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Dave McCracken

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You may recall a thread I started a couple weeks past about Beretta O/Us. I had been interested in the White Onyx Sporter with 32" barrels as a GP clay cruncher. I even rented one a couple times to see how things went. Those results were inconclusive.

PGC got in a couple a few weeks back and I looked one over and told them I was interested. I went home and started working on The Permanent Head Of The Budget Committee and after the best salemanship I've done since she accepted my proposal of marriage, she concurred that our house needed one more shotgun.

As shotgunners, of course you know that "Want" and "Need" are synonyms when shotguns are involved.

And then, work got hinky. In the last 13 days, I worked 15 shifts. I got today and tomorrow off by pleading fatigue. No lie there....

So, I was at PGC an hour before shooting time. When they brought the one I had looked at out from storage, it had my name on the box. I guess guiding all the new shooters there paid off today.

After wiping it down to remove the storage gel and lubing critical points with STOS, I hit range 7 for some wobble. I had Mod and IM chokes in, a box of 1 oz Gun Clubs to see how it kicked, and excitement kicking up my heart rate a notch. Joined by a nice old guy with a Franchi O/U his family gave him, I settled in to a nice session of wobble.

None of the Geezers showed up today. The rain wasn't THAT cold...

I took a breath, opened my eyes wide, murmured my Mantra (Just shoot the thing) and called for the first bird. I swung, the shot went and the bird was obliterated. Not hit, not chipped. Crushed. So were the next 5 before my bad habits overcame the gun and caused a miss. I ended up 21/25 that round.

Low gun wobble, that's a respectable score. Out of the box and new, it shows the shotgun has potential.

As I left the line, the trapper walked over with a big grin and said something about needing a camera, it was the first time he had seen me with anything but an 870.

In my best Quentin Tarantino accent I said "Say hello to my new little friend".

Switching to my best Gollum, I rasped "My Precious".....

Moving on....

The Onyx comes with 5 choke tubes, the tightest is IM. One gripe, I need a magnifying glass to read the writing on the tubes. I can count the notches though so I can figure things out. This has the Optima barrels and flush chokes. I was toying with the idea of an extended set but I really like how this swings.

Second gripe, while the trigger is not terrible, it's a bit heavier than my 870s. Call it 5-6 lbs. No overtravel or slack though.

Third gripe, during the third round I had a couple times when it went click instead of bang. Unmarked primers. By Round 4 it was back to bang every time. I'll monitor that.

This comes with two pads of differing thickness. The longer seems right for me.

I noted that I hold the forearm further forward than I do with an 870. Not sure why but it feels right.

A red F/O front bead and a mid bead adorn the rib. Not my choice but I can live with it. The rib is a little wider than a Remrib. Nicely machined to cut glare.

Wood is straight grain with little figure. I can live with this also. Straight grain is stronger usually. Lighter also.

The whole thing runs about 8 lbs at a guess. Kick with my 7/8 oz loads is un-noticed..

The Onyx seems to be a class act.

2007 promises to be an interesting year....
 
CONGRATS!!

I am so happy for you!

Anybody wanna get high? - Jerry Jeff Walker

Dave's walking 3 feet off the floor for sure - I know I am...:p

Dave, Less receiver on a break open gun often means one finds the sweet spot for weak hand a bit further "up" the forearm.
You knew that, just sensory overload from a new gun - coupled with the drain from doing your best sales job since stuttering and stammering to get that wonderful wife to marry you.

Sights: you will get to where you ignore them more easily. Eraser board marker, the kind that comes off with rubbing, or if want soap and water - can be be used to "black" out the sights. Some do this to get used to a new gun with them in getting used to gun, gun fit and all. Real easy to remove to put back like factory.

Credit Card size magnifying cards are great for reading choke tubes on the field...or anything else when your arms are too short...;)
I used to recall all the codes ...then they kept coming out with others. For MY guns, mine were fixed choked and the ones with external knurled, I rarely changed them. Skeet chokes work for duck, dove, quail...*grin* I don't know any better I just shoot the durn thing.


Great Gun for sure! Again, I am so happy you have one now.

What is it that fella says? Get Ammo, Use it Up and Do it again..."something" like that...;)

Steve
 
Excellent Christmas gift! Of course I've always found that the Christmas gifts you like the best are those that you buy for yourself.:)

Third gripe, during the third round I had a couple times when it went click instead of bang. Unmarked primers. By Round 4 it was back to bang every time. I'll monitor that.
Click to expand...

Most likely either a little left over storage gunk slowing the firing pin or a couple of bad shells. I wouldn't give it a second thought unless it happens often and then I'd check the state of the firing pins.

One gripe, I need a magnifying glass to read the writing on the tubes. I can count the notches though so I can figure things out. This has the Optima barrels and flush chokes. I was toying with the idea of an extended set but I really like how this swings.
Click to expand...

The Optima extended chokes are just as bad if not worse. They have the same writing on the tubes and while color coded the color wears off quickly so you have to read the tubes. Also the Optima extended choke tool is useless.

