12 gauge side by side vs over and under

Nobody has seemed to mention how the barrels are aligned for point of aim. It is my understanding that both barrels are designed to shoot to the same point at a certain distance, say 40 yards... So farther shots with an over-under will have your top barrel shooting low, and your sxs would be shooting slightly left or right, depending on the barrel. Or I've read a bunch of lies somewhere... One of the two lol

The general consensus with the pros seems to be the O/U gives only a single sighting plane, which allows for more consistency from shot to shot, regardless of which barrel is in use. Personally, I only have a pump so wtf do I know though.
 
Suther said:
Nobody has seemed to mention how the barrels are aligned for point of aim. It is my understanding that both barrels are designed to shoot to the same point at a certain distance, say 40 yards... So farther shots with an over-under will have your top barrel shooting low, and your sxs would be shooting slightly left or right, depending on the barrel. Or I've read a bunch of lies somewhere... One of the two lol

The general consensus with the pros seems to be the O/U gives only a single sighting plane, which allows for more consistency from shot to shot, regardless of which barrel is in use. Personally, I only have a pump so wtf do I know though.
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Your analysis applies to double rifles, but to shotguns, not so much. Good quality SxS and O/U shotguns shoot so close to the same point of aim with both barrels that you couldn't measure the difference. Chopped off barrels or cheap discount guns do not follow the "rules" ...
 
So true Longwalker. cheap shotguns regulation is less than stellar, but not all shotguns are created equal, and not all expensive shotguns have well regulated barrels. I have learned this fact of life the hard way with a rather expensive gun with fixed and apparently unmodified chokes, shooting substantially left of point of aim.
Secondly, not all choke tubes are concentric, adding to the regulation problem of replaceable choke barrels.
With a well regulated double shotgun, with 70 percent of pellets in a 40 inch circle at 40 yards, let's say 50 plus inch of effective pattern, small differences in centre of pattern are a moot point.
I suspect that better regulation of factory guns is, or should be, possible with the use of laser collimation of the bores, as modern makers do now.
If you are pushing the shooting range to the point of worrying about crossing alignment of shotgun barrels you have more problems to worry about, like centring the pattern on target, density of patterns and penetration energy of shot on game.
 
The worst barrel regulation I've seen in years is actually on a Krieghoff K-80 one of my members has, 6" high and left on the top barrel vs dead on with the bottom at 30yrds. He currently dealing with them on a resolution, seems to making little headway.
 
You really should get both, in 20 gauge IMO. Very different guns obviously, but both a rare pleasure to shoot. Life's short, why limit yourself? Last year I got a 20 side by each, this year traded a 12 ga O/U for a 20. Next year? Who knows?
 
Some people ascribe intangible, almost mystical qualities to SxSs and their ability to make a bird fold. I make no such claims. I just love the look of a SxS, how it feels in my hands, and the enjoyment I get from carrying one afield. I think it has something to do with that fact among my earliest childhood memories is one of a framed calendar print that hung in our home; of two gentlemanly looking fellows, their dog and a pair of doubles. That print is long gone, but its nostalgia still influences my time in the thickets.

IMG_20151017_105814_zpsuawadlgw.jpg
 
ninepointer said:
Some people ascribe intangible, almost mystical qualities to SxSs and their ability to make a bird fold. I make no such claims. I just love the look of a SxS, how it feels in my hands, and the enjoyment I get from carrying one afield. I think it has something to do with that fact among my earliest childhood memories is one of a framed calendar print that hung in our home; of two gentlemanly looking fellows, their dog and a pair of doubles. That print is long gone, but its nostalgia still influences my time in the thickets.

IMG_20151017_105814_zpsuawadlgw.jpg
Click to expand...

Nice pic!..... I haven't shot a timberdoodle in years!.....

I also own both SXS and OU...... either shoots well and both are fun to carry..... go with whatever floats your boat....
 
As a kid, I used SxS shotguns, including a couple hand-me-downs. For some reason, I always aspired to get an O/U. They seemed fancier, and the guys on hunting shows used them, as did the guys shooting clays at the range. Eventually I did get a nice O/U, and I could shoot ok with it. But I missed the feeling and sighting plane and double triggers of the old SxS. So the O/U is now on the EE!
 
The key is gun fit... that said, I score just a bit better at sporting-clay with my O/U than I do with my side-by-sides. But, on thinking about it, the O/U likely fits me a better (I fitted an adjustable stock-comb and a slightly cast-off and angled recoil pad), also I've shot it a lot more. The S/S's are "as found". Bottom line: shoot both and have fun!
Cheers,
Roger
 
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When I was 14 I got my 1st shotgun, an old Rem. 870 with a 30 in 2 3/4" full choke plain barrel. I learned to shoot birds with that. My dad had his old L.C.Smith SxS that he had inherited from his Uncle. Long story short he could never hit a single thing with that 870 when he tried but was deadly with that old double, and me, Well I was just the opposite, I could never get used to that wide sighting plain the SxS has and how the gun swung and felt in hand. I still can't hit anything with it to this day and I am 61 now. I still use a singular sight plain by shooting either Semi-Autos or O/U shotguns. I guess maybe it is what you learned to shoot on or just the feel...but I have never been comfortable with a SxS and I have tried more than a few of them over the years. The old warrior L.C. Smith just lives in my safe today fully retired.

Jim
 
I shoot sxs & o/u equally. It's all about gun fit which is important to me because I'm a down/low gun shooter (I mean very low where my start point is at the belt line with the shotgun parallel with the ground). I never see the barrel/barrels but rather concentrate on the target (a good fitting gun shoots where you look. I'm a frothing at the mouth woodcock/grouse guy that has not shot a bird on the ground for over 15 years and spends every spare moment on the woods with a pointing dog. When hunting, I prefer a 16 or 20ga sxs -- only because of weight -- 8 to 10 miles in the morning and another on the afternoon, weight becomes important. In Spring & Summer, I shoot clays 3 to 4 times a week and will use either on a whim. If shooting in a tournament, I will shoot a dedicated "sporting" gun again because of weight. A 9.5 to 9lbs gun is much easier on the shoulder after 100+ clays rather ha one weighing 6lbs. Some would feel that my style of shooting would handicap me on clays but I'm usually placed to the top 1/3 of the pack and do constantly have the ability to break clays before the centre stake at skeet. "Fit is everything"
 
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