O/U or SxS shotgun for waterfowl?

langbanger

langbanger

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Anyone using an over under for hunting waterfowl? If so what are the pros and cons that you have experienced. What is your O/U shotgun of choice? Or maybe you would rather have a SxS? If so what kind and why? Are auto ejectors really that important? Looking for info from some of you guys with experience. Thanks.
 
I have used an over/under and a SxS a bit for waterfowl. But using your typical steel shot load I found they kicked like hell compared to my semi-auto so I went back to it because of medical reasons. Of course you are limited to 2 shots which may or may not be an issue with some hunters. Ejectors are a personal thing. They make for quicker reloading but if for some reason you want to save your empties then extractors are better. Some say an over/under or SxS is a bit of a pain in a duck blind as far as having to break the barrels open to reload.
However, for upland hunting you can't beat a nice, light, well balanced SxS.
 
Hunted 50/50 last season with a 20 gauge CZ Mallard O/U, and my SuperVinci. My main hunting partner used a SXS Stevens 311F. When you are shooting well, it doesn't matter what you have.
There were times when I wish I had a 3rd shell, but that was typically when I wasn't shooting so hot. Didn't feel a 20 gauge was a hinderance at all, took plenty of ducks as well as some good sized geese with it.
I haven't hunted waterfowl with an ejector gun, but you can get pretty quick on reloads with a little practice with an extractor gun.
SXS vs O/U is somewhat personal preference. I've read that SXS guns fair better for passing/decoying shots ( think british driven grouse) where as O/U are better for birds passing right over the top (driven pheasant)
Something to be said for the nostalgia of a double gun on waterfowl. Hope that helps.
 
If in a boat or blind the o/u needs a larger swing to open the barrels to reload. A sxs is much easier as less on an angle. I use both sxs and o/u as well as pumps. Fit is everything. I shoot pumps and sxs better. Where I hunt makes the choice foe me. In rough crappy weather the mossbergs come out. If in a field I can drive to or hide not far walk the sxs s come. I use a 11.6lb sxs 10 ga. I don't like to carry it and 75 rounds of ammo. For nice days and jumping ditches my lighter sxss and o/u come
 
i old school shotguns but ive not found a steel shot rated SxS a newer SxS with removable chokes is best id say it would be cool to be able to go back to the days of a big old BP 10ga SxS but the softer shot thats safe for older guns is not cheap
 
Pros: If its all you have, you don't have to buy a new gun and you get to shoot a gun you're familiar with
Cons: Harder kicking, 2 shots only, opening the action to reload is a pain in tight spaces, you might mark up your pretty gun

Auto ejectors are important insofar as most of the guns worth owning have them.
 
I use an O/U for geese and love it, I prefer ejectors for hunting though, I've had a couple situations where I could reload with speed loaders and fire two more shots (That comes up more with pigeon hunting then waterfowl but it has happened). I don't really find reloading is all that difficult with mine either.

I don't actually own any pump or semi shotguns anymore though.
 
I use both O/U's and SXS guns, but prefer the SXS.
The don't need to open as far because of the barrel configuration of the O/U beeds more angle to get the bottom shell out.
I prefer extractors because i use brass cases on my vintage guns.
I also shoot a new last year Pedersoli hammer double with steel approved barrels and screw in chokes - which I haven't bothered to change from IC/MOD.
My Westley Richards 12 bore is CYL/CYL and handle BP and Nice Shot or Bismuth perfectly, drops geese with no sweat over decoys.
Cat
 
SxS here, and extractors, never once have I reloaded as slow as anyone I have ever hunted with using a pump or S/A, and have yet to desire a third shot. At the speed waterfowl move, by the time I drop the chosen target, and select and drop another, the rest are usually getting too far out of range for clean kills anyway. Just my opinion and style, take it for what it's worth.... 0's and 1's on the net....

I break out the S/A once in a while for chits n giggles, but always put it down and pick up the double 16 again, after owning many, and trying out many many many different scatterguns, I always go back to my 74 year old double, nothing has ever come close to the fit, finish, reliability and natural ease of use for me.
 
I've shot mostly SXS for water fowl and other things. Picked up an O/U Beretta S55 recently and can't wait to shoot it more once the snow melts. I was thinking of an auto loader instead and shopped around. Went to a bunch of gun stores and shouldered their shotguns. OK, maybe you can shoot a triple with a new semi auto beretta or benelli, but compared to a decent double barrel they feel like you are swinging around a 2x4. To each his own
 
375H&H said:
I've shot mostly SXS for water fowl and other things. Picked up an O/U Beretta S55 recently and can't wait to shoot it more once the snow melts. I was thinking of an auto loader instead and shopped around. Went to a bunch of gun stores and shouldered their shotguns. OK, maybe you can shoot a triple with a new semi auto beretta or benelli, but compared to a decent double barrel they feel like you are swinging around a 2x4. To each his own
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Yes, usually a fine double barrel holds no comparisson as far as handling and I have a few of them. However, I went to a semi-auto for waterfowl for health reasons. I looked at a number of semi-autos and the one that fit me the best and handles great was the lower priced Remington 1187 with 26" barrel. I can hit like the darn with it and it's given me no trouble. But nuff about semi-autos, this is a double barrel thread.
 
From what I have seen of break action shotguns;

Over-unders seem to be way more popular with clay shooters.

Side-by-sides seem to be way more popular with bird hunters.
 
Cleftwynd said:
I break out the S/A once in a while for chits n giggles, but always put it down and pick up the double 16 again, after owning many, and trying out many many many different scatterguns, I always go back to my 74 year old double, nothing has ever come close to the fit, finish, reliability and natural ease of use for me.
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As far as I am concerned, that last line in the quote there just about sums up the entirety of the answer to your question right there. for me, when it comes right down to it, for all the money, planning, travel, you know the list of energy expended to get to a good hunt. and if the birds are there or start to roll in, I want the scatter gun that i am the most consistent with. I like the comments about gauges too - again, if whatever is being used fits well and points naturally, gauge does not matter. getting the pellets to the vitals is what counts. i am sure we have all seen the fella with the 3 1/2" magnums scratching their heads when the guy with the old 2 3/4" 20 ga. Wingmaster comes slogging home with his game pouch filled. if the gun isn't pointed in the right direction , the amount of pellets will not help.
happy hunting! jsd
 
I used for a number of years a 12 ga. 28" Browning BSS for waterfowl. This gun has killed more ducks and geeses than my two O/U combined. I've sold it on a brain fart mainly because of the steel shot new regs were coming at the time... :(
 
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I think the advent of steel and the krap shells that were coming out at the time, did a number on the SXS's.
There is good steel ammo for the 20ga now, 7/8oz loads @1450/1550, 1 oz loads @ 1350. There are a few decently priced SXS's out now. I still use an SBE for snows, but, the CZ Ringneck 20ga does everything else.
 
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