First off there are so many out there in that price range compared to what was out there just a few short years ago. If you had to purchase a 12 gauge O/U what brand would it be and why? Please leave out the Turkish O/U's and the Russian stuff and the low end Spanish O/U's.

Browning Citori, just great fit and finish, quality is about the best for the price. The Cynergys are also nice, but there more expensive.

Another option would be a Ruger Red Label, I have never shot one, but I have heard good things about them.

Maybe even a Beretta is you can find one for the price, it would be nicer then both the Ruger and Browning.

I'm not really a big fan of the o/u shotguns...they feel too bulky to me when coming up to the shoulder. I would much rather have a Browning Gold Trigger auto or a Barretta. If I HAD to have a o/u it would be the Browning Cintori because out of all of the o/u shotguns that I have shot I would have to say that the Cintori shouldered the best for me.

I have a Citori, but I prefer the Beretta's and the Ruger Red Labels. I have the 3.5" Citori, and its a bulky, heavy, pig. It only cost me $25 though.

About 10 years ago, I did alot of trading in O/U shotguns, and I have owned many Brownings and Berettas, and a few Red Labels. In my opinion, the best gun for the money is the Beretta Onyx. The Brownings that I have owned seem "clubby", and the Red Labels have all had sloppy actions. Of the dozen Berettas in various models, I prefer the Onyx and currently have a "rare" 12 ga English stocked model.

Just unloaded a Silver Pigeon S 20 gauge that was 2 1/2 years old. Gun looked great new but after very light use I notice the stock finish getting a purple haze effect and the finish on an incidental bump just chipped off 1/2" away from the toe on the buttstock .The nitride finish under the foreend latchstarting to turn black. I wish they wouldn't use that crap and just do it the old fashioned way with silver. I think they make the shallowest receiver gun which is a plus and they have a very strong action and a nice trigger. Red Labels I have owned I have been more then very happy with ..I believe they have a spring in the foreend that facilitates them opening faster then an equivalent shotgun. I really like my 28 gauge Red Label, it is all that it is advertised to be and is my quail/grouse gun. I know a dealer that has a pretty good deal going on Citoris/Weatherby Orions/Berettas and since I'll be in his area later next month I want to make sure I am choosing the right one. I also notice that CDNN has a bunch of Citoris and Winchester O/U's for sale as well as a number of Rugers.rf

Ed, I favor the Beretta's......Back in the middle andlate 1960's I shot a Beretta " Sliver Snipe" O/U, but like a FOOLI sold it in the middle 70's...My wife to be in 1967 gave mea FNBRN A-5 VR 12ga for that Xmas (which I still Have)and I started using it more and morethan the O/U Beretta.

The Berettawas the best fitting and quickest handling shotgun I ever had for Quail and Snipe.

Beretta is what I am favoring as well just w/o the nitride finish or a Rizzini. Owner of the sporting clays course near my home hates Berettas big time of course he works for one of the big gun manufacturers that beretta is handing their a&& to. Gander had the plain jane onyx for sale this time last year for I believe it was 1050 why didn't I buy 2 of those &*(**(( things.?

There's a nice Beretta on here for $1999.....

http://www.cabelas.com/gun-inventory---wheeling---sale-rack---198551-coral12ga.shtml

I am on my second citori after foolishly selling the first.They are well made,and most important,they fit me.I tried many different guns,but the citori fit best.I liked the Beretta,but they simply didn't fit me.