Semi VS O/U

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steveber

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I currently have a Beretta A400 Xtreme and love it. I'm looking for a second shotgun so the xtreme can be for hunting and one for target practice (sporting clays, skeet and 5 stand). Plus it be nice to have a backup incase. Now I keep flip flopping between buying another A400 or something like that or a 686 silver pigeon or another brand. Why do people like O/U so much? I just like a semi because it does not kick as much.

I tried the blue Xcel and could not hit crap but went back to my black one (never been fitted as it just fit out of the box) and hit them.

Would you get the semi or O/U and why? Budget is around $2000-$3500

Nice to know from peoples experience.
 
cant go wrong with a quality o/u. reliable as the sun and you will love shooting it. I have an older browning 425 and have put thousands of rounds through it without a single problem or even appreciable wear! would recommend to anyone.
 
I much prefer an o/u for clays and for upland birds. For clays , I like the fact that I never have to pick up hulls, and I really don't like the noise and vibration of a semi auto action cycling. I also like to keep my gun broken over my shoulder when I am not shooting. For upland birds, I like to carry my o/u guns broken open over my shoulder until the dogs are on point, and everyone can easily see that my gun is safe, when it is open. I use a composite stocked semi auto for waterfowl to absorb recoil, and because if the gun gets banged around a bit on a blind, it doesn't get marked up as easily.
 
I much prefer an o/u for clays and for upland birds. For clays , I like the fact that I never have to pick up hulls, and I really don't like the noise and vibration of a semi auto action cycling. I also like to keep my gun broken over my shoulder when I am not shooting. For upland birds, I like to carry my o/u guns broken open over my shoulder until the dogs are on point, and everyone can easily see that my gun is safe, when it is open. I use a composite stocked semi auto for waterfowl to absorb recoil, and because if the gun gets banged around a bit on a blind, it doesn't get marked up as easily.[/QUOTE

Couldn't agree more.
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While I hate to talk a shooter out of buying a new gun if you're hitting the targets to your satisfaction with what you've got then stick with it. I shoot my o/u and semi equally and can't make a definitive argument in favour of either type. But if the day came that I could only have one gun it would be the semi-automatic.
 
I like the feel of an O/U. For me, the O/U has a nicer swing b/c the overall size is shorter compared with a semiauto shotgun with the same barrel length. Nicer balance and I find that I could get on target much faster with an O/U. I had a few of my shotguns out of the safes the other day and my semi's seem big and cumbersome in comparison to my O/U's. And on a final note, when I go out with a semi, I always have this fear of some sort of malfunction (if not with the shotgun it might be b/c of the ammo) but an O/U with a mechanical trigger will always go bang atlease once.
 
in a hunting point of view your A400 is for waterfowl. O/U or SxS are premium for upland game birds. hell would freeze over before i bought 2 of the same shotgun. it's not like shooting it a bit is gonna kill it. smooth bore gun generally last forever. buy a 686!
 
I own a few semi auto guns but only to loan out.
I don't like them, period.
I don't like the length of their actions, the noise and movement generated when they fire, and I like a gun that can be seen at a glance from any angle if it is loaded.
With an O/U or a SXS In can swap out ammo i a heart beat as well, which I have in the past for various reasons.

The only thing they do is shoot a bit softer but I have no issues with any of the ammo I shoot, mostly it's hand loads.
I'd buy another break action gun in a heartbeat even though I don't need one.
I do not prefer semi auto pr pumps guns for anything.
Cat
 
I don't need to know if a gun is loaded or unloaded from a distance... I need to know that the muzzle is pointed in a SAFE direction. I like both, semi's and doubles, both O/U and SXS.... for upland, I prefer a SXS.
 
