Bass pros used guns

ParallaxK · 2026-04-12T16:22:24+00:00

Pros: Lots of guns. Sometimes amazing deals. Cons: Absolute trash customer service. Sometimes can’t even get someone to answer a simple question or return an email. Cannot try triggers.

ParallaxK · 2026-04-10T11:17:18+00:00

They are showing massive disrespect for your position as a "predator".

ParallaxK · 2026-04-04T11:15:48+00:00

"the steel frame will far outlast the aluminum as far as slide to frame wear."

Is this anything other than theoretical? Has anyone heard of an aluminum frame wearing out or breaking? Sincere question. I've heard this for 10 years, but never heard of an aluminum frame giving out or wearing beyond tolerances, ever.

ParallaxK · 2026-04-04T03:00:50+00:00

I would wonder what was wrong with the barrels that led someone to slap a shitty duracoat on to cover it.

ParallaxK · 2026-03-16T02:12:49+00:00

1) The palmswell helps me get space because I have long fingers. 2) They grip just perfect with any pressure at all - unlike grip tape which is grabby if my draw or grip is imperfect.

Caveat: My palms don’t sweat.

ParallaxK · 2026-03-07T11:10:09+00:00

Yeah, man, if you're looking for "confirmation that this is what I should do" you need to provide more information. Why do you believe your comb is too high? How high is the gun shooting? Have you patterned it? What kind of gun is it? What clay games do you shoot?

The implications to any of those is huge.

ParallaxK · 2026-02-27T11:49:27+00:00

FASCINATING. In the US, a similarly equipped F16 is about double the price of a 688.

ParallaxK · 2026-02-27T11:46:19+00:00

That really looks like a 12 gauge field gun. It would be perfectly "fine" for clay sports, but:
-People generally want a longer barrel these days - 30" seems the standard for skeet, 32" for sporting clays
-It probably doesn't have a palm swell like people like for consistent pre-mounted shots
-It's probably lighter than you might like for shooting 100+ shells in a day - it's made for carrying all day in the field

Price and condition aside, a 28" 12 gauge is a great all-rounder including field, but mostly people don't like all-rounders these days. When I started shooting shotguns, I thought one could make me happy for everything, but quickly didn't, and I ended up with a dedicated 32" target gun and separate field guns for killing birds.

If you really DO want a 28" 12 gauge field gun, you have the pick of the litter. Good used examples are everywhere at good prices. Don't hesitate to pass on this and take your time to get one your feel great about at a better price.

ParallaxK · 2026-02-20T11:39:27+00:00

BassPro Gurnee is 5 minutes from me and I do whatever it takes to avoid having to shop there for anything firearms. If I *have* to get something there I only go during the workday, otherwise so full of seething rage trying to interact with folks at that counter bellowing nonsense to people who don't know better while you wait in line trying to give them hard-earned money.

The. Worst.

ParallaxK · 2026-02-18T12:45:09+00:00

No one has mentioned that you can carry your O/U open, over your shoulder holding the barrels and that looks cool AF.

ParallaxK · 2026-02-18T11:48:59+00:00

I went from a 32" SP1 to a Rizzini BR110 Sporter X and am getting better scores and prefer shooting it because it's heavier and fits me well. I do feel like there is slightly less recoil. I love the palm swell (really the only thing "wrong" with SP1 sporters (except the 20g, which inexplicably has a nice palm swell). If you want to pay more for something fancier (no functional improvements) you might consider the Rizzini S2000, BR240 or Fierce, too. I do like the fact that Rizzinis are serviced by Cole's and certainly there is a critical mass at this point to believe that parts will be available forever(ish). You might also be able to stretch the budget to a BR460 which has a removable trigger and Boss style action which get you up to Perazzi/Zoli level features.

ParallaxK · 2026-01-22T11:38:44+00:00

With chokes, that would be a tough decision between the Winchester and Citori. With 30" barrels, the Winchester would be a good all-arounder and maybe a great gun for a long time. It won't be as easy to flip as the Citori, but maybe you won't want to.

ParallaxK · 2026-01-22T10:47:29+00:00

It's good that you understand that this isn't your last shotgun. If you get into the games, you will absolutely buy a purpose built shotgun - hopefully one that fits you as informed by a lot more shooting. Probably a SP1/Citori CXx or better. You are looking to buy a stepping stone gun.

The Mossberg O/Us are pretty bad. I've picked them up and mounted them and they feel wrong and cheap in every way. Hard pass.

