What do you guys think about a 20 gauge SxS for the occasional sporting clays and pheasant hunting vs using an O/U. I had the opportunity to use a 20 gauge O/U for a day of pheasants and really liked it but also like the idea of a SxS. Is using a SxS just making things harder on myself? Also, I’m a left handed shooter. I don’t know if that makes any difference. Appreciate your thought on this.
20 gauge SxS vs O/U
- Thread starter London22
- Start date
I like my 16gauge SxS for hunting, but 20 gauge target loads are much easier to find, and are much more affordable than 16 gauge target loads.
You say occasional sporting clays so shoot what pleases you most, this is where the enjoyment is. If you get competitive and winning becomes the goal then shoot with what you get your best scores with. I own and enjoy both side by sides and over/unders, I hunt upland exclusively with my side by sides because to me they are the best suited and most pleasurable to use for this purpose. I sometimes shoot sporting clays, five stand or trap with them as well, but mostly to practice for hunting and because I really like to use them. I shoot target mostly with over/unders because for me they perform a little better at this, especially trap. I see no point in one all round gun, get one (or more) of each and enjoy. You never see a golfer on the course with one club do you? New left hand stocked target over/unders are made by most respected companies like Beretta and Browning but take some searching and also turn up used. Some quality older side by side field guns were also made but hard to find. Like stubblejumper mentioned, a practical alternative is a gun (sxs or o/u) with neutral or no cast, mount the gun with you eyes closed then open your eyes when mounted. Do this a dozen times or more and if your master eye is looking straight down the centre of the rib when you open them cast won't likely be a problem with this gun. Good luck, have fun. J.
ninepointer
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Central Ontario
I'm a lefty and a big fan of SxSs. My go-to field gun is a 20ga SxS, but my go-to sporting clays gun is a 20 ga O/U.
Those like me who gravitate to SxSs usually do so because:
1) We like the aesthetic and/or tradition (they're damn good-looking guns and there's something gentlemanly about carrying one);
2) Some intangible quality that makes us think we can hit upland birds just a bit better with a SxS;
3) The measurable quality that most good SxS field guns are lighter than most O/Us, making them quicker for snap shots and more comfortable to carry.
I think you need to decide if you you're going to partake more in one form of shooting versus the other (will upland birds or targets be your primary activity)? The same physical qualities that make a SxS better suited to live birds in the field that flush unexpectedly (lighter, faster and often shorter gun) make it less suited to clay games where targets are called, the gun is often pre-mounted and gun swing & follow-through are paramount (and are aided by a slightly heavier gun).
On the matter of being left-handed, this can sometimes be an issue (most frequently with continental SxSs) where stocks might be cast for a right-handed shooters (cast off), as someone has already mentioned above. But the majority of guns you encounter will have neutral stocks.
This leads to the matter of fit, which is of the greatest importance for any kind of shotgun but which (in my experience) 2-barrel shooters pay more attention to. Many keystrokes can be dedicated to a discussion of fit, but the simple test of snapping the gun to your shoulder with your eyes closed is hard to beat.
Lastly, buy quality. Cheap SxSs and O/Us tend to be heavy/bulky, more prone to breakage and can be virtually un-serviceable. Quality does not have to mean expensive (you can easily stay well within 3 figures) if you know what to look for in the used market and you don't mind older guns with fixed chokes.
Those like me who gravitate to SxSs usually do so because:
1) We like the aesthetic and/or tradition (they're damn good-looking guns and there's something gentlemanly about carrying one);
2) Some intangible quality that makes us think we can hit upland birds just a bit better with a SxS;
3) The measurable quality that most good SxS field guns are lighter than most O/Us, making them quicker for snap shots and more comfortable to carry.
I think you need to decide if you you're going to partake more in one form of shooting versus the other (will upland birds or targets be your primary activity)? The same physical qualities that make a SxS better suited to live birds in the field that flush unexpectedly (lighter, faster and often shorter gun) make it less suited to clay games where targets are called, the gun is often pre-mounted and gun swing & follow-through are paramount (and are aided by a slightly heavier gun).
