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Posted By: geauga DeHaan Shotguns - 12/19/13 11:13 PM
Does anyone here own a DeHaan shotgun? I am considering one for my go-to duck gun and their SGr SxS seems to fit the bill. I know that there is a lot of strong opinions on Turkish shotguns on this board and would appreciate responses to be on individuals who actually own or have used these shotguns. Thanks - Geauga
Posted By: billwolfe Re: DeHaan Shotguns - 12/20/13 12:10 AM
I've been looking at them as well, also with a mind for ducks. Would love to hear from people who've owned or shot them.
Posted By: Philbert Re: DeHaan Shotguns - 12/20/13 01:15 AM
I've owned a DeHaan SO 16ga. DeHaans are basically Huglus built and tuned to DeHaan's specs. They're good, solid shooters. They have chrome lined bores which is a nice feature. Depending upon gauge they have either fixed or screw-in chokes. You won't get the fit, finish and wood quality of a "premium" gun but then again you're not paying a premium price.
Posted By: Slowpokebill Re: DeHaan Shotguns - 12/20/13 02:08 PM
I have a 28 Gauge DeHaan I picked up used. It has been a great little gun. With it's chrome plated action it is a bit bright on sunny days but that is about its only drawback.

Something to be aware of with these guns, they have a pretty low resale value. That maybe to your advantage if you can find what you need used.

Posted By: treblig1958 Re: DeHaan Shotguns - 12/20/13 02:38 PM
Doesn't DeHaan put that outrageous Turkish walnut on some of his guns?

Posted By: popplecop Re: DeHaan Shotguns - 12/20/13 03:52 PM
Picked up a SO SxS used some years back for use on waterfowl. Was very pleased with it, but stopped using a 12 ga. for waterfowl hunting. Gave it to my son and now uses it and likes it for ducks.
Posted By: Lloyd3 Re: DeHaan Shotguns - 12/20/13 05:44 PM
Had a new 20 sxs a few years ago. Seemed to be well made, but a bit heavy.
Posted By: Pete Re: DeHaan Shotguns - 12/20/13 06:05 PM
Personally. I don't buy shotguns made in Turkey for the same reasons I don't vote for presidents born in Kenya.
Posted By: Bob Cash Re: DeHaan Shotguns - 12/20/13 06:22 PM
Absolutely hate mine.
.410, 30", Double trigger.
5.5 lb, English stock, Semi BT, Skeletal butt.
Wood as plain as the back of your hand.
At 1/2 the cost (and weight) of a Model 23 and 1/3 the price of a RBL, the Dehaan .410 was a no brainer.





Posted By: improved modified Re: DeHaan Shotguns - 12/20/13 09:12 PM
I've got one. fantastic gun. Unbelievable wood porn.
Posted By: Vern Re: DeHaan Shotguns - 12/20/13 09:47 PM
I have one on order right now. Will post my opinion of it when it arrives.

VF
Posted By: Pete Re: DeHaan Shotguns - 12/20/13 10:02 PM
The nice thing about getting one from Dehann is that he goes over the guns and fixes anything not right. He is a quality guy.
Posted By: geauga Re: DeHaan Shotguns - 12/21/13 12:41 AM
Thanks for the replies. I did order a 12 ga and asked him to "tone down" the receiver. Everything I read about Mark DeHaan including the replies on this post have been extremely positive. Now I have to wait 8-12 months. Geauga
Posted By: eightbore Re: DeHaan Shotguns - 12/21/13 01:28 AM
A nice enough fellow showed up at one of our pigeon shoots sporting a new matched pair of single trigger DeHaans. He paid a hundreds of dollars entry fee. The first bird out, his gun misfired the second shot. It happened again, so he switched to the second gun. The second gun wouldn't work, either. I'm not sure what happened to him for the rest of the shoot, but he wasn't winning any money. He was too hard to watch for anyone to know what happened to him for the rest of the day. I am mystified that the guns were not tested at the factory.
Posted By: Gnomon Re: DeHaan Shotguns - 12/21/13 01:38 AM
Equally mystifying is that the owner hadn't apparently ever shot those guns before the pigeon shoot.
Posted By: GaryW Re: DeHaan Shotguns - 12/21/13 03:22 AM
I have 3 DeHaans....a 20 with st. grip, splinter, 27" barrels with screw chokes, a 28 same style with sideplates and 28" screw choke barrels, and a .410 same style with sideplates and 30" IC&M barrels. None have exhibited any problems with many rounds through them. The wood to metal fit and timed screws is as good as I've seen on much more expensive guns. I shoot them well and that is the qualifier for any shotgun regardless of it's make or style. Mark DeHann is a great person to deal with and stands by his product. As far as re-sale value goes, I don't think I've ever bought any gun with an eye to making a profit or getting my money back. I bought them because I WANTED them.
Posted By: Stanton Hillis Re: DeHaan Shotguns - 12/21/13 03:37 AM
That 30" .410 is a beauty, Bob. I'd only change two things about it for me. It'd have to have a toned down receiver, and ejectors. Our doves will flare from that shiny receiver from 500 yards.