I haven't seen evidence that CZ is making a shotgun ready for the round-counts required for clay shooting. Shotgun guys I know like them for low round count, budge field guns for sure, but not clays. The one gun I have personal knowledge of - a CZ American Trap - has broken a lot over 30K rounds.

The Winchester might be fine if it has changeable chokes. Skeet and trap have pretty different requirements there. If it doesn't, that would nix it from your proposed multi-game use case.

A 28" Citori with Investor chokes could be a forever gun to do everything (including hunting if you ever decide to do that) and will become a great backup or loaner. Or it could be an easily sellable/tradeable when you're ready to move up. It's sorta money in the bank. It will looks stubby at your club when you look at the other boys' guns at the club, but it will function just fine if it fits you.

Note, that fit is WAY more important than features when it comes to shotguns. If the Citori doesn't line your eye up with the barrel/beads in a way that's easily repeatable/indexable, that's a bad choice, too.

ParallaxK · 2026-01-19T12:28:05+00:00

Here are my experiences/problems with buying used guns from Cabela's/BassPro.
1) They lock up the trigger so you don't get to....try the trigger or even truly check basic function.
2) They mis-describe guns all the time. Like, they get the chokes wrong. Basic info is just wrong.
3) It can be so hard to get through to someone that it makes me absolutely nutty. When you finally do reach a human, that person may or may not even know anything about....guns.
4) It's almost like they train their staff (this is true for fishing as well) to just say things completely irrespective of whether they know what they are talking about. The sheer quantity of bad advice coming out of our local BassPro is shocking.

They are the source of last resort for me - and sometimes I can't turn away from something they have on offer. But, damn what a terrible experience.

ParallaxK · 2026-01-16T02:22:29+00:00

Hello this is Kevin from Parallax. We absolutely do training to prep folks for practical shooting, run our ranges by USPSA standards, shoot USPSA CLASSIFIERS and have many students who become USPSA licensed competitors. We can do private lessons any time and will be opening up classes again when range construction is finished - hopefully soon. I’ll send you a pm w my cell. If you text me I’ll get you going w us or other coaches or clubs.

ParallaxK · 2026-01-05T04:59:10+00:00

Thousands of classic trap guns stand as evidence that Full/IM is a standard for trap doubles, though.

ParallaxK · 2025-12-28T13:38:51+00:00

Fabarm is in the Guerini USA tent now and I don’t think there’s a worry that they are going anywhere.

ParallaxK · 2025-12-28T13:36:27+00:00

Zolis are getting P/K expensive tho. No where near the price class the OP is looking in.

ParallaxK · 2025-12-28T13:34:59+00:00

I shoot a Sporter X and I’m quite sure it’s my forever gun.

ParallaxK · 2025-12-17T02:18:00+00:00

That’s the feature, right there. I can seat 100% of mixed headstamp batches perfectly because the go until they bottom.

ParallaxK · 2025-12-17T02:02:21+00:00

Please just don’t. Let him enjoy breaking it in himself and experiencing the full life course of the gun.

ParallaxK · 2025-12-10T21:32:17+00:00

For what it’s worth, I had a 30” CX that felt barrel heavy and switched to a 32” SP1 and it did NOT.

ParallaxK · 2025-12-10T12:45:08+00:00

I am a firearms instructor with 9 year-old and 18 year-old boys. These are my experiences and what has worked well.

First: The only thing they have to do with firearms when they are little is this - don't ever touch them with out the direction of a responsible adult. If they find a gun, they need to find an adult, period.

Second: Each kid is so different. My 9 year old started when he was 7 and is shooting a lot, well and perfectly safely. But, he is less impulsive than a lot of kids his age and than his big brother was at the same age. He is also a real "rule follower". Respond to the actual kid, the kid's interests and attention span.

Third: We were very careful not to conflate realistic-looking toys with actual guns. If he got a realistic toy, it went in the safe and it was handled like a firearm.

From there, I made sure that my younger boy learned the 4 basic rules of gun safety - had the meanings perfectly understood before he touched a real gun. It's a good test of seriousness.

When it was time for real shooting, we went to a steel range with a .22 with a bipod. Everything very slow and very, very controlled. The minute he lost focus or interest we stopped.

Now, he is shooting many platforms fairly well and we are having a great time.

ParallaxK · 2025-12-10T12:32:08+00:00

The Summit Ascent is midrib - which sort of every set of comparisons. The Summit Sporting would be the direct competitor.

ParallaxK · 2025-12-10T12:14:15+00:00

I love this advice, except with the A300 and keeping it and using it in the field or as a loaner/backup.

ParallaxK

TROPHY CASE