Any problems hunting w/ O/U's?

[gravelyctry]

I went duck hunting a lot this year, and used two 870 SuperMags doing it. When I rabbit hunt, I use a Stoeger condor classic. When pheasant hunting or shooting sporting clays or trap, I'll use my Remington 11-87. Squirrel hunting I use my Grandpa's old Winchester or one of my rifles. I'm thinking about making some room in my gun safe by getting rid of some of these shotguns, and replacing with something like a Browning Citori w/ a 3.5" chamber, or an all-weather Ruger Red Label. I don't know anyone, though, who actually hunts with a higher end over/under like these. Is there a reason why? Seems I might be able to shoot a bit better if I used the same gun, or at least the same gun more often. Do people just not want to take a chance scratching up a nice looking gun, is the break open action a pain in the blind, or is there something else?
Also, I don't know anyone who has either of these guns (most of my buddies shoot 870s or 500s), so how likely would it be that I wouldn't like an o/u if I decide to go that way? Thanks, Neil

 

[ArmedBear]

Only thing I can say is, get one of these. Best $11.99 you'll spend. No problems.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=shotshell+slide&noImage=0

 

[earplug]

My Dad hunted everything with a 2 3/4 28 inch, 12 ga. Browning Superpose he bought new in 1949. Was fine for everthing from Doves, Pheasants to Geese until the leadshot ban came into effect.
After the lead ban he bought numerous other guns to fill percieved needs. With the screw in chokes we have now and better non lead shot loads, I think your one gun idea has merit.

 

[ArmedBear]

Problem I see with a Citori is its heft.

Nice for geese or trap, not so much for pheasant or rabbit.

Now two guns, e.g. a Citori in 3.5" 12 Gauge and one in 20, you'd be all set.

 

[onemsumba]

just one gun

the dependablily of the O/U can't be beat, but you are limited to 2 shots. Though i've seldom got more than 2 off with my 870 anyway so maybe not so much of an issue.

Pros of an O/U
dependable
looks good
more of a "gentleman's gun"
cons of an O/U
- weight maybe more
- 2 shots vs 3
- too pretty to let get beat up in a duck boat

Pump
- 3 shots
- dependable
- simple
- cheap

cons
- have to pump it which at first can be a distraction
- not sure what else

Semi auto
- 3 shots
- don't have to think

Cons
- less dependable, can be prone to jamming etc..


My 870 is my do it all gun, from duck to geese, to phasant, trap and occasionally skeet (leading up to duck season anyway)

hard to beat a pump.

i'm sure all i've said has been said before

 

[RKellogg]

Unless you really want a O/U , take a look at the Super Black Eagel II . I have a friend that uses his for everything . It will shoot cheap trap loads , so he can use it for the skeet range , right up to 3.5 mags . The dependablily is VERY good , they are not heavy or bulky . They are about the same price , maybe lees , as the Citori .

 

[gravelyctry]

One gun

A couple of the other pros and cons I was thinking of (my RH thumb is a little messed up from an incident with a table saw)

The O/U would be easier to load and unload (with or without gloves on)

I've had some shells fail to eject out of my 870s (they were 3.5" shells, so I'm not sure if that makes a difference)

Overall a shorter gun than a pump or auto (maybe this is a perceived thing?)

 

[macFarlaine]

Barrels are the wrong way round,should be side by side.Two shots are more than enough,give your quarry a sporting chance !!

 

[Dave McCracken]

Pop hunted with O/Us, first an old Savage 12 and then a SKB 20. Racked up tons of game with them.

I use my Beretta O/U for clays, but IMO it's a bit heavy at 8 lbs for anything but waterfowl, and I've an 870 that works very well for that.

The All Around Shotgun Myth is just that. For hunting, I'd like a shotgun of less than 7 lbs for the uplands and at least 7 lbs for geese/ducks. And for clays, 8 lbs is a good starting point for me. YMMV.

Get an O/U if you want. There's plenty of good ones. Stay mission specific and you'll do OK.

 

[Pete409]

Autoloaders or pumps are much easier and safer to use when hunting out of a blind or a small boat. You can keep the muzzle pointed safely up toward the sky while loading the gun.

