The "perfect" O/U for hunting and sport shooting ....

gobigorgohome

gobigorgohome

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Here's the deal, I need an O/U for upland and sport shooting. Already have a couple benelli semi autos and pumps for waterfowl and the only thing holding me back from an Ethos is that they aren't a LH gun.... so my criteria is:

Light as possible
Under 3000$
12 gauge 3"
Removable choke tubes
Wood stock

So what models should I be looking at? I've been set on a browning citori feather lightning 12 ga but have been told they don't hold up well to 10,000+ rounds, which this gun could easily see. I've held dozens and dozens and many feel good.... so what would you guys recommend? Or should I put my order in for a feather lightning?
 
Its true the browning citori feather lightning has a aluminum receiver that is reinforced with steel inserts. Although a excellent quality model designed to be cut weight for upland hunting and will handle some clays game shooting it, it will ware out faster then a solid steel receiver. I would say go with the regular citori model but you want light weight, so I am going to recommend the Beretta silver pigeon in 20ga. Beretta silver pigeon will out last you. 20ga is the perfect upland gauge for upland hunting, skeet and sporting clays. Now if your clays shooting is going to be mostly trap, then go with the 12ga. More heavy then the 20 but still lighter then the citori 12.
 
Check out the Benelli 828U, stock can be adjusted like a auto loader.

I love berettas but they do have a bit of cast off and unless you get a custom stock most left hand shooters don't care for them.
 
My do everything O/U is a Beretta 687 silver pigeon 3. The locking lugs are tapered to self adjust for
wear and the hinge stubs are replaceable if you live long enough to need that. Changeable chokes, even rated for steel if you want. Plenty light.
They come up used once in a while, which would drop
the price into your range. 686s and lower grades are cheaper, and inwardly the same.
 
Your budget is reasonable, stay away from sub quality Turkish imports, but It is not so much a matter of what is best. It is a matter of what is best for you. The group I hunt with shoot a variety, of quality O/Us. They shoot them very well, but for me, all but one or two seem awkward and don't shoulder well. Shoot a few, guns head to a sporting clay range brake a few targets. you can shoulder a lot of guns, and if you ask nicely, shoot a few rounds too. The gun you seek will become obvious. Good luck
 
If you can afford to put 10k+ rounds through it, you can afford to get a proper sporting gun and a field gun. IMO, you can't afford not to.

Or start with a field gun, and then buy a sporter after.

C
 
Cardamonfrost said:
If you can afford to put 10k+ rounds through it, you can afford to get a proper sporting gun and a field gun. IMO, you can't afford not to.

Or start with a field gun, and then buy a sporter after.

C
Click to expand...


I don't fully agree with that. 1500-2000 rounds a year, own the gun for a few years, 10,000 isn't out of the question. But it's not like a hard competition shooter that'll put maybe 1000 rounds through it in a weekend of practice..... my duck gun probably has close to 10,000 round and I've had it for 8 years....
 
You should shoulder both the "B" guns - they both have some offset in the buttstock to accommodate right hand shooters. The cast is typical of European guns, I wonder if the Remington O/U's had it?
 
gobigorgohome said:
I don't fully agree with that. 1500-2000 rounds a year, own the gun for a few years, 10,000 isn't out of the question. But it's not like a hard competition shooter that'll put maybe 1000 rounds through it in a weekend of practice..... my duck gun probably has close to 10,000 round and I've had it for 8 years....
Click to expand...

10k is 400 rounds of clays. I say with great certainty that after 400 rounds, the OP will be wishing for a heavier gun than they would use for field work.

I suspect there is no 'one gun to rule them all'.

C
 
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