common things to look out for when buying a sbt

[Bob Kuczynski]

before I die, I will own a sbt. I kick myself when I think of the a-1's I had dibbs on back in 1994, but I passed on them.
they were so nice, odds are I would have bought them blindly.

and its for that reason I thought of this topic.

anyone care to list what a first time buyer should look for, before buying a sbt?

here we go............

[Dean Romig]

Originality, originality, originality... oh, and condition.






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[Bob Kuczynski]

ok lets run with this.....

if you wanted a sbt to well...shoot trap, why is originality important?
now of course, if the stock is a 12" lop and someone etched his name in it, I can see how a collector would go insane, but if a sbt is a sbt, what would be some specific issues to look for...where resale becomes a moot point?
its been my observation you find honest people selling them at a low market to match the low quality or non-originality. and sometimes you find those who jack them because they don't know any better.
point? if its been restocked but done well, no issue. if the wood was replaced, but is high grade? ok.
im more interested in say trigger types, common aftermarket things, mismatched parts, screws, wrong blueing, etc etc...
what seems to be the most common things people who buy them change out to make a little better, once they have them for a while and realize a little tweek would make it perform that much nicer??
and being these guns are older, what are the things that break most often?

[Dean Romig]

Okay - I see where you're coming from. No offense intended but, I'm not in that camp so I can't address those issues you bring up as not being significant to you.


Have you considered a BT-99?






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[Bob Kuczynski]

none taken.
im just too old to just look at guns the rest of my life. I want to shoot them and experience the joy of a well built gun.

[Holeshot]

We have 4 at our gun club now. I shoot an original with nice condition. Points and shoots great, has a very nice xfull choke. 2nd sbt is original , but had to add a spacer because slightly cut down stock, it also shoots great. 3rd sbt was less money and has wood changed out to custom wood is well worn and shoots ok. 4th was less money with a replaced stock but original forend, that shoots very nice, and I picked up an original stock to replace custom stock with. All that being said, they all are great trap guns, the original wooded guns perform equally as well as modified guns. I paid the most and have the highest condition of all 4 and do believe that you should buy the best sbt that you can afford. All 4 guns are varing degrees of condition, and all 4 guns will shoot great scores.

[Bo Butler]

Bob: Look down through these threads. I picked up an early SBT - might be one of the first from some comments - that had been re-stocked and the barrel sleeved from some catastrophic event sometime in its life. So from a collector's standpoint, it might be close to worthless. I posted pictures under my thread there. I think it is gorgeous and it is a blast to shoot with tight choke and 32" barrel.

When I was looking, I remember comments about the ejector timing being an issue that would require a good, experienced gunsmith. Of course these guns were made to shoot a lot, so that's probably why mine was re stocked - wood may have been busted all to heck. But someone took the time and expense to bring it back to grand form at least from a shootability standpoint. I won't be shooting it in competition, just for fun.

[Jeff Christie]

Bob- buy a Parker SBT that fits you well. Then try to wear it out shooting trap. You won't. You will learn the gun quickly and enjoy it more and more every time you use it. You probably won't change a thing ever. Lastly let your heirs worry about what to do with it.

When were you with the Navy marksmanship team? I shot at Camp Perry for about 10 years 99-09, and learned a lot from the "big teams." Great gals and guys. I'm a retired USAF guy.

[Jeff Christie]

Bob- I forgot-- join PGCA! Best money you'll spend shooting. Jeff

[Bob Kuczynski]

odds are I wont wear it out. I just don't want to get someones gun who did wear it out and hot potato'ed it to me.
im sure we've all been there once or twice.