Many shooters out there?

[TulsaLhorn]

I recently moved to Tulsa which is far from my home base in South Texas so I really never get to hunt any more (mostly bird hunting these days). Since being here I have fallen in with a few fellows that shoot sporting clays and even though it is totally new to me , I have been enjoying it. Getting to the point... I have never shot and over and under before and wonder what I am missing. I currently have my trusty old rem 870WM, a Benelli ultralight SA and my grandads old browning a5 all of which I have used for hunting. Other than the ability to have two different chokes whats the big advantage of am over and under? BTW reason for this question is that the big Tulsa gun show is in town this weekend and I thought I might have the opportunity to pick one up. Thanks

 

[azmark]

I've always wanted to get into clay shooting. I have a side by side and been out on few company outings at the range and it is such an addicting hobby.

 

[knlgskr]

An O/U usually has the balance point between the hands rather than barrel or stock and also it is shorter overall with the same barrel length because of the absence of a receiver. It also has a straight line sighting plane which makes tracking targets easier than with a side-by-side. That said, whatever works best for you; get a shotgun that fits you well and is comfortable to shoot. O/Us Perazzi, Beretta, Browning, Ruger, Krieghoff, Guns of Ulm, Rottweiler, Marocchi, AyA, Remington 3200 are all excellent.

 

[bigstick]

I shoot skeet and sporting clays and I confess to being anti-O/U. I find their balance is all wrong for me, not between the hands but more forward. I use a side by. I've always used a side by since I was 15. (long long ago). I also happily use a Browning pump (dumps the empties conveniently at my feet) and I did use an Auto 5 as well (tosses 'em all over the damn place). Most at the club, however, use O/U. I'm convinced it is sheeepishness, not any real advantage. Sight picture is an excuse. You learn the sight picture of your own gun soon enough, and I have no trouble swapping a single barrel for a SxS at will. Double triggers, however, will make your life easy and sweet. Avoid recoil-set single triggers like the plague they truly are. Skeet loads are light.

 

[TulsaLhorn]

Thanks all! Good stuff that makes sense and that I hadn't realized. I'm off to the Tulsa gun show now.

 

[bald1]

Lucked into a very nice 1957 Belgium Browning Superposed Lightning Grade 1 a dozen years back. Pristine barrels but a bit of worn bluing and some minor field dings in the stock. Looked to have been carried some but not shot all that much. The price was great so I grabbed it and restored all but the gold trigger plating. 28" tubes, modified over improved 12 gauge. No steel shot for this baby. It's been great for clays. Length of pull fits me like a glove! Love it.

Never took to the fancy-schmancy super grade wood, gold inlaid, exotic engraved, mega buck shotguns. But its true what they say about the quality of the old Belgium Brownings.... very, very nice

 

[bigstick]

John M. knew a thing or two, didn't he? You're a lucky man, indeed. But your photos underscore why I don't get along with the type. Raised to a splinter forearm I could never get used to that fat half-cylinder and the strange grip it requires. those that adapt more readily certainly handle them well, though. Give you joy of it, sir.

 

[TulsaLhorn]

I picked up a Charles Daly Superior II 12ga(italian made so either fausti or beretta). It's had a little use/wear , but I figured for only $300 it was an affordable experiment. Here are some stock photos, I'll post some of mine later.

 

[bald1]

Charles Daly closed its doors earlier this year unfortunately. O/U shotguns made by Mirouku (also makes Browning Citoris, autoloaders and pumps) are very nice pieces. I think you'll find FIAS-Sabatti made your piece and that it compares quite favorably with the decades older Mirouku scatterguns. Here's a comment about them by Mr. Kassnar of Charles Daly. If the barrels were pristine and lockwork tight, you got a nice deal

 

[TulsaLhorn]

Thanks for the definitive info! I didnt realize that such an authorative source was available, I gathered my information from gunbroker.com

"It was possibly made by Fausti Stephano/ Rizzini in Italy. They are a quality firearms manufacturer. Traditions imports these under their trade name as well. Beretta also made guns for Charles Daly Company, so it could be a Beretta product. I would value your gun roughly at $950-$1095. Look at some pictures of Fausti Stephano/Rizzini shotguns and Beretta shotguns and see if yours looks similar. Charles Daly is/was an importer only. Most of their products are first class. I feel that your shotgun is an excellent one. The 28th Edition of Blue Book of Gun Values lists the Superior II Hunter as imported 1997-2005 with the last MSRP of $1519, and a 98% value of $1,075, and a 95% value of $900. This book is two years old so today's values might be a little higher."

