overall it seems like a solid gun. Can't wait to shoot it.

Posted: 1/8/2006 8:32:52 AM EDT

[#2]

Well, I got this gun out yesterday. According to the gunsnobs it should have fallen apart when I put a shell near the chamber. What I found was something quite different indeed. I found a solid shotgun made of 4140 steel with a substantial monoblock and sold steel frame. It has a full width locking lug at the bottom of the block and what seems to be a rather substantial full width locking bar on the receiver end. This certainly contributed to a very solid lockup.

I only had time to fire about 50 rounds, but all went bang and were right where the gun was pointing. It shouldered, swung and pointed well. Recoil seemed light with an excellent stock angle and 7.3 pound weight. The trigger was a bit rougher than my Remington but still well within accepatable and the reset for doubles was so smooth it made my semi seem slow in comparison. The chrome lined barrels made cleanup a breeze. This gun came with 5 choke tubes and a wrench and they changed easily. I also understand that Beretta tubes fit this gun. It took some getting used to extractors but saved on my back considerably picking up the empties.

I have read that this gun was seriously upgraded for the 2005 model year and this is a 2005 model. Perhaps thats why the negativity of the past. At any rate I had a great experience. Its not a Perazzi by any means, but certainly proved serviceable and I think I'm hooked on O/Us now.

Any comment or questions appreciated. A Perazzi is not in my future but I hope this Khan will be around for a long long time.

Posted: 1/9/2006 6:16:24 AM EDT

[#3]

how much does this gun go for? I am looking for a decent priced o/u also.

Posted: 1/9/2006 6:46:14 AM EDT

[#4]

I paid $350 at Gander Mountain. For the money, I don't think you can beat it. It is much more solid and better finished than the Stoeger and had much nicer wood than the Spartan.

The primary argument I hear on the boards for expensiv O/Us, cosmetics aside, is how well they will hold up for the long haul. That and the rebuildability of the B guns when they do shoot themselves loose in 50k+ rounds. I don't know how the Khan will fare here but I do know that I could buy a new one for less money than it would cost to rebuild a B gun. Only time will tell.

Posted: 1/9/2006 1:37:43 PM EDT

[#5]

Most inexpensive O/U's I have handled are clumsy feeling like two pipes taped on a 2X4. They are not made to shoot 10K per year and seen to be made by companies that go belly up every few years ruling out repair service. Intil I can afford a good O/U I will stick with pumps and auto's. But good luck with yours. MIKE.

Posted: 1/9/2006 6:22:08 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
Most inexpensive O/U's I have handled are clumsy feeling like two pipes taped on a 2X4. They are not made to shoot 10K per year and seen to be made by companies that go belly up every few years ruling out repair service. Intil I can afford a good O/U I will stick with pumps and auto's. But good luck with yours. MIKE.

Mike,

This one pointed and handled well. I honestly didn't feel much difference compared to the Brownings and Remington I shouldered at the store for comparison although there is no doubt those expensive models were better finished. I did compare the locking surfaces though and they were more substantial on the Khan. Researching I found that they have been in business for 20 years and I figure that it will shoot about 50 or so rounds a week. I figure to do better I will have to spend $1200+. If it wears our or breaks and can't be repaired, I figure for that price I can get another one or decide on an expensive model. For now though it works and if It breaks or gets rained or snowed on, I won't cry about it.

Posted: 1/10/2006 7:54:09 AM EDT

[#7]

Shotar,
For light league fun shooting, it should fill the butchers bill. But at only two boxes of shells a week, real question is are you there to improve your scores, or just to drink bear with the rest of the squad after the shoot.

The point that Mike was making (and myself on more than a few occasions), is that during the heat of season, it's not uncommon to find yourself shooting several cases of shells a week in practice and matches. Since basically you are trying to stay in the groove, having your target gun go south and require that you switch over to another type can get you out of your normal timing.

What you think is fitting you may actually be you contorting to the shotgun (seeing where it shoots, and not shooting where your seeing). For a match shotgun, you will be shooting 12, 20, 28, and .410. At best, they will all be threw the same shotgun with a tube set, and each time you switch out tubes, the POI needs to be the same threw out the set. At worst, you have to switch out to 4 different shotguns, and each one has it own feel and shooting point (I think that this is how Mike is currently shooting the game, and one of his reasons for saving up for a new shotgun).

To keep it short, if the game plan is just a night with the boys, any shotgun should fit the bill. But, if you plan on taking your shooting a bit more serious (read running clean threw-out the match with no loses), you need to step up to a target designed/fitted shotgun that will not break down during the season, especially if you find yourself at the World or a local match where you have more money on the line is side bets than you could even win in price money.

Posted: 1/10/2006 9:22:52 AM EDT

[#8]

No prize money here. I shoot for fun. Our league is Tuesday nights and unfortunately I do not have the time required to become that serious a competitor. If I did I would certainly make the investement necessary. I agree, if I was going to shoot cases of ammo per week, I might want a more expensive gun. I'm not though. I think at 100 rounds per week it will be a long long time before this one wears out.

Posted: 1/10/2006 1:59:17 PM EDT

[#9]

Both my son and I are shooting skeet with a collection of six different Remington 1100's. 2-12's, 1-20, 1-28 and 2-.410's. One 12 and one 410 are field guns. The other four are the entire set of Remington 1100 Sporting clays models. Very frustrating. The choice right now is to shoot with what I have or don't shoot at all. I always say that my K-gun is junior private High School and Freshman in College.

I have shot several O/U's, not fit for me, but I am not impressed. If you could tube a 1100 I would be set. I like skeet. If three gun was available in my area I would try it but it is nice to get a break from the tactical crap. I get enough of that at work. MIKE.

Posted: 1/10/2006 2:38:27 PM EDT

[#10]

Mike,

I agree. I truly enjoy breaking clays. My thinking was for what I would pay for a single gun, I could get three Khans. Honestly, the more I look at this thing, the more impressed I am for the money. Has anyone tried those short tubes? I think they are like $40 a pair. Their website indicates that they will work in any single or double gun. As for fit, this one just feels good. I shouldered, pointed, called pull and smoked the first two clays out. I didn't even have to think about it. I know a custom fit would be better, but thats not in the budget this decade.