Over-under shotguns

[ctichota]

Wanted to see if anyone had any preference on over-under shotguns. I've been shopping around for a while now-I really like the Browning Citori, but I'm biased as I've shot Browning my whole life. Would I be missing out by not going with a Benelli or Baretta. And I've also shot the Ruger Red Label and liked it as well. I definately want a gun to carry into the fields-mostly pheasants but other upland game as well. Thanks for the info.

[wranglerdude]

I have a Red Label and really like it. Fit is very important in a shotgun since your eye is the rear sight. Get the one that fits you the best. You can always change the length of pull but if the comb is too high or low and you are not looking down the barrel, you probably won't shoot it very well. If you can, try some of them out. That would be the best. If you can't do that, mount the gun with your eyes closed, then open them and see where you are looking. You should be looking right down the rib or barrel.

[pixelperfect]

I have used a Red Label for bird hunting alot of years. It is a very good shotgun. With a double I use a heavy#6 in the top barrel and a tighter chock in the bottom barrel with heavy #4. This has proven to be a good combination for me. The only problem that I have with a double, they can get heavy on day number of your hunt. Good luck.

[bearbacker]

I have several over/unders, including a Browning Superposed, a Red Label, and a couple of B.C.Miroku Charles Daly models. Miroku makes the Browning Citori. You need to get the gun that fits you best.

The Superposed is a family gun and kicked me in the face when I first got it. I was about to do a stock overhaul or trade it off when a gunshop owner I know suggested trying a slip-on pad. That extended the length of pull, which put my cheek farther back on the stock, which dropped my eye down to the top of the rib. No more face kick. I was pressing my cheekbone down too tight on the comb of the stock to line up down the rib. The permanent fix was to replace the standard 1" Pachmayr rubber pad with a 1.5" magnum gel recoil pad, which is no bad thing either.

Same thing on the Red Label. I replaced the thin rubber pad with a regular 1" Pachmayr Decelerator. It's amazing how much difference just 1/2" makes on the length of pull.

The Miroku Daly guns didn't need that. They were perfect for me just as they were.

[Todd G.]

Personally, if you are thinking of getting a Browning Citori, I would definitely try out the Beretta, Ruger Red Label, and the SKB/Weatherby. When you look at each of these different O/u's you will find they are all in the same price category, yet they have subtle differences.

When you look at the Browning, you will find it has a rather full stock and the receiver sets high compared to other o/u's. It also has a relatively short length of pull compared to Beretta. By comparison, the Beretta will have a longer length of pull, yet have a narrower stock and barrels that set much lower in the reciever. For many, the Beretta will have a more natural feel then the Browning. However, it comes down to your preferences and the way the gun fits you.

As a general rule, the SKB/Weatherby (SKB makes the Weatherby) and the Ruger will be somewhere inbetween the Browning and the Beretta.

Give them all a try and decide which you like best. Then, buy it and shoot it with delight!!!

[daddywpb]

I agree with Todd G. I handled every one I could get my hands on before I laid down the $$$'s. For me it was the Red Label. Berettas and Brownings did not fit me at all. Once you throw one to your shoulder and look down the rib, you'll know immediately if it's the one for you. No one can tell you which one to buy. Any of the ones you mentioned will last a lifetime and then probably someone else's lifetime. I can close my eyes, throw the Red Label to my shoulder, open my eyes and be looking straight down the rib. It's a no brainer. Mine is walnut and blued, 26" barrels, 12 gauge. Now my wife wants one in 20 gauge. I made the mistake of letting her handle one at our local shop. Better save the pennies.

[cleek]

Beware of the Browning / Beretta snobs out there. They will tell you that the Ruger Red Label is a poor choice. They will say it's short on quality. With all respect to the qood Browning and Beretta name, they are simply wrong. I chose the Red Label as well as a few others have done that have posted here. It is a beautiful gun and solid as they come. I've had no issues with it at all and it happened to fit me well. I've shot quail, pheasant, and grouse with it and it has never let me down. Now, the other choices are good as well. I would've purchased the Citori if I would've been about $400 richer at the moment. I wasn't, so the Red Label was a great option. Excellent quality at a lower price. Just like Browning, Ruger has been in the business for a long time and they DO NOT make junk.

[alanier]

i am looking to buy an over-under to hunt geese with and i was wandering if there is a good gun that will shoot 3.5inch shells

[HAIKU_RODNEY]

Wranglerdude is absolutely correct. See what gun fits you the best. I am partial to doubles. I have a Weatherby Orion, a Stevens 411 and a Browning Citori. The Citori was given to me as a gift and the comb is too high. All the manufacurers you mention build good guns. From my experience, if you really get into trap or sporting clays where you are shooting thousands of rounds each year then I would be more selective on the make.

[HAIKU_RODNEY]

Alinier-
I do not goose hunt so I may be off track, but, if I were shooting 3.5 inch shells, I think I would go with a semiauto. I have never shot 3.5 inch shells, but, in a field load they sound like their recoil would be punishing. Other than a recoil pad, doubles have nothing to reduce the felt recoil. All the semiautos that I have shot have noticeably less recoil than my doubles.

Just a thought.

[GSwan]

I have owned a Browning Citori since 1985. I just sold it and bought another Browning Citori White Lighting. I love it. I would agree tho with all the other posts...it all depends on fit. As long as you stick with guns at this quality level, whatever gun fits you best should be your choice.

[MOhunter]

traditions waterfowler II shots 3.5" http://www.traditionsfirearms.com/eshop/10Browse.asp
browning cynergy http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/category.asp?value=014B
beretta onyx pro 3.5 http://www.berettausa.com/product/product_field_guns_main.htm

few other i can't remember at the moment.

[airborne]

I like the doubles too but have a hard time finding one with enough stock drop to sight down the barrel. The price of doubles has gone way up. They do tend to be mule kickers. I use an Ithica 10ga. semi. I am not sure but I think it has a 7 foot barrel. Well it is long and weights a lot.

[HAIKU_RODNEY]

Aloha Airborne-

I did not want to cut the stock on my Browning over/under. I mount a cantilever ventilated rib scope mount (no drilling required) and mount a holographic red dot sight on it. It works really well especially on the longer shots.