[Big Dog Dad]

Looking at/for a Ljutic Mono-Why; I don

I have been shooting a Rem 870 TC for quite a while and have always had the urge for a Ljutic. The one thing that amazes me is the "hit" Ljutics take when they are "used". Even looking at some of the newer ribs, it doesn't matter. As soon as you walk out the door with a new one, fire one round, and try to resell it, you take the biggest hit of any shotgun. Can anyone explain this to me. Also, am I going in the right direction with Ljutic? I realize this is a question that can't be answered logically, but this will give me something read and digest. Most folks on this board have good experience and give good advice.

-=BDD=-

 

[notquite27]

One of life's shooting mysteries. I have shot 2 Ljutics for years with no problems. 4 moving parts, great customer service, mild recoil, excellent patterns. Yes, the used ones are bargain basement priced and I have never heard a good reason why. If you find a good one, grab it. It is the best used gun bargain on the market.

 

[alf174]

Couple of inexpensive ones on Gunbroker starting at $1600.

 

[ljutic73]

I was shooting an 870 Comp. and then bought my Ljutic 73....best $$'s I ever spent on this game....that was 1983...still shooting it.....good luck in your search...you won't be sorry...

Ron Burr

 

[shot410ga]

Many of the old guys sell them when they quit shooting. Buy one cheap and send it to Ljutic in the Winter. Have it gone through and reblued for their $950 special. It will be like new. I did that a couple of years ago with my Mono with 300,000++ rounds through it. And it really did come back like new.

 

[daddiooo]

Buy used......great bargain and if it doesn't work for you, then you don't have to take the financial hit.

I first bought one in 2002 and it made me a very good handicap shooter right away. Moved back 4 yards in 18 months.

Terry Jones on here has a "rack" of nice used Ljutics. Contact him.

Good luck.

 

[Big Dog Dad]

I still haven't heard an explanation of why they take such a hit going out the door. My own personal opinion is that they are built like a tank and I guess they don't satisfy that "ego" thing that some people need in their lives. But, what do I know. I gave up trying to explain most things in life. Every day I get a day older and understand less!

-=BDD=-

 

[bossbasl]

Big Dog Dad: Forget about all the angst regarding depreciation of a new Ljutic. Use it to your advantage. You can find examples of very fresh Mono's in the style of your choice for great prices that will experience less depreciation from that point than most any other quality SBT. Now that you've solved the depreciation issue, the real reason to find one is the great shooting characteristics and life long use with nary a problem. Hard to beat a deal like that. Lyle

 

[luvtrapguns]

Could the heavy depreciation be a non intended function of Ljutic's marketing/advertising strategy, or should I say perhaps a lack of one? Seems like the only shooters I see carrying Ljutics are old guys like me. Ljutic seems to do very little to give newer/younger shooters an opportunity to see/handle/shoot their excellent guns. Many competitors do a much better job of making product awareness available to shooters. Lack of info leads to not creating a "LUST FACTOR". Little interest in buying a new Ljutic leads to fewer buyers in the Ljutic used gun market which gives the savvy old shooters excellent opportunities for a real deal. And lets not forget, the older Ljutics were not things of great cosmetic beauty. As a reliable target breaking tool there may not be an equal. (Not looking to engage in a pi$$ing contest about brand likes/loyalty. NO GUN requires less maintenance/service/annual inspections than a Ljutic). In case you can not tell, I like my Ljutic, a PRO 3 LTX. Lighter than a Mono Gun (still weighs 9lbs-4oz) but the weight is equal in both hands instead of being front heavy like a Mono Gun. Swings more like a P-Gun. It took me 40 years and buying/selling near a dozen Ljutics before I found the right one. A couple pics of my Ljutic. Not for sale unless an offer was so redicuosly high I could not turn it down. LOL. Marc

 

[alf174]

C'mon Marc you throw out "NO GUN requires less maintenance/service/annual inspections than a Ljutic" and you don't expect a pi$$ing contest? Give me a break. I can make the same claim on my Alf, owned 12 years with 50K targets and had one stop block break that I replaced and that's it, no tune up or anything else required. Can't say that about my Bi-Gun. And Alfs aren't selling for $1600.

