Whats Best - Side by Side or Over and Under, semi, pump or double trigger, single trigger etc

[Heym SR20]

Ok not rifle related specifically but I have been rereading Michael Mcintosh’s “Shotguns and Shooting”.

As a professor of English with a passion for shooting he writes supremely well. Sadly he passed away ten years ago.

He constantly poses the question of which is better SxS, OU, double or single trigger, and then into straight grip vs pistol grip and beavertail forends.

His conclusion was that constant research is needed and much more research is needed which means shooting lots of fine guns for the rest of your life.

So ladies and gentlemen the challenge is what is best?? Given that this is SD we could well include double, single shot and magazine rifles in this discussion.

And what is the definition of best? It’s not necessarily measurable - as in dead birds per 100 cartridges, or MoA - My view is what gives you a grin at the end of the day and adds to the story.

For me my old AYA Coral with double triggers is my goto gun. I bought aged 18 after we had a burglary and I used the insurance money. It was on the wrack in a gunshop in Wallingford that wasn’t there very long. He wanted a too much for my pocket, they then closed down and he let me have it for what I offered.

I had a love / hate relationship with it for a couple of years. Couldn’t shoot well with it at all. Took it into Thomas Turner to sell as I was a student. The old boy took one look at it, took a look at me and made me a deal. He would bend it to fit me. If it worked I would pay him, if it didn’t he would sell it. Picked it up a couple of weeks later, and have never looked back. I did pay him the £50 gunsmithing fee. It’s a double trigger over and under with pistol grip.

But as I have got older I really appreciate side by sides. I have an Alex Martin sidelock and a William Jeffery 410. The AM is a nice gun, and think is more a passing affair, but the Jeffery is definitely a keeper.

 

[Sika98k]

A good few shotguns have passed through my hands over the years. A Browning B1 was my first shotgun given to me by my father. Then his Webley 700. I had an affair with a delightful W. W. Greener for a number of years, 26” barrels, very lightly choked and tremendous on the pigeons. The cross pins in the action had a habit of working loose on a busy day and required the odd gentle tap to push them back.
Some years ago I came across a Bonehill 16 bore with 28” barrels and a PoW grip, a delightful gun to shoot. I still have a Webley but find now the straight hand stock gives my middle finger a terrible battering.

 

[TH4]

Whatever you can shoot well with is the best

 

[Gsd99]

Ive always shot O/U and semis, not keen on pumps. In August I was lucky enough to do 2 days walked up grouse up in scotland. I bought a cheapish spanish sidelock double trigger 12g. It's a nice gun and certainly puts a smile on your face when you have a good shot with it. I can shoot it okay but i shoot the O/U and the semi better (most of the time).

The O/U gets chosen on all clay shooting and most driven shooting. The Semi does everything else from foxing to wildfowling. The s/s will get chosen for the more sentimental days

 

[malmick]

First shotgun I handled was a Stevens Savage pump action belonging to my cousin-in-law, don't think I was in my teens at that point. It seemed big and heavy but it was fun.
First shotgun I owned as a teenager was a Greener GP that was in fantastic condition and wished now that I'd hung onto it, even though it was a single shot it did it's job well.

I currently have a Miroku MK70, O/U, single trigger, that is my go to for driven and clays. A small Laurona SxS with double triggers and tool-less sideplates that I picked up for a song, it's great for walked up. A Remington Versa-Max semi-auto for wildfowling and occasional use on clays. All 12 bore and I enjoy using them all, in fact I just enjoy being outside and shooting.

 

[welshwarrior]

What ever floats your boat but general it’s easier to shoot well with an OU single trigger around 7 71/2 lbs 30” barrels with a sporting type stock.

But won’t work best for all.

 

[Sonicdmb73]

That depends on what fits you. Personally I am equally poor to middling with my SxS semi and OU. I don't think spending the majority of my time with a rifle, or having a master eye opposite to my handedness helps either.

 

[User00025]

Again a great many guns have gone through my hands. My best O/U that I shot with was a Merkel choked extra full and even fuller, but I even shot skeet well with it. When first keepering my vermin gun was a Baikal double hammer 16 bore and I honestly never missed with it, I foolishly gave it away to my first underkeeper.
I really am a side by side man and now stick to my final shotgun which I shoot tolerably well with, a Reilly sidelock No 2 of a pair. Wish I knew where number 1 is.

 

[Essexsussex]

I find the trigger question almost irrelevant to me. For some reason I instinctively know what I have picked up, a pal and I swapped guns a month ago and we commented on this. I suspect double trigger can be more reliable, as the trigger doesn’t need the first shot to reset.
over and under just seems to point better, but then I’ve never had a properly fitting side by side. I had several as a boy but my hit ratio when through the roof the minute I swapped to o/u. I wish I had had a positive experience of shooting a side by side because I absolutely love them as pieces of engineering.

 

[Fowler1990]

Gun fit is paramount, whatever way the barrels are orientated shouldnt really matter. Personally shoot a SxS with a pistol grip, and a pump.
Have had allsorts and these two i have had the most time behind which i think is most important.

