I've curred most of the problem with shells. I use a shell catcher when I can so that takes care of singles and handicap. No problem with skeet or sporting. Most of the guys I shoot doubles with are quite good and I have noticed that they are so focused on their game that a few shells don't bother them. Easy to load my 391 without releasing targets. Not being able to have two different chokes may be a slight disadvantage but hardly a PITA. Choke selection is far over rated and certainly over talked. A centred target is a scored target. Other than bunker trap which hardly anyone gets a chance to shoot I am with CB in suggesting that the 391 is a do it all gun. This point is one of the few times when I disagree with what you post.
second opinion first tme buyer
- Thread starter mclaren
- Start date
I've curred most of the problem with shells. I use a shell catcher when I can so that takes care of singles and handicap. No problem with skeet or sporting. Most of the guys I shoot doubles with are quite good and I have noticed that they are so focused on their game that a few shells don't bother them. Easy to load my 391 without releasing targets. Not being able to have two different chokes may be a slight disadvantage but hardly a PITA. Choke selection is far over rated and certainly over talked. A centred target is a scored target. Other than bunker trap which hardly anyone gets a chance to shoot I am with CB in suggesting that the 391 is a do it all gun. This point is one of the few times when I disagree with what you post.
John Spartan
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Just a little more to the right...
Another thing: make sure that you take into consideration your dominant eye. If your right eye is your dominant eye, a right handed gun is the way to go. Otherwise you won't enjoy shooting as much as you could and should, due to a lot of misses. That's been my experience.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I've owned truckloads of shotguns and have busted equivalent volumes of clays and birds, and still have a long way to go in my shotgunning life. What I've found is I've tried all the actions, and I settled on a quality 3" chambered, steel shot capable side by side 12 gauge with interchangeable chokes. I've since sold all the others. It uplands, it waterfowls, it breaks clays... It even deer hunts, the second outing as of this morning in that vein.
You may want a bigger selection in the safe, but I'm not a serious clay shooter and I'm more into birds, so I chose my lovely side by side. I prefer a double to a pump or auto due to having two chokes to instantly select from, a shorter, better handling gun for the same barrel length due to almost no action length compared to a pump or auto, and for the instant 'safe' by breaking the action open. They also take down into halves for transport in 3 seconds, and are much easier to clean and maintain due to no action to dirty and instant access to the bores. I prefer side by sides to over unders for handling, when you open he action the barrels merely have to tip forward shallowly, versus a deep sweep for an over under, and for looks and, to me, handling. A double just rings true for me, I love them; I'm betting you haven't found 'your' type of gun yet.
I respect it seems you too want to go right to your 'go to gun'. I took the long road, but if you're like me, you won't know what your ultimate gun is for 10 years. So I'd say in the meantime, buy a value pump action 3" 12g and just start with the fun and try any gun you get offered. On the other hand, to make it tough on you, I know you'd be happy if you followed the good advice advocating Berettas, Brownings, and other quality makers. But I'd jump into the sport first, gun later. Good luck!
You may want a bigger selection in the safe, but I'm not a serious clay shooter and I'm more into birds, so I chose my lovely side by side. I prefer a double to a pump or auto due to having two chokes to instantly select from, a shorter, better handling gun for the same barrel length due to almost no action length compared to a pump or auto, and for the instant 'safe' by breaking the action open. They also take down into halves for transport in 3 seconds, and are much easier to clean and maintain due to no action to dirty and instant access to the bores. I prefer side by sides to over unders for handling, when you open he action the barrels merely have to tip forward shallowly, versus a deep sweep for an over under, and for looks and, to me, handling. A double just rings true for me, I love them; I'm betting you haven't found 'your' type of gun yet.
I respect it seems you too want to go right to your 'go to gun'. I took the long road, but if you're like me, you won't know what your ultimate gun is for 10 years. So I'd say in the meantime, buy a value pump action 3" 12g and just start with the fun and try any gun you get offered. On the other hand, to make it tough on you, I know you'd be happy if you followed the good advice advocating Berettas, Brownings, and other quality makers. But I'd jump into the sport first, gun later. Good luck!
Disagreement is good - it fosters discussion. Those who have taken the time to post in this thread (Yourself, Claybuster, Ardent, Grouse Man, to name but a few) are all accomplished shooters who bring experience and a level head to bear. The fact that we don't all agree on all points says something in itself. It proves to the OP that there's no "right" answer to his question. It shows that each sport has peculiarities that offer opportunities for an advantage, if you tailor the gun to the purpose. Naturally, this is difficult when searching for one gun to do all things.
