Looking for a nice O/U shotgun

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wakerider017

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Hey guys,

I am looking for a very nice O/U for my dad for his birthday. He used to be really into bird hunting and sporting clay shooting years ago but ended up selling his O/U.
I recently got him an 870 to get back into it and he loves it. (He loves the sporting clays, he no longer hunts).

Anyway, I am looking for opinions for some really nice, reliable O/U's strictly for sporting clays.


P.S. My budget is about 2K

So far the Beretta White Onyx Sporting 686 has caught my eye.
 
Something nice from Browning would be my choice. It does not need to be new - just very nice and suited to what he is looking to do.

Luke
 
You're right on the money. Beretta White Onyx Sporting would be my hands-down choice.

IMO nothing in the price range balances and swings like that gun, and it's a very well made piece that looks really good, too. Beretta uses nice wood, even if you don't pay extra for it, unlike certain manufacturers...
 
30" or 32" barrel?

I am not sure. I am guessing the extra length is just for "pointability"?

What would you recommend considering this will only be used for clays?
 
How tall is he?

I bought a 28" field version recently as an all-around shotgun, and it works well for me. I tried out a 32" Sporting version last week. Personally, I'd be inclined to go with 30" for range use only, though my 28" works quite well. I'm 5'10", though. Someone over 6' might really prefer a 32".

The extra length doesn't really make the gun point any different. It changes the natural swing speed to a tad slower and smoother. Some people talk about "sight radius", but shotguns don't have sights like a rifle or pistol, and when you think about the actual difference in overall length, it can't matter much. It's more about balance and swing, like a golf club, IMO. That can be personal preference.

Generally speaking, a shorter gun is quicker for snap shooting and tends to swing faster, all other things being equal. A longer gun will swing slower and smoother when you're tracking a distant, crossing target, but it will be slower to snap shoot. My favorite quail gun is a little 26" 20 Gauge O/U that comes up quickly and still has some swing to it, with fixed IC/M chokes. It comes up and works like a champ on fast flushing quail and closer crossing birds, but it's harder to shoot distant crossing targets with it than a longer, heavier gun.
 
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Great info ArmedBear!

He is a little bit over 6", thinking the 30" might be the way to go!
 
Yeah, unless he has a real preference for longer guns, the 30" is the safest bet, especially since, in SC, you never know exactly what the setup will be.

Hope he loves it!
 
I think I will be picking it up at Dicks tomorrow.

They say they have it in stock for a very good price. Hopefully it is the right gun...

I confirmed 2-3 times if it had a 30" barrel and he said yes. (Making sure it was the sporting model and not the field gun). Also read off the model number.

Hopefully all goes well :)
 
The Sporting comes in 30" and 32", the Field comes in 26" and 28", so you're safe.

The Field gun is a bit lighter and has a gloss finish on the wood. The Sporting gun has a wider rib, twin beads and a satin finish on the wood. Otherwise, they're the same gun. My Field version works well for trap, as well as 5-stand (SC for places where real estate is ungodly expensive like here). I haven't taken it in the field yet, but my plan is to use it for farmland upland hunting and hunting dog training/testing. That's why I got a 28"; that's a do-it-all length.:)

Frankly, either version will work, but I think the Sporting version comes with extended chokes so they're easier to swap out and you can tell which choke you have more easily.
 
Sounds like you have an awesome setup! I would get my dad the field model as well if he did any hunting at all, but he no longer has any interest. I tried to convince him to go quail hunting, but he didn't want to.

He will also appreciate the twin beads and extended chokes.

Thanks for your help! You have been a wealth of knowledge! :D
 
The Ruger Red Label has plenty of documented problems with it. The 28ga guns seems to be reliable, but the more popular 12 and 20's have been hit and miss.

Stick with a B gun...Browning or Beretta. I personally like the looks of Browning but the actions and shooting of a Beretta.

I shoot a DeHaan O/U for clays, which is just a customized Huglu shotgun (same as what CZ Imports these days). It's a nice gun (and cheaper than the B guns), but I still like the Beretta's better.

Your choice of the White Onyx will not disappoint. Save some of your budget to have the gun properly fitted to him. A professional will charge anywhere from $250-thousands for this. I'd say $500 will get you quality work.
 
I've been quite happy with my White Onyx Sporter with 32" barrels, and there's a few threads on it in the Archives.

I'm a big galoot. 30" barrels may work better for smaller folks, though I know one lady little larger than Tinker Bell who wields 32" barrels like Zorro does his rapier.
 
Yeah, it's definitely personal.:)

Although, it seems like the only people I see who really love the Citoris are tall and fat. Same with 34" BT-99s. I sold mine and I'm glad I did. Last trap league, my friend tossed his in his car in disgust and shot the next round (a lot better) with his old field Wingmaster. Another guy we know sold his, too, a nice Hygrade, to get an SKB 85TSS. None of us could hit a damn thing past the 21 or 22 yard line with the BT.

The Berettas, even the 32" O/Us, are IMHO a lot more nimble and much better balanced than Browning's Japanese guns. Only Browning I've really liked was an old Superposed trap gun I borrowed.

YMMV:) By a lot!:)

But Beretta has another present and future customer, and Browning has lost one. Their collander barrels don't help any. Talk about a PITA "solution" for a problem that doesn't exist!
 
My choice for the money would be a franchi renaissance. They have three grades and for the money you cant beat em. I will definately be getting one.
 
Keep your eye on the used gun market...

You should be able to find a really nice field grade Japanese manufactured Winchester 101 or Nikko Shadow Indy well under your price limit...

And they'll be beautifully made, too...

Forrest
 
He actually used to have a 101.

But, I want to get him something new for his birthday. I am leaving in a bit to pick up the Beretta. I am getting a very good deal, plus I have a coupon.
 
Well I got the Beretta this morning.. I live in FL and in my county there is no waiting period for long guns, unfortunately the Dicks I went to was in another county and has a 3 day waiting period. Not that big of a deal since his birthday isn't for another 2 weeks or so, just not happy about having to drive back out there.

I am however VERY happy about the price. I got the gun for $1599 and also got a free $100 gift card.

Gun comes with a nice case and 5 choke tubes :) Also comes with a spare recoil pad which I don't know what that is used for.

Anyway, I am sure my dad is going to love his new Beretta White Onyx 686 Sporting 12GA 30" O/U. I bet he will be ecstatic.
 
He better be. :)

Isn't it fun buying really nice stuff for folks?

On a different subject, I've been looking at a lightly used Guerini 12 ga. O/U sporting model with 34" barrels. I didn't think I'd like them that long, but the longer I look at it and handle it the better it feels. It's not much longer than my 3.5" SX-2 with a 28" barrel. Maybe two inches or so.

John
 
Congrats.

The second pad has a different thickness. You adjust LOP a bit by switching them.
 
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