Why are O/Us so expensive?

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Blackbeard

Blackbeard

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I've been thinking about getting an o/u 20 ga for casual clay breaking. In browsing the posts on THR, I find a lot of posts saying that there are no good O/Us for under $400. Why does a "good" o/u have to cost $1K when a "good" pump is half that? Are the O/Us better than pumps?
 
I'm guessing it's a lot more difficult getting two barrels perfectly lined than to build a simple pump shotgun.

O/U shotguns are also much more nicely finished, with engraving on the receiver, deep bluing and rich wood finishes.
 
Double guns can't just be mass produced the same way pumps and autos are. The barrels need to be regulated, soldered together and blued differently than singles. There is also twice the lockwork that needs to function correctly. That $1,000-2,000 you spend up front is just a fraction of what several years worth of shotshells and targets cost. And a good quality O/U can go hundreds of thousands of rounds before needing repairs.

I am not one to preach that everyone needs to buy a B-gun. If you want something to hunt with, or shoot a couple rounds of sporting clays per year, a CZ, Mossberg Silver Reserve, or Tristar O/U might be fine for you. If you are serious about the clay sports then you should save your pennies for a gun with a proven track record.
 
Yeah I'm not serious about any kind of sport. I just like breaking clays with friends. I have an Ithaca 37 in 12 ga that I have used in the past, but it's kinda rough on my shoulder and a little big for me. Doesn't mount that easily. I saw a used Stoeger at Gander mountain that felt nice, but all my research has people saying Stoegers are crap. I just wondered why they say that.
 
If you aren't serious, then best to stick with your pump. A "good" O/U for clays start closer to $3000, not $1000. That would be a Browning or Beretta.

As to why, there are two barrels, not one; tolerances between parts are not thicker than a wisp of black smoke; barrels have to be regulated and then fitted to the receiver; there are inertial triggers in most that need to be assembled

All of the above is done by hand by folks who are skilled. This is not the same as some Glock parts changer putting in a 3.5# trigger piece. Cheap O/Us have had quality corners cut, sometimes dramatically, making the gun shoot everywhere except where it is supposed to.
 
All good advice. If you are going to be serious about trap/skeet then spend the money for a good O/U shotgun. I wanted a nice looking O/U in .410 without breaking the bank since I only shoot trap/skeet on occasion as a hobby. I bought a nice Turkish made O/U in .410 and will probably never shoot enough shells through it to wear it out.
 
Would inserts work for your Itacha 37? FYI.. Where I shoot trap at you impress people with your score, not your gun :)
 
And one other thing to try is to use light loads (1100 fps and 1145 fps) -if you haven't already tried that. There is a HUGE difference in felt recoil between a 1145 fps shell and 1200 fps shell.
 
I shoot with a CZ Canvasback and so far no issues but it has been only 2 years and 600 rounds. My son has taken a like to the sport so the next 1K will come quick and I will be able to tell is the gun is any good. So far my average is about 21/25.
 
2 years and 600 rounds?? I will shoot that in a week or two....my gun is a Browning I bought new 18 years ago. Almost 300,000 rounds through it and one minor repair at 90,000 for new springs and pins........
Buy once, cry once, and pass it down to your kids, grandkids, and great grandkids
 
It keeps the riff raff at bay. SxSs are even better at this.
(If you buy a cheap O/U, the knowledgeable folks will NOT be impressed)
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I guess it all depends on who you're trying to impress.....or IF you're trying to impress :D

One reason I never got a O/U, though, is that I could get a nice autoloader for a lot less money than a plain O/U. Too, I have a hard time finding a double that fits. I have a couple of inexpensive SxSs. The old 12 I bought in 1971 when I didn't really understand fit. It kicks like a mule because it's relatively light, but mainly because it doesn't fit me well. The other is a little spartan 20 which was sloppy enough fitted wood, I was able to fit it pretty well to me with shims. Won't impress anyone with looks, but it does shoot quite well and it's built tough enough for me. But, the Yildiz, one that I know is serviced by Briley, not far from me, just doesn't fit and the wood fits nice enough that adjusting it with a shim is out. I also shoot lefty and off the shelf doubles are often cast for right handers, A Franchi Instinct (1000-$1500) is one relatively cheap O/U that seemed to fit me pretty well in the gun shop.

I have two pumps and an auto. The auto is perfect, cast neutral and just perfect drop. The two Mossbergs are my waterfowlers and had to be shimmed to fit, but that's quite easy to do with a repeater.

Cost of quality O/Us ain't really that bad and what with all the hand fitting and barrel regulation required of a quality double IMHO. 3K ain't bad. Start lookin' at SxSs. THAT's what's STUPID. What is a SxS, but an O/U turned sideways? Yet, they're 10 times more expensive for a comparable gun. This is sorta what makes me wanna get a quality O/U, it's a bargain by comparison! I wouldn't take it waterfowling, not in the salt marsh, maybe upland in more sterile environments around here. But, my pumps and auto serve well for that. If I get one it's just going to be because i've always wanted one, not because I really NEED it, 'cause I don't. The guns I own now serve me well for my hunting. I'm not a clays shooter and don't put on that many rounds per year, so I ain't worried about wearing anything out in MY lifetime. I might have 20 years of shooting left....maybe. If I get an O/U in the future, owing to the fact that it'll mostly be used on doves, I'll PROBABLY get it in 28 gauge. Never had one and everyone seems to think they're pretty effective dove getters. They should be easy on the shoulder and the guns, if made on a 28 gauge frame, should be light and quick. :D Light and quick is good on doves in certain situations.
 