 

[Avatar]

Some people say their Baikal MP310's are built like tanks and never need fixing--and, hey, they keep their value quite well, too, as they don't have far to fall...

Seriously, though, that is a good-looking Ljutic. I hope to get one someday.

 

[luvtrapguns]

Avatar

This gun is 13 years old and all original. Still so tight the barrel will not fall open unless assisted with some down force. Very nice Ljutics can be found for under $3K.

alf174

Never said a thing about an Alferman. I think they are very fine guns but I doubt they would require less service than a Ljutic. Maybe no more but I don't see how there could be any less. Seitz is another fine gun requiring little maintenance. I was thinking more along the lines of the P-guns that seem to have trigger problems and the K-guns that are supposed to have an annual for a few hundred $. Yet the huge used prices the P and K guns bring makes them less desireable to me as a buyer.

I personally know of Mono Guns that have in excess of 300K rounds thru them and have never been back to the factory or required more than a spring or pin replacement every ten years or so. Those springs and pins did not fail, they were replaced just as a precautionary measure. Should a Ljutic require a makeover the factory will completely overhaul a MG for under $1000. I had one of mine (1974 model) redone after approx 400K rounds and it came back looking and operating as new. In 40 years of shooting I have NEVER seen a Ljutic fail on the line. Marc

 

[alf174]

Read your original post, you were qualifying all guns. I've seen guns fail on the line and at least one was a Ljutic (one being mine) in just a dozen years, so if you haven't witnessed a failure in 40 years than you're not looking or not shooting. Ljutic Lemonade anyone lol?

 

[Star4Ever]

Many Ljutic shotguns are/were custom built for the original owner which was fit to his/her shooting physique. As such many Ljutics you will see have no adjustable combs or butt pads. This can discourage a potential secondary buyer on the used market, especially when buying the gun from afar where you cannot see if it fits them well or at all.

A new custom stock is at least $2.5K so perhaps the price of used Ljutics reflects the fact that a restock may be in order?

I have an early Ljutic Centennial Pro Stainless with an adjustable comb and butt pad. Sweet shooting gun and one that I keep improving my scores with.



Art

 

[luvtrapguns]

alf174

Just in case you have nothing better to do than nit pick anothers opinion please pick a gun or guns that are more reliable and maintenance free than a Ljutie MG and why. I get the impression that either you did not like your Ljutic, or perhaps you are just looking for conflict. Warmer, good shooting weather is just around the corner, hang in there. Good luck, Marc

 

[2013ljuticman]

Ever since I shot my friends one touch, I have loved the mono. Low maintenance, one of if not the fastest lock times on the market, reliable will not fail on the line, and you can find bargains if you don't have a lot of $ and dont mind waiting for the right one. Sure it will take some time looking for the right gun instead of ordering it new custom to your specs but man is it worth it.

- Paul

 

[alf174]

Never mind Marc, I was just amazed how naive those statements sounded. Its not worth the extra breath to challenge it further.

 

[dhip]

All I know about them is what I've heard.Fella that got me into this sport sold his to a friend.This friend proceeded to raise his scores,went to pa shoot did very well,ran a hundred straight with it,THEN to the shock of everyone that knew him he sold it.Bought a Seitz,sold it,bought a Kolar,but still has NOT repeared his scores he had with the Ljutic.When asked why he sold the Ljutic,all he can do is shrug his shoulders and claim he doesn't know.If I wasn't in such a tight spot during this economy I know I'd have to have one.

In answer to the question why so low resale,I believe from what I've seen and heard it's a MENTAL issue.Seems those who get them do so well,they are mentally convinced if they spend a little more on a gun,they'd be top Dog.They unload them just to buy a more expensive gun,and are willing to sell them at near any price as long as it helps them get what they want.


Doug H.

 

[luvtrapguns]

alf174

Thanks. I had such a good time shooting today that I certainly am not in the mood for more conflict. Marc

 

[Catching Chrome]

Marc,
Nailed it about ljutics, built like a tank, look like a donkey to most. I love the ones I had, had 3 now just one, a dynokic. Can't find a better used value IMHO. Spend $3K and get a nice used ljutic that retails for $9K. Shoot it and if you don;'t like it sell it for close to what you paid for it. So there really is no depreciation the second time around.