SxS or O/U?

[rodandgun83]

In your honest opinion which is a better gun for fowl?

[Hoggin]

Not that it's better but a sxs is as pretty as they come IMO.

[Downeast]

Neither. I own both. The only time I take one is when I hunt alone. NEVER in a blind or a boat with your friends. You need a lot of room to load and unload one so it is difficult to obey the 1st rule of gun safety. By yourself in a wood duck hole or when folks are spread out is not a problem as long as you are aware of your surroundings.

[GMAC]

Serious shooters will tell you that its better to sight down the single barrell. The side by is the classier gun.

[HuntinCosta]

O/U. Hands down.

[Phone Man]

If you decide you want an O/U i got one you can buy

[HuntinCosta]

Keep it classy

[cat III]

o/u far better sight plan

[Rubberhead*]

Either one changes the experience. But, you're more likely to find a O/U that shoots steel than a SxS.

[Highstrung]

I shoot both, but that juking left and right trying to line up the barrels on a side by side gets testy to say the least.

[Black Water]

O/U for me except for rabbit / squirrel hunting. Thats when I break out the Fox or winchester S/S.

[Bad Habit]

SxS and has to be double triggers. there is no jukin for right and left, they supposed to shoot to same POA. the POA is dependant on yardage by choke. a full/mod gun hits at 30-40 yds and a mod/ IC gun hits at 25-35 yds

[Highstrung]

Surely you jest. How do keep in line if you have a HiViz on each barrel?

[Palmetto Bug]

I've been told that sxs is better suited for ground game like rabbits and deer and o/u is better for wingshooting. Not really sure I buy that.

The sight plain shouldn't really be an issue because you're not supposed to look at the barrel, however a sxs can block more of you view of a rising target.

I have a couple 20 gauges, one sxs and one o/u, that are about as identical as they can be except for the barrel orientation. I find the sxs balances more toward the muzzle and the o/u more centered between the hands. I have a hard time with the sxs at sporting clays but that's mostly because it feels so unfamiliar that it's distracting.

[Salt Marsh]

The good Lord intended that barrels should lie along side each other. To lay atop one another is an abomination in the eyes of the Lord.

Did you ever read of Nash Buckingham and his trusty Superposed? Did Havilah Babcok shoot a Citori? Nay, only those who shoot the inedible clay target preach the gospel of the stackbarrel heresy.

[Saltydog235]

The good Lord intended that barrels should lie along side each other. To lay atop one another is an abomination in the eyes of the Lord.

Did you ever read of Nash Buckingham and his trusty Superposed? Did Havilah Babcok shoot a Citori? Nay, only those who shoot the inedible clay target preach the gospel of the stackbarrel heresy.

That's just classy right there. For me it depends on the mood.

[Gander]

Over/Under without a doubt. That is why serious shotgunners prefer on over/under.

[Fish]

Salt Marsh, I must say that I was very entertained by the first two sentences of your post and I enjoyed the pictures. I don't have a side by side, but that's because I haven't run into one that I like at a reasonable price.

I haven't been shooting well lately, so it doesn't really matter what kind of gun I'm holding, but I do have a couple of points that might add to this discussion.

1 - Perazzi MX shotguns are mighty fine. They also make some nice side by side game guns if you're inclined.

2 - I can see everything coming from below my gun, no matter what and regardless of whether I hit it or not. I don't understand how some people cannot do the same.

Also, if you're having a problem seeing the bird because of the barrels, your head is too far down into the stock or you're making excuses for poor shooting.

3 - Looking at the target without looking at the barrel and/or the bird barrel relationship is difficult. I've missed more than my share lately because of it and when I check the barrel, you can mark it down as a miss every time.

4 - Shoot what you have confidence in and practice as much as you can afford at your local sporting clays course.

[Salt Marsh]

Fish - perhaps when the hen tides occur in September, you should put a svelte 28 gauge number in your hands. So thin and sexy, with just a hint of red highlights in her stock. You could take in your hands and reach out and destroy some clappers.

Nothing like a sure thing to build up a man's confidence, after a string of birds where all you hear is "Lets just be friends" as they fly off.

Gander - I agree that when it comes the mechanics of hitting what you shoot at, the stack barrel gun allows you to wring the last possible little bit of advantage out of the mechanics of "shooting flying."

But I have never raised a glass of fine bourbon or taken slug of tawny port to the memory of clay pigeon being smashed to alabama talcum powder. I have yet to read single moving description of a sun rise over a trap range as you wait for the targets to arrive. For me it is the totality of experience. In my heart and soul, I would rather add memories of those who have gone before me to my hunt by shooting a double than to add one more bird shooting by an over and under.

Hell - I wonder what I would saying in this thread if my Grandfather had shot an A-5?

[willyworm]

This conversation is so much more classy than the semi-auto or pump discussions. I will withhold my opinion because I merely own one o/u, and it's my first. Plus, I'm no expert with it by any stretch of the imagination.