Remington Ideal O/U

jimdeere

I?ve been looking for an affordable O/U to shoot clays. I have an opportunity to buy a like-new Remington Ideal, but the talk on the interweb is not too favorable. Most talk about premature wear. However, I doubt I?ll shoot 500 rounds a year.
Seems like no Remington O/U?s have good reputations.
Anyone here have any experience with Remington 0/U?s?

BobJudy

At 500 rounds per year it should last a LONG time. Keep it greased up where the forend meets the action and that will prevent any galling/premature wear. The only problem is that if you have a rare need for parts they might be hard to find. The gun was only built for a short time and that was almost 20 years ago. I don't know what the asking price is but if it was me I would pass and look at The Browning Citori or newer Winchester 101s. I have seen good used Brownings go for about a thousand bucks and new 101s on sale for not much more. Bob

toad67

Do you have any other shotguns? If so, I find it a good idea to stick with guns that use the same chokes of you are going that route. My vote is to find a good deal on a used Citori. Everybody likes 'em if you decide to get rid of it.

Grasshopper

Jim, I was the owner of two Ideals and although I wasn't shooting the crap out of them, I did some shooting and all was really fine with mine. Course, as stated parts, IF needed might be tough. I don't know what you can get it for but I think you would like it. If the price is in the 900-1000 then get the Browning .600-675 don't thin kyou could go wrong with the Ideal. YMMMMMVVVV

Sam06

I would go with a Winchester 101 or a Browning

Here is a nice affordable 101 that would be perfect for clays. Shoot it like it is or have some screw in chokes installed maybe back bore it and put a nice bead and you would have a great gun for anything.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/830813517

TRAP55

If you want quality on a budget, look for older Charles Daly branded Brownings, not the newer junk made in Turkey.

gearheaddad

I've suggested this thousands of times.
For a 12 gauge o/u, look for a good used Browning Superposed made in Belgium. They can be found from $800-$1200.00 all over the place.
In my opinion they are a very undervalued very high quality shotgun that will last you many lifetimes.
Second choice, look for a used Citori.
12 Gauge O/U's just don't sell well on the used market.
Pick up a Superposed and point it a few times. You won't be disappointed.

TRAP55

For a 12 gauge o/u, look for a good used Browning Superposed made in Belgium.

You can buy a $40,000 Kolar, but if it doesn't fit, you'll spend another $40K wasting ammo. I have never shouldered a Belgian made Superposed that didn't fit.
A tip on shopping a used O/U, note where the top lever sits when the gun is closed up. At the 6 oclock position, it's almost there. Anywhere between 6 and 8, it's wore out.

gearheaddad

TRAP55 wrote:

For a 12 gauge o/u, look for a good used Browning Superposed made in Belgium.

You can buy a $40,000 Kolar, but if it doesn't fit, you'll spend another $40K wasting ammo. I have never shouldered a Belgian made Superposed that didn't fit.
A tip on shopping a used O/U, note where the top lever sits when the gun is closed up. At the 6 oclock position, it's almost there. Anywhere between 6 and 8, it's wore out.

I agree completely with you Trap.
A shotgun has got to fit!
Good advice on the opening lever too......

redhawkk480

maybe something like this one that Locust Fork has

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/834597902

charliemeyer007

I really liked the 3200 that the factory shooter lady let me use back in the early 70's.

jimdeere

Thanks, Redhawk, I?ll be watching that one. I like the stock but I?m not sure how it would work for clays.
Trap55, in the above mentioned auction (Browning) it appears the lever is at about 5:00. Or am I looking at it wrong?

BobJudy

jimdeere wrote:

Thanks, Redhawk, I?ll be watching that one. I like the stock but I?m not sure how it would work for clays.
Trap55, in the above mentioned auction (Browning) it appears the lever is at about 5:00. Or am I looking at it wrong?

Not Trap but you are right the lever shows the gun has not been shot much. As for the English style buttstock I think for clays a pistol grip is more practical. Of the several hundred people I have shot clay targets with probably have only seen one English style stock that wasn't on a side x side. For me a pistol grip gives more control and leaves my wrist in a more natural position. Bob

TRAP55

jimdeere wrote:

Thanks, Redhawk, I?ll be watching that one. I like the stock but I?m not sure how it would work for clays.
Trap55, in the above mentioned auction (Browning) it appears the lever is at about 5:00. Or am I looking at it wrong?

No Jim, you're looking at it right. That's an "Upland Special" with fixed chokes, death on Quail and Pheasant in heavy brush. Someone treated that one well. I have the later model with the Invector Plus chokes that's my "go to' bird gun. I found with the straight stock, it's easier for me to snap it up to my shoulder, and the grip keeps my elbow up. Keep in mind, with an O/U, the barrels sit back a good 4-5" more than a pump or auto. So anything shorter than a 26" barrel is like swinging a sawed off. It takes some getting use to, to swing with a proper follow through. I missed a lot of birds before I figured it out. After couple of rounds on the Skeet range, I had a face/palm moment when it clicked what I was doing wrong. :oops:
Fair warning, Sporting Clays are addictive. You get hooked, 500rnds a "month" will be more like it.
Some of the Remington O/U's were made by Baikal in Russia. Like anything Russian when it comes to guns, they're built like a tank, about as pretty as one, and almost weigh the same, but you'll have to work hard to wear it out, or break it.
One I can highly recommend, is a Fausti O/U. The quality easily rivals the same grade of Browning, and until Weatherby figured it out and contracted them to make their shotguns, they were dirt cheap in comparison. Traditions first imported them, and I still see a lot still listed as a "Traditions O/U".
This is one I just looked at here on the auctions: https://www.gunbroker.com/item/821760249 They are an exception to the top lever rule. Note this one is at about 6:15-6:20, it just got broke in. A NIB Fausti top lever sets at 6, both of mine did, and still pretty close to that.

320090T

Here is another vote for the Remington 3200.