If you could have only one O/U shotgun, what would it be?

[Estela216]

If you could have only one O/U shotgun, what would it be and why?

Which is the best all around?

My pick would be a Browning Citori. Just a personal preference.

Kev

[BozemanMT]

Beretta 686 Gold E Sporting.
beautiful, slim, well handing, lasts forever, and just well made.
A buddy has one and it's really amazing.

But me, to steal the thread, i'd have a SxS.
but that's me.

[Marshall]

I dunno, probably this Browning 525 Field

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/images/013085m.jpg

Might have to go with a Browning Lightning Feather or Beretta Ultralight.




Lightning Feather
http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/images/013054m.jpg

Ultralight
http://products.berettausa.com/images/immagini_maxi/Ultralight_S_maxi.jpg


.

[Larry Ashcraft]

Me? Browning Citori.

Hands down.

[MarshallDodge]

My 26" Citori is the only O/U I have ever shot but I really like it. It is the older model before they had removable chokes but I got a great deal on it 12 years ago and have never looked back.

I have heard good things about the Berettas.

[Rupestris]

The only O/U's I've fired are a Browning Citori and a Winchester 101 Pigeon Grade.

I'll take the Pigeon Grade 101. Again, personal preference.

[sm]

Citori

...then Rup did mention the Pigeon Grade 101...dadburnit!

Ya know...original post DIDN'T say we could NOT have extra bbls or tubes. :D

Think outside the box folks...

[berettashotgun]

686 onyx, 3 1/2" chamber, 28" barrels. What I use in the field, and it works pretty darn good.

[Dave McCracken]

Depends on the mission.

Field gun, something light but effective like the Franchi Alcione with an alloy frame.

Clays gun, heavier and longer, if money is not crucial the Kolar or the Blaser F3.

Subgauge, 28 gauge Red Label or Beretta with 30" tubes.

[PJR]

I'm primarily a clay shooter so restricted to only one o/u it would be a 32" Perazzi MX8 with custom wood and a selection of Briley choke tubes.

[Berg01]

Beretta 686 Gold E Sporting.
beautiful, slim, well handing, lasts forever, and just well made.
A buddy has one and it's really amazing.


My old 686 Gold E Sporting kicked me like a rented mule, but YMMV.

I have a Citori XT that is working now that I got it fitted, but my first choice would be a Krieghoff K-80 Trap if I ever hit the lottery.

[TrapperReady]

Kolar Sporting.

[Scoupe]

This one:

http://www.planetkc.com/scoupe/k80-02.jpg

Oh wait, I DO own that one! :D K-80 standard skeet set. Bought used last week.

As for why? Fits me, I hit with it, can't wear it out, always worth what I got in it. It's a serious skeet gun and I take skeet seriously.

[ArmedBear]

Perazzi and Lutjic are the nicest guns I've handled. Haven't messed with a Krieghoff. I'd probably like it. I'm not sure I want to know... :)

Those and old Ithacas (late 1920s vintage, higher grade guns because they have better screws, the nicer wood and engraving are a bonus but they all shoot really well). They have gone up a lot in price lately.

NIB, Beretta 686, some variant or other. I love the sleek profile; it feels right to me.

For trap, a Remington 3200 is really nice, but it's not really an all-around gun.

For well under $1000, I like Lanbers.

SKB makes some nice guns, too.

Why do you guys like the Citori so much? I've only shot a couple rounds of trap with one, but that was enough for me. Doesn't point very well, at least for me, though it seemed to fit just fine. I was happy to switch back to my 870 Express, of all things. Tall, blocky receiver didn't suit me. I'd probably like the 20 gauge okay. And the machining on the new ones just doesn't say $1800 to me. Beretta is head and shoulders above the current ones, from what I can tell.

There must be something I don't know about.

[Larry Ashcraft]

old Ithacas
Weren't those made by Perazzi? I don't think Ithaca ever made their own OU's.

