Thoughts on over under Shotguns?

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riverview

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I want to know your thoughts! How smooth do they run, are they easy to fire, where can I find more info?
 
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What specifically did you want to know? You’ll get more help if you start asking specific questions, personally I’m not into O/U’s. I like the SxS or single shots if we’re talking break actions, I prefer a pump shotgun over all.
 
I like the look and feel of a O/U more then a SXS personally and i like semi autos a lot. I think pump actions are my least favorite, probably do to the millions making the racking sound for various reason over my life.
 
First off, the originators of the concept called them under/overs, since they intended the lower barrel to be fired first and for the second barrel to be available for a second shot. The theory is that by building the lower barrel directly in line with the mass of the receiver and the support of the stock, there would be reduced muzzle flip ahead of any potential second shot. In my opinion, it works pretty much as intended.

One might point out that a pump or a semi already do a great job of aligning the barrel for reduction of muzzle flip. This is true, of course, but neither of those designs offer more than one choke selection. They both have other characteristics that are a detraction, but I'll avoid triggering those side discussions here. Both when hunting and in competition, two chokes are an advantage.

I confess to an extreme bias in favour of break-action doubles. In the field, I prefer double triggered, straight stocked side-by-sides or U/Os. In doubles competition, the first shot is almost always closer than the second (and when not, you know ahead of time to set the barrel selector to 'top'), so single triggered under/overs are more practical.

This all implies that no single U/O is best for all applications. What had you planned to do with this U/O?
 
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Have certainly shot more upland birds with a Win silver pigeon 20 ga. 101 than any other gun. Now mostly hunt with sxs's but would not say no to an Ovundo.
 
For what I do and just overall, I prefer SxS on the whole, however O/Us are often the only available choice if you want a better quality new or lightly used DBL. I am of course talking about hunting.
 
I just purchased a Mossberg International Silver Reserve and so far, I'm happy with it. It IS an import from, I think, Turkey. My son bought a new Canuck and, outside of some engraving on mine, it is identical and undoubtedly came from the same factory. I've heard both good and bad about them, but so far so good.
 
My grouse swatter is a 410 sxs with fixed choke f/f. Also have a 20 sxs i never use, a CZ mallard 12, 28 Ithaca c chokes, and a Beretta 303.

Choosing just one it would be the 410, followed by the 28, and CZ12.

Not a waterfowl area, and more of a pasture skeet guy than organized sporting clays guy.
 
I love quality built O/Us. Not a big fan of over engraved guns they, don't break targets any better. I have nothing against art work, just don't want it on my gun. I shoot most Sundays and after five or six years, my gun has its share of dings and marks. I have two sporting clay guns one is a auto one a O/U. I shoot scores with both of them that are about the same. However most time a grab the O/U. Partly because I hate picking up empties, and my O/U is like a old friend, I just enjoy its company. Not all guns are created equally. I have seen a lot of Turkish guns that were, lets say substandard. Buy a good quality O/U, shoot it till your done with it then give it to your grand kids. They will likely shoot it many years too.
 
I love an over-under, the only place I wouldn't prefer one is hunting in bear country where a pump gun seems a little more practical for multiple ammo selections. I find they point the most naturally and as mentioned earlier the second shot is easier to place than with a SxS.
 
For sporting clays, trap, and pheasant hunting an over/under is easily my preference. I've had and shot many economy priced o/u guns and they don't last very long compared to the top brand names. There are a lot of moving parts and if you regularly bust clays two or more times a month you will have a cheap gun warn out in a few short seasons. I have the same Beretta 686 for 25 years, you get what you pay for. The 3 cheap guns I wore out in the first ten years exceeded the price of the Beretta and the performance was half.

An economical O/U gun is a short term investment.
 
Thoughts?? Where to start and where to end??

In short, I like the fact that one can have multiple chokes. I like that the OAL is shorter than a semi or pump with an equal length barrel. I like how they are balanced. I like how they swing. I like how they can be carried. I like how they can be proven safe. I like their elegance.

While I also like a nice sxs, I shoot o/u’s much better then a sxs.

While I really like double guns , most of my hunting is done with semi’s. I have owned many pumps and hated each and every one. A pump shotgun will never have a permanent place in my safe. They will never grow on me
 
Begin with a good quality gun from a repeatable company, fall in love with the gun and never look back. A cheap over under may ruin the experience for you, so don't take the chance if you are seriously contemplating about getting into over unders. A nice o/u, though it may cost more than those entry level Turkish made guns, doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg.

One of my favourite o/u's is the Beretta s55 and s65. Everytime I see one online, I jump on it like there is no tomorrow. These O/U's just fit me well, much better than my Citori's, my Winny 101 or even my Siver Pigeons, though ironically the s55 is the grandfather of the Silver Pigeon. It is a much lighter and more agile gun and it is the one that I take most on my walks on the crown land that surround my house. It's Southern Ontario so I seldom carry a high power rifle when I am not seriously hunting but for small game and a bit of animal protection, the s55 is a joy to carry even on the days that I don't even fire a single shot. My last s55, I purchased with in the original box last year for $550 from one of the site sponsors. Why buy a Stoeger when you can get a Beretta for the same price.
 
The only o/u I ever owned was a Baikal. It locked up solid and was hefty enough to bludgen an Elephant if your 2 shots failed. Anyhow, nothing wrong with some of the utilitarian guns out there. It's still a shotgun afterall. Shotties are my most used guns but I dont bother shelling out big bucks for one. My main $$ goes to my other hunting rifles or other fun guns.
 
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