In my best Quentin Tarantino accent I said "Say hello to my new little friend".
Click to expand...
Well, uh, you might have used a Tarantino accent but it was Al Pacino who used the phrase in "Scarface." Sorry.:eek: ;)

Enjoy your new gun. Just don't try and pump the forearm out of habit.;)
 
Congratulations Dave.
Sounds like a very Merry Christmas.

You better have something special (read Expensive) under the tree for Mrs. McCracken. Sounds like she's a good catch. :D
 
Thanks, guys. I think it's a keeper. A couple things...

Steve, the sights don't bother me, just not what I'm used to. As F/O sights go, this one is unobtrusive.

Weak hand position is important. I hold a pump further back, probably for leverage, but my left hand found its spot by itself. I was expecting to have to try things more to find the sweet spot. Maybe it found me.

And I didn't try to pump it, not even once.

Kudu, heck yes. It busts them like my 870s, has two chokes available if needed, and handles like a cutting horse. Of course, I like most shotguns. Does that make me promiscious? Don't answer that.

Paul, thanks for the correction. You can tell I'm not a crime movie fan.

As for the tubes, I'll use the notches to tell me what's in the barrels. I'm not much of a changer. Skeet will see Skeet and Cylinder, Wobble Mod and IM, SC IC and Mod.

I doubt I'll do much hunting with this. I do have those excellent 870s for that.
Might do a dove shoot.

John, come on over. Dinner's Potage Au St Germain and latkes. We celebrate diversity.....
 
Congrats Dave!

Dave,
Congrats on the new Italian Blaster! I have a 686 White Onyx that I use as a teaching gun, and it has been great. Go ahead and take those #%(& beads off that wonderful tapered rib:p

See if you can get someone to measure the EXACT bore diameter, and I might find some spare chokes for you that even an old guy like you can tell what the constriction is.......;)
 
Congrats Dave. Youve got a very nice, extremely well deserved new toy :)
Have class 9-12 this winter, so I know I'll be headed out to the range afterwards several time, hope we cross pathes.
 
Will! You stirring up trouble again - going on posting like you are about pointing a shotgun and not using beads?

Dang , reminds me someone else around here. Next thing you'll be posting about gun fit, lessons, quality practice...:D.


28 gauge tubes! Cannot forget about them. When is your Anniversary Dave?

I volunteer Will to whisper this suggestion in your Wonder Wifes ear. :D

You are welcome Will...

Enjoy the gun Dave...

Oh...this qualifies as a "Blame Steve Club" dealie...

Will, you got any extra hats? Dave might need a hat for this BSC bit.

Keep saying Beretta needs to bring back - and continue having the nice stuff for ladies in accessory line.

[strike] Peace Offering [/strike] Wonder Women Gifts - for showing how much we appreciate them.

" Hi honey got you a neat hat, jacket, and umbrella - it matches my new gun, we can be Twinkies dear..."

:)
 
Thanks, folks.

TR, Kolar is one of the few things that costs more than College edyukations.

Omaha, not yet. It's been mine for less than 24 hours.They will come,though.

Will, thanks. Might take a while to get the bore measured. These are Optima barrels. And, your input was a major factor in picking this instead of a Browning, Guerini, etc. Thanks again.

B5, we will.

Steve, anniversary's in May. No 28 gauge tubes, though. Cole has 28 gauige barrels for this frame....

Sven, if you ever come East you might get to try it out.
 
"John, come on over. Dinner's Potage Au St Germain and latkes. We celebrate diversity....."

Thanks for the invite, but I'll have to take a rain check. I'm headed to my parents' house to cook jumbo shrimp, crabcakes and fried oysters. Shame they don't like baked duck or I'd stuff one with seafood.

John
 
Re: 28 gauge tubes

Steve, anniversary's in May. No 28 gauge tubes, though. Cole has 28 gauige barrels for this frame....
Click to expand...

I ever mention I gave an Eskimo a cold bottle of water once?
Some have described me as being tenacious, persistent , hard -headed and ...Art's Grammaw won't let me type other names I am referred to.

FIVE Months. We can do this 28 gauge bit in 5 months. :)

<Blue Bros theme>
I got fresh cup of coffee, 3 packs of smokes, don't own sunglasses , and gots a new Misson..."Hit it!"

THR can do this.

"Hi Wonderful Wife, we are from THR, and we are here to help"

:D
 
At the risk of drawing the wrath of Steve I'd pass on the 28 gauge tubes unless you were going to shoot in 28 gauge events.

Otherwise tubing a 28 gauge doesn't make much sense. What you get for the money spent on tubes is added weight, changed balance and the privilege of shooting ammo that costs around 50 per cent more than 12 gauge.

Now I love the 28 gauge and the guns made for them but unless you are going to shoot subgauge skeet or sporting I'd skip the 28 gauge tubes. Sorry Steve.

