Side by Side or Over Under????

[BD1]

So I am turning the big 50 this year. My kids are set on getting me a new shotgun. My son has always heard me talk about wanting a side by side mostly because I think they are cool. I have semi autos and pumps and have shot a few over unders. I duck and goose hunt and also pheasant a few times a year. This would primary be for the pheasant  hunting. What do you see as pros and cons of both. I am thinking probably in 20 gauge since all of mine are 12's except for the youth 20 I use for upland currently. Also I would have them get me a budget one...I don't need to spend money on a high end gun at this point. Thanks for any input. Good luck on this last week of waterfowl 
Mike

[Special T]

I love double barrel side by sides. You can sometimes find older ones reasonable but you shouldn't shoot much if any steel so that means expensive Biz or lead. I love side by sides but haven't shot any new ones. I would love one that is pasteurized, shoots 3.5" and removable chokes. That would be sweet!

[Dan-o]

I always wanted a sxs, but never got one. 

Picked up an o/u about 20 years ago and really like it. It takes 3.5", and has removable chokes.  I like that.

[GWP]

‘Real men’ hunt with a SXS with 2 triggers!
😄
While I have a little of everything I like my side by sides best. Most are 16’s.
You can find some used that will not break the bank, but if you want to shoot steel shot (same with any shotgun) you need a very open choke. In any ‘regulated’ barrel the steel in anything tighter than improved will hammer loose the barrels, starting at the choked end.
Easy to tell if one (or any fixed choke gun) has had steel through it is look for a slightly discolored (shiny) ring around the barrel a couple inches from the end of the barrel where the choke starts.
On a single barrel steel will hammer out the choke to improved over time. Hevi Shot will do it as well.

[Badhabit]

Look at SKB SXS, Browning BSS, Winchester 21 and 23. If you can find a Skb 385 with screw in chokes. Win win

[baldopepper]

I'd suggest you try to get out and shoot both. Personally have some sort of mental block on OU's and can't shoot them well at all. Talked to a couple of guys shooting trap and they both claimed that was not unusual. One of them said he had the same problem with side by sides.  I have an uggie side by side 20 gauge that I love and shoot well, but can't hit beans with brothers high end Browning OU.

[duckmen1]

I love the over unders.

Vote for CZ Drake

[Magnum_Willys]

An over & Under shoots like a regular shotgun - bead on top of the barrel.  Side by side bead is between barrels - remember that Steve Martin Movie with the glasses 

[Farmer72]

I am a o/u guy when it comes to upland birds. I used to use my sxs coach gun for quail but I like a nice o/u to much.

[phildobaggins]

CZ O/U  The Drake is a beautiful and great gun.

[jackson7]

i would think on buying used sxs 20 versus a new one. tend to get pricey quick. there are many nice used ones that can shoot steel and are well made guns. A few mentioned above. As for upland, like my 20 for all, weight being major factor. Good Luck and God Bless.

[BD1]

Great stuff..thank you guys...keep it coming

[haftard]

Get the sxs. You said you have always wanted one. What more reason do you need.

[BD1]

Amen to that...I know my boy will enjoy it in his gun safe someday...maybe shooting it with his boy/girl  I have buddies who will let me shoot their O/U when I want..nobody I hunt with has a SXS 

[b23]

I like guns of just about all shapes, sizes, and types, but to me there is no better looking gun out there than a nice over/under.

[ASHQUACK]

Put me in the o/u camp. I have 2 20's. One is an ancient Remongton and the other is a new Beretta Silver Pigeon.

[raydog]

I'd suggest you try to get out and shoot both. Personally have some sort of mental block on OU's and can't shoot them well at all. Talked to a couple of guys shooting trap and they both claimed that was not unusual. One of them said he had the same problem with side by sides.  I have an uggie side by side 20 gauge that I love and shoot well, but can't hit beans with brothers high end Browning OU.

I’m glad you said that. My father has a very nice older berrata o/u that he got from his father. I took it out grouse hunting one day. I missed a couple shots on birds with that shotgun that would drop you guys’ jaws. Evenshooting clays Im a miserable shot! It’s embarrassing how bad I am with that gun.

 My little Remington single shot I shoot fantastic!

[Gettin Birdie]

I have an old Stevens 16 gauge sxs, basically a farmers/ranchers gun.  I find myself going for that gun every time I go out, not sure what it is, but I enjoy it, 2 triggers, it's fun.  My first birds this year with my new golden were a double on some roosters, super fun.  Oddly enough, i've been looking at getting an o/u forever in 20 for upland, someday perhaps.  I don't think you'll regret a sxs, you'll find a use for it. 

[phildobaggins]

Just pay the $599 for a CZ Drake and be done 

[10mmg]

I hunted with a beretta silver hawk in 20 gauge for a long time. It had a 3” chamber and removable chokes. I like the English stock look it had as well. Nice light gun for long hikes. It took a bit to get used to the flat top look vs a single barrel but I can’t say my hit percentage was any better or worse with it.

[nwwanderer]

Talk the buyers into letting you look, handle and shoot as many as you can find, you will know.  Might take a while!!!

[duckmen1]

Since we all like the cz drake so much. Here is the 410 version. Puts the hurtin on everything that flys. Although she was a little dirty from the elements on that trip.

[jetjockey]

Don’t throw me in the CZ camp.  I say skip them and get a well built SxS that isnt a Turkish built gun.  There are WAY too many well built used SxS’s out there that will last a lifetime.  Also, spend a little more money and get a gun that will go up in value.  SKB’s are a good place to start. I love my SxS’s, even though my “meat getter” is s Beretta 686 20 gauge.

[mcrawfordaf]

Throw me in with the CZ O/U group - Uplander Ultralight.

[follow maggie]

I’m an over/under guy myself, but you’ve always wanted a side x side, so get one of those. I’ve never shot a side x side so I don’t have a meaningful contribution, this is just a cool conversation

[wadu1]

I prefer O/U's because of the sighting plane. Since Sporting Clays has side games that use SxS and Pump Guns, I now have three SxS's. The one I use the most is a Stoger Condor with 30" barrels and screw in chokes (old Win Choke).

[Jayrad313]

If you want to get into a solid SxS at a pretty good price point check out the CZ bob white. I liked my 20 so much I bought the 28 as well

[BD1]

Update on my original post...ended up buying a CZ Ringneck SxS from a member on here. Everything thing I hoped it would be and will now be passed down for generations!!!

[chukar58]

The first gun I used was this old Fox sxs many years ago.  It was my dads shotgun that I borrowed for the first year till I purchased my own shotgun.  My dad gave it to me before his passing and I truly enjoy taking it out for a walk in the woods.  Yeah I have several other scatter guns but the old twenty is a keepsake.

[Wanderer]

i'm in the camp of your quote "always wanted one".    if you've always wanted one - now's the opportunity.

[Dave Workman]

I've hunted with 'em both!
Love 'em all!  Remember, S/S barrels are "regulated" to the sights so the shot pattern is usually on at maybe 25 and 40 yards.  I've never met a grouse that knew the difference!   

All my S/S/guns have double triggers. 
My O/U has a traditional single trigger.

[nwwanderer]

Either, preferably both.  Always great to open them to confirm a clear barrel and safe crossings.  And a ninebark ram rod clears mud nicely from a fall, try that with pumps or autoloaders.