A little advice here please. O/U or SBS

[mullet]

I recently gave back my cousin an over/under 12 gauge he sold me 15 years ago. He wanted it for his wife. Not a very expensive one but I liked it & used it for pheasant for years. My grandfather, who taught me to hunt, used a SBS 12 gauge. It was so old when he quit hunting that the forearm would fall off of it when you shot it. It is now one of my uncle's wall hangers. My question is, what advantages & disadvantages do each have? I did like the switchable firing of the over/under. Switching from the upper or lower (different chokes) barrels as to witch fires first. And the single trigger. And what is the best barrel length? Can something that is used for pheasant be just as good for skeet? I am just starting to get back in to that. I use a pump 12 gauge for rabbit & grouse & a .22 or 20 gauge single for squirrel. Thanks in advance for any help. Mullet.

[Sparxfly72]

I can tell you the majority of trap shooters use O/U vs SxS. Probably due to sight view of looking down only one barrel vs two. For me, it's a toss-up. I love the classic look of both. Short-barreled coach gun with dbl triggers or beautiful craftsmanship and accuracy of the O/U. Thinking about it now, I would probably go the O/U route, YMMV.

[bogey1]

The SBS you mentioned, is that a NFA SBS or is it just a term for "shorter than"?
The reason i ask. Is it even legal to hunt with a SBS ?

[RLS]

The SBS you mentioned, is that a NFA SBS or is it just a term for "shorter than"?
The reason i ask. Is it even legal to hunt with a SBS ?

I believe he means SxS, Side by Side. A double barrel shotgun, even.





Rick

[Hawk]

An O/U shotgun is less obstructive to your view than a SXS.

Any field or sporting grade O/U shotgun will work fine for both small game hunting and Skeet.

Barrel length only matters in how much weight it adds to the swing. Longer barrels - more weight - slower swing. (Only trap guys want a slower swing). Just go for something between 28-32"

[jtwalker]

The SBS you mentioned, is that a NFA SBS or is it just a term for "shorter than"?
The reason i ask. Is it even legal to hunt with a SBS ?

Yeah, I was thinking ... why compare an SBS to an O/U ? Then I figured out OP meant a SxS.

[mullet]

Sorry forthe cornfusion on the "SBS". And thanks evryone for the input. Mullet.

[Urban_Redneck]

IMHO, you can shoot whatever you like at fun/casual, skeet or trap.

If you are the type of shooter that sights down the rib and looks for the bead,
I believe the single sighting plane of an O/U might be best.

I never look at the gun, most of mine don't even have beads, my guns are fitted me. I shoot SxS for upland game and an auto loader for waterfowl and clay birds.

YMMV

[Pete D.]

I use a SXS for Upland hunting. Nothing points like a SXS.
It is very true that the clay games are dominated by O/Us....great all around guns.
Clay games are not hunting. The clay...what ever it is, does not flush from under your feet at about a gazillion mph. Grouse do. Once released, clays have a predictable path, more often than not...that is why catching sight of them early is so helpful. Upland birds are never predictable and, the single sighting plane of the O/U is not nearly as critical or helpful. Pointability is the thing. Liveliness.
If you intend to do both Trap/Skeet and Upland hunting, you may be better off with the O/U. Personally, I shoot my SXSs nearly as well at 16 yard Trap as I do my Trap gun.
Pete
A look down the old Parker.

[mullet]

Thanks everyone again. I think it'll be a SxS. If for no other reason than sentimental value. I have shot both & auto loaders. I don't seem to do better with one or the other. But, the O/U is the only one I have spent any amount of time with. I think I want to try the SxS. So, that being said, any body got a SxS for a reasonable price. 12 gauge please.