I respect your opinion and I'm glad you and Claybuster have offered your perspective for consideration by the OP. He needs this breadth of perspective. When it comes to clay sports, I shoot almost exclusively international bunker (with the occasional round of sporting clays). I've shot the other games long enough to know what guns and configurations offer the best potential. The exception is skeet. I've never been bitten by that bug.
You may have noticed that my recommendations certainly didn't include choke selections appropriate for skeet. I'm not suggesting that semi's have no purpose. What I am saying is that, if you want to choose just one gun for multiple disciplines, my personal recommendation would not be an auto. Despite knowing that semi's could be restricted someday down the road, I sold my last auto last summer.
By all means, offer any dissenting opinions you may have and include the reasoning. The OP and I might both learn something.
BTW, I share your passion for SXS's. I especially appreciate the open hammer variety. The only place I've never taken a SXS is to the firing line on an international bunker - and I'm working on that as we speak.
I love Semi's. But I don't think they are the best choice for Skeet. Most clubs I shoot at you have to pick up your empties (Trap & Skeet), unless it's a Tournament. That's OK for singles Trap where you can use a shell catcher but in doubles and Skeet it is not ideal. Being a reloader and a hull whore I prefer my empties not hitting the ground. So if I shot more Skeet a nice O/U would fit the bill.
On a side note my Knees are not what they used to be. All that bending over can take it's toll on the Knee joints.
In a perfect world my d**k would get as stiff as my Knees do.
On a side note my Knees are not what they used to be. All that bending over can take it's toll on the Knee joints.
In a perfect world my d**k would get as stiff as my Knees do.
It is not wrong to disagree as long as we are not disagreeable.
Here's my thinking on the original question.
The OP is a new shooter and asked about hunting ducks, geese and gamebirds. He asked about a specific make and model and wants to stay under a price limit of $1,300. He is already inclined toward a semi-auto and a good one at that.
At his price limit there is not an o/u that would offer the same value as a semi-auto when considering new guns. If the OP had asked about clay target shooting and had a budget north of $2,500 I'd have described the strengths and weaknesses of both configurations and let him decide.
Beyond that it's strictly personal bias. I've used o/u and sxs for waterfowl shooting and don't like them quite as much as the semi. To me the semi is somewhat easier to load and manage in the blind and to be completely honest waterfowling is the only shotgun activity where I've genuinely appreciated the benefits of a third shot. There are some advantages to the breaking guns too and it's a very, very close call.
The challenge for those of us with experience is to recommend what is best for the shooter and not promote just what we like. If limited to one shotgun it must be suitable for all activities but perhaps not the best choice for any one. That's why most of us have more than one shotgun.
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Right on Claybuster!!!!!!! I now use my 391 Gold Optima Sporter exclusively for waterfowl and shooting backup on our driven pheasant shoots. I use my Chapuis 28 Ga or Clayborough & Johnson SxS for hunting upland birds. I use my DT10L on clays until it broke in late September. I will have it fixed at Precision once I get the new kit from Beretta. But, I will probably have a very high grade Parcours O/U by sometime mid winter, bespoken of course! It will replace the DT10L as my principal clay gun.
"The one that has the most toys, wins!"
Regards,
Henry
"The one that has the most toys, wins!"
Regards,
Henry
Well certainly my 391s do not replace my bespoken o/u and sxs but are suitable back-ups should the need arise.Right on Claybuster!!!!!!! I now use my 391 Gold Optima Sporter exclusively for waterfowl and shooting backup on our driven pheasant shoots. I use my Chapuis 28 Ga or Clayborough & Johnson SxS for hunting upland birds. I use my DT10L on clays until it broke in late September. I will have it fixed at Precision once I get the new kit from Beretta. But, I will probably have a very high grade Parcours O/U by sometime mid winter, bespoken of course! It will replace the DT10L as my principal clay gun.
"The one that has the most toys, wins!"
Regards,
Henry
Very sorry to hear about your DT10L. There seems to be a plethora of irritations with that model. Since the ASE90 went out of production Berettas haven't quite been the same.
Well then #12 on Straightshooter's list in post #16 applies and Henry's Parcours o/u can be called a shotty.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
I pretty much agree with Straight Shooter and Grouse Man, their original posts echo my experience.
