O/U shotguns; I don't get it?

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Try to hit 2 birds from the skeet houses with a pump. I think you will have your answer.

For a man who knows how to run a pump that isn't terribly difficult. It does require some degree of skill, but is certainly not impossible.

To the OP, shotguns are not aimed like rifles, they are pointed. And things like balance and fit are far more important than with rifles. Doubles of either type, SXS or O/U tend to have better balance than repeaters with their long receivers and moving parts. There is also the overall length. With the same length barrels a double will be 3-4" shorter overall. That also effects balance and allows shooters to use much longer barrels while keeping overall length reasonable.

SXS shotguns still see some popularity in the hunting fields, but for competition the single sighting plane of the O/U is an advantage. The guys who are serious about the clays games shoot shells by the hundreds of thousands. A quality O/U is the only gun that will hold up to that. Here is a quote from Kim Rhode, Olympic medalist on her practice and Perazzi O/U

In 15-16 years of daily shooting 500 to 1000 rounds, I have never had a malfunction in practice or competition. Every five or six years I've taken it in to Perazzi and had them go through it. They are definitely reliable. All my guns have coil springs that also adds to their reliability.

That is about 3 to 6 MILLION rounds through her guns in a 15 year period.

But it is really about the skill level of the shooter. Years ago I asked a friend why his $200 tennis racket was better than my $20 racket. He was dead serious when he replied. With you using it there is zero difference. But I am skilled enough to do things with the $200 racket that I can't do with a $20 racket. The same is true with shooting. I won't hit any better with a $100,000 shotgun than a $1000 shotgun.
 
Try to hit 2 birds from the skeet houses with a pump. I think you will have your answer.

In the 1930's and 1940's, pump guns were the gun to shoot in competitive skeet.

Once you have practiced enough, cycling a pump between shots on skeet doubles becomes second nature. It is actually quite easy to hit both doubles virtually 100% of the time with a pump shotgun.

It is amazing how much time you have to hit both targets on doubles in skeet.
 
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I've shot 870's so much, I try to pump 1100's when I shoot them! :rofl:

I began shooting skeet with a pump shotgun (20 ga Winchester Model 12). I transitioned to a tubed over/under to be able to shoot all four gauges in competitive skeet.

Now a days, I bring out a pump gun for skeet once in a while for grins and giggles. Darn thing will not go bang again when I pull the trigger a second time like the O/U. It takes about a round to get back into remember to cycle the pump gun's action on doubles.:)
 
Pardon my ignorance (and let me assure you, I'm sure it's ignorance on my behalf...)

Why are over under shotguns so desired?

It's not clear from your post that you've shot an O/U, so understand that I am saying this sincerely, without the slightest bit of snark intended: you need to shoot one to understand. The balance and swing of an O/U (if fitted to your frame) is just perfect. I like the ability to shoot two chokes in sporting clays, the reliability of the action, and the possibility of simply grabbing the empties from the breech instead of picking them from the ground, but all of those are secondary considerations. I like the way it feels.

I like O/Us so much that I hunt ducks with one, despite the fact that doing so drops my capacity 33 percent under the legal maximum. I figure that if I can't hit the ducks with two shots, they deserve to live.
 
I don't shoot shotguns a lot, but had an opportunity to go to a sporting clays event for work and someone was kind enough to loan my a Ruger O/U to use for part of the shoot and I was smitten. Though most of my guns are heavily weighted towards the defensive side of the spectrum I decided then & there I wanted a nice O/U to go shoot clay birds and maybe hunt a little. Looked around and decided on a Browning Cynergy w/ composite stock, 30" barrels and done up in camo from head to toe. Absolutely love it to pieces for the short overall length despite the long barrels, easy takedown and transport, the balance, the feel and the pure enjoyment my hillbilly gun gives me. I also especially like how easy it is to render it completely safe by breaking the action.
 
I like O/U's for most of what I shoot. But I've never really had the right opportunity for owning a decent one. I've shot several and they almost always help scores or bag numbers. OP, please go shoot one. Highly recommended! I think you'll have fun with it.
 
Besides the previous comments about chokes, etc., I prefer the handling and balance of O/U and SxS. Less moving parts, no jams or misfeeds and the stocks can be easily reworked for a perfect fit instead of what I see with most pumps and semis - where the shooter is trying to adapt to the gun
 
Aside from potential handling advantages, there are a few practical advantages to O/Us that I value:

- Not having to chase my empty hulls during the hunt.
- Not having to worry that my handload, tailored for the situation, will not function in the gun.
- Ease of making the gun safe when crossing a fence line.
 
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I’ll agree with those who said you have to shoot one to understand.

I had always wanted an o/u based on looks and feel alone, but I only shot one recently. My wife and I and some uninitiated friends decided to shoot a few informal rounds of trap a couple of months ago.

The gun we rented was a beat up Browning Citori. Now I need one in my life. I hadn’t fired on a clay target in almost 10 years and I was somehow hitting more birds than I missed. It just pointed so naturally.

I’m in the presence of rebuilding my gun collection. This year my purchases are going to be utility guns (A 590A1 is next for me). After that, I’m going the delayed gratification route and saving up for a couple of “nicer” hunting/clays guns.
 
Some of the advantages of an O/U compared to a pump or an auto are; balance, shorter OAL for a given barrel length, reduced perceived recoil and muzzle rise from the lower barrel, instant choke selection, action stays cleaner then auto's, no need to pump, smoother swing and their generally tighter feel without the slop and clunkiness of pumps and autos....

