Looking for 20 gauge 30"

[JNW]

I am interested in getting a used 20 gauge Model 21 with 30" barrels, ejectors, and either a single or double triggers (I can shoot either). I would like a field grade. How many of these are there out there, and about what are they going for? Where would be the best place to look for one? I would have CSMC build me one if I could afford, so used is the only way I could go.
Regards,
Jeff

[budrichard]

Jeff to add to what I had already Posted on another forum, I have only seen about three 20 gauge 3" chamber 30" guns for sale in the last 20 years. All were around $10K. So in short, I can't reccamend any specific place but just keep checking sites such as Guns International, CSMC, Steve Barnett and other reputable dealers. Keep away from Auction Sites and good luck.
If you find a 2&3/4" gun, ask CSMC whether they would chamber the gun for 3". I think that's about the fastest/cheapest way to get what you want.-Dick

[bdshipp]

I recently asked CSMC if they would rechamber one of my 20 ga barrels to 3" and they said emphatically "no". I don't think there is any physical problem; they simply don't want to do it-Bill

[cartod]

Jeff to add to what I had already Posted on another forum, I have only seen about three 20 gauge 3" chamber 30" guns for sale in the last 20 years. All were around $10K. So in short, I can't reccamend any specific place but just keep checking sites such as Guns International, CSMC, Steve Barnett and other reputable dealers. Keep away from Auction Sites and good luck.
If you find a 2&3/4" gun, ask CSMC whether they would chamber the gun for 3". I think that's about the fastest/cheapest way to get what you want.-DickOut of curiosity, why should we keep away from auction sites??????

[budrichard]

In my experience. if an item is going to sell and is worth purchasing, it can stand to be marketed on its own.
Auctions are akin to gambling in the psychology of risk/reward benefits and the Auction Houses understand this and play on it. What you risk is money and over paying, the reward is the ability to 'win' an item and to beat others to it. Whether you have paid a fair market price for the item many times becomes secondary to acquiring the item.
Many of these sellers are not full scale dealers and don't have a reputation to support and the actual items they 'auction' many times deviate from the actual condition. I don't purchase firearms at 'auction' but prefer reputable dealers and individual parties that I can examine the firearm.-Dick

[John Fugate]

In my experience. if an item is going to sell and is worth purchasing, it can stand to be marketed on its own.
Auctions are akin to gambling in the psychology of risk/reward benefits and the Auction Houses understand this and play on it. What you risk is money and over paying, the reward is the ability to 'win' an item and to beat others to it. Whether you have paid a fair market price for the item many times becomes secondary to acquiring the item.
Many of these sellers are not full scale dealers and don't have a reputation to support and the actual items they 'auction' many times deviate from the actual condition. I don't purchase firearms at 'auction' but prefer reputable dealers and individual parties that I can examine the firearm.-Dick


I can personally say there is good and bad anywhere you buy a collectible gun. I have bought numerous guns on online gun auctions over the past few years. I have been burned on a few and I have also purchased some bargains and bought some real guns. Auction sights are good if you do your homework, sometimes if the seller has no history you have to rely on your own knowledge. Weight out the risk vs reward is all you can do. Some dealers on gunbroker and other auction sights offer a three day inspection just as any reputable dealer does, like I said there are good and bad everywhere. Auction sights can be great if you calculate your actions. Lots of large scale dealers troll the auction sights just as individuals looking for bargains to resell back to the consumer. Dont sell a gun short because of where it comes from or praise it just because of who owned it last. The gun to me always stands up on its own, I make my own assumption. Just because a gun comes from a prominent collection, may or may not mean a thing. There are lots of pitfalls out there as well as lots of great guns. Skeptisim keeps many great guns from finding new homes becasue everyone is scared with good reason, does it letter ? It wont letter ? It might letter, the records that year are missing. The bottom line is one must get comfortable with the source or the gun itself. Guns themselves in general are always more reliable than their source. Do your homework on the gun, bad dealers sometimes have good guns and sometimes good dealers will have a bad gun. Nobodys perfect a bogus gun may show up anywhere anytime. One thing for sure the words AS IS at the end of an gun is usually not the best indication of the gun or the seller. Its a never ending delima,,, Its sad so many good guns out there are suffering value wise because of the flood of bogus/misrepresented items in the marketplace. The upside is you will get ocassionally get a bargain in a real gun because the amature/semi advanced collector for the most part will not touch the gun because everthing about the gun is not written in blood and documented in three places. That is where you own ability to grade and verify an item comes into play. There are still some gold in those hills,,its just burried. On the the flipside, just because an apple is bought at walmart doesnt mean its safe to eat. Dont sell auctions sites short,, educate yourself a good gun may show up anywhere anytime. Dont limit your sources,, its hard enough to find what we all love. Keep an open mind and happy hunting .

John Fugate