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28's are very nice, especially if built on a 28 sized frame (Beretta makes one, Browning does not) and the payload is more than enough for doves, quail, preserve pheasants, chukar, etc.
 
Why does a "good" o/u have to cost $1K when a "good" pump is half that? Are the O/Us better than pumps?
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I don't think you can get a good pump new for under $500. (sorry but a Mossberg or Express don't count as good in my book)
 
Like others mentioned. Doubles wether O/U or SxS require alot of skilled hand fitting and assembly. They don't do that jst to be fancy and have an excuse to charge you over 3k for the gun. They do that because they have to in order to make a gun that works worth a damn. Sure you can buy a $400 gun. It won't look as good, probably won't shoot as good, but you will really find out why it cost $400 a few years down the road once it breaks on you.
A double is a pretty precise and delicate piece of machinery. The cost comes from trying to make that precise machinery take the beating of a 12 gauge over and over again.
 
They do that because they have to in order to make a gun that works worth a damn. Sure you can buy a $400 gun. It won't look as good, probably won't shoot as good, but you will really find out why it cost $400 a few years down the road once it breaks on you.
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Bunk. I bought my Sarasqueta for 100 bucks sell out at Cooks discount in Bryan, Texas in 1971. It's still shooting. I don't use it much anymore, but for a while it was my only shotgun. I hunted geese to doves and whatever else that needed a shotgun with it for a good while until they passed the steel shot law. I never keep a round count on shotguns, but that one is pretty high. I shot a squirrel with it just the other day. I do my daily hog trap checks with it and keep one barrel loaded for squirrel, one with 00 for hogs if I should stumble on one. It has very well regulated barrels, too. Shoots like a friggin' double rifle with foster slugs. It was once a very pretty shotgun, but hard use on boat rides and in salt marshes sorta took its toll on looks. Still works, though. Good thing 'cause I'd never find parts for it if it broke. :rolleyes: If it ever breaks, I'll have me a wall hanger, I guess. But, it's been with me for 42 years now. Not bad for a 100 dollar SxS. I think I got my money's worth.
 
The Sarasqueta (Victor?) is not a good example. In the early 70's or late 60's when that gun was made, Spain was desperate for hard currency and the Dollar was still worth something. Many Spanish guns were looked down on, as Turk guns are today, and with dome reason given their frequent inability to master the single selective trigger. Remember, AyA were selling boxlocks in Sears.

If it's a nice Sarasqueta (there were at least two), that was quite a deal ;-)

CZ is still a reasonable deal for an OU for backyard clays. The best value for money right now is the FN Winchester 101 on sale at Cabelas for $999.

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk 2
 
Yes, it was a very nice gun with hand cut BEAUTIFUL checkering on a European walnut stock. Color case hardened frame with some engraving. It had the gold plated triggers that I really liked for bling that didn't last 3 hunts in the marsh. It's got double triggers, so a single selective trigger problem wouldn't apply here. From what I've read, the first gen Sarasqueta was a very high quality gun. The second gen was less regarded, but I sure have liked mine other than I wish it fit a bit better. I still have uses for it, though. :D I was 18, freshman at Texas A&M when I bought it. What did I know about fit? :rolleyes:

I expect my Spartan...aka Baikal...to outlast ME at least. It's a tough little booger. It overlaps a little at 50 yards on the regulation, but is on at 30 where it counts. Not as well regulated as the Sarasqueta, though.
 
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I'd like to add, I don't have much of a good opinion of Stoeger, though I have no experience with one. They just LOOK cheap in the shops don't have a rep for any sort of reliability or toughness, but I'll let owners speak to that. They don't fit worth a toot, so I'll never own one, anyway.

The Spartan I really wanted for portability. I take trips to Waco opening day of north zone dove every year and I wanted the little coach gun to stuff in my motorcycle's bags so I could lock it up. It's a tough little gun, though, and works well for me, has become a preferred gun when I'm getting fast shots over tanks or my mojo. It points quick, swings a little jerky, but I've acclimated to it and shoot it well enough even on the longer shots. It was 300 bucks. It's a 20 gauge SxS coach gun.

I saw a Spartan O/U at Gander several years back on sale. I put it to my shoulder. Fit was miserable. I left it there. I really want a decent gun if and when I get an O/U. It will have no special purpose like the Spartan I have. BUT, it MUST fit me! Finding a cast neutral double is tough even before I worry about drop and pull. I am amiable to pull length variations, but drop and cast is very important..
 
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My impression is that most people looking for a cheap O/U are concerned what others think, and that's why they want an O/U. They have never had one before, they have just heard that they are better. What they don't know is that all O/Us are not created equal. Unfortunately a good repeater is waaaaay better than a cheap O/U. I own no O/Us. I have shot plenty - good ones at that - and I just flat don't like them. I do like SxSs, but I don't shoot as much as I used to and I actually shoot a semi auto better these days.
 
If you are going every so often just get something cheaper. I have a stoeger sxs. I am shooting just as well as most of the other guys. I wouldn't spend a grand on a hobby that I do twice a month tops
 
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