Having said all this doesn't mean I don't like guns such as the A5, 12, 870 or 1100, it's just that O/U's have some unique qualities as well as a simple, refined elegance that makes them desirable despite the reliability, functionality and usually lower price of other types. Many of the same things can be said of SxSs it's just that with their wider sighting plain I personally don't shoot them as well....
 
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My dad has an O/U... I was just never interested in shooting it. Maybe something I should do next time I need a day off.

I appreciate all the responses. I also appreciate the lackthere of down talking from everyone. Posting that I was concerned it would turn into a flame war with no answer.
 
I’ll agree with those who said you have to shoot one to understand.

I had always wanted an o/u based on looks and feel alone, but I only shot one recently. My wife and I and some uninitiated friends decided to shoot a few informal rounds of trap a couple of months ago.

The gun we rented was a beat up Browning Citori. Now I need one in my life. I hadn’t fired on a clay target in almost 10 years and I was somehow hitting more birds than I missed. It just pointed so naturally.

I’m in the presence of rebuilding my gun collection. This year my purchases are going to be utility guns (A 590A1 is next for me). After that, I’m going the delayed gratification route and saving up for a couple of “nicer” hunting/clays guns.

Then you'll want to look at Browning or the Beretta 686 series; both are quality entry-level O/Us that will last a long time. My Browning O/U is approaching 300,000 rounds through it. I had some springs replaced at 90,000; that's it.
 
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Then you'll want to look at Browning or the Beretta 686 series; both are quality entry-level O/Us that will last a long time. My Browning O/U is approaching 300,000 rounds through it. I had some springs replaced at 90,000; that's it.

It will definitely be a field gun with some occasional clays. I don’t have the time and money to shoot in serious competition.

I’m hoping to have 1500-2000 saved by some time next year. That puts me in the price range of some Citori models.

I’m currently without a hd shotgun which makes me feel naked, so that’s first on my buy list.
 
Also puts you in the range of the Beretta. Buy the one that fits the best; both fit and feel differently from each other - not that one is bad, just different. Typically, if one fits you well, the other usually doesn't.
 
Yep. I always envied my dad's Citori, but ended up getting a Beretta because I felt it fit me better. The Brownings are "taller" - at least that's how it felt to me.
 
The main reason I went to a twice-pipe from my sling-o-matic was the area I hunt in has lots of livestock. The land owner does not want his cows eating hulls. Dark Cloud said " I don't use the ejectors so I can keep from littering with spent cases." Easier to eject them in to my hand than pick up a bunch scattered around me in all directions. Plus I can use most any shell. My handloads jammed up my A-500 a few years ago.
 
Another option is Fabarm - they make very good, yet reasonably priced (for the quality they offer) over and unders, cheaper than Browning or Beretta. I have no observations about their competition line, but the field line are very well made robust guns with good balance.

P.S. And now for some off topic - is it possible, after seeing this pic, for the fine folks in this thread to NOT want an over and under shotgun?

Those are Barbara and Giovanna Fausti - owners of Fausti shotguns.

34321908_1946997982279574_6852115284153597952_o.jpg
 
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Having met the two good-looking sisters, they are very polite, articulate, and Giovanni is SHORT, as in 5' short. Barbara married into the Rizzini family (Emilio) and they now own that and are buying up others. Their guns can range from cheap stiff to excellent stuff - that is up to the wholesale buyer's requirements
 
I like to shoot at clays. Sometimes I even hit them.
I've got two over/unders.
One's a Yildiz. It's too light. It'll really punish you after a few boxes of shells.
The other's a Mossberg. (Turkey). It shoot's great.

However, I often like to use my AyA Side by Side. Now, before you start to think I'm wealthy, this one is a 'store brand' shotgun. It's the only shotgun I have that has cast. This helps it line up really well for me.

All in all. Doesn't matter what you use. Get out there and harass some birds.

Just be sure to leave a few out there as breeders.
 
*sees thread, reminds me I really should be in the market for a 20 o/u to go with the .410 and 28*

To GunBroker to drool!
 
I recently had to scratch an itch and picked up a used Stoeger Condor 20 ga O/U. I have owned 12 ga doubles, both SxS & O/U, but never a 20. The Condor isn't the prettiest gun, and I wonder how it would hold up to hard use, but it sure points nice and is quick to swing.
 
I just about have them all; singles, SxS, OU, Pumps, Semis, etc... in .410, 28, 20, 16 & 12.

I like the semis because recoil (to me) is felt less. The 1100 is by far my favorite, I have the field models in .410, 20 and 12, and a trap in 12. It's a beast to carry, but a real pussycat on the shoulder and a killer on clays. I have a DU banquet gun (Beretta A303) that I haven't shot, nor will I.

I like Pumps because of the amount of shots my 870 holds, the feel, and the versatility. This 12 ga is my go-to defense gun, but the BPS 28 is a lot of fun to shoot. Another DU 870 20 ga dinner gun sits unfired in the safe as well. (My Dad bought them years ago, I hate to ruin any possible value by firing them.)

I like OU because of the way they shoot, swing, carry, and look. I have them in 28 (Red Label) and 20 (Baikal beater), I hope someday an Athena or Citori will grace me with it's presence. I adore the 28 on clays and quail, it's another fun gun to carry and shoot.

I like the way a fine SxS looks (Mine is a field-grade Lefever Nitro Special 16 ga that I had cut to a 20" coach gun due to pitting on the end of the barrels). I must admit I don't like shooting SxS with anything other than target loads very much because the higher barrels and splinter fore end seem to bring the recoil up to punch me in the beak when I let shots fly.

The single is the old fashioned starter Savage .410. I haven't shot it in decades, and really don't plan to.

Heck, I guess I just like shotguns :thumbup:

Stay safe!
 
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