First O/U shotgun. Advise?

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Gunrush128

New member
So in 4 weeks I will be picking up my Llewellin Setter pup who I plan to train and hunt with. I live in Ohio, so we will most likely be hunting stocked pheasant and quail locally. This has given me an excuse to buy myself a new bird gun, but I'm really not sure what to get. There is just so much to choose from. I'd really like to stick with either a 12 or 20 gauge, for a more diverse ammo selection. I want to buy something lightly used, in the $1000-1500 range, that will last me many years to come. Any advise would be greatly appreciated! Chris
 
You can never go wrong with a 20 ga. Beretta 686 White Onyx. Should fall within your price range also..
 
IMO, go with a 28" barrel. myself, I would go with a gun that has choke tubes vs fixed chokes. Fixed chokes are fine as long as you have a gun for shooting steel/non toxic shot already. There's more and more of a move to ban lead shot. The gun could become very expensive to shoot should that happen.

Also, I would think about a gun that is easy to get serviced and some cases have the manufacturer that stands behind the gun, should something go wrong with it. Browning has very good service in most cases. Beretta and Benelli have not had a great track record with satisfying folks when dealing with service issues. Weatherby no longer has any SxS's or O/U's being built for them The best IMO were when they were being built by SKB, who is no longer building guns at this time. They may be in the future, time will tell. I have a very nice Weatherby Athena built by SKB. A great gun mind you but I have no idea how long or how easy it will be to get service on the guns, should they need any.

IMO, I would go with a Browning Citori, a little heavy but they have had a excellent track record. They are popular, there's a lot of aftermarket chokes and accessories for them and service is not a issue. The 525 and 625 are something I would look at if I was you. Good Luck!
 
I was kind of leaning towards Browning. Thanks for the advise. I noticed that they are a bit heavy, especially in 12 gauge. I own 2 other 12 gauge's, so ammo compatibility would be nice, but the weight loss of a 20 gauge on long hunts is also appealing.
 
A Browning Citori in 20 ga. should fit your needs just fine. Or you could consider a Citori 16 ga. I have a 16 ga. White Lightning and love it. Same weight as a 20 ga. as it's built on a modified 20 ga. frame.
 
28" barrels is my vote. I shoot a Browning Citori which comes in several variations and used ones would be in your price range.
 
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Barrel length is a matter of personal choice. There is not performance difference other than a slightly longer sighting plain that really doesn't come into effect for upland hunting. I would not get anything longer than 28". My personally preference is shorter barrels and I love the 26 inchers on my Citori. But it's what feels best to you that matters. Shoulder a few of each and see what comes up best for you.
 
Gunrush128 said:
I was kind of leaning towards Browning. Thanks for the advise. I noticed that they are a bit heavy, especially in 12 gauge. I own 2 other 12 gauge's, so ammo compatibility would be nice, but the weight loss of a 20 gauge on long hunts is also appealing.
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I'm from Ohio as well...so quail and pheasants will both be on a Preserve...long hunts therefore not a consideration.
Weight is nearly the most unimportant consideration in a scattergun....but certainly one of the most discussed on message boards.
Even for the few grouse holding their breath in Ohio...weight...not much of an issue unless at either extreme.
Barrel length..again, it's all about you and your size and needs.
I like the 16 and own two but would never reccommend it as a first and only these days...it'll work, but will carry a few small particulars a new shooter really does not need.

I would go with a 20 and one will not go wrong with either a Beretta or a Browning.
Make a choice dependent upon how the gun feels to you...bulk in the hand is an unappreciated importance and very individual.
Make a trip to Jaquas in Findlay and try on several makes for size, weight, balance, etc.
If used, Jaquas used to let you shoot them on the trap field...not sure if that still holds true.
Then, add a nice 12 semi-auto.
Then, a 16.:thumbsup:

Have fun with the Llew.
Not many in Ohio today would buy a dog for birdhunting w/o a planned use of the superslab to better environs...or a plan for spending time with trials of some degree.
Hope for better gasoline prices and, indeed, have fun with pup.
 
OldDublin said:
Weight is nearly the most unimportant consideration in a scattergun....but certainly one of the most discussed on message boards.
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If you are talking about a quick hunt on a preserve you may be correct. But other than that I have to respectfully disagree with your statement. Weight is a factor in how the gun feels in your hands and it most certainly is a large factor if you are spending 6-8 hours a day in the field. Lugging around an 8 - 8.5 lb. shotgun all day will take it's toll unless you are a young stud that's spending a lot of time in the weight room. It's amazing how much difference 1-2 lbs in gun wight makes after a day in the field. Of course there is also the problem of going too light and then having to deal with recoil issues. I just don't think that making a general statement that "weight is nearly the most unimportant consideration in a scattergun" is very accurate. That's why, as you indicated, it gets a lot of attention on these forums. If it wasn't important no one would be talking about it.
 
One thing you might consider is felt recoil; over and under gun will have more recoil that a gas semi-auto. If you aren't hunting where there are large number of birds in flight (duck, SD Pheasants) an over and under should serve well.

Also, consider if you are going to shoot sporting clays...
 
