Over and Under Shotguns...

[2004 F150 4x4]

My Son and I have been shooting some Skeet lately. I have been around guns all my life but I nor anyone in my family have ever owned and o/u shotgun. Who can speak to them. I am thinking of getting a Ruger Red Label for my son for Christmas.

Dumb Question.
Does it matter which barrel you shoot first?
These seem like well built firearms that would be a little easier to load on the Skeet field than my old 870 or newer 11-87. They are not hard for me to load but my 16yr old son, having not been around guns that much, tends to load a littler slower.
Thoughts....

 

[Blue99]

Many over/unders have a barrel selector either incorporated with the safety on the tang or as a button on the trigger that switch the firing sequence from over/under to under/over barrels.

IMHO, O/U's are a very safe gun, since it is very apparent, with the action open, whether it is loaded or not.

Also, on the skeet, trap or sporting clay ranges, it's easier to control disposal of the empty shells, rather than ejecting them out on to the ground.

 

[2004 F150 4x4]

Blue99, Thanks. I know about the selector, but if you loaded both barrels and were getting ready to shoot, which barrel would you select top or bottom? I don't know if there are any advantages to starting with the top barrel vs the bottom barrel for example.

 

[kenw]

Usually one has a tighter pattern than the other, not sure on over/under but my side-by-side has them this way.

It's been many years since I went dove hunting but as i remember, the modified choke (wider pattern) was 1st, the tighter pattern (full choke) 2nd as the bird flew away. Of course, I could have it exactly backwards.....

so basically you had a choice of a close-in barrel or a more distant barrel.

 

[2004 F150 4x4]

Assuming you had the skeet chokes on both barrels the gun comes with full, modified, improved cylinder and 2 skeet chokes that screw in and out so you can change them, then would there be any advantage to firing, say, the top of bottom barrel first?

 

[White 03]

Usually O/U shotguns are shot with the bottom barrel first. With the lower angle the recoil will cause less barrel jump making the second shot quicker. Sort of like the M16 with the straight line recoil for less muzzle rise during full auto.

Also, the lower barrel should have the more open choke as probably the second shot will be at more distant target; skeet may be an exception. In Sporting Clays it is often an advantage to have two chokes and some times it is better to be able to select which choke for the first shot.

O/U shotguns usually have good balance and handling. Compared to a semi automatic of the same weight the O/U will feel sharper recoil, like the pump action.

The Ruger O/U shotguns seem to me to be of good quality and moderately priced. From there the sky is the limit but be careful of lower priced less common brands as repairs may be difficult.

Great sport!

 

[2004 F150 4x4]

White 03, sound advice. I knew someone on here woulf have the skinny. We will either get Ruger O/U or another semi-auto sans. Remington 11-87.

Thanks Again.

 

[mountravlr]

Check out the Beretta O/U shotguns on the internet, I got mine for $900.

 

[2004 F150 4x4]

Thanks mountravlr, we like the Ruger pretty well.
I'm kind of a Ruger man although I have other makes such as Remington, Smith and Wesson, Springfield Armory, Marlin. Most of our guns are made by Ruger though.

 

[Brett Miller]

White 03 is correct. The recoil of the bottom barrel will be more straight back the the top barrel. I've owned a Ruger Red Label, Beretta 682 and 2 Browning Citori's. Of those I sold the Beretta because I didn't shoot it alot and was offered a good price for it. It was a high quality, well built gun. The Ruger is an okay gun but you won't see many on Skeet ranges. I found the triggers to be sloppy and after mine doubled (both barrels firing with one pull of the trigger) on me the 2nd time, it was gone in a heartbeat. For the money I don't feel you can beat Browning. I have a Citori Trap with approximatley 80,000 rounds that has never had anything replaced. My GTI Sporting Clays gun has around 60,000 rounds and has never had anything replaced either. If you look around you can find good used Brownings for $800 to $1,000. Used Beretta 686's can be found for good prices also.

 

[2004 F150 4x4]

Brett Miller, good info, how many rounds had you put thru the Ruger. That is surprising news as I have never heard anything but good stuff about Ruger Firearms ?

 

[Brett Miller]

1,500 to 2,000

 

[2004 F150 4x4]

Why did'nt you send it back to Ruger and have them fix it?

 

[Brett Miller]

It was sent back one time.

 

[lobo11]

Outdoor Life just had an article that looked at various doubles, both side bye side and OU, you may want ot check into that, I think one of the CZ models was rated a best buy if I am not mistaken.

 

[2004 F150 4x4]

Lobo11 Thanks. After I have saved a few more nickels I plan on buying the Ruger. I think Brett must have gotten ahold of a bad one. I checked with my local gunsmith who is pretty salty, been repairing guns since dinosaurs ruled the earth and he gives the Ruger 2 thumbs up.