Rookie looking for O/U advice

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Torossg

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So I'm relatively new to the shotgun scene and looking to invest into my first one. I've been debating on what type of shotgun to buy in terms of pump, semi or o/u. After shooting a few of my friends shotguns and talking to a few people who I consider to be in the know, the majority seem to favour the o/u as the one shotgun to do it all. It give you years of reliability with less parts breaking down which I like. Now in terms of what I plan on using it for, I want to say all the above. The one shotgun that's going to give me the most versatility and use.

So I started looking closer to o/u, shouldered a few as well but quickly realized that it's not common to find manufacturers who make o/u in a synthetic/ composite stock. I really like the look of the wood, probably just as equally as a black synthetic material but I hate the thought of getting dings on my $3000 Beretta... gives me nightmares. I use my stuff hard and would love not to worry about throwing my gun in the snow or leaving it leaning on a tree without a concern of it tipping over and scratching.

Leads me to the question, what is available for me? I've only manged to find Turkish guns (zero interest in those whatsoever) and the Browning cynergy cx composite. I really like this gun but it's definitely near the top end of my budget, I'm willing to bite the bullet on it and have a good one on my hands. But is this my only option? I should also mention I'm looking for a 12g. I might also have interest in a laminate finish as well as those seems like they would hold up well. But I'm interested in your options and advice. Thank you for the advice and sorry for the long post
 
You sound like you have set a decent budget to work within. Go shoulder some Berettas and some Brownings and figure out which fits you best. Then look on the Equipment Exchange here or other places that sell used guns and find a lightly used one. Both are quality guns that will last longer than you with decent care.

If you like the look of wood, don't worry about the dings. It's called character and anyone who's worth anything has some.
 
Single trigger O/U's are a fairly complex piece of kit, and do require some preventative maintenance. I'm surprised you haven't gone the pump shotgun route - available at a fraction of the cost of a decent O/U, and inherently reliable. And it gives you that third shot, in case the partridge keeps on coming at you...
FWIW - Most of the folks here have more than one shotgun, and the vast majority have a pump as a "do-all" gun. The O/U typically comes out for sporting clay activity, and upland game activity. Not so much in the duck blind...
 
Cosmic has a point. Pumps are way cheaper and a great introduction to shotguns. I spent 30 years hunting everything with a single pump. IMHO find a used 12 gauge Rem 870 Wingmaster that is new enough it is safe for steel shot. Fool proof.

Win M12's and Rem M31's may be theoretically better pumps but they are old and so limited. If you are after an all round, do anything gun, then get one....a Wingmaster.
 
Well I'll definitely go and shoulder one and keep an open mind to pumps. Originally I though I wanted a pump but somehow switched over to o/u.

Might be a stupid question but what am I looking for when I shoulder a shotgun? I have experience with riffles but what's the most important thing to look for? It's hard to say shotgun A shoulder better than shotgun B when honestly I just don't know what to look for or how the proper fit is to be?
 
Someone may be along who can explain proper fit in writing but it's not me. Sorry.

Go to a gun shop. Not Bass Pro or Cabelas. A specialty shop like Gagnon's in Oshawa (don't know where you are). Get in the gun room, have your PAL handy and start asking questions. They will likely have either new Brownings or Berettas or both. Shoulder them. Tell the guy you don't know what is good fit and listen to what he says. Do the same at two other shops. See what those guys say and compare it to what you hear on this thread. If you do all that, you'll have a good chance of generally knowing what feels good and what is close enough to buy. Typically you will fit a Beretta or a Browning but not both. That's why they are a good baseline for understanding what fits you.

Ideally, you have a gun that is pointing at what you are looking at when you raise it to your cheek. Not one you need to make seven minor adjustments to once at your cheek to get it pointing where you are looking
 
Try a semi too. Pumps are OK but semis IMHO are the way to go when compared to pumps. O/Us are cool. I have a Beretta O/U which is great and you can find some nice used ones on EE for reasonable. If it wasn't for the Clays sports, I'd have a semi though. I know you arn't keen on Turkish guns but some of them are very good and usually have nice wood. About to pickup a new Asena semi with nice Turkish Walnut and screw in Chokes for $317. Corwin Arms BC.
 
I got a Franchi 12g o/u from cabelas last year and put a couple crates of ammo through it and still shoots like its brand new. Very little maintenance. Not that expensive $1500. Looks ###y.
 
Torossg said:
Well I'll definitely go and shoulder one and keep an open mind to pumps. Originally I though I wanted a pump but somehow switched over to o/u.

Might be a stupid question but what am I looking for when I shoulder a shotgun? I have experience with riffles but what's the most important thing to look for? It's hard to say shotgun A shoulder better than shotgun B when honestly I just don't know what to look for or how the proper fit is to be?
Click to expand...

