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Bird Hunting
First time O/U suggestions
Uploaded on December 23, 2012Up here in Maine I most commonly target partridge for up-land. A couple times a year I may go after some woodcock, and also a couple times a year I may go for some ringnecks. I've always wanted an O/U but have just never done it. IYO, what would your recommendation on a high-end, yet still every day hunter be? And what your outlook on a poor mans O/U be? Caliber? Brand? Model? Length? I'll be the first to admit that I don't know much about O/U's.
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Luv 20 ga. guns! Lt wt., or lt'er than 12 ga.'s so they are easy to carry come up easy, and will shoot at distance the same as many 12 ga. loads. And shells are readily available, and comparable price to 12 ga. shells. For pheasants you go to the 3" shell if you think you need it. The Beretta on the high end $2,500 field grade O/U is as good as it gets for the price. And I'd recommend staying in that Italian family of gun makers for the low end...Franchi, or Stoeger, and I am sure there are other makers that would be good as well. My Beretta 686 S model is a beauty. I paid $2,000 new for it. Don't know why they changed it to that model name...it use to be the Beretta Silver Snipe.
That was my initial thought. Its a lot of money though. One of those some day guns. How long have you had yours clinch? Just wondering what the price has done on them since you purchased yours.
O/U's are a dream to hunt with. I have two expensive ones: Ruger Red Labels in 20 and 28 ga., along with one not so expensive: Mossberg Silver Reserve in .410. I absolutely love all three.
For inexpensive O/U's to try, I would suggest the Mossbergs and Stoegers. As far as ga., I would suggest a 20...good all around choice.
Good Luck,
Mine was purchased about 5-6 yrs. ago. I bought it on line from the big Texas shop that sells lots of guns online,and they have a huge store. The cost was actually slightly less than $2000 then. There was no tax going online, but I had to line up a licensed dealer to receive the gun. They can charge $100, or more for their paper work, but this guy was an individual in his home that was a gun show dealer, and had a fed. license, and he charge me $15.00 is all. Beretta makes an ONYX model?..just slightly less than the 686S I believe. And they may not even make that 686S anymore. Gun makers change their models so often.
barnhilo..I thought Ruger either quit making shotguns, or went out of business altogether...?? That Red Label was a highly regarded O/U, but I thought it is no more.
You are right...The Red Label is not being made now. Nevertheless, it remains a GREAT shotgun!
I am partial to Browning O/U having one for 35 years that always is a pleasure to carry and shoot. However, I have been reading about the Franchi Instinct SL, and may purchase one. I shoot well with my CZ Ringneck 20 ga sxs. CZ guns seem to be made well for the price, they have some O/U at a well under $1000. A lightweight 20 gauge with 26" barrels would probably serve you well. Check out the web sites of the guns mentioned here, you have been given some good suggestions.
Good post. I bought a Browning Citori at a sale price of $1,300. Had to be a cooperative deal between Browning, and the dealer. They discontinued that O/U model. You also got a $150 worth of shells of your choice with the deal. I bought it for a friend who lived in AK, and then came down and picked it up. Another observation I would consider is...if you choose to buy a 20 ga. O/U look for one that is built on a 20 ga. frame, and not a 12 ga. frame. One of the things I like about a 20 ga. is its thin profile, and easy to grip when carrying it afield. Some gun makers build them on the same 12 ga. frame, and then have 20 ga barrels. That Citori was like that...somewhat bigger at the receiver than my Beretta.
I just accidentally clicked on beretta's premium line of O/U's.... That was humbling... Thanks guys for all input. I'm gonna keep my eyes open. Leaning towards something Italian. Definitely a 20. Merry Christmas, and God bless.
I just went to Beretta as well...$645 for their basic autoloader as the suggested price? 3901 model I believe it was...there would be no question in my mind what auto I would own. My 686S...was listed for $2,240 now same as the ONYX model. I don't know the difference. Then I went to the ABLE guns site, and clicked on Beretta guns. They had my 20 ga. O/U with 28" barrels, that I would recommend, and free shipping, but they now don't list the price. They are generally the cheapest. I would recommend 28" barrels as an O/U doesn't have the receiver length to add to the barrel length like an autoloader does. It swings better, and is only 6.8 lbs., but great balance. You feel some wt., and it isn't "flippy" when you mount the gun.
