O/U or SxS??? and Why?

Mount Sweetness

Mount Sweetness

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Ready to buy a double for pheasant hunting but am unsure which to go with....a O/U or a SxS....?????

Which to buy and why? Any advantages....swing, aim, feel, balance...recoil???

Never owned a double, only shot one or two.

Leaning towards a 20ga
 
I too would like some opinions. Looking to buy one for rabbit hunting. I aso would lean towards a 20g.

However my only criteria is it must have 1 trigger. No double triggers allowed.
I was lookingat a couple of classic SxS's

maka
 
Either one would make an excellent choice. To me, it all comes down to personal preference.

For example, I prefer U/O's for target shooting. My preference is for heavier, single selective trigger equipped models with long barrels. I find these better absorb the punishment and provide a smoother swing.

In the field, I prefer SXS's with double triggers (for instant choke selection). These tend to have slightly shorter barrels and are lighter, making them faster responding and easier to carry over long distances.
 
maka said:
I too would like some opinions. Looking to buy one for rabbit hunting. I aso would lean towards a 20g.

However my only criteria is it must have 1 trigger. No double triggers allowed.
I was lookingat a couple of classic SxS's

maka
Click to expand...

You won't find to many Classic SxS's with only one trigger. To the original Poster find the one that fits and feels best. Some prefer the sighting plane of O/U's others are more comfortable with SxS's. I like them both. SxS for hunting and O/U for Clay's.
 
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What a question, people have had carers writing about what you just asked. You could spend the rest of your days reading about this. Just a few things I have read, not that I agree or disagree. The O/U is better for target shooting and the S/S is better for birds on the wing. The North Americans like the O/U and the Britt's like the S/S. One thing I will say, you can find low, medium and high grade O/U's. The S/S's are either low or high grade, there are a few middle grades like the Browning BSS which is no longer made. You need to read books by Micheal McIntosh and others like him.
 
I really prefer sxs's, there is just something about looking over the table of 2 barrels that makes me tingle. I definitely agree that over-unders are better for target. Single-triggers are not something that I like except for target. I think 2 triggers are the best way to go for hunting. Can I ask why you don't want 2 triggers???
 
the 2 barrel guns because of the barrel shape bigger at the base than at the muzzle most guns are set up with 2 different points of aim for the 2 barrels

o/u 2 barrel (tighter choke ) usualy has a higher point of impact than the upper barrel-- also helps when birds are flying up and farther away

side by side point of impact will usualy cross at some point
 
I have used different o/u & SxS and have been either 2 triggers or a single trigger with a switch/ safety to select barrel and my preference is the single trigger
 
You need to try both and see what suits you. Most people can shoot an O/U better than a SxS when they start, especially if you are accustomed to shooting single barrel pumps, semis, single shots. You can get proficient on either one.

I have both and the only real difference is the sighting plane width - 2 barrels wide or 1 barrel wide. Weight, swing etc. will vary even between different models and makes. You can't really say one swings better than the other.
 
I prefer O/U's in full size (28" barrel) as I prefer the mid-balance feel in the hand (for me anyways). I like SXS's in coach gun size (20" size) when I'm hunting the thickets for rabbits and hare. Pick one up of each kind and bring them to the shoulder and see what "feel" you prefer.
 
I own both types and have used both to hunt. The advantage to the o/u is selection. There are more guns available from different makers across a wide price range.

Among the sxs the options are more limited. Either you buy a gun under $1,000 or one closer to $5,000 although Fabarm seems to be filling in some of the mid-range.

I think for upland hunting the better choice for a first gun would be a 28 to 30" o/u with a single trigger, non-automatic safety and choke tubes. I hunted with one for years before buying a sxs.
 
