First O/U ?

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park.city

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Hi All,

Need some help deciding on my first o/u, i understand that fit is probably most important but i'd like to nail down some other criteria first.

First, i'm new to upland and small game hunting, i've mostly been big game but after i tagged out early this year i brought my 12 gauge pump into the woods for the last few months and love the grouse and rabbit hunting. I find my 12 gauge a little bulky and long for the dense bush i'm limited to. Also will be joining local club that has skeet trap and sporting clay, which i plan to try for increasing hunting efficiency.

right now i'm stuck in the mindset that i want a 20g, not sure why as 12 is more realistic, but just seem to want one.

i'm not looking to break the bank here but and i've read that most guys suggest to get a used browning or beretta over the budget o/u's which i'm fine with, but this also jumps back to the first rule of fit. can't feel how these older used o/u's feel over the internet. also i'm really not a fan of fixed chokes that some of the used ones have. interchangeable just makes so much more sense to me. maybe the only fixed choke i'd consider is ic/m.

lets hear some opinions, feel free to agree or disagree
 
A good used Browning or Beretta is a great idea, and I think is the way for you to go. But your right, you can't pick them up and hold them over the net. My suggestion would be to talk with the members of your local club. I'm sure they will gladly let you hold and shoot their guns. That way you can find one that you like and that fits you well. Then you will know what to look for in the used market.

I don't have much experience with the budget o/u's and have heard mixed reviews. If you are going to start shooting clays you'll probably find you are going to be shooting a LOT. I would have my doubts that the budget guns will hold up all that well for that. A good used Browning or Beretta will last you for many many years.
 
I got a maverick hs-12 with changeable chokes. Nice and short for walking through bush, shoots well enough, easy to grab and jump out of truck with when you catch grouse running from the road. Think i paid $300 for it on the EE which still seems like a steal
 
A twenty gauge is perfect for most upland game. Over the years I have used a single shot, pump and now an O/U - all 20's.

In fact I'm contemplating an O/U 28 gauge in my future to become my "go to" upland gun.

You have a very very wide variety of choices in over and under's in the new, and lesser extent in the used market. New you can literally pay anywhere from about 600 bucks all the way into the 10's of thousands for a custom gun.

Depending on how much you are going to use it you don't necessarily have to drop a couple grand on a Browning to get a "lifetime worth of no trouble service" out of your shotgun.

Is a Browning Citori or Cynergy a very nice, well built, quality shotgun, absolutely. But a new one might lighten your wallet by close to 2500 bucks by the time you get taxes in etc. And if it will only be used a dozen times a year to pop a few birds would an 800 buck Mossberg Silver Reserve or a Pointer Hunter (both Turkish built) not suit "your actual needs" just as well?

I dropped 2.5K on a Fausti 20 gauge O/U because that's what I "wanted". My H&R single shot 20 that I paid 80 bucks for brand new a few decades back takes birds down just as well and has never so much as hiccup'd.

Set your "all in" budget. See what falls into that range. Handle as many of them as you can. See how they fit you. Be honest about what you will use it for and how often and don't get discouraged if everyone is telling you to get a B gun and you just can't justify it for yourself...
 
I started as a 13 yr old with a Beretta bl3, great for your situation. 26" barrels swing nice and fast in the bush. Fixed skeet over skeet chokes were tight enough for pass shooting ducks. I have two that will be going on the ee if I ever get off my butt.
 
I don't think its possible to buy the 'right' gun the first time.

I would buy a used Franchi Instinct L (1200$ish). Shoot that for a while and see how you feel about O/Us. It is light enough to carry for hunting but not so light as to kill your shoulder with clays. Then go and buy a Browning when you know what you really want.

Re: 20 vs 12g, get a 12. A 1oz load at 1200fps doesn't know if its 12 or 20, however the traditionally lighter 20g frame will know, as will your shoulder if you are going to use it for any amount of clays.

C
 
Don't buy any shotgun that you can't shoulder to see if it fits you. I would much rather buy a good used Citori or Beretta, because they will stand up over time, and if you don't like it, you can likely get most of not all of your money back by selling it.
 
Buy a decent gun if you plan to keep it. Browning or Beretta new or used are good choices. Tall lanky guys ( like me) tend to be more comfortable with the fit of the Brownings.
 
The first firearm I paid for was a turkish O/U. Finish was what you would expect, ok but nothing special. Trigger/safety/selector switch was very rough, I cleaned it and polished it up and made it passable.
Overall I am happy with it but it will never be a high end piece of hardware, then again I don't have to worry about banging it up.
 
stubblejumper said:
Don't buy any shotgun that you can't shoulder to see if it fits you.
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Northern Islander said:
Buy a decent gun if you plan to keep it.
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OP, are you close to Ellwood Epps in Orillia? Maybe try and stop in and see if they will let you shoulder a bunch of the O/U shotguns there so you can see what will fit you.

The last time I went O/U shopping I think I shouldered every one in Edmonton over a one week period. Or at least it felt like it. :p Because of that though, it was the last time I went O/U shopping because my Franchi fits me better than any other make or model I tried: there is truly nothing like trying them out.
 
Aniest said:
OP, are you close to Ellwood Epps in Orillia? Maybe try and stop in and see if they will let you shoulder a bunch of the O/U shotguns there so you can see what will fit you.

The last time I went O/U shopping I think I shouldered every one in Edmonton over a one week period. Or at least it felt like it. :p Because of that though, it was the last time I went O/U shopping because my Franchi fits me better than any other make or model I tried: there is truly nothing like trying them out.
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yeah relatively close, i've bought 2 guns from them already, best store around imo. i've been scouring their website the last month and they have some good deals. i should probably take a sunday and do just that, regardless if the o/u is outta my price range, shoulder a bunch to see how they fit, then maybe i can buy a used one off the EE or where ever if they're the same model.

All really good advice here, only the one guy commented on the 12g vs 20g, i know both will suit fine for birds and rabbit but i assume like he said 20g will maybe start to wear when the high volume clays come out ?
 
park.city said:
yeah relatively close, i've bought 2 guns from them already, best store around imo. i've been scouring their website the last month and they have some good deals. i should probably take a sunday and do just that, regardless if the o/u is outta my price range, shoulder a bunch to see how they fit, then maybe i can buy a used one off the EE or where ever if they're the same model.

All really good advice here, only the one guy commented on the 12g vs 20g, i know both will suit fine for birds and rabbit but i assume like he said 20g will maybe start to wear when the high volume clays come out ?
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Why would you think that a 20 gauge will wear out quicker than a 12 gauge?
 
Have you investigated ATA over/unders? Great price for quality guns. The SP model is essentially a 686 with a few perks. If the fit is good for you, you can get a new one much cheaper than a one of the B's.
Great looking guns too.
PM me if you have any questions about them.
Cheers,
RTB
 
Jnyiri said:
Don't go cheap you are going to regret it. If you buy a browning or beretta you will have a gun till you can shoot it.
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This is solid advice. Too many people get the urge and buy a cheap gun only to be disappointed later on.

There's no reason not to go with a 20, especially if you're hunting upland game. They're even decent for waterfowl, within limits. An older gun with fixed chokes would be a great gun for upland and could probably be had for a pretty reasonable price.
 
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