I talked to Mark about one just like that several years ago, but decided to wait to see if they will ever build it with ejectors. Still waiting.

SRH
Posted By: Chuck H Re: DeHaan Shotguns - 12/22/13 08:02 PM
Stan,
That 30" 410 caught my eye too. I looked at the fairly plain receiver with casecolors. I'm not a fan of their casecolors, but a guy could polish the colors off and rust blue it quickly enough. The rub for me is the barrels. As I understand it, they're black chromed? If so, only a nitric acid strip would get it off and that would dissolve solder or braze.
Posted By: PA24 Re: DeHaan Shotguns - 12/22/13 08:44 PM


Originally Posted By: Chuck H
I looked at the fairly plain receiver with casecolors. I'm not a fan of their casecolors, but a guy could polish the colors off and rust blue it quickly enough.


I've toned down quite a few of their case colored receivers for customers who didn't like their gaudy colors, especially the little .410's. Their case colors are very poor in quality.....and are not bone charcoal, but some low quality cyanide based solution.

Take a cotton shotgun cleaning patch and rub down the case colors with 'brasso' and the loud golds and bronzes go bye bye....the more you rub the lighter they become...you can lose all of them if you want, just keep rubbing..........

You will end up with a decent looking receiver showing only the blues and greys.....as it should have out of the get go, in my opinion..........

Here's a little .410 I did a few weeks back......Their guns do not look very good rust blued in my opinion......














Posted By: smilinjohn Re: DeHaan Shotguns - 12/26/13 07:27 AM
I agree with everything positive, so far stated of the gun and Mr. DeHaan. My specimen is an English stocked 20 bore, side-plated with the gold (brass) ducks flying. It fits and shoots as well as my Merkel model 122.....love them both.

smile John
Posted By: huntermn Re: DeHaan Shotguns - 09/05/16 03:52 AM
Just stumbled onto this thread. I bought a side plated, miniature action .410, with exhibition grade wood, straight hand,semi beaver, skeleton, case colored, black chrome barrels, 15" lop, st, extractor. Bill Hanus "birdgun" bends, swamped rib, side clips, fluted drop points. Bought the gun in '01. Ahhh27 1/2" bbls. It is my go to dove and snipe gun, and i have fired at least 6 flats a year from it since new. Hate that Mark is out of the business. This is as close to a "bespoke" gun built just for me that i will ever own. With another 30 or so vintage doubles in my case, that i enjoy shooting on a loose rotation, the DeHaan is the one that keep,as a bird gun if I had to sell all but one. The gun never fails to foster admiration from all, even snobby "gun heads" like myself!,
Posted By: Last Dollar Re: DeHaan Shotguns - 09/05/16 10:12 AM
Mark was/is a great guy..His guns were a bargain, especially the small framed ones. A loss to the business for sure.
Posted By: Stanton Hillis Re: DeHaan Shotguns - 09/05/16 10:39 AM
I called Mark about one with ejectors somewhere around 12-14 years ago, with the intention of ordering one with longer barrels. He told me they were not making a .410, at that time, with ejectors. I knew all their other gauges could be had with ejectors, and asked why not the .410. His reply was that Huglu told him they were not satisfied with the prototypes yet, and were going to offer them when they "got it right". I couldn't understand that reasoning at the time, and never did. Never did seriously consider one after that, but all those years I still wanted a .410 with double triggers, 30" barrels and ejectors. I finally got that last year when I ordered my Dickinson through Cabela's. It has been flawless, and is into the second season on doves now. For me, it was worth the wait. Glad you like yours and that it has given such good service.

It is very satisfying taking limits of doves with a .410. I have five of them, including one O/U. I take a lot of ribbing about using them on the dove field. One of my hunting buddies likes to say that ".410s are for kids and old men, and you aren't either". Funny, it seems more Texans use them for doves than anywhere else I have seen represented on forums, in a state where 'Everything is bigger". crazy

SRH
Posted By: huntermn Re: DeHaan Shotguns - 09/05/16 01:42 PM
Especially Ego's. There is something satisfying about "loading up" at the truck, other guys dumping 4pounds of ordinance in their pouches, and me putting half a box of .410's in each front pocket, grabbing my crown royal 1.75 liter velvet bag for dead birds, and sharing the results later. I'll take the rubbing, cuz as usual it is disguised jealousy.
Posted By: Stanton Hillis Re: DeHaan Shotguns - 09/05/16 02:53 PM
Originally Posted By: huntermn
Especially Ego's. There is something satisfying about "loading up" at the truck, other guys dumping 4pounds of ordinance in their pouches, and me putting half a box of .410's in each front pocket, grabbing my crown royal 1.75 liter velvet bag for dead birds, and sharing the results later. I'll take the rubbing, cuz as usual it is disguised jealousy.


Well said. No shortage of big egos on Georgia dove fields either.

SRH
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