Another shotgun question...this one on over/unders

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As I recently posted...I am in the process of building my gun collection. After more than 10 years in the sserviec in locations I could not sport hunt, I am finally hunting in the states....anyways, I bought a deer set up - a roifles slug gun w/scope. Now I am looking for an all around shotgun for bird, occasional duck small game etc. I was leaning towards a Benelli SBE II, Win X2 or Beretta Xtrema 2...I was discussing this with a guy from Gander Mountain and he suggested I look at an over under, and not bother with the 3.5 shells since the new "heavy loads" will meet the needs of what the 3.5 shells were designed to do...he gave me some material to read on the heavy loads - seems interesting...

I will say that duck and goose hunting is low on the likely to actually hunt - I see me primarily using the gun for fun on the range with skeet and for small game, and upland birds.

Two questions...
1. Any thoughts on this guys suggestion?
2. CDNN has what appears to be great deals on over/unders from Sig, H&K and a few other brands I am not as familiar with....with respect to over/unders....what brands stand out as "the best" within (or below) the $1500 range?

Thanks,
Matt
 
I have a 3.5" SuperX2 and use it for EVERYTHING. My over/under hasn't seen much use at all since I got the X2, I just love shooting it. I had an SBE and sold it, I don't miss it. I have not shot an Extrema much, but they do seem like a very promising gun.

Good O/U that are less than $1500 and could be found in most gunshops would be Browning, Beretta, and Ruger. I am sure there are others but they aren't as common. I am partial to the Beretta and Ruger O/U, they are slimmer through the action and stocks and lighter in most models. Beretta has some very nice models to choose from around $1500, Ruger basically has a 28" and a light contour 30".

I would strongly suggest that you do not order an O/U without handling one, fit is very important and the best gun on the market won't shoot well for you if it doesn't fit. Handle them and see which one feels the best to you before you plunk down the money.
 
I got to agree with what HSMITH has said. I never could warm up to the feel of a Browning action, they shoot well and many people love them. I prefer the feel of Berettas and Rugers.

As far as 3.5" shells, I wouldn't want to even shoot one in an O/U. No recoil system to help out. If your main quarry is waterfowl then you would probably want a gun so chambered. Otherwise get what feels good to you and comes to the shoulder and face naturally.

As far as comfort level of shotguns, autos really can't be beat, it is a matter of personal choice.

Now let's talk about the 28 gauge...... ;) :D
 
I see me primarily using the gun for fun on the range with skeet and for small game, and upland birds.
Click to expand...
Then you don't need 3.5". In o/us any of the Berettas or Brownings would be a good choice provided the gun comes with a 3" chamber. You may be going after ducks and while 3.5" isn't necessary, 3" has its uses.

For what you've described an o/u is nice but for an all round gun there isn't anything that beats the Beretta 391 Urika IMHO.
 
Hell 3.5" shells are crazy i know a person who has killed every kind of bird with a .410 all his guns save one His 10 lb. skeet gun. The only thing he hasnt killed with it is a goose and thats because he doesnt like the meat. But I would get a browning gold/ X2 or the extrema the gold felt really good as did the X2 they are all good guns the benelli IMHO kicks no harder than the other two.
 
# 1 : Gun Fit to Shooter

#2 : Task.

For me, I never even owned a gun capable of firing anything but 2 3/4" shells [except .410] until a few years ago. I dont' think I have fired a 3" shell yet, I may have chambered one.

For me, I did/ still do everything from skeet, other clay games, live bird shooting, competition, duck, geese, deer...you name it with 2 3/4" .

HSMITH has to hunt hard for his Waterfowl. I am in flooded timber in and around the Duck Capital of the World . Sorry H. :D

Browning Citori's fit me. I used a 3 bbl set for competition. Even with fixed skeet chokes I took all sorts of game, including Ducks and Geese with the 28 ga bbl. :D

In fact for a bit all I shot was 28 ga for everything - except when the .410 event hit. Or, when wanted to shoot slugs, which I do like my slugs from a shotgun.

I like all platforms and gauges, even the 24 and 32 ga. Oh and for kudu's sake the 36 ( 64 ga). ;)

Always figured a man with a 12ga pump and a 28 ga shotgun had all the bases covered. Hard part is - them 28ga's , gotta have a pump, a SxS, a O/U, a semi, and a single shot. :)

My 12 bore semi choice for me was the Win Super X1 . So I am biased in liking the SX2.

The Berettas fit me and are nice guns in both Semis, and O/U.

For an all around shotgun - gonna be real hard to beat a 12 ga Pump from Rem, Win, Ithaca or Mossy with screw in chokes.

Best kept secret for a Clay shooter is a OLDer used Rem 1100, Beretta 303, 390. 12 ga is more versatile, that 20 ga is the real secret.

Gun fit to shooter, then the task. Then ...then....collect the whole set. :D
 
As has been pointed out, don't buy a shotgun without trying it for feel- it must feel a part of you or you will not shoot it well as it has to fit.

I am personally partial to Beretta's. Choose one ideally that takes screw in chokes.

I have an ultralight that takes 2 3/4 inch shells and I tend to choose light loads as it recoils somewhat in 12 gua. However I can carry it all day without distress.

I own a 686 Sporting for 'heavy' load use and find the extra weight of this gun beneficial when you want to reach out and touch some ducks.
 
Buy a good used o/u from a quality company like a Browning Citori, A Beretta 686, or an SKB. If you intend to shoot informal skeet and go upland hunting, a 6-1/2 lb or so gun is fine. That precludes moderately inexpensive O/U 12 ga. guns which typically weight a tad over 8 pounds. A 16 or 20 is a good choice with 16 being the best if you reload and 20 if you don't. Anything over 6-3/4 pounds is too slow to mount properly at a flushing bird and too tiring to lug around all day for the average man. Anything under 6-1/4 lbs. is too whippy to swing smoothly for most men. The Ruger 20 is way too heavy for the gauge at nearly 7-1/2 pounds. Some light 12 O/Us weigh less.
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Pick the gun that naturally mounts with your eye looking right down the center of the rib. Bring a friend you trust and have him look at your rib/eye alignment from the muzzle end once the gun is mounted. Put the gun down and remount it several times to have him get a firm idea which gun fits you best. Then buy that gun and no other. Be patient and look at as many guns as is necessary to find the one that fits you. This gun fit factor is by far the most important thing in buying a shotgun. If it doesn't fit you, you will never get to be a competant shot...never....period.... no matter how much you spend on it. You might have to lengthen or shorten the stock or even have it bent via the hot oil method to get the perfect fit. However, take your time doing that and make only one change at a time to the stock.

Forget the gun on the shoulder stuff at the skeet range. Learn to shoot with a low gun start. You don't normally hunt birds with a premounted gun so why bother to shoot that way at the club. Just remember to hold the gun at the ready around hip level with the gun about parallel to the ground and about one third out from the house toward the center post. Call for the target and focus hard at its center. Then bring the gun flat to the shoulder with the muzzle tracking the target and your body swinging to face it at about 45%. You should be swinging through the target about the time the butt snugs into your shoulder pocket and your face simultaneously comes up firm to the stock with your shooting eye focused hard on the target down the middle of the rib. Continue the swing through the target and fire when your brain says so. Repeat until you start to crush them. Then repeat until you can predetermine where you will break the target along its flight path. Then you will be ready to shoot at live game birds and not before. good luck, 16gg.
 
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