Looking at O/U’s

[dogbuster0006]

If you'be got a thing for Citori's you can find them in almost any combination of barrel length and stock. I have a 12 and 20 white lightening and wouldn't trade them for anything. I like the 12 for clays and any volume shooting as the weight and extra pellets help when shooting for bragging rights. My little 20 gets the nod when lots of walking is involved, hard to beat a gun that's only about 6lb but it's not fun for high volume shooting. One round of sporting clays and she makes me a little tender.

 

[Capt RB]

I'm 5'7 I ran a 28 citori special sporting when I first started shooting sporting clays. The palm swell and touch higher rib fit me better. After a year I went to a 30/32" 325. I had a longer barrel set for longer events like regionals and nationals. The 30" set was for club/local shoots. If you're in thick cover and claim the short barrels are quicker that is a false statement. You jerk them around faster but then you stop to get on target. Like a painter's brush smooth seems slow but you don't have to stop and fix a quick movement mistake. I hunt Maine Nh and Vt so outside of Alaska it doesn't get much thicker brush wise.
I once won a pheasant shoot prize. I'm a redneck by choice and when I showed up at the tweed hat wearing event I had a few glaring at me. First pair of birds come over and I didn't mount the gun to be polite. They were closer to the gentleman to the right of me.
Second pair came on the other side the same thing. This guy yells out laughing at me what's wrong too fast for you. They were all shunning my 7.5# Ruger 30" gun I had just won at a shoot. These were all shooting sidelock side by sides in the 5-6.5# range. I shot the next 130 birds some at 75+yds. Didn't let a single bird clear the trees by more than 2 or 3 feet. They started releasing 4 at a time and that is when I started to miss. Had I been shooting one of those side by sides with the stubby barrels 2 things. the recoil of the short barrel/light weight would bounce me out of the gun for the followup and the swing would not be near as smooth. Fine for a shot or three or showcasing some artful gun maker's work but not good for any kind of volume shooting.
The GTI has a wider forearm whereas the special sporting has a narrow forend. I had better control with the narrow one. Fit is everything. Look up John Bidwell's move mount shoot VHS(kidding)video/DVD. It explains the proper way to become exceptional with a shotgun. When you move into the gun vs moving the gun into you it should go off. This is why fit is so critical. I liked the mechanical trigger of the Ruger over the inertia trigger of the GTI/Citori however the Ruger after 2 years felt sloppy and the Browning just seemed to be smoother with no slop whatsoever. Both were seeing 50k or more rounds a year.
Also, look from the barrel to the buttstock Most of these had stock work. I know my ex's gun was cast on for a left-hander. Mine had 3/8 cast offanda reduction in drop at the toe. Pick it up mount it eyes closed 3 or 5 times and see where your looking in relation to the rib n beads
Good luck hope it all works out for you

 

[Wyo37]

I'd suggest handling as many as you can to see what gun feels right. I always wanted a beretta silver pigeon but after shouldering one, they just dont fit me. I found the franchi instinct was for me.

 

[KurtB]

At 6'7" few feel right out of the box. Bought my second ever over and under, Citori 16 ga, sight unseen. Seemed a touch short, so had Simmons in Olathe, KS chop the stock square and add a 1" pad. Now it feels much better. Hit 18 out of first 20 on last time out with some new trulock chokes. So I guess my advice is grab one that feels close and have a competent shop work on at least the correct LOP for you.

 

[Montana'eer]

If you'be got a thing for Citori's you can find them in almost any combination of barrel length and stock. I have a 12 and 20 white lightening and wouldn't trade them for anything. I like the 12 for clays and any volume shooting as the weight and extra pellets help when shooting for bragging rights. My little 20 gets the nod when lots of walking is involved, hard to beat a gun that's only about 6lb but it's not fun for high volume shooting. One round of sporting clays and she makes me a little tender.

Aye- I have a Citori feather lightning with a 20/28ga barrel combo. It's a dream to carry on sharpie hunts.

