Switching from O/U to SxS shotgun

[Pedro]

Well I've got both. My go to gun is a Silver Pigeon. Neutral handling, reliable as hell and it just works. I also have a SXS. I tend to use the SXS when there's more walking, chatting and whatever else and not a lot of shooting. Because it's lighter.

In practice, when I do get the SXS out after having used the O/U for a good while, it takes a fair bit of adapting on my part. For a start, it's got double triggers, so I get the odd front trigger being pulled twice, except the second time nothing happens. Hey ho. And, of course the sight picture is different. So then I think I should stick to the O/U. But where's the fun in that? Who wants to be a good shot anyway? Just a good job I don't have to actually rely on shooting birds to feed us. Although I'd be looking quite a bit more svelte if I did.

 

[enfieldspares]

For a start, it's got double triggers, so I get the odd front trigger being pulled twice, except the second time nothing happens. Hey ho.

I found that when I had used my Boss with it's single when shooting on a Thursday that if I then used my father's gun on the Saturday I'd never try to pull the front trigger twice. But did find this. That if you fired one barrel on the Boss (which was always the right barrel) and then broke it to reload but because a bird came over before you had reloaded (so you shut the gun with an unfired cartridge only in the left barrel) that you'd pull the trigger on that now useless empty right barrel. Rather than with my father's gun just fire the left barrel with the rear trigger. So as well as pulling twice (which I've never suffered from) a single trigger does have that other drawback.

 

[Pedro]

I found that when I had used my Boss with it's single when shooting on a Thursday that if I then used my father's gun on the Saturday I'd never try to pull the front trigger twice. But did find this. That if you fired one barrel on the Boss (which was always the right barrel) and then broke it to reload but because a bird came over before you had reloaded (so you shut the gun with an unfired cartridge only in the left barrel) that you'd pull the trigger on that now useless empty right barrel. Rather than with my father's gun just fire the left barrel with the rear trigger. So as well as pulling twice (which I've never suffered from) a single trigger does have that other drawback.

Life is SO complicated. I guess it's just what you are most used to.

 

[starr shot]

I’d use either once I’ve learned to hit a barn door with them.

 

[Bonzo dog]

Whichever you opt for get it fitted by someone who actually knows what they are doing not just thinks they do, ie a proper gunsmith not just a gun shop.

 

[Smellydog]

I'm glad you recognised using a Berretta has compromised your shooting.
Be better off finding an old chair leg and bolting the barrels and action to it!!

Many a sxs has plenty wood up front if one is worried about hot barrels.
They didn't seem to fussed about it on big big shoot days. They just bought a leather hand protector or wore gloves.
I own one ou and it's brilliant, not a Berretta.
I own a muzzleloader ou Berretta not made by Berretta, hence why I own it!
I have an automatic.
I also have currently two sxs and have owned many more sxs.
They are much nicer to use and carry than the others.
Try before you buy. Just throw it up and shoot. If it doesn't print where you were looking take it back. No matter how good a deal.

 

[Rhodesianjess]

Sxs traditional driven game gun. Hence if properly fitted for you,it throws two thirds of the pattern high from point of aim, building in lead for oncoming birds.
O/U shoots flat to point of aim, hence clay use where crossers are in the majority of shots.
As long as you bear in mind where your pattern is going to arrive on the target, you'll shoot well with either configuration of barrels. My employer has tried using my O/U's at clays, his mindset after 60 years of using Sxs guns cannot allow him to break crossers at distance. Just can't retrain his muscle memory for different POI, so he uses any of his Sxs for everything, very effective too I might add.

 

[Ade8mm]

Just throw it up and shoot. If it doesn't print where you were looking take it back. No matter how good a deal.

Correct.
All this talk of "sight picture"!
You should be looking at the bird.
Its a shotgun not a rifle!
Ade

 

[McKenzie]

Sxs traditional driven game gun. Hence if properly fitted for you,it throws two thirds of the pattern high from point of aim, building in lead for oncoming birds.
O/U shoots flat to point of aim, hence clay use where crossers are in the majority of shots.
As long as you bear in mind where your pattern is going to arrive on the target, you'll shoot well with either configuration of barrels. My employer has tried using my O/U's at clays, his mindset after 60 years of using Sxs guns cannot allow him to break crossers at distance. Just can't retrain his muscle memory for different POI, so he uses any of his Sxs for everything, very effective too I might add.

Interestingly I set my guns up to do the opposite of this. I like my side by sides to be truly flat-shooting guns with the pattern striking 50/50% on the target but I like an over and under to print the pattern 60/40% & like an adjustable comb to tweak this. Generally I only use the o/u for clays & it helps slightly as it allows the clay to be seen most of the time whilst shooting. The sbs is used for clays, driven, rough & over pointers (my passion) & is shot far more reactively/instinctively. I couldn’t tell you where I’m shooting with the sbs but I have a very high success rate.

 

[Smellydog]

O/U shoots flat to point of aim

Not really. Fit of any gun determines how high the pattern is.

 

[JTO]

LOL! I had a friend thirty plus years ago when using an O/U on a game shoot was considered, with much tut-tutting, almost as bad as the worst social faux pas you might imagine. Worse maybe even than shooting on a Saturday!

Probably as bad as "the sort of man who shoots foxes" ??

 

[Rhodesianjess]

Correct.
All this talk of "sight picture"!
You should be looking at the bird.
Its a shotgun not a rifle!
Ade

Re your point - I borrowed a gun at clays once, Winchester 101, that had no bead. As I thought I didn't use a bead, just throwing gun up and firing, that it wouldn't be a problem.
Wrong I dropped clay after clay
I picked up a pinch of mud and put it where the bead should be,hey presto broken clay. Unfortunately the recoil knocked the mud off and I dropped the second clay.
Lesson learned! Never thought that I used the bead but obviously I do. Go figure.

 

[Ade8mm]

Re your point - I borrowed a gun at clays once, Winchester 101, that had no bead. As I thought I didn't use a bead, just throwing gun up and firing, that it wouldn't be a problem.
Wrong I dropped clay after clay
I picked up a pinch of mud and put it where the bead should be,hey presto broken clay. Unfortunately the recoil knocked the mud off and I dropped the second clay.
Lesson learned! Never thought that I used the bead but obviously I do. Go figure.

Both configurations have (or should have) a bead!
My observation stands

 

[JTO]

If you have been used to using an O/U, you will have to get used to holding the barrels instead of the fore-end. You will probably shoot low if you don't.

 

[Smellydog]

If you have been used to using an O/U, you will have to get used to holding the barrels instead of the fore-end. You will probably shoot low if you don't.

So how come I can switch guns at any point and still connect?

 

[JTO]

So how come I can switch guns at any point and still connect?

RTFQ

 

[Smellydog]

RTFQ

FU

 

[Camdig]

I jump between sxs and o/u regularly and have done for long time with no fuss, the gun that takes a bit of adjustment to get on with is my semi auto first half dozen shots after not shooting it for a while are usually embarrassing but soon make adjustments usually mounting I soon settle down.

 

[NullMac]

Don't

 

[Jamouk]

If God had meant us to shoot over and unders he wouldn't have put our eyes side by side