which gun??

dog dr · Post by **dog dr** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 4:50 pm

i have been wanting an O/U for a while now, and have found a couple of potential options. what do you recommend? Browning Citori vs Ithaca mod 500 by SKB. both are about 95% on wear and tear , but the ithaca will save me about $300. any suggestions?

Gordon Guy · Post by **Gordon Guy** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 5:30 pm

Go with the one that fits better. Both are good quality guns for the dollar.

bucktales · Post by **bucktales** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 5:37 pm

What Gordon Guy said.
If you like the Citori, don't rule out a Charles Daly marked gun. Found a very clean Miroku made Daly for the wife at a a very good price.

romeo212000 · Post by **romeo212000** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 6:52 pm

Go shoulder a bunch and have the guy at the counter and them to you one by one and whichever one shoulders and swings better for you get that one. Dont limit yourself to a brand or particular gun or two. The less expensive one may be the one for you.

nj gsp · Post by **nj gsp** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 7:59 pm

I have a Citori 525 Field. Great gun, very well made, super quality - and it fits me too.

Never discount fit, it is the #1 most important thing you need to hit consistently. However, a lot of emphasis is put on buying a gun that fits you out of the box - but a good gunsmith can fit a gun to you.

So if you find something you really, really like, and it doesn't fit quite right, and you don't mind spending a few extra bucks to get it fitted to you, then don't let an imperfect out of the box fit stop you.

It will only stop you if you buy it and don't follow through and have it fitted. Then you will have a gun you used to like and that you will soon hate because you won't be able to hit a thing with it.

SD Pheasant Slayer · Post by **SD Pheasant Slayer** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 9:13 pm

I too have a Citori 525 Field and I LOVE it. I spent almost a year stopping at every sporting good store / gun shop in the area and shouldered too many guns to count before I settled on the 525 and I haven't regretted it yet. My only regret was that I wish I had waited another month to try out the Citori 625 Field, but it was replacing the 525 and I wasn't sure I'd get another shot at purchasing the gun I'd finally settled on if I passed it up. That new 625 is SWEET, and if I had any extra two grand laying around, there would be a new 20 gauge sitting beside the new twelve. It sounds as though you're looking at a used gun - don't worry about durability on the Citori, like they say, they were IN not OUT. Take your time and make sure you pick the one you really want, and DO NOT just pick the cheaper gun soley because it's cheap. You'll shoot a good O/U the rest of your life - you might as well make it the one you really want.

highcotton · Post by **highcotton** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 1:44 am

All my go to guns are SKB's. I prefer them over the Brownings and would buy them even if they were the same price. I like the slim receiver as comparedto the Citori. They fit me and I can still get all the metal parts for them at reasonable prices.

Of course if they don't fit you then I would find something that does.

Chaingang · Post by **Chaingang** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 6:25 am

I would seriously go with the one that feels the best in your hands. Gun fit can be altered if you really like the gun.

I have had a Citori (325) sporting gun for the better part of 14 years and have never had any issues with it. It also fit me perfect from the get. I have no experience with SKB, but they are a reputable manufacturer. Unlike autoloaders, there is not a lot of things that are likely to go wrong with O/U's if the gun looks to be properly maintained. The locking mechanism may need to be tuned once things start getting a little loose, but that is usually only after many thousands of rounds at best.

whitedogone · Post by **whitedogone** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 6:35 pm

I myself don't care for the way the Citori's fit my hand. The feel very "clubby" to me. I much prefer the Beretta's and Ithacas. WDO

Post by **kninebirddog** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 10:50 pm

What ever feels good to you
that is the most important

NE-Viz · Post by **NE-Viz** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 10:56 pm

FIT, FIT, AND MORE FIT. I also like the Beretta's better. NE-Viz

dudley · Post by **dudley** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 10:01 am

go with the ithaca id did and love it