O/U or S/S to start with?

[sidrana7 0]

Hello Members, greetings

 

I have recently taken up clay shooting and got my SGC today only. Although I am not in concluding decision of buying a SG right away, I would like to explore your views/ opinions.

From where I come, I have always seen the side by side configuration till date. But herein UK (Aberdeen to be specific) the picture is almost opposite.

 

I have been shooting with o/u for last 2 months and ok with the recoil but after 50 or so shots my left hand starts complaining which affects the targets then. I understood that guns used for clay shooting are intentionally heavy as compared to s/s game guns.

 

My club doesnt have any s/s in hire range so unable to try on. Well I do have some serious hunting intentions as the time progresses. And have been told that the s/s are best guns for the game. So obviously transition from o/u to s/s for game may not be ok.(for me!) I do recon though different people have different opinions regarding the use of both type of orientations. But memory wise I feel little biased towards the ss one's although I havent had a single shot fired from ss shotgun.

 

So if I intend to go on game shoot later on would practising in clays with a s/s sg look odd? (or weird/funny/or showing off 'stud'?) I am concerned about not being a odd one out there while shooting clays. Anyways my intention for using s/s for clays is to get used to the s/s and practice with it where in the field I would be using the same gun. I will arrange for test fire with s/s at a private arms dealer near Inverurie and will share my experience then.

 

I havent felt the recoil from a s/s yet and I am not a big lad but mentally happy to take the abuse. And also I am starting afresh so starting with a s/s may be more benefitial later on if I wanted to move for a o/u type (in my humble opinion.)

 

e.g. Its not appreciable to practice on live quarry, correct in that sense if I do practice with o/u in clays and then one fine day I happen to get a chance to be on game field it would be far from perfect situation if I wanted to use s/s there? Obviously one can argue of using o/u in game field also. And pricewise just happened to see a Baikal 12g s/s new one for 453gbp at yorkguns website.

 

I do appreciate any feedback in this regards.

Thank you.

Sid.

 

P.S.#1 I have had posted this in other website also after which I found this forum.

#2 Had searched this forum for 'side by side versus over and under' and found 22 pages of posting. After scrolling all the 22 pages found few posts below related to this subject. Obviously which was helpful to me.

 

http://www.thehuntinglife.com/forums/index...+over+an+dunder

 

http://www.thehuntinglife.com/forums/index...+over+an+dunder

http://www.thehuntinglife.com/forums/index...+over+an+dunder

 

http://www.thehuntinglife.com/forums/index...+over+an+dunder

http://www.thehuntinglife.com/forums/index...+over+an+dunder

http://www.thehuntinglife.com/forums/index...+over+an+dunder

[masmiffy 82]

Hi mate for me the o/u is best for all aspects but thats a personal thing!

I dont like looking down the two barrels of a s/s prefer the rib of a o/u.

I had a double trigger s/s and couldnt get on with it, perhaps a single trigger would have been better!

The weight thing if carying in the field, ie a lot of walking, then s/s are generally a lot lighter.

So if walked up is your thing and weight is an issue try a 20G o/u!

For clays thought try to find a nice lightweight o/u,12G or 20G, get used to it and shoot everything with it!

[jamiethehunter 0]

There are a few things to consider when making the choice the first is your budget as there are very few low to medium priced side by side guns though both webley and aya make reasonable priced ones. The second is gun fit i would suggest you visit a good shop and they will help you find what guns fit you the best. And the final thing to think about is what sort of clay shooting will you be doing and what sort of game shooting will you be doing. If it was me i would look for a decent over under game gun that can double up on clays.

[claybusers al 9]

everyone is different so it is personal choice but please speak to your clay ground there will be a member that has a s/s you can use. the reason your left arm gets tired is muscle memory if you only did 50 shots every couple of weeks then it will take a long time before it stops aching but when you get a gun it will change because you will be out as much as you can. yes a s/s is lighter but the lighter the gun the more kick an o/u maybe more practical. check out guntrader on the net lots of bargains to be had and always try before you buy if bufget is tight it is always better to buy a good brand SH gun rather than a cheap new model

[Deker 3,478]

O/U will give you far more choice but SBS are great...simply down to waht you want and what suits you best!!

[cyclonebri1 8]

It's only my opinion but gunfit is the single most important factor when choosing a firearm. Would anyone dispute that?

 

Nothing like shooting a real lightweight s/s tho', just make sure it suits you. From my exp they seem suited to the shorter shooter in general? :wacko:

[endasmail 0]

try and get your hands on o/u sporter 30 inch barrels ,not to heavy for the fields and brilliant for the clays

[jamiethehunter 0]

It's only my opinion but gunfit is the single most important factor when choosing a firearm. Would anyone dispute that?

 

Nothing like shooting a real lightweight s/s tho', just make sure it suits you. From my exp they seem suited to the shorter shooter in general? :wacko:

I agree gunfit is the most important a shotgun is the most physically demanding way of shooting and carrying and swinging a badly fitting gun can lead to injury.

[sidrana7 0]

Hi mate for me the o/u is best for all aspects but thats a personal thing!

I dont like looking down the two barrels of a s/s prefer the rib of a o/u.

I had a double trigger s/s and couldnt get on with it, perhaps a single trigger would have been better!

The weight thing if carying in the field, ie a lot of walking, then s/s are generally a lot lighter.

So if walked up is your thing and weight is an issue try a 20G o/u!

For clays thought try to find a nice lightweight o/u,12G or 20G, get used to it and shoot everything with it!

