Ok guys, need some honest, no attachment type advice here. I have been looking at a Beretta A300 Outlander 12 gauge for myself, ever since I bought one for my boy. He has the camo version, with synthetic furniture, and I want wood for myself. Well, tonight we looked at Cabela's and they have a new one for $750, about the going rate. As we were leaving, we looked at the used rack and we find one with a wood stock for $599.99 and the tag says "w/ box". They come with a cardboard box, so I don't really care about the box, but chokes and adjustment shims would be nice to have. I look the gun over and it looks good, except it has a big gouge in the stock right on grip. The Cabela's guys couldn't find the box and it was closing time, so the manager asked if I would be willing to put in on hold and come back, and if they couldn't find the box, he would set me up with a set of chokes for it.

So, what say you...buy the one one the used rack for $160 savings and live with the gouge, or forgo the used one and just buy the new one? It is a 20% discount off the new price, but it really isn't a lot of money and the gouge bugs me... What to do?

If the gouge bugs you now, it might bug you later.

OTOH, if it is going to be a "working" gun; some minor cosmetic accidents are just going to happen.

I have a little CZ carbine that has a beautiful wood stock. I take it with me just about everywhere I go. In that time, it has gotten quite a few compression marks from handling, riding in the truck and ATVs, and banging around in the brush. I have a bit of woodworking experience, and could refinish the stock to "new" condition; but I figure it'll just happen again and again. I decided to use it an live with it. Now days, I just look at it as character and don't let it affect me the least.

Along those lines, I generally like a QUALITY synthetic stock for my working rifles. I don't have to worry about the finish and they aren't affected by change in weather or humidity.

Definitely a working gun. We aren't talking high end Beretta here. Just a basic semi-auto which will see field use. I don't like the synthetic stock due to it having LOP spacers, and they just don't fit flush with the edge of the stock. I prefer the wood stock on this shotgun, and I know it is going to get scuffed, dented, etc. from me using it.

Other than the gouge, the gun looks good. These are a fairly new model, and the wood stock was hard to come by until recently, and it doesn't look like too many shells have been run through it. It's a field gun, so maybe I should just go with it. I could always put a little putty in it, and put a Beretta grip cap on it to help cover it up.

When you say gouge, how deep and long? Also is it actually cut, or compressed? It is amazing what a hot iron, a damp cloth, and a little sanding can do to fix wood imperfection. However, I would strongly advise against any wood filler.

It looks like it hit something, or something hit it right on the bottom edge of the grip area of the stock. I guess you would say it is compressed, as the finish is still there. It isn't huge, but it is right on an edge, so it looks like a piece of the wood is missing. But like I said, the finish is still there, so you don't really see any raw wood.

That sounds like a compression mark to me, or dent. It might not be a hard fix at all, but of course that is hard to judge without seeing it.

So now it comes down to: is cost a factor, will the imperfections bother you, will they offer you a better deal???

Ya, I just don't know which way to go. The cost isn't a big deal, but I do like getting a bargain. I don't know if the gouge would come out, but it obviously bugs me. A dent would probably be a good way to describe it. And I'm not sure if they will haggle any on the price, as it seems like an ok deal as is.

Well, then think about it like this... The NIB shotty will always be available for retail. The used one will only be available until someone thinks it is a good enough deal to make the purchase.

True. I have it on hold for three days, so I have a little time to think about it.

Ask them to come down some. They usually will.
I got a safe from the bargain cave
Retail $1600
Had a 5" scratch on the BACK
Price in the cave was $1100

I paid $800 cash

If it will be field gun then forget about the dent....it WILL get more. Its already got one so the next one won't bother you as much.
It's a TOOL

Like others have said, they will budge a little on the used guns. I have had them come down at least $50 -$75 on them.

Like yourself, I couldn't stand the temptation to save a few extra bucks buying the used vs new. At hte time, Cabells did not have the new wood stcked Outlander on had, so I bought the used.
Took it out to the lease and ran 30 rounds through her with ease! Best swinging and shooting gun I have ever owned, (and I have owned more than a few!)...
Right up till...a double feed! And not just once, but timeafter time it would feed one in the chamber and drop another between the feed ramp and the slide.
So back to Cabelas. They offered to send it to one of their 15 local gunsmiths, but I was not of a mind to wait for another 5-6 weeks to get it back, plus they wouldn't give me the names of any of their "gunsmiths".
So I insisted in getting a full refund, then walked around the corner to the new gun rack, and saw they did have abrand new one in stock, so I bought it.
As for the one you were looking at, not sure, but it may be the same one I had, since I did not have the chokes or shims with it when I returned it.
If you do wind up buying the used one, let me know, and I will gladly give you the chokes that came with my original Outlander.

Texan, you wouldn't happen to have the serial number of the one you took back, would you? I know some of these have had a feeding issue and Beretta has taken care of them. I wouldn't want to buy it though and wait for it to be fixed either....

If the action feels good and the barrel is clean is get the used one. Pick up a couple cases of shells with the savings

I took it off hold and left it there. The gouge just bugs me too much. So, if any of you guys are looking for a used Beretta A300 Outlander with a wood stock, they have one at the Cabela's in Allen.