Dakotazeb said:
If you are talking about a quick hunt on a preserve you may be correct. But other than that I have to respectfully disagree with your statement. Weight is a factor in how the gun feels in your hands and it most certainly is a large factor if you are spending 6-8 hours a day in the field. Lugging around an 8 - 8.5 lb. shotgun all day will take it's toll unless you are a young stud that's spending a lot of time in the weight room. It's amazing how much difference 1-2 lbs in gun wight makes after a day in the field. Of course there is also the problem of going too light and then having to deal with recoil issues. I just don't think that making a general statement that "weight is nearly the most unimportant consideration in a scattergun" is very accurate. That's why, as you indicated, it gets a lot of attention on these forums. If it wasn't important no one would be talking about it.
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I mentioned weight other than at the "extremes"...meaning waaaay heavy or waaay light...both bring problems.
8 is heavy and certainly 8 1/2# is target gun heavy.
More(possibly most) scatterguns for hunting today, not all, will be found at 7 1/2ish and under rather than 8 and over.
I mentioned gun weight and grouse hunting in the Apps...having done that for 47 seasons, I reckon I understand scattergun weight carried during a day.
I believe it is over-fretted.
I also understand that hunters age, become bored and often like lighter guns...and, especially, new guns.
Weight is a wonderful excuse to change gauge or gun.

Gun weight is a message board staple because it is an easy factor to change and justify with nearly unamimous high-fives.
It also gives folks the opportunity to say the trite...."I carry it more than I shoot it" line.
Gun weight...simple fodder for discussion....which is good for discussers and gun sellers.
Just hate to see any shooter burdening themselves with worries not worth the cartage.
Especially ones asking for advice.
I find a lot of unimportant stuff gets big play on message boards:):D:)....best watch that leap to a conclusion.:thumbsup:

Felt recoil is a fine reason to shoot a gun prior to purchase as our faces can determine ouch and with folks fiddling with gun stocks, it is an even better reason for used guns....pitch makes a big difference and can be changed by a monkey putting on a recoil pad.
 
OldDublin, I respect your opinion regarding gun weight. I'm just not in total agreement. But that's okay, we are each entitled to our own opinion. No harm.

8 - 8.5 lb. guns are not that uncommon. A 12 ga. Citori Lightning with 28" barrels weighs in at approx. 8 lb. 2 oz. And anyone still carrying an older A-5 standard knows that gun is in the 8.5 lb. range. Both fine guns to shoot and recoil should not be an issue because of the weight. I just don't care to tote one around the pheasant fields of SD all day. And I've been toting guns in the field for right at 56 years. (Gotcha by a few there! :))

Have a good day!
 
My first O/U has also been my last, but not because I didn't like. I love it.

Beretta 686 20ga. Will handle 3" shells but I've only shot them once and never will again. Recoil has never been an issue except for the longer shells. Then ouch!

2 3/4 in shells of any type no recoil issues. Gun is light (less than 6 lbs) very well made and I have never had one issue in 15yrs of ownership (roughly).
 
Dakotazeb said:
If you are talking about a quick hunt on a preserve you may be correct. But other than that I have to respectfully disagree with your statement. Weight is a factor in how the gun feels in your hands and it most certainly is a large factor if you are spending 6-8 hours a day in the field. Lugging around an 8 - 8.5 lb. shotgun all day will take it's toll unless you are a young stud that's spending a lot of time in the weight room. It's amazing how much difference 1-2 lbs in gun wight makes after a day in the field. Of course there is also the problem of going too light and then having to deal with recoil issues. I just don't think that making a general statement that "weight is nearly the most unimportant consideration in a scattergun" is very accurate. That's why, as you indicated, it gets a lot of attention on these forums. If it wasn't important no one would be talking about it.
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x1000. If you hunt a state like kansas where a days hunt can go from 6:45am to after 5 pm an 8lb gun can take a toll, and make for a tough day. On a 2-3 hr preserve hunt, who cares.
 
As we become older, weight becomes a factor for both the gun you carry and around the waistline...at least for me..LOL

I agree on sometimes over thinking a problem. Your NEVER! going to have the right gun for every situation. IMO, recoil isn't a problem for any pheasant gun. A person's limit is two, three birds. It's not like your going to shoot a case of shells. Just about everybody can handle a little bump to the shoulder in limited quantity.

Myself, no gun was too heavy when I was a young pup. If you enjoyed carrying that gun was all that mattered. I use to huff a big Ithaca, then a Remington 10ga auto on jump shooting duck hunts. I would carry that gun 4-5 miles easy. Didn't matter, I loved carrying that gun.

Today's a different story, health issues have me looking to the lightest gun I can find. Oh I still have guns I just have to get in the grouse woods or pheasant field, even if it's just for a walk or two a year. I have numerous guns from the hay days of hunting as I like to call them. A5's, model 12's..Etc. that kind of makes me feel like going back in time when life was a lot more simpler. When that gun put a meal on the table for a family and there was no McDonalds or Cub Foods just down the road.

For most people a 6+ pound to 71/4 pound O/U, SxS or auto loader/pump in 12/20 or 16 will serve them well for most every situation. IMO, this move in recent times to 30",32" or even 34" barreled guns, is pure target shooting guns finding their way into the hunting fields. I find them far too long and bang them on everything I come in contact with. It's like carrying a 8ft 2x4 around.

Onpoint
 
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