 

Thanks. I agree its personal. I havent looked down the barrel of a s/s yet but possibly may get a chance this weekend.

Was just thinking of this just now and realised that even though both the barrels' (o/u) are in the same line of sight but their pattern elevations are different, unlike s/s where the elevations are same but line of sight is offset for each barrel. I will need to focus more on the hidden barrel (u) when shooting clays now.

[sidrana7 0]

There are a few things to consider when making the choice the first is your budget as there are very few low to medium priced side by side guns though both webley and aya make reasonable priced ones. The second is gun fit i would suggest you visit a good shop and they will help you find what guns fit you the best. And the final thing to think about is what sort of clay shooting will you be doing and what sort of game shooting will you be doing. If it was me i would look for a decent over under game gun that can double up on clays.

 

Thanks jamie. You are right about prices. I checked on guntrader for that. Well 300 to 500 gbp should do fine for the time being.

Gun fit: will have to try on thats it then. Last week I was reading in some magazine that second hand shortish English 12g for £150 should work fine.

 

What sort of clay and game shooting: on that I am not sure to be honest. Was reading on the various types of trap/skeet etc. Seemed to go from over my head. Will need more time to grasp technical things. For now I just see its a clay there in air flying and I got to take it down with the shotgun, thats it, simple for me!

[sidrana7 0]

everyone is different so it is personal choice but please speak to your clay ground there will be a member that has a s/s you can use. the reason your left arm gets tired is muscle memory if you only did 50 shots every couple of weeks then it will take a long time before it stops aching but when you get a gun it will change because you will be out as much as you can. yes a s/s is lighter but the lighter the gun the more kick an o/u maybe more practical. check out guntrader on the net lots of bargains to be had and always try before you buy if bufget is tight it is always better to buy a good brand SH gun rather than a cheap new model

 

Thanks. Indeed at the end of the day its the personal choice. Will see if anyone has s/s at clay ground and happy to let me have a go at it. Otherwise theres one firearms dealer near Inverurie who has s/s in stock and is happy to let me have a go at it. Can check both the recoil and gun fit that time.

 

You have raised very interesting point about muscle memory. The more you do it more the body gets used to it. Need to visit often.

And regarding the cheaper model, good point, it may be more heavier!

[sidrana7 0]

It's only my opinion but gunfit is the single most important factor when choosing a firearm. Would anyone dispute that?

 

Nothing like shooting a real lightweight s/s tho', just make sure it suits you. From my exp they seem suited to the shorter shooter in general? :wacko:

 

I would consider myself shorter at 5'7".

But when you talk about real lightweight s/s then it must be inversely expensive though.

[masmiffy 82]

Hi mate for me the o/u is best for all aspects but thats a personal thing!

I dont like looking down the two barrels of a s/s prefer the rib of a o/u.

I had a double trigger s/s and couldnt get on with it, perhaps a single trigger would have been better!

The weight thing if carying in the field, ie a lot of walking, then s/s are generally a lot lighter.

So if walked up is your thing and weight is an issue try a 20G o/u!

For clays thought try to find a nice lightweight o/u,12G or 20G, get used to it and shoot everything with it!

 

Thanks. I agree its personal. I havent looked down the barrel of a s/s yet but possibly may get a chance this weekend.

Was just thinking of this just now and realised that even though both the barrels' (o/u) are in the same line of sight but their pattern elevations are different, unlike s/s where the elevations are same but line of sight is offset for each barrel. I will need to focus more on the hidden barrel (u) when shooting clays now.

 

Sure is a personal thing but for me its o/u every time.

Dont think you need to even consider the 'elevation' of the barrels it wont make any difference at all!

You will only convince yourself you are 'missing' because of your 'thoughts'

Get a good fit be happy with your choice be it o/u or s/s have a bit practice and shoot.

Some people are natural shots and can adapt to shoot with any gun. You will be suprised how easy it is to do that after a while!

[spiderpig 39]

a over and under gives a better sight picture and is fareasier to keep focused on the target ect than a sbs thats why every top shot uses a over and under, shell weight ect ect will play a big part in recoil as dous the type of recoil pad fitted,for a beginer you just want a standard sporter i.e 28 inch barrels. a beretta or miroku or similar. for a starter 30 inch barrels will be harder to swing on line correctly and make the gun barrel heavy. stick to simplicity until you learn all the aspects of everything then you can try the different guns targets ect. go for fixed choke standard 1/4-1/2 will be fine as too many people mess about with chokes thinking it makes them shoot better when really it dousnt make that much difference and they just need to shoot better. a tight choke only lenthens the lenth of the shot string! loads more thing i could try and say buy one important one is ask as many people ther opinions as possible then you have more of a choice and always remember than everyone shooting started with the the same skills and ability as you. (nearly anyway)

[sidrana7 0]

 

Sure is a personal thing but for me its o/u every time.

Dont think you need to even consider the 'elevation' of the barrels it wont make any difference at all!

You will only convince yourself you are 'missing' because of your 'thoughts'

Get a good fit be happy with your choice be it o/u or s/s have a bit practice and shoot.

Some people are natural shots and can adapt to shoot with any gun. You will be suprised how easy it is to do that after a while!

 

While recalling what I was doing while trying to shoot the falling clay after going straight up. less focus on the clayitself and more on the rib point. rather I should be focussing on the clay through the point on the rib while moving the gun with my body. Experience can only be gained through experience. No short cuts = more practice. Thanks a lot for the advice. I really do appreciate everyone's valuable time. many thanks gents.