Is there a difference shooting skeet with a side-by-side versus an over/under?

I shoot skeet with some guys that dabble in SxS shotguns now and then. Some shoot them very well. However, none use a budget new production foreign made gun. They use old American guns.

Your 11-87 with a skeet choke or skeet barrel and a magnet for picking up hulls is probably a better set up than a Stoeger Coach gun.

Crossers with a SxS can be more challenging than with a single or O/U. Some folks shooting SxS for clays use a raised rib gun because they think it helps. There was a highly competitive International Skeet shooter from the UAE that used an abomination of a SxS with a high vent rib. Eeeeew.

Generally speaking, you will likely find more success with pull through than with sustained lead. Enjoy.

PS- the Stoeger side by sides are pretty much rubbish. I have one that I use for CAS, a 20 ga that gets minimal use and the forend still shoots loose every 25 rounds or so. I know several other CAS shooters who made the same mistake and have experienced similar results. It is poorly regulated and unless your goal is to be forever put off skeet, I would avoid it.

Using some home thrower is one thing; shooting actual skeet is another; personally, I wouldn't waste my money on a coach gun; gun is not that great in the quality department.

If buying new, a SxS of the same quality as an 1187 will cost $2,500.00 or so. That’s strictly an opinion. And then you run an excellent chance of shooting poorly with it at skeet. Stoeger SxS’s are the worst of the worst IMO.

WVGunman said:

No love for the Stoeger Coach Gun at all around here! I might have to can the whole idea, as I didn't plan to spend more than what the SCG costs

Click to expand...

If you want something inexpensive and heavy as far as SxS go, then look for an old Stevens 311 or Savage Fox BSE

George P said:

If you want something inexpensive and heavy as far as SxS go, then look for an old Stevens 311 or Savage Fox BSE

Click to expand...

For casual skeet shooting, the Stevens or Fox B is a fine option, but they'll eventually shoot lose if you plan on shooting a lot of tournaments.
Otherwise great guns though.
There is a reason why competition worthy double guns are so expensive
As much as I dislike semiautos, they're more than adequate for skeet over the long haul.

I have a CZ Ringneck that I occasionally use for Skeet. If I mount it properly and focus on the target, there’s no difference to me. But the Ringneck has a single trigger. A lot of them don’t. I tried a double trigger gun once — it would take some getting used to on doubles.

A Huglu-made CZ is a decent gun for some fun on the skeet field, but IIRC, they are above the OP's price point of a Stoeger; even the Dickinson from Cabela's would be a good choice as well. That said, a used quality semi should be in the same price range and would offer more reliability

I bought a CZ 20 gauge side by side Bob White gen 2 a little less than 2 years ago. I bought it for skeet shooting. I'm a casual skeet shooter and don't put a lot of rounds through a gun. So far the gun has worked fine. It's a light gun and would not be a good choice for a serious skeet shooter. Also, I load light 3/4 ounce loads for it. To reduce the cost of shot and to reduce recoil.

It's a fun gun to shoot. I find side by sides more difficult to shoot than a single barrel sight plane such as an auto, pump or over/under. Side by sides take some getting used to. However, since I'm a casual shooter, I don't mind dropping a bird or two.

My total cost for the gun tax, shipping etc. was about $775.

George P said:

A Huglu-made CZ is a decent gun for some fun on the skeet field, but IIRC, they are above the OP's price point of a Stoeger; even the Dickinson from Cabela's would be a good choice as well. That said, a used quality semi should be in the same price range and would offer more reliability

Click to expand...

The question was, does anyone have any experience using a side by side for Skeet.

But, speaking of prices, the Ringneck was a high end (for Huglu) gun that’s no longer in production. I think the current offerings go for less. Also, the gun handles well, I’m sure much better than a Stoeger. And CZ-USA’s customer service is superb. I wouldn’t bet on a Turkish shotgun without it.

I have used my S&W Elite Gold (now the Dickinson form Cabela's) for informal skeet; double trigger, splinter forearm straight English stock (as a proper SxS should be!)
IC/M choked and my scores are basically the same as with my expensive Beretta O/U or my Brownings in 12 gauge

If your tired of picking up shells try a T&S shell catcher for your 11-87.
Non-marring and no adhesives!

George P said:

If you want something inexpensive and heavy as far as SxS go, then look for an old Stevens 311 or Savage Fox BSE

Click to expand...

John Joseph said:

For casual skeet shooting, the Stevens or Fox B is a fine option, but they'll eventually shoot lose if you plan on shooting a lot of tournaments.
Otherwise great guns though.