Paul
 
Couple things...

as much as I love my 870 (which I've had for over 20 years), my O/U is WAY better on the clays range, at least for me. Once you get "grooved in", it's about impossible to describe how well you can shoot.

I don't know if your wobble is the same as the one at my range (90 degree range and up/down, shooting from above it), but I consider myself only a fair shotgunner and I clean 25 with boring regularity.

I suspect you hold a little further forward to compense for the weight of the 2nd barrel

If you want any way cool Beretta stuff to match the new gun, my local dealer bought 7 truckloads of clothing, hats, cases, etc. He's selling it for way cheap. Beretta and Browning shooting vests (the nice ones) for $19.95 IIRC. His price is less than 1/2 of normal dealer cost.

If you want one or some, I'll help you get whatever you need. The dealer will UPS direct to you.

Dave strolls over to the shooting line, looking all kinds of fine in his Beretta hat, shirt, shooting vest, and Beretta slacks...
 
Welcome Dave to the world of two barrels. Kinda different isn't it. Like having kids. You thought you could only love 870s but come to find out theres just as much love for the new O/U too!!!!:D
 
psst... PJRwork with me here. We done got the boy using break open gun, no bending over to get hulls and all...
...now this 28 gauge bit I am letting marinate...
...see he now will get the juices flowing, thinking about a 28gauge, and get to thinking "I ain't as young I used to be" , and "sure be nice to tote a 28ga O/U for doves, play them short courses for Trap, 5 stand, sporting clays...
...be right pretty to see TWO O/Us in the safe keeping each other company."
Get to figuring for the price of tubes and all, just get a second gun.
Just work with me here Paul is all I ask... ;)

Don't mind Paul and I, just visitin' is all...:D
 
psst... PJRwork with me here. We done got the boy using break open gun, no bending over to get hulls and all...
...now this 28 gauge bit I am letting marinate...
...see he now will get the juices flowing, thinking about a 28gauge, and get to thinking "I ain't as young I used to be" , and "sure be nice to tote a 28ga O/U for doves, play them short courses for Trap, 5 stand, sporting clays...
...be right pretty to see TWO O/Us in the safe keeping each other company."
Get to figuring for the price of tubes and all, just get a second gun.
Just work with me here Paul is all I ask...
Click to expand...

Okay. But don't rush things. Let him get used to the new gun first. Then start hinting about the 28 gauge...:D
 
:)

See Wonder Wife, this 24 gauge looks really nice on you, then again so did that 32 gauge.

Still most my Most Wonderful Wife, these 28 gauge shells are easier to get, and MEC has reloaders set up from the factory, and the Hull Elf finds 28 ga hulls easier.
Now My Dearest, sometimes the fact these 28 gauge shells are easy to get New, at the Club and all, means I can spend quality time with you, neck rubs, taking out the trash, cleaning up the kitchen after another great meal...

I'm helping. :)

Yes I "may" have sold something once or twice in my lifetime - why do you ask?

Seems to me there are two 28 ga shotguns in TX, after another Wonderful Wife handled, and did shoot a 32 gauge gun with Fiocchi shells.
Same great lady that the next time I pulled up the long drive, she let the dogs out, shut the front door - "click" - locked it and laughing herself silly on the other "oh no you don't! Not letting you in, you get me all a flutter like you do my husband, kids and even the dogs. Just Go Away!"

Trouble? Yeah I "might" have gotten in trouble a time or two in my lifetime - why do you ask?
:)
 
Dave, congrats on the new toy. I grew up on pumps, then semis, but made the mistake about 25 years ago of shooting a late friend's Franchi O/U.

I still own enjoy shooting all types of shotguns, but my Citori is always my first choice for most situations. Its a blast to shoot a round of SC with my 28 ga sxs, but if I want to actually shoot a score, I use my Citori.

Hey Steve, you got the 28 ga juices simmering. What say I bring a certain, *ahem*, lil shotgun to Raton in May and let Dave try it out. *wink*
 
Thanks, guys, but a 28 gauge is not high on my list right now. I do plan to make up some 3/4 oz loads of 8 1/2s for skeet in this.I want to see how the Cyinder and Skeet chokes work with ultra light loads.Got a theory....

At the same time, Larry, I'll be glad to help out doing a T&E of those 28 gauges next May.

Redneck, I abhor wearing advertising. I doubt that will change. If Beretta GIVES me stuff I'll probably just give it away.

Red Label, I've owned other non-870 shotguns before. It's just that 870s keep working for me. If this O/U gives me as much service as the 870s have, I'll be blessed indeed.

Also, I returned to PGC this AM for a few rounds of wobble. I wanted to try a thing or two out and get used to the new shotgun. BA/UU/R applies to all.

I started off with some misses. The Bgun is a little faster than what I'm used to and I overswung some. I also wasn't bringing the gun all the way up to my face. Focussing on the basics fixed it.

While the stock is not ideally contoured to me, it fits a little better than an unaltered 870 stock for flying targets. I may have to tweak it a hair to max out performance but one step at a time.
 
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