[ArmedBear]

Weren't those made by Perazzi? I don't think Ithaca ever made their own OU's.

SKB, but not until the late 20th century.

I meant REALLY old. But you're right. That was probably before the O/U era. My bad. Their old single-barrels are AMAZING.

The Remington 32 was considered "weird" in its time. Remington sold the rights to the design to Krieghoff. Stupid move, in the long term!

[scubie02]

Why do you guys like the Citori so much? I've only shot a couple rounds of trap with one, but that was enough for me. Doesn't point very well, at least for me, though it seemed to fit just fine. I was happy to switch back to my 870 Express, of all things. Tall, blocky receiver didn't suit me. I'd probably like the 20 gauge okay. And the machining on the new ones just doesn't say $1800 to me. Beretta is head and shoulders above the current ones, from what I can tell.

There must be something I don't know about.

Really? I always think just the opposite--always thought beretta's seemed cheap, and never understood the attraction. And Browning's just fit me better. I do agree that the newer Citori's are not up to the same standard as my old Superposed, which just has that so smooth bank vault/swiss watch feeling. My Citori has high grade wood that is a thing to behold, but the bluing isn't of the same quality and the lockup isn't as nice. Still handles well though (I have a 20 gge Citori).

To me how it handles for me and shoots is the more important thing than what it costs or what name it has. It can have the fanciest name and be the most expensive, and if I can't shoot it well or it doesn't feel right, it'd be hitting the used gun rack. I've had good luck with my browning's patterning well and they seem to just hit hard for a 20 gge compared to some other 20's I have had.

I have a very nice specimen of an 870 Wingmaster--great wood. And I have learned to hit with ok, but 870's have never really felt good to me. It was just too good a deal to pass up at the time (new for $299).

Ithaca model 37's are handier. My old Stevens 311 is a workhorse double.

But when I bought my citori 20 I tried most everything, and it just felt the best of the modern ones out there to me. But that's obviously a subjective thing.

[Larry Ashcraft]

SKB, but not until the late 20th century.
Actually, Perazzi made the first Ithaca OU's, before they went to SKBs. I had to look that information up a while back when an Ithaca OU was advertised at a local auction (it turned out to be an SKB).

[Berg01]

Why do you guys like the Citori so much? I've only shot a couple rounds of trap with one, but that was enough for me. Doesn't point very well, at least for me, though it seemed to fit just fine. I was happy to switch back to my 870 Express, of all things. Tall, blocky receiver didn't suit me. I'd probably like the 20 gauge okay. And the machining on the new ones just doesn't say $1800 to me. Beretta is head and shoulders above the current ones, from what I can tell.

I've been shooting a lot of singles with my XT since I got in in March of this year. The guys I practice with shoot XTs, so I've been getting a lot of helpful suggestions from better, more experienced shooters. The way the gun fits you is always more important than the gun itself. I had to get the stock recast (off), and I replaced the stock recoil pad with a Kick-eez, and I had a Jones Adjuster installed. With these modifications, and a lot of practice, I feel like I'm making progress shooting it, since the gun POI is right where I'm looking now. Some people I know can pick up a gun cold and go right to the line and shoot good scores with it, but I can't, I need the practice to get used to the way a gun shoots.

[JohnBT]

I'd like a nice higher-end of the mid-range gun like the Guerini Forum Sporting.

http://www.gueriniusa.com/gun_models/forum_sp/images/ForumSp.jpg

I suppose I could get something with a little more of a track record for $7k, but...come to think of it there's a nice B. Rizzini at a local shop for about $6k.

The Berettas feel pretty good to me, but the Brownings just don't quite fit.

What I really want can be found in any shotgun magazine advertising $50k+ guns.

John

[Hawk]

At least as far as what's stocked locally, the Beretta clay O/U's are cast-off, the Brownings are "straight". Actually, my dealer is still saying he's got cast Brownings but it's only the 525 and inconsistent. In a previous thread, someone pointed out that Brownings web site was saying "no cast".

