5 Reasons I shoot O/Us and Doubles in the Uplands

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Originally Posted by yellow dog

I have only had my o/u for close to two months but keep on going back to my semi. It may take some time to get use to it but feel more comfortable with the semi. I keep on thinking maybe I made the wrong decision with the o/u purchase.

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That's what counts the most.

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Originally Posted by ninepointer

That's what counts the most.

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Don't get me wrong it is a really nice gun but maybe not the right gun for me. It's a Condor Supreme and I had a Cooey 12g single shot before that. The Cooey was a shoulder buster and left me black and blue.

Ninepointer's comment really gets to the bottom line......gun needs to fit regardless of style.

I shoot a benelli autoloader for waterfowl almost exclusively. It's been adjusted accordingly and fits, we all shoot better when they fit. On the other hand it's always an o/u when upland or flyer shooting when dog training. The gun is shorter but once again, it fits. I also like the 50year old plus vintage of guns, especially the Winchesters so that is part of the equation.

If you ever get a chance to be part of a shooting seminar then take it. There are so many tips a good instructor can give in such a short time. Go to a trap range and discuss this with the guys there, most will help.

By the way, go to your local trap range maybe during an ATA shoot where folks shoot between 300 to 500 rounds during the day. Many hunters wouldn't shoot that many in a season. Their guns have to fit, not like the old single shot bruisers

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Originally Posted by Cass

My next gun will be an O/U, I want one so bad. The group that I train the dog with all the guys have them (except one who has a sxs) and they are just beautiful. I think it would be perfect for the bush.

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They are. Reality is the 3rd shot is pretty well a waste in the uplands anyway. Wait until you walk through the woodcock jungle with a nice light and lively double. Your 30" barelled repeater will become a turkey/waterfowl gun after.

I love sxs and o/u, couldn't imagine not hunting with them. When I was younger I was a die hard auto guy too. I use to use a 12ga semi for everything, then one day tried a 20ga o/u on a bunny hunt. Was hooked ever since, now I really like sxs and use them a lot. For any one who hasn't tried them yet highly recommend you do. Just stay away from the cheaper ones they defeat the real feel of a properly made double gun. A well made one will be reliable light weight and well balanced, easy to carry and fast to swing on game and be just as nice looking as the surrounding scenery.

I still own one 12g semi ( SBE2) but for upland only use doubles. My problem is I'm a junkie and have collected too many of them....:ashamed:

That's what I'm afraid of !

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Originally Posted by yellow dog

That's what I'm afraid of !

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Everybody is entitled to at least one weakness. .......

For 20 years I used pumps for everything (still use one for ducks, deer, turkeys and sometimes clays), but I got into doubles for 2 reasons:

1) It was all the beagle wrangling on our cottontail hunts that made me appreciate the convenience of a break-action gun (first single shots and later doubles) in those situations;

2) My earliest childhood memories include that of a little framed print hanging in our home; it was of two gentlemanly looking hunters with SxSs and their dog. That vision never left me.

I've had a few high end O/U 's , problem is the thick stuff I hunt.
I spend half the day just worrying about scratching or marking the wood LOL