That's a good point clinch, it hadn't crossed my mind at all not having the length of a receiver.. I would much rather have the longer barrel, but was concerned with swinging that much gun all the time. Makes good sense. Thank you for pointing that out.
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Luv 20 ga. guns! Lt wt., or lt'er than 12 ga.'s so they are easy to carry come up easy, and will shoot at distance the same as many 12 ga. loads. And shells are readily available, and comparable price to 12 ga. shells. For pheasants you go to the 3" shell if you think you need it. The Beretta on the high end $2,500 field grade O/U is as good as it gets for the price. And I'd recommend staying in that Italian family of gun makers for the low end...Franchi, or Stoeger, and I am sure there are other makers that would be good as well. My Beretta 686 S model is a beauty. I paid $2,000 new for it. Don't know why they changed it to that model name...it use to be the Beretta Silver Snipe.
That was my initial thought. Its a lot of money though. One of those some day guns. How long have you had yours clinch? Just wondering what the price has done on them since you purchased yours.
O/U's are a dream to hunt with. I have two expensive ones: Ruger Red Labels in 20 and 28 ga., along with one not so expensive: Mossberg Silver Reserve in .410. I absolutely love all three.
For inexpensive O/U's to try, I would suggest the Mossbergs and Stoegers. As far as ga., I would suggest a 20...good all around choice.
Good Luck,
Mine was purchased about 5-6 yrs. ago. I bought it on line from the big Texas shop that sells lots of guns online,and they have a huge store. The cost was actually slightly less than $2000 then. There was no tax going online, but I had to line up a licensed dealer to receive the gun. They can charge $100, or more for their paper work, but this guy was an individual in his home that was a gun show dealer, and had a fed. license, and he charge me $15.00 is all. Beretta makes an ONYX model?..just slightly less than the 686S I believe. And they may not even make that 686S anymore. Gun makers change their models so often.
barnhilo..I thought Ruger either quit making shotguns, or went out of business altogether...?? That Red Label was a highly regarded O/U, but I thought it is no more.
You are right...The Red Label is not being made now. Nevertheless, it remains a GREAT shotgun!
I am partial to Browning O/U having one for 35 years that always is a pleasure to carry and shoot. However, I have been reading about the Franchi Instinct SL, and may purchase one. I shoot well with my CZ Ringneck 20 ga sxs. CZ guns seem to be made well for the price, they have some O/U at a well under $1000. A lightweight 20 gauge with 26" barrels would probably serve you well. Check out the web sites of the guns mentioned here, you have been given some good suggestions.
Good post. I bought a Browning Citori at a sale price of $1,300. Had to be a cooperative deal between Browning, and the dealer. They discontinued that O/U model. You also got a $150 worth of shells of your choice with the deal. I bought it for a friend who lived in AK, and then came down and picked it up. Another observation I would consider is...if you choose to buy a 20 ga. O/U look for one that is built on a 20 ga. frame, and not a 12 ga. frame. One of the things I like about a 20 ga. is its thin profile, and easy to grip when carrying it afield. Some gun makers build them on the same 12 ga. frame, and then have 20 ga barrels. That Citori was like that...somewhat bigger at the receiver than my Beretta.
I just accidentally clicked on beretta's premium line of O/U's.... That was humbling... Thanks guys for all input. I'm gonna keep my eyes open. Leaning towards something Italian. Definitely a 20. Merry Christmas, and God bless.
I just went to Beretta as well...$645 for their basic autoloader as the suggested price? 3901 model I believe it was...there would be no question in my mind what auto I would own. My 686S...was listed for $2,240 now same as the ONYX model. I don't know the difference. Then I went to the ABLE guns site, and clicked on Beretta guns. They had my 20 ga. O/U with 28" barrels, that I would recommend, and free shipping, but they now don't list the price. They are generally the cheapest. I would recommend 28" barrels as an O/U doesn't have the receiver length to add to the barrel length like an autoloader does. It swings better, and is only 6.8 lbs., but great balance. You feel some wt., and it isn't "flippy" when you mount the gun.
That's a good point clinch, it hadn't crossed my mind at all not having the length of a receiver.. I would much rather have the longer barrel, but was concerned with swinging that much gun all the time. Makes good sense. Thank you for pointing that out.
Post a Reply