Click to expand...

gpb said:

I bought a CZ 20 gauge side by side Bob White gen 2 a little less than 2 years ago. I bought it for skeet shooting. I'm a casual skeet shooter and don't put a lot of rounds through a gun. So far the gun has worked fine.
My total cost for the gun tax, shipping etc. was about $775.

Click to expand...

Rudolph31 said:

The question was, does anyone have any experience using a side by side for Skeet.

But, speaking of prices, the Ringneck was a high end (for Huglu) gun that’s no longer in production. I think the current offerings go for less. Also, the gun handles well, I’m sure much better than a Stoeger. And CZ-USA’s customer service is superb. I wouldn’t bet on a Turkish shotgun without it.

Click to expand...

I've always shot SxS, since my uncle took me dove hunting when I was 12. I've tried over/unders, but prefer the side-by-side because that's what I've always used. The Savage Fox B is a great shotgun for game birding and also does great for skeet and clays, but you'll have a much higher round count and none of those have been made since the mid-1970's. Parts are getting harder to find, and shooting clays is harder on a shotgun because of how many rounds you put through them. That said, I have three of them in 20, 16 and 12 gauge. I used the 12 gauge for 8 or 9 years to shoot clays and skeet, but last year I bought a CZ (Turkish-made Huglu) Hammer Classic and it's my skeet, sporting clays, and 5-stand gun. I've put as many as 300 rounds through it in a day. For about $900, you can't beat it. The parts are CNC milled, the receiver is color case hardened and the stocks are a nice grade of Turkish walnut; CZ-USA has excellent customer service, too.

A coach gun of any make is a poor choice for skeet and clays because of the short barrels. Most ranges won't even allow them for that reason. A side-by-side shotgun always gets plenty of looks and comments at a clays range, some good, some snide; the go-to for serious clays shooting is the over-under or autoloader. I can't say a side-by-side is a harder gun to shoot clays with, I don't see it any more difficult than hunting real birds with one, because that's what I'm used to. It's more passe' than anything else, not as popular any more. A really good quality double gun (SxS) is at least as expensive as the better over-under guns, new or used.

My Fox-B and CZ 12 gauge guns:

There must be, my buddy regulsrly shoots 23+ with his Turkish O/U. I struggle to hit high tedns with my LeFever or L.C. Smith.

Oldschool shooter said:

There must be, my buddy regulsrly shoots 23+ with his Turkish O/U. I struggle to hit high tedns with my LeFever or L.C. Smith.

Click to expand...

That has EVERYTHING to do with fit

I don't do well at skeet with my SxS, at 5 stand now I'm much better probably because the distances are generally longer and I prefer it to my other shotguns, I've enen thought of getting a tweed jacket spats and an 1800's derby / newsboy flat cap

gnappi said:

I don't do well at skeet with my SxS, at 5 stand now I'm much better probably because the distances are generally longer and I prefer it to my other shotguns, I've enen thought of getting a tweed jacket spats and an 1800's derby / newsboy flat cap

Click to expand...

https://www.gentlemansgazette.com/hunting-shooting-attire/
https://www.orvis.com/continental-shooting-clothing
https://www.cordings.co.uk/menswear/field-clothing
https://us.alanpaine.co.uk/shooting-clothing/mens-shooting-clothing

I've had several shotguns of various configurations - pump, semi-auto, SxS, O/U, and single shot. One of my favorites is also one of the least expensive, a Savage Fox Model B. I also had the Fox Model B-SE, but I do NOT recommend that one because the single trigger and the ejectors are not nearly rugged enough to last through a lot of shooting, IME. The Model B with its double triggers and extractors instead of ejectors is quite rugged, IME. I like my SxS guns in 20 gauge better than 12, especially in lower cost guns that might be kinda heavy in a 12, but YMMV.

bearleft said:

If your tired of picking up shells try a T&S shell catcher for your 11-87.
Non-marring and no adhesives!

Click to expand...

Kind of tough getting that second shot off in a doubles post with that on there. Putting a knockdown button in it will drop the hulls at your feet, but they'll still eject.

The only semi auto that will catch both hulls is the Butler.


Yes, I want one.

https://butlerguns.com/

I bought a new Stoeger Coach gun in 20 gauge and have enjoyed it very much. I've never had a bit of trouble with it.

I shoot skeet with it and to my surprise I am able to bust as many birds as some of the other guys and their multi thousand guns much to their shagrin. I'm sure you would enjoy it.

entropy said:

Kind of tough getting that second shot off in a doubles post with that on there. Putting a knockdown button in it will drop the hulls at your feet, but they'll still eject.

The only semi auto that will catch both hulls is the Butler.

View attachment 970079
Yes, I want one.

https://butlerguns.com/

Click to expand...

Yeah, didn't think that one through !! I was thinking trap.