Side by Side or Over & Under?

[prohunter]

I have been hearing alot of people going to the side by side shotgun. Is this just preferance or is it actually better for upland game?

[Frank]

prohunter, this topic was discussed just fairly recently and can probably scroll down to find it. Anyway, I for one was actually surprised at how many fans there were of the side by side vs the O/U. Interesting!

I've shot both and I personally like the O/U and in fact is what I (almost) use exlusively anymore. No comparison in my mind, but the side by sides really have a "strong" following and their supporters will say the same thing, I'm sure.

A little off the subject, but I Do have soft spot for a Beneli semi auto that I will probably no longer be able to go through life without much longer :)

Good Hunting
Frank

[DKScott]

Prohunter:

I think sxs are just the current fashion - Hunting with Hank, Double Gun Journal, etc. We've all gotten bird dogs. Pretty soon we'll all be wearing plus-fours, tweed coats and ties when we go hunting. I'm already seeing ads for european style driven shoots. Gimme a break.

Ironically, among my friends, most of the "bird guns", are too fancy and expensive to take into the field. Mostly they sit in the safe or get used when training the dog in nice grassy fields on sunny dry days.

I have both and the sxs is fun, but when I want to put birds in the bag or I'm keeping score, the o/u wins it hands down. They're just easier to shoot. SxS used to dominate competition (e.g. Win M-21), but now they're non-existent when money's on the line.

Scott

[Qbn Hunter]

IMHO, shotguns are like wines stick with what you like. It doesn’t matter what "experts" say. Do you feel more comfortable with an sxs or o/u? I like shooting my sxs while I hunt cause it just feels right. My friend has an old, 30+, Browning Citori that he uses to shoot clays. I have shot that gun a few times and for some reason it fits me just right. It fits me better than any high-end Beretta scatter gun. I have offered to buy that gun from him but he always turns me down. So as I said earlier stick with what you like, with what you feel comfortable with. And have fun out there.

[prohunter]

Thanks for the replies. I will scrool down and look for the other post.

[Speckmisser]

The old discussion is probably WAAAYYYY down there, but it seemed to go on for a couple of pages.

For my part, I just like shooting my SxS. I've read lots of articles from the "experts", and they say the advantages really add up for the O/U, but I do OK with the side-by.

In addition, hunting with my 12ga muzzleloader SxS is the most fun you can have without removing clothing.

[1SoCalHunter]

Hey Cbn:
Your side by side other than shooting both rounds at once http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-hair-raisin-blue.gif, you love it right??http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-biggrin-aqua.gifhttp://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-biggrin-aqua.gif

[Qbn Hunter]

1SoCal,

U need something like that so you can shoot at those far reaching doves, at 60 yds., U like to shoot at.

[MNHNTR]

Had remington auto loaders for most of my natural hunting life. Bought a Beretta O/U two years ago and never looked back........love it....... quail and dove beware!


http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-biggrin-aqua.gif

[dazco]

I never had an O/U till i got my Verona. So i don&#39;t know if it&#39;s just an unusually good gun or if it&#39;s because it&#39;s an O/U, but i cannot shoot nearly as well with any other shotgun i&#39;ve had. I do think the Verona is a great gun, but i&#39;m pretty sure it&#39;s just the fact that it&#39;s an O/U that makes me shoot so well with it. I&#39;ll never use anything else but an O/U till i&#39;m cold. (I hope thats many many quail from now http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-biggrin-aqua.gif )

[Buster]

If God had intended man to use an over/under, he would have made our eyes
like ":" .

[DB Bill]

Hunting over dogs I like a nice side-by-side but for ducks, doves, etc I like an O/U.

[swampfox]

i like a side by side

[shufigo]

Like most issues, you can break it down into emotion or logic. Emotion says you shoot what you like, what makes you feel good. Logic says that when you shoot and keep score, you shoot what you shoot best. Logic also says that thousands and thousands of trap, skeet, sporting clays, live pigeon and other flying game shooters can shoot whatever they like -- but they like what gives them the highest scores. And you can go years, literally years, without seeing a side by side being shot in competition by a serious competition shooter. Shoot the O/U to hit the most birds (clays, etc.), shoot whatever you want to feel good.