Pump versus over/under?

[Nathaniel Firethorn]

Hi, all,

For that somewhat distant day when I get a shotgun, which do you like better, and why?

Thanx,
- pdmoderator

 

[Coronach]

what is the intended usage?

For GP use, I would say pump. Cheaper, and more shots on tap.

Mike

 

[foghornl]

I prefer the 'slide-action' for general shotty use....I have tried a few over/unders, and they never seemed to "fit" right for me. Plus, you have as many as 8 rounds before a reload, model dependant.

I could also hit flying thingys better with a pump than any other shotgun. Could bust the informally thrown clays with 1 brothers 870 better than with other brothers 1100...both box stock 28" modified chokes.

If, however, you are limiting this shotty to a particular use, like clay doubles, trap, skeet, etc. that platform may work best for you.

 

[TrapperReady]

Just to be contrary, I like the O/U, for the following reasons:

1) It is VERY clear when the action is open.
2) Allows for much wider variety in shell combinations.
3) Can easily and quickly check bore for obstruction.
4) Keeps spent shells off the ground (good for reloading).
5) Aesthetically pleasing.
6) Incredibly simple to take down and clean.
7) When hunting, you can have two different chokes. I often use I/C and I/M and select the barrel depending upon how far away the dog is ranging.
8) To unload or "make safe" takes about 1 second.

That being said, I tend to like different actions for different purposes. When breaking fast-moving orange disks, I'll always go for the O/U. I have recently started hunting with an 870, but have shot hundreds of birds with my autoloaders and O/U as well.

IMO, they're all good! The only thing I wouldn't want to do with an O/U is HD, but that's just personal preference. Some people actually like coach guns for that.

For all-around use (or if God forbid I could only have one shotgun), I'd probably pick a 12ga pump, with a 12ga autoloader following closely behind.

 

[Smoke]

Good gosh! Do you have to choose? Can you get both?

I love a good shotgun. But it as others have eluded, what do you want to do with it?

For trap and quail...o/u.

For Skeet and Dove...SxS

For defensive purposes...Pump.

THen you have to have an auto loader or two (or 3 or 4 or 5...)

Best advice? Cultivate some friends with guns, shoot as many as you can. Determine what you want to do with it. Get the one you are most comfortable with and put thousands of rounds through it then re-evaluate. Then buy another.

 

[riverdog]

I am currently using a Rem 870 for Clay games and HD (two different guns). That said, I prefer an O/U for clay games because of the safety aspects and because you get two different chokes for the different shots. However, I would put the 870 way over an O/U for HD. Much more ammo in the magazine and you can continuously keep the magaziene full while keeping a round in the chamber ready to fire.

 

[PJR]

For all reasons listed by TrapperReady the over/under although for the same reasons and one or two more I prefer a sxs for upland bird hunting.

The pump comes into its own in the duck blind and the deer stand and when something goes bump in the night.

You need at least one of each.

Paul

 

[Dave McCracken]

Having run across very few shotguns of any type I didn't like, the best answer I can give is to go by the mission.

And there's no tablet of stone in the Temple of The Shotgun Gods writ with a finger of fire that sayeth,"Thou shalt have only one kind of scattergun".

Big advantage of pumps, versatility,including slug capability.For a first shotgun a pump makes sense.

Big advantage of O/Us, two chokes and you don't send empties over half the range.

A decent O/U runs about what 3-5 good pumps do. The 5 870s here cost less in aggregate than one mid grade Browning or Beretta O/U.

Try some of each and see....

 

[Nathaniel Firethorn]

And there's no tablet of stone in the Temple of The Shotgun Gods writ with a finger of fire that sayeth,"Thou shalt have only one kind of scattergun".

Nope. Book of Marital Harmony.

My uses would be clays and HD. Prolly wouldn't buy just for HD.

- pdmoderator

 

[Feanaro]

And there's no tablet of stone in the Temple of The Shotgun Gods writ with a finger of fire that sayeth,"Thou shalt have only one kind of scattergun".

There is, however, a tablet of stone in the Temple of Money and Financing that says "Thou shalt only buy what thou canst afford".

 

[Dave McCracken]

For versatility,nothing beats a pump. Versatility comes at a price,though. A GP shotgun is hardly ever as good for a particular mission as a more specialized piece.

For a first shotgun for an adult beginner, I'd go for the pump. After thoroughly learning how to shoot a shtogun, than go where e'er you want to.
Or stay with the pump. I did...

 

[riverdog]

There is, however, a tablet of stone in the Temple of Money and Financing that says "Thou shalt only buy what thou canst afford".

Before taxes or after? I bought a Citori 525 recently before I finished working up my taxes. Good thing too, if I'd done the taxes first I probably wouldn't have bought the Browning. Anyway, it's done and now I can start saving for my next indiscretion. The Citori is a very nice shotgun for Clay games (which is where most of my shooting is done these days), but I will never be without a Remington 870.

I have one 870 Wingmaster for HD and I’ve shot both Trap and Skeet (much improved BTW) with an older WM. As I found out recently, it’s good to shoot games with your HD weapon if for no other reason than to fully familiarize yourself with its functionality and your ability to swing it/point it with confidence. Owning one and being able to employ one are two totally different things. BA/UU/R is good, but Using Up that ammo shooting doubles is even better.