speaking of O/U's....

G

gaseousclay

New member
are they generally only used for trap-shooting or do a lot of hunters also use them to hunt with? I know this may sound like a dumb question but i've been lead to believe that most people use them for trap. I'm guessing this is false?
 
The serious trap shooter uses a single barrel gun for Singles (16-yard) and Handicap Trap. For Trap Doubles, and International Trap (where you get a second shot if you miss the first) O/Us are used. An O/U is also the gun of choice in the other clay target games where a smooth swing and a quick second shot are required. The same applies to field shooting, the O/U or SxS is the most reliable repeater. Pumps and autos are know to jamb. With a double barreled gun, since the shells are already in the tubes, there isn't a chance of a jamb. Of course, just like a stick gun, they can have trigger failures.
 
Aside from the ability to have more then one choke, another other nice thing about hunting with a double gun (SxS or O/U) is being able to easily unload it when required.

Just like autos, many companies make both lighter field and heavier target guns.
 
O/U's are my primary gun for Skeet, Trap, Sporting Clays and for bird hunting .... Quail ...Pheasant ...and even waterfowl ...

I use a different gun for "Trap" ...and while I have break open single barrel trap guns, like the Browning BT-99 or the older BT-100, I prefer the weight and balance of an O/U for Trap - like the Browning Citori XT Trap with 32" barrels.

I like my O/U's in the field / hunting birds ...mostly because I shoot them all the time - like the weight, balance, feel on follow thru - and I use all 30" barrels on my field hunting ....

I have pump guns and semi-autos as well ....but I'm often as sucessful with 2 shells as I am with 3 .... Maybe because I know I only have 2 shells ...I don't slap that first round out there ...without making sure my feet are set, my mount is ok ....and I can execute the shot ....so I don't see the O/U as having much of a downside in the field.

So no, they are not only for Trap ....( in my opinion ) .../ although I do like the longer and heavier gun for Trap (32", around 10lbs ) vs everything else ...
30" barrels and around 7 1/2 - 8 1/2 lbs /because Trap has less barrel movement left to right vs real hunting, etc ....
 
MANY hunters, clay shooters and others use O/U's. While SxS's are the "classic", their recoil is lateral versus more straight back from the O/U, and the sighting plane between the two is vastly different. As mentioned, an O/U doesn't need a plug. is easy to determine if it is safe (broken open), and allows you the ability to utilize two different chokes
 
My "go to" battery for bird hunting are all OU's in all 4 gauges. The 12 and 20 have their obvious uses and the 28 and 410 get to go out for doves, quail and Pidgeons around grain silos.... Then I have "target" OU's specifically for skeet, trap and sporting clays. Their what I like and shoot the best, never felt handicapped with "just" 2 shots......
 
Sporting clays was designed as practice for hunting .It makes good sense ,if you hunt, to shoot clays with your hunting gun ! Besdides a fine O/U makes a fine hunting gun though I don't use mine in bad weather.
 
I use a O/U for clay sports and a semi auto for hunting. Just my preference. Certainly an O/U would work admirably, but my O/U's are pretty nice, and I don't feel comfortable taking them to the field and smacking them around and dropping them in the mud. I bought a synthetic semi auto just for this purpose. Your money, your choice, but this is what works for me.
 
Pop killed an awful lot of game with an old Savage O/U he bought around 1942, then an SKB in 20g when the Savage was stolen. Recently I found a similar SKB and brought it home. Did great on a dove hunt and I've popped a few squirrels with it.

I have used my Beretta clays O/U on dove and it does well. But, at 8 pounds plus a little, it's better where I do not have to tote it much.
 
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