doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Pre-shopping Italian O/U's

“Let me ask this: what new stackbarrel would you buy for 5K, if you intended to shoot mostly clay and some game with it if you walked into a well inventoried gun shop this fall?”

My preference is rather mundane. I prefer a new 686 series (a silver pigeon something) in 20 with 30 inch barrels. They are available in a number of levels. I’ve had great success with the 680 series for the last 35 years and a BL4 before that. Good luck with whatever you get. The process of buying a new gun is great fun. Enjoy it.

I own the 687 SP II Sporting 20 ga., which has 30" barrels. It's been to Cordoba twice for high volume doves. Wonderful gun. Never a second's trouble with it in 15 years. I also used it for sub-gauge NSCA competition until I quit registered competition.

Whatever you decide, buy nice wood. You always will regret buying plain, ugly wood.
JR

The upgraded Beretta 680-series guns available from Cole’s and Joel Etchen are very nice and would certainly be good solutions. The Zoli takes it up a notch with Boss-style locking, removable trigger group, 10-year warranty on the gun, and lifetime warranty on the barrels - but their prices reflect those upgrades.

I have a B Rizzini S2000 20 ga , although it has 32" barrels it still balances well and is not too heavy. Adjustable comb, recoil pad, cased with choke tubes. I bought it new for around $5200 and would take $4500. It has had about 2 cases fired through it. I am a dedicated SxS guy but a serious Sporting instructor said I needed to at least try a O/U.

I have shot a Beretta 682 for going on 40 years, added barrels when I needed something different, added stocks when convenient. Nothing against other makes, but the 682 has been problem free for decades. I have also shot my $775 Krieghoff for about as long, but I am not going to recommend a gun that retails for $15,000.

Thanks, gentlemen. A lot of interesting suggestions here. I would note that almost no one is pushing for the Guerini, which is really interesting given how popular they seem. Multiple people have suggested the Zoli, so I will start researching those, along with the other referenced options. I may even circle back and give Beretta a second chance, even though the base model 686 I used to own didn't do much for me.

Regarding trying before buying, I would love to, but I don't have great resources for that other than renting guns at a club, which are usually 686s in my experience.

Most also aren't pushing new guns as well, which makes sense as every one I have purchased has been used due to the value proposition.

I think the 20 bore with 30 inch barrels will likely be the most versatile combination and will result in a better target weight than the standard 8 pound 12 bore clays gun. So I will focus on those.

Regarding aesthetics and wood choice, I agree that has been lacking on the lower level Citoris, the prior 686 SP, and the Cynergy. The curb appeal of the gun definitely influences how long I hold on to it and how I feel about it generally. So that will also need to be a consideration.

I have much additional homework to do!

Dan, drive down to Old Hudson Plantation Sporting Clays near Sparta, GA. Neil Bush, the owner, stocks a lot of Italian O/Us and will be glad to let you try them out there. Tell him Stan suggested it.

Neil's a great gentleman and you'll enjoy the day there.

Thanks for the suggestion, Stan. I may do that.

When I get out it is usually at Etowah Valley or Garland Mountain. I don't think either has much variety in rentals, but I haven't paid much attention in the past because I have been shooting my own guns.

Here in Blighty most now recommend an over-under in 20 bore with 30 inch barrels, firing a one ounce load for almost all game shooting. Weight is usually about 6 3/4 lbs.

Almost the same as my 1946 Webley & Scott in fact...

HB