The guy sounded like he knew what he was talking about but that's not the same as finding out from the manufacturer! Thanks again.

BTW, Don't know if the barrels were pristine, but they looked dry and unpitted, no bulges or dents, I suppose I should have brought a light to have better look. Not sure how to check the lockwork, but it passed the "shake test" =P and felt tight.

 

[bald1]

Thanks for the definitive info! I didnt realize that such an authorative source was available, I gathered my information from gunbroker.com

The guy sounded like he knew what he was talking about but that's not the same as finding out from the manufacturer! Thanks again.

There's a lot of self proclaimed experts and folks willing to speculate without admitting it's just speculation..... such is the internet. I always try to obtain prime source material when weighing in on something. True its not always possible but it really helps when it is cited.

Even though CD closed it's doors, their forums are still active including ones devoted to shotguns. See http://www.charlesdalyforum.com/index.php. You'll find even more info there

BTW, Don't know if the barrels were pristine, but they looked dry and unpitted, no bulges or dents, I suppose I should have brought a light to have better look. Not sure how to check the lockwork, but it passed the "shake test" =P and felt tight.

Sounds great. Looks to have a few tiny use dings in the engraving which is not unusual. Again for the price I think you did quite well. Now you need to get out there and shoot it to confirm that it feels and performs great in your hands!

 

[airplanedoc]

I know some people profess that it is easier to lead with a o/u just since it is just like a single barrel, but I have seen plenty of people shoot perfect scores with a side by side.

I chalk it all up o personnel preference myself

 

[Derek_V]

I grew up with an 870, great gun, tough as nails, and still use it for waterfowl; but for me, my hunting / skeet / trap / sporting clays improved dramatically with my O/U.

I managed to find a great deal on a 20ga Winchester 101 and it was love at first sight, or first time I put it to my shoulder anyway.

That said, I've shouldered cheaper guns that felt really good, and more expensive ones that felt wrong somehow. Some guns just fit some people.

Enjoy your Daly, I hope it performes well for you.

Regards
Derek

 

[bald1]

TulsaLHorn,

I meant to ask earlier but forgot..... what chokes have you got for those barrels? And how long are they? 28"? 30"? 32"?

 

[ramblin-wreck]

You may want to look into a Yildiz o/u. Academy Sports has them pretty cheap and they're backed by Briley. I've shot a few and for the money they are a very well put together (and for a little more money beautiful) gun. It would be a much less expensive way of trying your hand at an o/u without going wiht one of the B guns.

 

[TulsaLhorn]

LOL @ the "B guns".

As for chokes and barrel lengths, the top barrel is stamped with one star and the bottom with 3 stars. I understand this to mean a full and modified choke. Barrel lengths are 28".

BTW. I also forgot to mention I saw lots of vintage straight razors ( I guess they were vintage, they might have just been old =P). I didn't see any names I recognized though and most everything was nicked, dinged or downright broken.

 

[petr]

Lucked into a very nice 1957 Belgium Browning

quality of the old Belgium Brownings.... very, very nice

Just Beautiful. I had one of these for a while also. My favorite shotgun of all time. Mine had the solid rib. I won a few five stand matches with it also.

As it goes, I sold it thinking I had found something better What a mistake.

 

[TulsaLhorn]

Ran three boxes through the new CD today. Had a lot of fun, got a little sore, this gun is much lighter than my other 12s. My buddy who got me started just bought a Beretta 687 silver pigeon which he also tried out today. All in all it was a good trip, I'm mostly happy everything worked XD

 

[LostTexan]

Haven't been since fall, but I enjoy shooting a few rounds of five stand with my Benelli Montefeltro 20ga whenever I get the chance. I'd love to go a few rounds with the new Vinci...

 

[Sluggo]

I used to have a beautiful Browning Citori 425 Grade III, and I sold it to finance my wife's engagement ring...now, that is love!!