Ram Rod

Savage in .308.

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RamRod-----sans remords

buckeyeLCPL

A lot of good insight there hoot, thanks. A few responses for ya.

686 with the 6 inch barrel was chosen because its whats in the sales flyer for under $600 at the gun store back where I'll be taking leave at. I've been wanting a long barreled .357 for a while, and its a good deal on one. (Already have a snub nosed .357, trying not to get too many new calibers).

I also prefer the 1911, which is why one is my carry gun. However right now it is my only .45 ACP, so I was looking into it as a .45 for if my 1911 goes down, and because of the polymer pistols, I tend to like the look and feel of the xd the best.

Didn't know that about the Stampede. I already have an Uberti in .45 LC, want a SAA in .357 too, it was just the one I found the best deals on back home online, Uberti or Ruger are viable contenders for the right price.

My bolt actions right now are both Mil-surp WW2, and I'd like one in either of those calibers that I can set up with a scope and modify and beat up without the historian in me hating myself, I like Savages triggers, but a Rem 700 at the right price would also be an option.

Some of my friends have Condors, they shoot well enough, I like my Coach gun, but an O/U in my mind is more of a specialty shotgun, which is why it is probably last on my list two, a good pump or semi can do the same and more.

I have my HD shotgun needs covered by a coachgun and Mossy 500 persuader with 20" barrel. But my collection has been missing a blued and wood long barreled shotgun for general use, Rem or Mossberg, the eternal saga continues.

I have two lever actions (Marlin .30-30/Henry .22), I like the way they handle, I like the look, don't know if I'll do SASS, but I like cowboy guns. It just seems like it would be a handy rifle to keep around.

All my standard firearms needs are covered, and right now they don't get nearly the attention they need because they didn't come with me to my permanent duty station. Just setting up my collection for after my time in the service.

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Fortes Fortuna Juvat

We're mules lad. Mules that kill.

sgtD

First off, let me issue a disclaimer: I am a gun snob when it comes to o/u and sxs shotties. So judge my advice accordingly.

Don't buy a Stoger Condor unless you like carrying around big lumps of metal that have absolutly no aesthetic characteristics. For the same price or close, you can get a Mossberg Reserve and have a more well balance firearm that looks decent. For $700, which I think you said was your price range, you can get a slightly used Red Label, Winchester Supreme, or maybe even a Browning if your lucky. I bought a like new Browning Citori on GB for $700.

If your buying a shotgun to shoot for hunting or clay sports, buy one that's nice to handle, carry, and look at.

JMO, YMMV.

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When you've got 'em by the balls, their hearts & minds will follow. Semper Fi.

buckeyeLCPL

No need for the disclamer sgt. Thats why I pose such questions on the forums. Looking through Mossbergs site they are coming out with a lot of new stuff, man being in the field for a month at a time makes you not know things.

Their reserve shotguns look good.

__________________
Fortes Fortuna Juvat

We're mules lad. Mules that kill.

sgtD

Yeah, they're not bad for the price. They are built in Turkey and they seem to really know how to build a well balanced gun there. I have shot both the 20 and 12 models and they swing nice and are not too heavy. Of course they aren't built like English game guns, but they are proportioned equivalently to most US designed guns, like the Winchesters, or Brownings. I have a CZ Bobwhite 20ga. that is made in Turkey and it is a close to a true game gun as I'll probably ever own. Well purportioned and lightweight compared to most, including the Italian guns.

If you plan to shoot a lot of clays, you don't want a real light gun anyway, but neither do you want to be carrying an anvil with barrels on it.

Take care and good luck with your trip out of the country.

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When you've got 'em by the balls, their hearts & minds will follow. Semper Fi.

buckeyeLCPL

Good stuff to know sgt. Got any info on decent affordable semi-autos for clays/general use?

Trip out of the country isn't for a little while yet, but thanks, I appreciate it.

__________________
Fortes Fortuna Juvat

We're mules lad. Mules that kill.

sgtD

Not really. I know that there are a lot of semi-autos on the market that are held out to be quality weapons, but semi-autos aren't my area of knowledge. I shot sporting clays with a Rem 1100 for a long time and they are great, my dad uses one for clays and hunting now and does great with it. Most are limited to 2 3/4" shells, unless you get a magnum which is rare and more expensive.

Dad also has a 1400 Winchester that his brother gave him. Those don't seem to be bad guns, but they aren't near the quality of an 1100. Then again, you can pick one up used for $250 usually, and you won't touch an 1100 for that. As far as the long term durablity of the 1400, I don't know. The round count on Dad's is pretty low, so I can't say. I know two other guys who have them, but don't know how much they have actually shot them.

I have a good friend who shoots a Benelli sporting, and it's a durable gun. He's shot thousands of rounds throught it, but it cost over $1200 I think.

If you can pick up an old Browning A-5 at a reasonable price and don't mind the looks of the humpback, it will probably outlast you.

The wife shoots and old Rem. Sportsman 48 20ga. It's a spring action sort of like the Browning A-5. It has had many many thousands of rounds through it. It was my gun when I was a teenager and the woman who owned it before me shot skeet and quail with it quite a bit. They are good guns and pretty low cost, but parts availability is an issue. A cople of years ago the fireing pin finally broke on my wife's and the gun smith had a heck of a time finding one. We lived in FL, and he ended up getting a pin from NY and one from CA. He went ahead and bought them both becuase they were the only two he could find. Parts may be a little easier to find for the 12ga model, I don't know, but I doubt it because they haven't been made in years.


I'd say the safest bet is to try to find a good deal on either a used 1100 or an A-5 if you want a for sure quality gun without breaking the bank.

Maybe someone else will chime in who has more knowledge than I do about the newer semi-auto offerings in your price range. I only seem to have messed with the old stuff, since I have been out of the semi-auto shotgun market for a long time.

__________________
When you've got 'em by the balls, their hearts & minds will follow. Semper Fi.

buckeyeLCPL

Out of curiosity, what SIG pistols can be had in .45, and how much do they tend to run?

__________________
Fortes Fortuna Juvat

We're mules lad. Mules that kill.