On the matter of being left-handed, this can sometimes be an issue (most frequently with continental SxSs) where stocks might be cast for a right-handed shooters (cast off), as someone has already mentioned above. But the majority of guns you encounter will have neutral stocks.
This leads to the matter of fit, which is of the greatest importance for any kind of shotgun but which (in my experience) 2-barrel shooters pay more attention to. Many keystrokes can be dedicated to a discussion of fit, but the simple test of snapping the gun to your shoulder with your eyes closed is hard to beat.
Lastly, buy quality. Cheap SxSs and O/Us tend to be heavy/bulky, more prone to breakage and can be virtually un-serviceable. Quality does not have to mean expensive (you can easily stay well within 3 figures) if you know what to look for in the used market and you don't mind older guns with fixed chokes.
fishslinger
CGN Regular
- Location
- southern ontario
I own and enjoy both in 20 and 28ga. I find for upland hunting I grab the SxS more and for clays game's the O/U. But this is not written in stone, I do enjoy using the SxS on clays as well and vise versa. Best solution, buy both. One now and one down the road when you can. I could not imagine my gun cabinet without both.
- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
SxS guns are more difficult for many to shoot as opposed to O/U guns.
O/U's are easier to find in a decent affordable shotgun as well.
That being said my go to 20 is a SxS hammer gun .
Cat
O/U's are easier to find in a decent affordable shotgun as well.
That being said my go to 20 is a SxS hammer gun .
Cat
I would love to hunt upland with a 20 or 28 side by side but I'm having a heck of a time finding one that fits. Frankly having hard time finding options to handle, period. I've tried a few 12s but they just seemed overkill for blues. Had a Beretta 471 20g that I tried hard to like but there just wasn't enough drop. I shoot my 686 20 so much better there was no point keeping the 471. Anyway, keeping eyes peeled but slim pickings.
Prophet River usually has a good selection. I require a lot of drop at comb myself and Grulla fits me well with the standard dimensions. My go to 28 gauge SxS is an AYA number two that Prophet River ordered for me to my stock dimensions. I am acrually thinking of selling my matching 20 gauge AYA, because I am almost always shooting my 28 or 16 gauge. If you are looking for a lower end SxS, Prophet River handles Huglu as well, and they have quite a bit of drop at comb
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Years back, my best bud who's a very experienced upland game bird hunter bought a Stoeger 20 ga. SXS. I know Stoeger gets slammed as a cheap shotgun, but this shotgun put a lot, and I mean a lot!, of partridge on the table for him. Another buddy and I chipped in and got him a sweet Stoeger O/U which was something he always wanted. Same story. Lots of grouse and partridge have fallen to that one as well. Now, would those shotguns stand up to heavy use like in competition? Maybe not, but for my friend's purpose which is grouse and partridge hunting, he's happy as a clam and they work flawlessly. Point being you don't have to break the bank or go into the thousands to get a good serviceable shotgun.
- Location
- Lloydminster, Alberta
Pretty much any gun will stand up as a hunting only gun that only sees a few hundred rounds in a lifetime. If you are going to ground swat grouse, any gun will do but a Stoeger swings like a plank if you want to shoot birds on the wing, like the real partridges(Hungarian) that we hunt.
Nice elitist comment? Must be feeling extra inferior today? It was mentioned that it was a hunting gun, and not a competition gun, not that your Spanish junk would stand up any better...and no where in his post did he say anything about ground swatting grouse? Real Hungarian Partridges, but tame release pheasants, or are the Huns tame as well? You really need to get your crap together. It must be the thin air from the height of the pedestal you've placed yourself on?
As for the OP, any gun can be made to fit. Only you can decide how much you would like to spend to get it to do so.
R.
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1963beretta
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Vaughan, Ontario
Like it or not, stupplejumper’s post is bang on. On the other hand, your post seems to come from a more bitter place. Reality isnt always what you want it to be
I liked his avatar too LOL
Bang on how?
Still not seeing how accusations and insinuations of what he views as inferior hunting techniques have to do with shotgun fit?
Not bitter at all...and reality is never what it appears to be, on an internet forum ; ) But... if you like the flavour, then keep drinking the kool aid!
R.