Stands to reason if one brand is "straight" and one "cast-off", we'd see a split of individuals liking one but not the other. The occasional southpaw grabbing one of those cast-off Berettas would presumably make for a vocal Browning fan.

So this thread is basically saying that the "one" O/U is one that fits. Pretty much what the veterans have been pounding into us since the forum started.

My 687 SP3 fits, hence I like it, but it'd not be ideal for toting through the fields; works well at a range, though. It carries nearly a full pound more than the field SP3 - 7.7 vs 6.8 or something like that.

[Guntalk]

No dollar limit?

Fabbri!

[ArmedBear]

But when I bought my citori 20 I tried most everything, and it just felt the best of the modern ones out there to me. But that's obviously a subjective thing.

20 is a different animal. The 12 is obnoxiously tall IMO. I couldn't point the thing worth a hill of beans because the balance is funky. The 20 is probably just fine, because the smaller barrels allow a much lower receiver profile. Pointability is the reason to get a 20! And the 20 gauge Citori is almost a pound and a half lighter than the 12! Totally different guns, really.

Check out a new 12 gauge Citori vs. a new Beretta at the shop, though. The difference in machining is surprising and favors Beretta by a long shot, along with the Beretta's pointability. Beretta is a few hundred bucks more, but when you're up over $1800, what's the difference?

The Browning Cynergy may look strange to some, but I like it. Very different geometry from the Citori, in all the right ways for my taste, at least once I am holding it.

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/images/013230m.jpg

vs. the Citori:

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/images/013085m.jpg

[riverdog]

I've got a Browning 525 Sporting, but it seems to have been replaced with the Citori XS Sporting (http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?value=008B&cat_id=013&type_id=056)
http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/images/013056m.jpg

[SShooterZ]

Browning Superposed. :)

[scubie02]

[QUOTE=ArmedBear]

The Browning Cynergy may look strange to some, but I like it. Very different geometry from the Citori, in all the right ways for my taste, at least once I am holding it.


yeah, the cynergy is funky looking, but supposedly tons of research went into its handling qualities, and it does seem to have worked.

[Berg01]

The Browning Cynergy may look strange to some, but I like it. Very different geometry from the Citori, in all the right ways for my taste, at least once I am holding it.

yeah, the cynergy is funky looking, but supposedly tons of research went into its handling qualities, and it does seem to have worked.

A friend of mine has a 12 ga. Cynergy Sporting; he uses it the way it came out of the box mostly for sporting clays and some skeet; once I got a chance to shoot it, its appearance was irrelevant. The way it balances, and the way it points is (IMHO) excellent. I have an XT that I had to get fitted before i could shoot it halfway decently. I think the Cynergy Sporting is one of the best out of the box sporters that I've had a chance to try out.

[ArmedBear]

A friend of mine has a 12 ga. Cynergy Sporting; he uses it the way it came out of the box mostly for sporting clays and some skeet; once I got a chance to shoot it, its appearance was irrelevant. The way it balances, and the way it points is (IMHO) excellent. I have an XT that I had to get fitted before i could shoot it halfway decently. I think the Cynergy Sporting is one of the best out of the box sporters that I've had a chance to try out.

Exactly. A couple shots and you'll like how it looks, no matter what you thought of it before. And I never minded it. And wood is good!

I love the looks of a curly-maple flintlock, an old side-by-side shotgun, and a Sharps sporter. But I also like the Cynergy.

Especially for the price, I think it's incredible. It's in a class that is otherwise occupied by guns that cost many times as much.

[Fish Springs]

http://www.kolararms.com/competition/gun.cfm?GunID=3

And specify a 3" chamber.

[TrapperReady]

And specify a 3" chamber.


On a Kolar? Why? They are outstanding target guns, but I'd hate to have to carry one for long in the field. Depending upon the wood, barrel length and so on... they can get pretty darned heavy (8.5 - 9 #s). If you really want to use it for hunting, then 2 3/4" premium non-toxic or lead shells would be the way to go.

