Hello shooters.
Well, my Mossberg Intl. Silver Reserve O/U in 12ga just arrived last night. Because a few people were interested...I'll be posting a review here.
A picture of the shotgun is here:
Trap shooting thread (scroll down for picture)
Mine looks just like the picture, to the smallest detail.
Here is my initial review:
Fit and Finish: The overall quality of the parts fitting together, and the mechanics seem very good. Parts move smoothly, nothing grinds, and the shotgun is mechanically sound based on inspection. The engraving is clearly done by hand...and is very nice for a $500 shotgun.
Manufacture: Made by Klan shotguns in Turkey, imported and warranteed by Mossberg Intl.
Design:
Weight: 7.7lbs
Stock measurements: LOP 14 ?" - DAC 1 ?" - DAH - 2 ?"
Barrel: 28" O/U with removable choke tubes and dual extractors. Jewelled monoblock.
Chambers: 2.75" and 3" magnum, chrome plated bores.
Selector: Integral safety and barrel selector.
Trigger: Single trigger, 3.5lbs pull for each barrel.
Rib: Vented Rib, single bead front sight.
Receiver: CNC machined aluminum, tolerances are tight.
What I would change: I will have a mid-bead installed for quicker sighting.
Problems: There is a known design flaw which causes about 90% of these shotguns to be severely damaged in stores by idiots who don't read the manual. The problem is that when the firing pins are extended, if you install the barrels without retracting the pins you will dent the lower chamber quite severely. This is caused by dry firing the shotgun with the breech open, or by releasing the internal hammers during breakdown and not retracting on reassembly. The WIN101 had this problem too, but the firing pin would snap off. On this shotgun...the pin is stronger than the chamber lip. As long as you make sure the pins are retracted when the breech is closed (which you only have to worry about if the gun is dry fired open) you will *never* have to worry about this problem.
Overall I am very happy with this shotgun for the money...if it can hold up to a few thousand rounds of use I will consider it a *very* good buy in an affordable O/U.
Some reports have been issued of customers having problems as soon as 400 rounds...and other reports have indicated that they have gone more then 2000 rounds with no sign of trouble.
It has a one year warrantee...so I will shoot the hell out of it this year and we will see how it does. I have a good feeling though.
More to come after my first round of trap tommorow morning
(I am joining the University of Illinois Trap and Skeet club, as they take non students.)
Best.
Chris.
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