I suck at shooting skeet but I try using my Benelli Nova and a 20 G Winchester 1300, both pump guns, I've always wanted a O/U but money is always a problem for me.
A guy in the club is selling a Browning Citori 12 ga for $700, the stock is kinda beat up but a friend told me that with $25 I can re-do the stock, is one of those adjustable rear stocks, I have the money but if I use it to get the shotgun, I'm afraid the heating bills could stock up this winter, the problem is that the gun hast fixed skeet chokes and I can't use it other than for skeet shooting and I do dove hunting.
Should I buy the Citori or just wait for the next great offer?
I'd say wait for the next great offer, I have a Winchester 1300 in 12 gauge and it shoots skeet and clay pigeons just fine. Mine has screw in chokes, and there are other chokes that are compatible with Winchester chokes, such as mossberg chokes. I don't know much about over under shotguns and how much they are worth, but if you haven't seen anything else in that price range, I'd say go for it. If you have seen over unders for that price, I'd say wait for the next deal.
I say buy it. Browning Citories are nice guns, the heck with the heating bills. just put on extra clothes. You don't run into deals like that very often.
Take a good look at the shotgun. That seems like a good price but I would make sure the action and pivot pin are still nice and tight. A clay pigeon gun used regularly sometimes has had a LOT of rounds run through it. Could be no big deal especially with light target loads but I would check it real well. Check the action well. Look for signs of wear. Maybe even see if you can have a gunsmith check it out real well. A skeet gun with a beat up stock is the only red flag. BUT could be a great deal! and yes, refinishing the stock is easy and a lot of fun!
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Stick with necessities first. Save up and get you what you want in the spring. There's not much trap/skeet shooting during the winter in most places so you don't NEED the shotgun but you do NEED the heat.
Also, it will give you time to shop around and check out other guns that may be more to your liking. Just don't jump on the first "good deal" that may present itself.
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As much as i like the Citori & as good as a deal as it is, the majority common sense approach makes most sense to me. There are a lot of good guns out there taht will do what you want for half of the 700 bones. Pride of ownership may not be on the high end of the scale. The fixed chokes would bother me the most I guess. I'm not sure if ther is enough meat on a Citori OU to install aftermarket scre in chokes?
Thank you all for your suggestions, I have decided not to buy it, I had to spend some of the money in getting my car ready for winter and to replace some bad pipes in my house, bottom line, I don't have enough money to get it, like some of you said, I bet I will find (some day) a good deal on another shotgun.
I would hold out for a good deal later down the line
I am always leery of these specialty shotguns showing a lot of wear.
Of course, it could be a little used gun with a lot of neglect.
But, more realistically, a specialty shotgun with a lot of wear often means a phenominal amount of shooting has been done with it. You just might be buying someone else's problem.
I know it can be hard to step back from some offers but it is best to take an objective stance, weigh the situation versus other needs, and walk past some deals.
As a big fan of negotiation, if you really want this shotgun, I would open with an offer of $250.00 and see what happens. Mention the wear and tear. If they walk away you have lost nothing. Close your offer at $300.00.
A gun stocked for skeet is not nearly so specialized as one stocked for trap. Bunnies don't know what kind of choke the pellets came out of.
But, you have taken the responsible path by deciding to wait. Maybe the guy will take a deposit (non-refundable if you default to make it seem more palatable) for a sale at a predetermined later date if you really like the gun. That way, you can pay yourself a little each week into the "gun jar" or a special savings account, learn a good habit by saving for something you want, and get your deal on the gun in time to put it to use busting clays when the weather breaks in the spring.
__________________ Teach
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Thank you all for your suggestions, I have decided not to buy it, I had to spend some of the money in getting my car ready for winter and to replace some bad pipes in my house, bottom line, I don't have enough money to get it, like some of you said, I bet I will find (some day) a good deal on another shotgun.
Thanks!
Rusted Angel, you are on the right path. Take care of your basic needs first. I agree with others on the fixed chokes. I have an O/U in imp/mod that I shoot skeet with. It does handicap me some but I figure with lots of practice I will get better. I did get a real good deal on the gun and can buy lots of ammo for the difference.
It's very possible with the value of the dollar declineing were all going to be paying (again) higher energy prices.
Everyone needs to hang on to what little money they have and haveing your bank change your money over to a higher currentcy like the Yen would'nt hurt...Yep they can do that...A.H
I would wait you could pick up a Ruger Under/over Red label in great shape for a $800-$1000 and has removable chokes. I would practice with what you have and spend $100 on shells instead of under/over.
Teach
Heat First; Shotgun later 
a roof over your head; is better than any shotgun sitting around 5-6 days per week in a corner of the closet