I like both and have both for varied reasons and different pursuits but 9 out of 10 times I'll grab my O/U on the way out the door. Like Cat I like the safety aspect of them, especially in a group hunting situation such as layout blind hunting for waterfowl. Its easy as can be to walk with my O/U cracked open and carrying it in one hand under the receiver on my way to pick up downed birds and only takes a millisecond to close it to dispatch a cripple. It also serves to show those on my way back to the blinds my gun is open and safe and there is no way in that configuration if I trip and fall for the gun to go off or end up pointed in the wrong direction. I cannot count how many times I have stared at a muzzle on a closed action from auto or pump from fellows headed back to the blind after retrieving a bird not paying attention to muzzle control. However I do have times having the third shot an auto affords is kind of nice. Especially when birds are hanging over the decoys and you get a chance to possibly triple?! :eek:
From a shooting clays perspective? Well I just prefer them more for handling and reliability factors above all else after of course the safety factor. By that I mean seeing the barrels dropped down on somebody's break action I inherently know there is 0% chance of any issues.
There is also a thing called aesthetics that comes into play.......O/U's just plain look good!! :)
 
Claybuster said:
While I hate to talk a shooter out of buying a new gun if you're hitting the targets to your satisfaction with what you've got then stick with it. I shoot my o/u and semi equally and can't make a definitive argument in favour of either type. But if the day came that I could only have one gun it would be the semi-automatic.
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:agree: I too like both.
 
I'm with Cat on this one. I just prefer double barrels for a number of reasons, perhaps most of all the simplicity and dependability. I do have a couple of semis (handed down from relatives) that I use in specific circumstances...and I do well with them. But if I were limited to one shotgun, it would be a double barrel (SxS with 2 triggers, specifically).

I think a nice 686 would be perfect for clays & upland birds
 
Okay thanks all. Been doing some research on what to buy. For sure going to get an O/U. Talked to the guy who owns the gun store in town and he told me the reason the U/O where kicking me so hard is because they don't fit me. He said he will get the gun fitted with his gunsmith. Anywho beside the point.
Looking at a few guns and now im torn. Do you guys think its worth the extra money to go with the Beretta 692 or is the 686 silver pigeon best bang for your buck? Or would you recommend something else?
 
steveber said:
Do you guys think its worth the extra money to go with the Beretta 692 or is the 686 silver pigeon best bang for your buck? Or would you recommend something else?
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I'd get a look at both guns if possible. The Silver Pigeon is good value but having shot a 692 recently I was very impressed. I liked it better than the DT10 that I had a chance to try at the same time.

I believe it's false economy to scrimp when buying the gun. If you shoot 5,000 targets a year (not a lot by clay target standards) even at the least expensive clubs the annual cost of shells and targets will be over $2,000 ($70 per flat of shells, $4.00 per 25 targets.) Throw in club dues, gasoline, etc. and in two years you will have spent over the purchase price of the 692.

If you are going to spend that money anyway why not do it with a gun you like. And if after a couple of years you decide to change sports that 692 will still hold considerable value on the used gun market.
 
Claybuster said:
I'd get a look at both guns if possible. The Silver Pigeon is good value but having shot a 692 recently I was very impressed. I liked it better than the DT10 that I had a chance to try at the same time.

I believe it's false economy to scrimp when buying the gun. If you shoot 5,000 targets a year (not a lot by clay target standards) even at the least expensive clubs the annual cost of shells and targets will be over $2,000 ($70 per flat of shells, $4.00 per 25 targets.) Throw in club dues, gasoline, etc. and in two years you will have spent over the purchase price of the 692.

If you are going to spend that money anyway why not do it with a gun you like. And if after a couple of years you decide to change sports that 692 will still hold considerable value on the used gun market.
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Well said Claybuster. ;) I find many shooters today buy cheap when it comes to guns which is sad. But they drive 60K plus trucks which makes me wonder sometimes and this is nice to see
Cheers
 
Another vote for the o/u, with interchangeable chokes I'll run both a modified and an improved. That having been said, I'm going to buy a semi for this fall only because I don't like taking my o/u ' s into some of the filthy swamps I hunt ducks in. I have a browning 625, 686 in 12 & 20 and a Franchi in 20 too. Love my 686!
 
Hey 3macs1 I will spend money if I see the value. My attitude is you get what you pay for. When you buy a 300 dollar gun it will act like one. I want to feel both. I spent the money for a A400 and glad I did. I see the quality.

Claybuster you are totally right 5000 is not really that much if you break that many clays. I think I'm on track for 6000 min. I do rough 175 a week.
 
Personally, I prefer doubles. O/U or SxS ( with a particular weakness for SxS).

I have a few semis in the safe. They don't get used much. Only the 12 gets used for waterfowling.

If you miss with the 1st and 2nd shots, a hurried up 3rd isn't going to hit either.
 
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