I have a Stoeger Uplander in 28 Gauge with 26" Bores Choked Imp cyl/Mod and have to say that it out shoots my 12 gauge sxs any day when shooting upland game. It's lighter to carry for the long days in the field, swings nicer and smoother and throws out the same weight of Lead shot as any 12 gauge in the same length of shell (2-3/4") I know some people here curse the 28 gauge but for upland game I'd tell you get yourself a nice 28 gauge over anything else. The only thing I will tell you to make sure you get is a 28 Gauge with Interchangeable chokes. CZ ($900-$1400) makes Good ones that I believe some have chokes tubes in the 28 gauge and so does the Mossberg Silver Reserver O/U but you catch my drift. Good luck and happy huntings.
 
o/ vs sxs

just having some fun said:
the 2 barrel guns because of the barrel shape bigger at the base than at the muzzle most guns are set up with 2 different points of aim for the 2 barrels

o/u 2 barrel (tighter choke ) usualy has a higher point of impact than the upper barrel-- also helps when birds are flying up and farther away

side by side point of impact will usualy cross at some point
Click to expand...

Hmmmm. If a O/U or SxS is set up to have different points of aim, it woild be junk and not fiit to own, imho.
Both styles should regulated to have both barrels hit at the same point of impact. If the gun that is.
I own both SxS and O/U's & I don't see much difference in my ability to knock birds down with either. One noticeable thing is that O/U's open more deeply than SxS's and are less likely to drop shells out of the battery if you carry the gun open as I do. This is more evident when the gun is carried on your shoulder. I tend to go to the shoulder on longer 5 to 10 miles of walking to avoid arm fatigue especially when carrind a 6.75 lb gun or higher. I prefer 5.5 to 6.25lb guns but own a couple of heavier guns. An aversion to SxS oe double trigger guns can be cured by shooting 4 to 5 rounds of skeet or even better make the skeet shooting as all double targets.
Cheers/luck, John
 
TheTooner said:
What makes a U/O better than a O/U? :)
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Very observant - you picked up on that.

Both terms, over/under and under/over are in use in the firearms industry. The O/U term is more popular these days. However, the Brits and continentals were the first to produce guns with superposed barrels and they called them under/overs. Since neither term is technically more correct than the other, I prefer to use U/O because it was the name given by those who originally developed the style, and because the bottom barrel (more open choked typically) is usually fired first, followed by the upper barrel (more tightly choked typically) for the second shot.

Besides, I like to swim against the current (I buy stocks during "the greatest recession since the Great Depression", I sell stocks when everyone else is buying, I eat sugar and butter when the common wisdom says they're bad for you, I buy guns when it's de rigeur to be an anti - you get the drift).
 
For use in the uplands I favour the 28 gauge.As to the SXS OR O/U ,I favour the SXS.There is just something about carring the classic SXS in the uplands.

Double triggers are great but in cold weather with heavy gloves or mittens on I find the single trigger easier to use.
 
Crazy.kayaker said:
...throws out the same weight of Lead shot as any 12 gauge in the same length of shell (2-3/4")...
Click to expand...

12 ga 2-3/4" shells commonly run minimum 1-1/8 oz shot and up, while the 28 ga. loads i am accustomed to are usually 3/4 oz. What 28 ga shells are you using that throws as much lead as any 12 gauge??
 
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This just came up from a real expert:

http://www.shotgunreport.com/TechTech/TechnoidArchive/9-Nov-09.pdf

Here are some words about SxS:

http://www.shotgunreport.com/TechTech/TechnoidArchive/27-Apr-09.pdf

More stuff about different guns for different shooting:

http://www.shotgunreport.com/TechTech/TechnoidArchive/22-Jan-09.pdf

Some thoughts about caliber choice and SxS:

http://www.shotgunreport.com/TechTech/TechnoidArchive/3-Apr-08.pdf

More on O/U and SxS:

http://www.shotgunreport.com/TechTech/TechnoidArchive/3-Oct-06.pdf

Here is info about double or single triggers:

http://www.shotgunreport.com/TechTech/TechnoidArchive/8-Jun-06.pdf

When I need to shoot game or as a backup for inexperienced shooters, I use my 391 Optima Gold Sporter.

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Over the dog, I use my Chapuis 28:

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And when I spend my birthday hunting all day, I use my Cleaborough & Johnson 12 to give the birds a fare chance:

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Regards,
Henry;)
 
hnachaj said:
And when I spend my birthday hunting all day, I use my Cleaborough & Johnson 12 to give the birds a fare chance:

IMG_0260.jpg



Regards,
Henry;)
Click to expand...

Do you mean "Clabrough & Johnsone? ;) Or do you have a Belgian knockoff?
 
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