Not the most scientific method for testing fit, but it will show you if the gun does not fit. Hold the shotgun, but close your eyes before shouldering it. Shoulder the gun with your eyes still closed. Then without moving the gun, or your head, open your eyes and see if you are looking along the rib, or at it. If you are looking at the rib, or if you can't see the entire front bead and there is only one bead, the gun doesn't fit you. If the rib is not centered left to right, the gun does not fit you. It's easier if there are two beads on the gun. If the beads overlap somewhat or form a figure 8, then the gun is at least close to fitting you. If there is a gap between the beads, or if you can't see the bead at the muzzle at all, or if the beads are not aligned right to left, the gun does not fit you. If the gun doesn't fit you, it won't shoot where your eyes are looking.
 
Stubblejumper had pretty good advice right there...the really high grade expensive guns get fitted to their owner, another solution to "make her fit" is the Morgan pad. Might have to cut the stock for length of pull, but the Morgan can be adjusted for up/down and angle...
Michael Yardley wrote a pretty good book about gunfitting, If you're handy, you can apply that to an old Ithaca 37 as well as an new Browning Citori.

CG
 
Not so much a shotgun, but the recent O/U I purchased in .470 Nitro Express has been an absolute treat! Same fundamental principles though. Listened to my old dad, said son, if your going to go for a twin barrel, remember, with the O/U, she's not left or right. Shes straight on and a little down. Right up the centre with with a little practice! Pays of to listen to the old school fellas sometimes...and happy to have opted for the dual trigger! So happy i've got a Franchi on order! Enjoy the O/U if you settle fella. You won't regret.
 
Coachgun67 said:
Stubblejumper had pretty good advice right there...the really high grade expensive guns get fitted to their owner, another solution to "make her fit" is the Morgan pad. Might have to cut the stock for length of pull, but the Morgan can be adjusted for up/down and angle...
Michael Yardley wrote a pretty good book about gunfitting, If you're handy, you can apply that to an old Ithaca 37 as well as an new Browning Citori.

CG
Click to expand...

An adjustable pad can help, and an adjustable comb helps even more if you have a gun that doesn't fit, that you really want to use.
 
The newer semis and pumps often come with a set of shims to adjust fit. You can fine tune them and shoot much better. The only O/U with that feature is the Benelli 828u bit it's not cheap.
 
linderhof said:
The newer semis and pumps often come with a set of shims to adjust fit. You can fine tune them and shoot much better. The only O/U with that feature is the Benelli 828u bit it's not cheap.
Click to expand...

And even after adjusting with shims and spacers, some guns still fit better than others. The semi auto that fits me best, fit me right out of the box, without any adjustment. My best fitting O/U has an adjustable comb, and my favorite SxS was built to my measurements.
 
Nothing wrong with Cynergy - I've had pumps, semis, SxSs, but once I got my Cynergy a few years ago, I had never used any of the other shotguns - all of them seem to me outdated, heavy, slow and hard kicking...
If you like the fit you will love the built-in recoil pad, the low profile and the insanely quick follow up shot.
It helps that it shoots lights out also...
 
Just went through a similar journey myself. While I'm not new to hunting or clays, I've been out of both for a while. For your beater gun that gets thrown in the bottom of a duck boat or set down on a rock pile, consider a Remington 870 Express. Yes, an Express and ignore the haters. It's half the price of the wingmaster (about $500 new or $300 used) and all the gun minus the pretty.

The O/U is the gun you form a relationship with. I got the same advice you are getting of the B guns but I chose to F it instead. (Franchi)

Owned by Beretta - built just down the street from Beretta and on the order of $1000 less. A high quality Italian gun at a reasonable price.

You are very much on the right track trying out other people's guns. Can't find that in a catalog.

Lastly just another vote of support for stubblejumper's post. While sight is the wrong word, think of your eye as being your rear sight. If it doesn't mount comfortably and consistently every time so you are looking down the middle of the rib with only a bit of rib showing - then it doesn't fit. Also consider pitch. (The angle of the butt pad). With the gun mounted, the pad should contact your shoulder over it's whole length - because single point contact will make perceived recoil way worse and may raise the stock up to slap your cheekbone.

Thanks for sharing your journey.

Rob!
 
I have 870's, 500's and a Franchi Semi-auto. I like them all but I also have a Turkish made Maverick O/U and I like it too. They're not $3000 guns but it doesn't have to be to be thrown in the back seat of my truck between grouse walks. Swings well and fits me OK so it's often my go-to for those short overgrown road walks in the bush. All I'm saying is don't overlook them as a starter O/U.
 
My do all gun is an 870 camo with the 28" barrel and the 24" rifled cantilever barrel. I can hunt everything with that gun.

I have a browning citori sporting for skeet and recently picked up a Turkish made ATA Mirage in 20g that will become my new favourite bird gun because it fits me like a dream and is nice to shoot. I have a Kahn Arms o/u and wore it out in one year of serious clay shooting. It is now and gun I let my friends shoot or maybe a grouse gun.

Bottom line is if you want a hunting gun then get a good hunting gun. Doesn't have to be expensive. If you want a clays gun the I recommend finding a used sporting model browning or beretta.
 
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