Gun Dog Forum

Do any of you have any first hand knowledge of the Charles Daly line of shotguns? I hunted with a group of men in KS. and all but 1 shot a Charles Daly 20 ga. and swore by them. They all said for the price you can't go wrong with one. I have always been a pump gunner but after a few years away from the field I am thinking of going the semi-auto route. I have always been a 20ga. guy except for turkey hunting.

I have one and it shoots very well.Lightweight and fast enough!!

Charles Daly does not make shotguns, they import guns made for them with their name on them. I had one, a SxS in 12 ga. I used it for a training gun for years and it was a super gun. Ben dropped in the field and lost countless times when young dogs needed caught!

My son has that gun now and brought it by last weekend. I fooled with it and opened and shut it a bunch and other than the wear I put on it, it's still solid as can be. Is the auto built the same? No clue but after my experience with that one if I wanted an auto I'd sure try one. I don't know who makes them any more but my SxS was made by Mirouku of Japan.

I have a 20 gauge auto loader that my daughter uses to hunt with. The gun cycles flawlessly and it is light weight so she doesn't have a hard time carrying it all day and the recoil is more than manageable for her. The gun we have is made in Turkey. Hope this helps.

Charles Daly and the company that owned them is out of business. Over the last several years they did import some pretty good guns. However if you buy one now and ever need any parts for it, you may just need to make a floor lamp out of it. It might make a darn good looking floor lamp though. If the price was right I'd shoot one for a while.

Thanks for the info, did not know they went belly up. Looking for a semi auto 20 ga. for not alot of money and I thought a Charles Daly might be the one. Guess its my ole Savage pump and the ole model 12 for now, the search goes on!

Onk wrote:Thanks for the info, did not know they went belly up. Looking for a semi auto 20 ga. for not alot of money and I thought a Charles Daly might be the one. Guess its my ole Savage pump and the ole model 12 for now, the search goes on!

Look for a used but well cared for Beretta or Benelli. A used Benelli Montefeltro is a very sweet gun.

mcbosco wrote:

Onk wrote:Thanks for the info, did not know they went belly up. Looking for a semi auto 20 ga. for not alot of money and I thought a Charles Daly might be the one. Guess its my ole Savage pump and the ole model 12 for now, the search goes on!

Look for a used but well cared for Beretta or Benelli. A used Benelli Montefeltro is a very sweet gun.

Except you have to remember not to bump the bolt handle and better yet a number of owners developed the habit of periodically pressing forward on the handle to ensure the bolt head is fully engaged and will fire when you pull the trigger. It sucks when you can't get off a shot.

My oldest brother has one and its still works alright after several years of his abuse. Not field abuse, just general idiotic behavior and misuse. If it will hold up for him, that a testament in itself. :roll:

They are not about aesthetics, obviously, and for the price they can't be. But If you're looking for a cheap shotgun they're a dandy for the money.

prairiefirepointers wrote:My oldest brother has one and its still works alright after several years of his abuse. Not field abuse, just general idiotic behavior and misuse. If it will hold up for him, that a testament in itself. :roll:

They are not about aesthetics, obviously, and for the price they can't be. But If you're looking for a cheap shotgun they're a dandy for the money.

One what, a Benelli Monte or a Charles Daly? I can read a lot of minds but I get nothing when I try to read yours!

BigShooter wrote:

prairiefirepointers wrote:My oldest brother has one and its still works alright after several years of his abuse. Not field abuse, just general idiotic behavior and misuse. If it will hold up for him, that a testament in itself. :roll:

They are not about aesthetics, obviously, and for the price they can't be. But If you're looking for a cheap shotgun they're a dandy for the money.

One what, a Benelli Monte or a Charles Daly? I can read a lot of minds but I get nothing when I try to read yours!

Charles Daly.. Sorry, I should've been more specific. But I figured the lack of aesthetics and cheap would've weeded out Benelli.

I shoot a charles daly field a bunch, its light and I shoot it really well. I like the way it feels and handles. I paid $200 for it 6 years ago, put one new bolt handle in it. Other than has been good to go.

I had one and my wife had one. Both of them had issues. Mine started to double feed and my wifes started to shot twice when the trigger was pulled. Traded them off to a gunsmith. Just keep in mind, they are a $300 shotgun. You get what you pay for.

I have 20 gauge semi auto. I love this gun, it's light weight for all day carry and I have not had malfunction yet! I went to buy a 12 gauge this year and found the company had gone out of business. That's a shame because for the money, around 300 I could not be happier with it.

Charles Dalys can span the gamut, the really old ones are pretty nice and some are collectable. I have a friend who collects the old Side by Sides and O/U's.

Some older models were made in Japan by Miruko, same company making Browning Citori's. I think they were better made shotgun than what you would find today. I think newer C. Daly guns (possibly made in Italy) are not as well built as the older Japanese models. For hunting the newer ones I'm sure will get the job done, but for a regular shooter, all year round target gun, I would stay away unless you can find a Japanese model.

The Mirokus, whether Dalys or of their own name, were fine guns and top value in a scattergun, if found today.