 

[Rhodesianjess]

Having shot rifle/ shotgun since the age of 5 ( first shot at a tin can with granddad's 410), military service of an active nature, then keepered professionally for nigh on 35 years, I've come to the decision that your mental state determines how well you shoot with the gun you're carrying.
Personally,any gauge or barrel configuration I can shoot with, I bloody ought to, it's my living!
My boss cannot get on with an o/u, the sight picture doesn't work for him. Hence, despite coaching from me using one of my guns, he just cannot hit anything. S by S , which he owns two pairs of, he's a more than passable shot.
His head says it's not right so it doesn't work for him.
Gunfit has a lot to do with marksmanship,if you don't have a gun fitted to you then some work and some won't depending upon dimensions.
IMO if you are comfortable with the gun,it performs well. If not then marksmanship falls by the wayside.

 

[lochty]

Shotguns, my Holland 16 bore, made circa 1885. Rifle, my tikka LSA 55 owned since 1985. But I also have a Baikal o/u for dens, hoodies nests etc because it has a sling and can double as a mallet, crutch etc.

 

[Alistair]

I don't think it's really a discussion tbh. Every competitive shot, the ones who focus the most on performance to the exclusion of all else, use a heavy, longer barrelled o/u with a pistol grip and a single trigger. They also have work done to the gun fit and want long multi chokes.

Ergo, this is the 'best' gun if the focus is on shooting to the best of your ability. It's no coincidence that side by sides have their own 'handicap' division in many competitions.

As for the 'best' gun for a game shot, that's personal preference. I shoot game with both an O/U and a sbs. I shoot better with the ou, but the sbs seems 'proper' and adds to the enjoyment of my day. Nicer to carry round too.

If I was to invest in a pair of top quality shotguns for game, I'd be seriously thinking about double trigger sbs configurations and taking the performance hit.

As for semi-autos, I had one, I shot it fine, but I don't like them. Funny balance, funny looking, too much stuff going on in front of your face. I'd still pick one for a long day on pigeons or a morning on the foreshore though. Oh, and pumps are for Americans.

 

[welshwarrior]

I don't think it's really a discussion tbh. Every competitive shot, the ones who focus the most on performance to the exclusion of all else, use a heavy, longer barrelled o/u with a pistol grip and a single trigger. They also have work done to the gun fit and want long multi chokes.

Ergo, this is the 'best' gun if the focus is on shooting to the best of your ability. It's no coincidence that side by sides have their own 'handicap' division in many competitions.

As for the 'best' gun for a game shot, that's personal preference. I shoot game with both an O/U and a sbs. I shoot better with the ou, but the sbs seems 'proper' and adds to the enjoyment of my day. Nicer to carry round too.

If I was to invest in a pair of top quality shotguns for game, I'd be seriously thinking about double trigger sbs configurations and taking the performance hit.

As for semi-autos, I had one, I shot it fine, but I don't like them. Funny balance, funny looking, too much stuff going on in front of your face. I'd still pick one for a long day on pigeons or a morning on the foreshore though. Oh, and pumps are for Americans.

In Britain not all the top shots use multi chokes many will highly they upset the handling/balance of the gun. With Teague being the exception to a few.

 

[Rhodesianjess]

I don't think it's really a discussion tbh. Every competitive shot, the ones who focus the most on performance to the exclusion of all else, use a heavy, longer barrelled o/u with a pistol grip and a single trigger. They also have work done to the gun fit and want long multi chokes.

Ergo, this is the 'best' gun if the focus is on shooting to the best of your ability. It's no coincidence that side by sides have their own 'handicap' division in many competitions.

As for the 'best' gun for a game shot, that's personal preference. I shoot game with both an O/U and a sbs. I shoot better with the ou, but the sbs seems 'proper' and adds to the enjoyment of my day. Nicer to carry round too.

If I was to invest in a pair of top quality shotguns for game, I'd be seriously thinking about double trigger sbs configurations and taking the performance hit.

As for semi-autos, I had one, I shot it fine, but I don't like them. Funny balance, funny looking, too much stuff going on in front of your face. I'd still pick one for a long day on pigeons or a morning on the foreshore though. Oh, and pumps are for Americans.

My boss calls my working auto,a Winchester, my "gangster gun")

 

[disco_ike]

HI
I have a Semi Auto for wild fowling and clay's. I only muck about with it my rifles are my serious shooting. I paid £300 for it 3 years ago with warranty. I love it. Long as you put the right size cartidges through cycles lovely. I just bought a 20g o/u for friends to use when they come with me clay shooting. Used it a few times but the Semi auto just makes me smile.. The one downside is once a choke is on you can't swapo.

My old O/U I had a fairly open choke and a fairly tight choke. quick to change between the two depending on what was coming over game wise.

As with most of these things - get one of each and go have a play.

 

[Xtrema]

I still have my old AYA Yeoman i bought back in 1979. It's still in excellent condition and performs well as long as i do my bit.
I also have a Webley & Scott 700 dating from the mid 70's which is my go to gun for rough shooting these days.
A couple of years ago i bought a Browning B725 Black Edition. A fantastic gun but one which i rarely use and consequently has become a cabinet queen. I would probably sell it for the right price.
I just prefer side by sides, i was brought up with them. They look nicer, they're lighter and easier to carry around.

 

[baguio]

That depends on what fits you.

To shoot any gun well it needs to fit you. That's a given.

 

[cjm1066]

The AYA yeoman 0/U handles like a sxs.

 

[alan123shooting]

I have a Winchester 101 lightweight for game, an ATA for clays, but my pride and joy is my Westley Richards bar- in wood hammer, black powder proof, made 1869 so satisfying to take a pheasant with a 150 year old gun, high days and holidays only