I also have, and LOVE my Savage (made by Valmet) O/U. That one is a rare 12/20 two barrel set combo and for some reason me and that shotgun just are in tune. I knock the snail snot of ditch pigeons and ducks with that gun.

 

[valkyrie.rider]

I tried the Benelli 826. I like the looks and it is only a tad over 6 pounds. I is an amazing shotgun, but kicked the snot out of me if I didnt get it mounted just right. I sold mine, but they are definitely worth a look.

 

[Frog4aday]

I shouldered and examined those Benelli 828s at Shot Show 'back when' and really liked the fit and feel of the gun. But anything light and easy to carry will kick the heck out of a guy, and that's tedious. The beauty of the Citori's is the ease of fitting them with Briley sub-gauge tubes so you can shoot 20ga for trap and skeet, then take out the tubes for hunting and go full on 12ga when needed. (Beretta 686s are great in this regard, too.)

 

[newmexkid]

I know this an old post but, I bought a WIN 101 O/U about 8-9 months ago. I have shot exactly one box out of it and it kicks like a mule. I had the forcing cone lengthed by Rob Roberts. I hope it helps.

 

[Frog4aday]

You might also fit a Limbsaver recoil pad. They have slip-ons, too, if you happen to be a long armed fellow.

 

[Capt RB]

I know this an old post but, I bought a WIN 101 O/U about 8-9 months ago. I have shot exactly one box out of it and it kicks like a mule. I had the forcing cone lengthed by Rob Roberts. I hope it helps.

Too much drop of the comb most likely. See about getting it fit to you. They can do wonders. Also look into shooting a lighter weight load. An Olympic trap or skeet load is roughly 24grams at 1450 to 1500fps
It will kick less and kill far better than the old high brass loads. The speed and high atimnoy hard shot of target loads works very well on birds

 

[aushunter1]

Personally I don't understand why you would want a U/O if you can own a semi auto with no special permit as you can in the USA?
I'd trade my Miroku for one any day if I could

 

[KurtB]

I kind of understand your sentiment on that Aushunter1. I like using a semi auto as a beater in duck blinds and heavy upland cover. If I had to choose one or the other, I'd keep my semi. That said kind of nice to pack a double some days when hunting in low cover. Good to have choices I guess.

 

[Montana'eer]

If you'be got a thing for Citori's you can find them in almost any combination of barrel length and stock. I have a 12 and 20 white lightening and wouldn't trade them for anything. I like the 12 for clays and any volume shooting as the weight and extra pellets help when shooting for bragging rights. My little 20 gets the nod when lots of walking is involved, hard to beat a gun that's only about 6lb but it's not fun for high volume shooting. One round of sporting clays and she makes me a little tender.

I have the Citori Lightning Feather combo in 20 and 28ga. I love that shotgun. Less than 6lbs and a pure joy.

I also have a pretty rare combo set - a Savage 330 (made by Valmet) in a 12ga/20ga combo. Longer and heavier than the Citori, but I very, very rarely miss with that 20. It seems like it was made just for me. You can find those 330's (non-combo) for around $400-$500 in really good shape and they are an excellent O/U. I had another 330- just one barrel in 20ga and I sold it to my friend when I found the combo. It's his favorite bird gun by far.

 

[UplandFreak]

Personally I don't understand why you would want a U/O if you can own a semi auto with no special permit as you can in the USA?
I'd trade my Miroku for one any day if I could

I have both - a Remington Versamax with the woodtech stock and a cynergy feather 12 ga. The cynergy is so much quicker to the shoulder and through the bird - no cycling so it is a much quicker 2nd shot, and its about 3lbs lighter than my semi auto, so a pleasure to carry in the field. Also, both have 28" pipes, but the over under is obviously more compact. I mostly hunt pheasants in areas that limit capacity to 3 rounds. So I give up one round for al those other benefits - its worth it to me. I hunt over a pointer, if I can't get it done with 2, I don't deserve a 3rd shot