Advantage of different fore-ends

[rivetc78]

I see that there are 2 different styles of fore-ends when dealing with over/unders.
The one I think of as standard, such as on a Beretta 686 E or the Schnabel on the Silver Pigeon II.

Is there any reason for this? Personal preference? Small hands? Better handling for a particular game (Trap vs. Skeet)

Just wondering.

 

[Claybuster]

It's whatever feels best in your hands. I don't care for the schnabel forends because I extend the index finger on my leading hand and most often smack the tip of my finger under recoil.

 

[beretta boy]

There are many more than 2 styles of forends found on O/U's ...

Generally, the schnabel forends ( German/Austrian influence) are found these days on a lot of Sporting guns, but as Claybuster reports, they are not all comfortable for everbody. Personally ( and I'm a "finger pointer" too ) I've never had a finger rapped by the lip of the schnabel. I do like them, for Sporting as their overall shape is one of the trimmest - allowing your hand to be very close to the barrels ... as opposed to say the fat finger grooved forends on a gun like the 682E Trap or Skeet ( or the even fatter ones on Browning Trap or Skeet gun ) . A nice trim forend, like a schnabel, but without the flair, is available on some of the small gauge Beretta's like the Silver Pigeon "C". I've seen the same forend utilized on a custom 12 ga. Perazzi Mirage Sporter. Field guns often have a rounded forend, somewhere between the size of a Schnabel/Sporting forend and the wider forends often found on Trap & Skeet guns.

Besides keeping your hands/fingers off hot barrels, the forend should form a comfortable grip for you, allowing you to have the shotgun nicely balanced between both hands.

Whatever you like and you're comfortable with !

 

[Claybuster]

Here are a couple of pics of various forend styles. My favourite is the UK. Sport which is slim and squarish at the corners.

 

[rivetc78]

Thanks for the info.
Would companies like Browning/Beretta allow you to order forends for your shotgun if you don't like the one that comes with it.

I guess there are custom companies that would do that. But would the factory allow it??

 

[beretta boy]

Bet not. But nothing stopping you from ordering a "replacement" forend as a part after the fact. You will likely need a gunsmith to transfer/fit the forend metal & latch.