O/U Advice which one?

PA Hunter · #1 12-23-2009, 06:16 PM

Thinking of getting an O/U and my requirements are lightweight (as possible maybe 7.5 lbs) 2 3/4 and 3 in chamber 12 gauge, and I am thinking of 26 in barrell length. I also like the option of switching between barrells with a selector switch if possible. I assume they all have removable chokes. And I want a field grade, I dont care about trap shooting just hunting pheasants and cottontails. I would not rule out a used gun either but would like to keep it under $ 2000 dollars.

What would be a good choice for me i mostly hunt pheasants (stocked ones) in fields and fence rows.

I am considering the Ruger Red Label, Browning Citori and I looked at some Berretta models.

I am most familiar with the Ruger.

Any comments are appreciated regarding any experience with these or others good, bad or ugly. I am looking for feedback to make a good decision.

fabsroman · #2 12-23-2009, 07:22 PM

I don't like my 20 year old Browning Citori and it mainly collects dust in the safe. I love my Beretta 686 and have been hunting with it for 14 years now. It cost $1,100 back when I bought it. One caveat is that I haven't been hunting with it much lately because I also have a couple Beretta 391's now and a Benelli SBE.

One thing that I really like about the Beretta over the Browning is the ease of cleaning. The Browning has too many little parts everywhere in the receiver. Granted, over 20 years they might have changed the design. Plus, for about the same money I got a much better gun. I bought the target version 686 because I hate the field version with the automatic safety every time you crack open the barrel. Both the 686 and Citori have a barrel selector.

Mr. 16 gauge · #3 12-23-2009, 07:22 PM

I don't currently own an O/U, but the one I would most like to have is the CZ canvasback. CZ makes a nice shotgun (both O/U and SxS), and their various models (the O/Us are named after duck species) have various options, i.e. automatic ejectors, single or double triggers, ect.

Give them a look see.....you might like what you see.

I also like the Ruger red label as well, but the CZ is a little less expensive.

Good luck...................

Dan Morris · #4 12-23-2009, 09:58 PM

I haven't had an o/u in years......had a Belgian Browning Superposed with a Purbaugh tube set. That thing was 100% reliable! Wish I still had it! You can still find
the original Browning's if ya look around....the tubes were a add on.
Dan

skeet · #5 12-24-2009, 12:34 AM

The gun you should buy is the one that seems to fit you best. With the right attitude you can find a GOOD used O/U for 800-1200 bucks. The best thing about a used gun is that quite often you can try it out..which is a real plus. If you buy new it will be a bit harder to stay in the price range if you want a pretty gun. Since you are familiar with the Ruger.. see how one fits . If in a store..wear the hunting clothes that you go gunning in. People go out to a store and buy a shotgun wearing a tee shirt or street clothes. If tht's what ya hunt in well I guess it's OK.

Like Fabs I'm not a fan of Brownings..not that they aren't a good gun..just don't like the company. Bad service. Beretta makes a good O/U so check them out too. A nice gun on the market now is a Caesar Guerini. Good feeling gun and the price ismaybe a bit high but quality is there. Not a fan of an O/U in the field as they only shoot twice..and they do have more recoil than an auto> The Ruger does have a bit of recoil..but so do the others...and the Ruger IS made here in the US. A plus in my opinion

Goody · #6 12-24-2009, 07:31 AM

I started out with a Red Label. Hated that gun. Couldn't hit anything with it. Traded it for a Beretta 686 Essential. My shooting sure did improve. To bad you don't live closer PAHunter. I would make you a great deal on it. Due to health reasons i don't hunt or shoot anymore.
Goody

Gil Martin · #7 12-24-2009, 04:12 PM

I would check out the used gun racks to see what is available. I picked up a nice Browning Citori with fixed chokes for $600.00 and have used it on pheasants. I found a Winchester O/U 20 gauge that was my favorite pheasant gun until I got the Citori. See what is out there, seems to fit and you can afford. There are a lot of real bargains waiting for a new home. All the best...
Gil

popplecop · #8 12-25-2009, 12:25 PM

PA Hunter, am primarily a SxS shooter, but do have some O/Us. I have a pair of the old Berreta BL3s, one in 12 and the other in 20, they are great O/Ys, 20 gets the most use. Have 2 other 12s a Browning that's so old it has double triggers and a solid rib barrel, choked full and fuller 2.75" and a American Arms 12 ga. 3.5" for geese. Last is a Ruger Red Label in 28 ga. From my experence with O/Us I would not hesitate to reccomend a Berrata or Ruger.

rainydays · #9 12-26-2009, 02:25 PM

I have a Beretta 686, it is lightweight and I like it alot. The one downside I have with this shotgun, and this could apply to others also, is that when it gets used in really cold weather and you are really gloved up, the tang safety is very hard to get off. At this point, I have to go back and drag out the old 870. The cross-bolt safety can easily be used with heavy gloves on.
Much luck with your selection.

fabsroman · #10 12-27-2009, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rainydays

I have a Beretta 686, it is lightweight and I like it alot. The one downside I have with this shotgun, and this could apply to others also, is that when it gets used in really cold weather and you are really gloved up, the tang safety is very hard to get off. At this point, I have to go back and drag out the old 870. The cross-bolt safety can easily be used with heavy gloves on.
Much luck with your selection.

You just have to use the gun a lot more (i.e., slide the safety on and off a couple thousand times) and the safety requires less and less work to work it. That is also one of the reasons I like the target models in lieu of the field models. The 686 I have is a sporting clays version so it does not have the automatic safety. Once I put the safety in the off position, it stays there until I put it back in the on position.

dovehunter · #11 12-27-2009, 08:40 AM

Most of my doubles - both SxS and O/U - have manual safeties and none are target models. In fact, between my son and I, the only doubles of either persuasion we have with automatic safeties are a couple of Stevens model 311. You are right though, at least based on our guns, that many doubles of either persuasion have stiff safeties until you have worked them several thousand times.

buckhunter · #12 12-28-2009, 09:13 AM

I have a very old SKB o/u. Origionally had fixed sheet/sheet chokes. Had colonial tubes installed. Only drawback is it a 2 3/4" chamber which really isn't a biggie. The gun fits me fine and I do well with it. I have seen these used for around $750.

dovehunter · #13 01-15-2010, 08:32 AM

I have a 12 ga. Antonio Zoli that I've had since the early 70s. It predated the advent of factory interchangeable choke tubes (at least from its factory). I had my chokes opended from a tight modified & full to IC. & modified which resulted in a vast improvement in my wing-shooting. Though I have never been a big fan of O/Us (preferring side by side tubes), I certainly can't complain about this gun. There's no telling how many thousands of rounds have been through it and it is still as tight as the day it came out of the box. It's well made and the fit and finish is certainly comparable to Berettas. I would highly recommend it to someone looking for a reasonably priced but dependable O/U.