With an O/U, you can't load it with the muzzles pointed skyward because the shells will fall out of the chamber before you can get the gun closed.

Also, as several have suggested, gun weight is a very important consideration in selecting which gun to use for which type of hunting. For hunting involving lots of walking such as pheasant, quail, or rabbit, a lightweight (under 7 pounds) gun is best. For stationary hunting such as duck hunting from a blind, heavy guns (8 pounds or more) are best. For clay target shooting, heavy guns are best.

 

[earplug]

I don't think the safety of a repeater verses a double is a viable argument.
Dropping the reciever to load the barrels does not involve covering or sweeping yourself or others. When I hunted with a double it was much easer to break the gun open to cross ditches or messing with gates and other objects. If you hunt small areas and travel by automobile the double is quick to unload and load while getting in and out.
A side/side is a tiny bit easier to use the a O/U in a sunken duck blind. Its really not a issue.

 

[ATAShooter]

I have a friend whom is an avid skeet shooter and loves to bird hunt. He hunts with his o/u skeet gun,... a 4 barrel set ( 12, 20, 28, 410 ) Kreighoff that he purcased for $57,000 dollars ( big time high end, engraved and all, Krieghoff ). Matter of fact, it is the only shotgun he owns.

 

[ArmedBear]

Dropping the reciever to load the barrels does not involve covering or sweeping yourself or others. When I hunted with a double it was much easer to break the gun open to cross ditches or messing with gates and other objects. If you hunt small areas and travel by automobile the double is quick to unload and load while getting in and out.

Agreed.

With a semiauto, it's all too tempting to just leave it loaded for all but the big obstacles. With a break-action, you just pop it open.

 

[MCgunner]

99 percent of the time when I HAVE fired that third round from a repeating shotgun, it was just a wasted prayer shot. Doubles get it done in the field. I like my auto and my pump, but I have always loved hunting with doubles.

 

[MCgunner]

I have a friend whom is an avid skeet shooter and loves to bird hunt. He hunts with his o/u skeet gun,... a 4 barrel set ( 12, 20, 28, 410 ) Kreighoff that he purcased for $57,000 dollars ( big time high end, engraved and all, Krieghoff ). Matter of fact, it is the only shotgun he owns.

At that price, nearly twice what I gave for my HOUSE, it'd be the only possession I could own. Unfortunately, you can't take a shower in it or ride it to work. Sheesh, could you imagin making a 600 dollar mortgage payment on your shotgun every month???? ROFL!

 

[ATAShooter]

Gunner, no lie. I shoot a Model 12 ( guess I'm 'jus po white trash )hahaha. The guy with the Kreighoff swears that "if I am good with it, why not hunt with it?" I don't know, I guess to each his own, but it will be a frosty day in Haydees before I'd shuck out that kind of dough for a shotgun. I'm sure a Kreighoff is a fine piece of engineering, but if I can't live in it, or " Do-it " I ain't payin that much.

 

[waterhouse]

I once used a borrowed O/U for a duck hunt (got invited last minute and didn't have a gun). There was no worry about bringing someone else's nice O/U out to the marsh . . . it was a plastic stock, full camo job designed by whatever company made it to be a waterfowling O/U.

In the tight blind, dealing with the break action was an inconvenience, but not a huge pain. I still tend to reach for a pump or semi when I go after ducks, but I don't see anything wrong with using an O/U.

 

[Pete409]

Earplug,

Perhaps you didn't read all of my post. I said "when hunting out of a blind or small boat". What does "crossing small ditches" or "opening gates" have to do with hunting out of a blind or small boat?

 

[huntsman]

I'd keep the 11-87 for clays and waterfowl.

Buy a good quality double for the uplands,either a twenty or very light 12.

 

[PJR]

With a semiauto, it's all too tempting to just leave it loaded for all but the big obstacles. With a break-action, you just pop it open.

This easy open feature of the o/u and sxs make them very desirable in rough terrain. Once while grouse hunting I went down after hitting a snag in high cover. When I hit the ground the gun was open. I don't recall hitting the toplever and did so instinctively.

In a duck blind I find a breaking gun a pain in the backquarters and much prefer either a semi-auto or pump.