[Fish Springs]

Why, If I could have only one gun was the question, I am sure that it would fit and last, and I'd not feel quite as guilty as if I were taking a Kreighoff in to the marsh....

Weight--it weighs no more than my 1100 Magnum Duck Gun--no problem.

Shells--I am sure that they would do a 3" chamber as part of the customer requirements

But who'd only want one shotgun?

[Grayrock]

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976660071.htm

[PJR]

If I could have only one gun was the question,
I read the question "If you could have only one O/U shotgun. I'd give up duck hunting before my P-gun got taken into a marsh and it came with 3" chambers.;)

[clang]

If you are primarily using the gun for sporting/target purposes - go with a heavy gun like one of the Citori models.

If you are primarily using the gun for hunting - go with a lighter gun like one of the Berettas.

I really like Browning Superposed Lightnings (weight is in-between avove guns), but without screw in chokes they may not meet your one gun need.

I would get 28" or 30" barrels either way.

[TrapperReady]

PJR - I'm with you. For the past couple years, I've been using my wood-stocked Beretta 391 for duck hunting. It works great, but I prefered to have a dedicated "waterproof" gun... so I picked up a synthetic-stocked 870 Supermag.

Chances are very good that I'll have a Kolar made next year and I'll do my best to wear it out... but not in a duck blind.

[Backfired]

If I could find a used Browning or Winny in excellent condition, I might consider getting it. It seems they are trying to live on their past reputation and letting their quality slide downhill.

[ArmedBear]

If you are primarily using the gun for sporting/target purposes - go with a heavy gun like one of the Citori models.

If you are primarily using the gun for hunting - go with a lighter gun like one of the Berettas.

I really like Browning Superposed Lightnings (weight is in-between avove guns), but without screw in chokes they may not meet your one gun need.

I would get 28" or 30" barrels either way.

My beef with the Citori 12 isn't its weight so much as its balance: an overly-tall receiver with an utter lack of pointability (for me, anyway). And the newer ones have internal metalwork that is way substandard for the price range.

Bigger Berettas are great for trap, too.

The fact is that snap-shooting quail in heavy brush is way different from stepping to the line, setting the gun and yelling "pull." That's why it's hard to pick just one O/U.

[huntsman]

The all weather all stainless Ruger red label.
I just wish it didn't weight 25lbs.:)

[ArmedBear]

The all weather all stainless Ruger red label.
I just wish it didn't weight 25lbs.:)

And that it didn't rust...

And that it had a Length of Pull...

And that it didn't feel like a Mini-14... (I love my Mini, but it's a rifle)

Do you have one?

[huntsman]

nope, the o/u is due up next but that will be a 28 gauge red label or maybe the gold label instead.or maybe the FAIR 16 gauge or a 20 gauge BSS.

[rust collector]

For aesthetics, build quality and engineering, I love the Beretta. Unfortunately, I couldn't hit well with my onyx. Loved the gun, but it smote me mightily and did a mediocre job on targets.

I've never liked the Browning high gloss treatment or the thought of buying a Japanese gun, but picked up an old special sporting with a high rib 2 or 3 years ago and it seems to find the target for me. A little heavier than the Beretta, but the recoil is quite tame in comparison. Wish I could have the good features of both guns in one, but meanwhile I'll use the Browning to smack those birds.

I'd have to agree that fit is essential. A $10,000 shotgun won't make you happy if you can't hit with it.

[OleSarge]

Krieghoff. Thirty years of shooting pleasure so far.

[9mmMike]

I would like Geoff's 28 ga. Krieghoff. :D

[JohnBT]

Now I want a Beretta SO10 20 ga.

http://images.gunsamerica.com/upload/976657737-1.jpg

$55,000. :cool:

The engraving on an SO10 EELL:

http://www.beretta.com/dati/ContentManager/images/Dettagli%20Fucili/SO10_EELL_dett2.jpg