Over and Under or Side by Side or something else?

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Over and Under or Side by Side or something else?
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Downsizer Forum Index -> Shooting and Trapping for the Pot

What is your favourite shotgun design?

Side by Side

21%

[ 4 ]

Over and Under

36%

[ 7 ]

Pump please!

[ 0 ]

I'm an Auto

[ 1 ]

I'm a muzzle loader!

[ 0 ]

What are you on about?

26%

[ 5 ]

Mmmm, interesting question, depends on the intended quarry..

10%

[ 2 ]

Total Votes : 19

Author

Message

Treacodactyl
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sun Dec 26, 04 7:51 pm Post subject: Over and Under or Side by Side or something else?

Just finished watching a traditional Christmas murder mystery and noticed how all TV shooting is done by side by side shot guns. Most new shooters learn with over and unders so I thought we'd have a light-hearted Christmas poll.

Incidentally, did anyone see the exploding gun on Midsomer Murders? A non-ejecting ejector that fired right then left, then left first the next time! The woman also didn't remove a dud cartridge and didn't check the barrels after a misfire.

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Sun Dec 26, 04 7:53 pm Post subject:
Voted for side by side, based on aesthetics and a preference for tradition. Since I don't shoot I have no more practical basis for my decision.

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Sun Dec 26, 04 8:51 pm Post subject:
DS, you won't be surprised to hear that he did have a certain somebody in mind when he included the last option I'm a "wot you on about"...I do know the difference between most of them on sight, but wouldn't know what the advantages would be. They all go bang very loudly...I'm still learning

deerstalker

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 589

Posted: Sun Dec 26, 04 9:19 pm Post subject:
.. Last edited by deerstalker on Fri Apr 08, 05 5:47 pm; edited 1 time in total

sam f

Joined: 13 Dec 2004
Posts: 7
Location: Dorset

Posted: Sun Dec 26, 04 10:07 pm Post subject: D&K
Deerstalker, youre D&K, is that a Denton and Kennel? If so they are Spanish made guns, distributed through Somerton Guns, Somerset, who unfortunately closed 10 years ago.

deerstalker

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 589

Posted: Sun Dec 26, 04 10:34 pm Post subject:
.. Last edited by deerstalker on Fri Apr 08, 05 5:48 pm; edited 2 times in total

McLay455

Joined: 23 Nov 2004
Posts: 89
Location: West of Scotland

Posted: Fri Dec 31, 04 8:26 am Post subject: Side by side
I have a 16-bore side by side which I am very fond of. It was made 87 years ago in Suhl by Thieme and Schlegelmilch. It is fairly light and easy to carry. For heavier work (geese and ducks) I use a Luigi Franchi 12 bore over and under. I only shoot for the pot nowadays .

Kie Kie
Guest

Posted: Sat Jan 22, 05 1:24 am Post subject: Denton & Kennel
Some years ago a Denton & Kennel best quality sidelock 12g made it all the way to Auckland, New Zealand, where I live. I have owned the gun for five or six years but no next to nothing of the Denton & Kennel manufacture. Any more feedback is valued.

Wombat

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 396
Location: SW Cheshire

Posted: Sat Jan 22, 05 6:27 am Post subject:
I use a Lincoln, 12g, o/u, only because it was going cheap, only shotgun I have. However I have voted for s by s, as they look more traditional, very stylish and my grandad used to shoot with one. How I wish I could have had his gun, no one in the family seems to know what happened to it after he died. Wombat

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sun Jan 23, 05 11:46 am Post subject:

Wombat wrote:

I use a Lincoln, 12g, o/u, only because it was going cheap, only shotgun I have.

What do you think of your Lincoln? Have you had any problems at all? I and my OH may get our certificates sorted this year and look to buy a pair of shot guns. Any comments welcome.

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Sun Jan 23, 05 9:04 pm Post subject:
Beretta A301 semi auto multi choke. rather old but very reliable, never seen the point in swinging two barrels around, If I didn't have this I would buy an old baikal o/u

Wombat

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 396
Location: SW Cheshire

Posted: Mon Jan 24, 05 7:50 am Post subject:
T Lincoln has been OK, unlike my shooting! It's not the most stylish of guns, but does it's stuff. Good luck with your licence and gun search. Wombat

Gervase

Joined: 17 Nov 2004
Posts: 8655

Posted: Mon Jan 24, 05 2:32 pm Post subject:

If you're going to be walking around a lot, a side-by-side's a lot easier to lug about, as the weight is spread across a broader area on your forearm than with an OU.
That said, if you're new to shooting and are the sort who flinches when shooting, the heavier breach construction of the OU cuts down on recoil (but only by a very small amount). The 'pointability' of an OU, with just its single rib visible, can also help people new to shooting. Another tiny point - if you're wildfowling or shooting from a hide, a side-by-side doesn't need to open as far to reload as an OU (and the mechanism is simpler if you're going to risk exposing it to mud, salt water and other crud).
I've always used side-by-sides, but my other half has a Beretta 20-bore OU which is a lovely gun to shoot (and which I've been known to 'borrow' at times!).

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Mon Jan 24, 05 8:18 pm Post subject:

Don't mention a 20 bore that's a whole new topic to go in to. I had thought of one for Bugs. They are a little lighter and smaller but some say harder to control, less smooth. Some say the recoil is worse (must depend on the cartridge charge and shot weight though

). Then there's always the worry of mixing 12 & 20 cartridges in error.

I've sort of looked at semi-autos (more adjustable, cheaper, possibly less recoil) but some clay grounds don't like them and some people say they don't reduce the recoil much.

I know one of the answers is to try other people's guns at the club and a good shop will help, but there seem to be too many permutations.

Guest

Posted: Wed Feb 23, 05 8:02 pm Post subject:

I took up shotgun shooting last year, starting on lessons on clays etc. then ened up with a total of three driven days - very enjoyable (& tasty).
However... I digress, on the subject of an over & under v's' a side by side. I bought an OU Winchester - mainly because 1. I'm left handed and it comes in a straight stock and SbS casts are much more involved and usually to the right (funny that), but therefore so much harder to find a good fit - the other reason was my instructor who reccommended an OU.
HOWEVER, I am a (bit) wiser now and the things I don't like about OUs are... 1. New stiff guns are a pain, you need to fiddle to make sure they 'drop' open all the way - else the "under" chamber does allow a shell in - this is fiddly if your a LH like me 2. They are heavier game guns than SbS 3. Much more complex action: more "funny" discharges and problems.

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