Who Shoots an O/U, which one? Why?

[Hornseeker]

Obviously, the O/U is sorta the traditional and desired upland gun... I know many of us have used pumps and autos and singles and side by sides... as well as O/U's.. but if you had money to burn...which O/U would you buy? A hunting gun... for pheasant... 12 ga? 20 Ga? Berretta? Browning? Some other fancy model? I imagine there are a lot of them I dont even know of... A guy I just hunted with uses a Tikka...and I had no idea Tikka made shotguns.

Anyhow, I shoot an old Mauser 71E...its a great gun, but I"m sure I"ll need to upgrade someday...or if not upgrade...at least just get a new gun.

What do you want???

[wildweeds]

I've gt a few O/U's, a 62 silver pigeon browning superposed 12,a browning citori 20,a Rizzini 20/28 gauge combo set(to nice to hunt with but I have a few times where the ground was flat and fences were few.And a CZ woodcock in .410.

I started using the citori 20 about 20 years ago for phez over my springers.Iv'e got setters now,and really don't need any more gun than that over pointed birds,in fact you need to wait and let them get out a ways to keep from shooting them up to bad,The silver pigeon sees limited use at clay targets,the 20/28 is a clay buster as well,I use the .410 to help sharpen my shooting and keep my wallet from being totally empty,I get twice as many shells for clays with the same amount of lead from the reloader.

[C-Money]

Was the Tikka a Velmet or a true Tikka. Valmets are VERY nice shotguns! I am sure the Tikka was quite nice as well!

[Camp David]

I shoot a Beretta 682. Have had it for 20 years. Recently I've been shooting it a whole lot more Sporting clays, Skeet, Doves and quail. I added a raised rib and an adjustable stock to it. Huge difference when a gun fits you well. Berettas are extremely reliable and if something does go wrong with it, most gun smiths have the parts and know how to fix it.

[RadSav]

Got rid of all my Citoris'.  Never shot where I was looking so I had to look at the bead or bend barrels and rasp the stocks.  Have not had to do that with the Beretta.  Most double field guns are difficult to adjust cast-on/cast-off so I find more than any other type of gun what fits me may not fit you.

The other nice thing about the Beretta is the chokes will also fit my Beretta and Franchi semi-autos.

I have no more 12 guages having switched everything over to 20s.  Even on turkey and geese it gets the job done very nicely.  Though I do shoot Heavy Shot or Remington HD on turkey and waterfowl.

[Wacenturion]

Have a Browning Citori Superlight, Charles Daly Miroku (1966), and Franchi Veloce, all in 28 gauge.  I also have several other 28's in pump and auto models...Rem 11-48's, and 870.  All are great bird guns.

I personally prefer the 28, as not only are the guns light and fast swinging, but the ammo is also not an issue, weight wise, while covering terrain.  I also prefer open chokes...skeet or improved, improved/ modified, which are all very forgiving at close ranges, as in under 25 yards.

My favorite....don't really have one other than perhaps the Remington 11-48 28 gauge bored skeet, which accounted for lots of birds and few missed shots over my Red Setters years ago.   More of a memory favorite...just didn't ever miss with that gun.

Just personal preference.....20's are also nice, if light.  Any gauge above that are not upland guns in my opinion, and your just packing extra weight in both gun and shells ....but again....just my opinion.

[Hornseeker]

How does a 28 compare to a 20???

A month ago, I would not have considered anything but a 12... but some recent discussions with friends have prompted me... as for the 12... at my age, strength...etc... I dont mind the 8 pound gun and the recoil is not felt... shells are cheaper too and frankly, cmon...range and effectiveness is going to be at least as good if not better than any other gauge...

But... being an open minded sort, I am all ears... 20 is sounding better all the time... 28?

[Stilly bay]

why do you want the barrels set up the wrong way? SXS's are where its at! 

I have spent most of my hunting career with a SxS ugartechea, AYA, or fox - if steel shot is called for then I usually just used one of my duck guns.

but lately I have been dreaming about a perfect for me, steel shot friendly, upland bird gun... and it happens to be an O/U
Im going to start with a beretta 686, 20 gauge with 30 inch barrels. Im going swap the factory stock out for one with some cast and purty swirls. and then for the coup de grace I will have it converted to TWO triggers. two triggers and interchangeable choke tubes makes for the swiss army knife of guns IMO.
at least thats what I have been dreaming/obsessing about lately.

[Hornseeker]

SO, really, I have nothing agains sXs's...I shot a Stevens 20 gauge sxs for many years, from 10-17 or so years old... but what makes an SXS any better than an O/U...and if so, why would your new dream gun be an O/U???

[bobcat]

I have a Beretta 686 in 12 gauge that I like to use for pheasants. For chukar I always prefer to have 3 shots, so I use my Remington 1100 20 gauge. In the over/under I like to use an improved cylinder choke in the bottom barrel, and a full in the top.

That way I can easily switch to the full choke for my first shot if a bird jumps up a little too far out. I like to use 1 1/4 ounce of 5's or 6's in both barrels.

[Stilly bay]

but what makes an SXS any better than an O/U...and if so, why would your new dream gun be an O/U???

absolutely nothing, its all personal preference. 
Im going with the O/U because I believe that two mechanical triggers are far superior to one inertia trigger and a barrel selector. thats the main reason why I haven't plunked down the money for an O/U seems like you can only get double triggers on really cheap O/U or super expensive ones.
   
when I heard that you can get double trigger conversions done for the beretta 680 series I was back in the game.

[AWS]

I shoot a Browning Superposed Lightning 28" barrel in 20ga, 6 lbs even for upland.  It is custom choked at tight IC(SK-II) and Improved Mod.  My 12 Bretta 686 Onyx went to my hunting partner after languishing in the safe for years.  This season I'm shooting a Darne SxS 12ga 28" 2 1/2" chamber with 7/8 to 1 oz loads again 6 lbs even.

Like Stillybay I'm looking at a new steel shot shotgun 20ga SXS choke tubes and double triggers again 6 lbs to replace my 20ga auto for all my waterfowl hunting.

[MR5x5]

16 GA Remington Spartan.  She's ugley, she's blocky, she's built on a 12 Ga frame.  But for $300 I can pig wrestle with her and she always goes bang.  Once and awhile she needs to go bang again, but not often.

[Stilly bay]

Like Stillybay I'm looking at a new steel shot shotgun 20ga SXS choke tubes and double triggers again 6 lbs to replace my 20ga auto for all my waterfowl hunting.

im sure you have looked at the CZ bobwhite by now. it can handle steel and it doesn't have a mushy action like alot of the affordable doubles have these days.
I almost bought a 28gauge bobwhite, but they don't make them with 28" or 30" barrels, which is a deal breaker for me on small gauged guns.
Im not sure what the weight is though.

[Miles]

Winchester model 101.   

With that said, it really depends how the gun fits YOU.  I would look around though and find a 101 to shoulder/shoot, I think you'll be impressed.    I've got one that has had thousands of rounds through it (skeet/trap leagues) and it's still going strong.  I always keep my eyes open in gun shops and places I go for another one that is of good quality and for a decent price.   When I find another one that is well taken care of, it will be going home with me.


Cabelas in Post Falls had one that was listed for around $1,300 when I was there in October.  It was in decent condition and in their gun library on the right as you walked in.