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

[fishhawk]

[QUOTEWe talking about 12 3.5" here...
Maxus Stalker 3-1/2 in., 28 inch barrel: 6 lbs. 15 oz.
Vinci, MAX-4 Camo, 26 inch: 7 lbs., 1 oz.
A400, non-KO, 28 inch: 6 lbs. 13 oz.

The old 12ga 2 3/4" were around the 9lbs.][/QUOTE]

I am not talking about old Russian or Brazilian cheap made guns ether. Same manufacturers your talking about but there double barrel line, Italian, Spanish, etc. I actuality have a Browning Maxus I use for waterfowl and turkey. Nice gun.

[Waftrudnir]

nobody wants to spoil your gun!
all I'm saying is that semis lost a lot of weight over the last decade (which used to be an argument against them) and that you get for roughly the same weight a relatively long gun, which some will prefer (shooting) and others maybe not (thickets). And because of whatever the particular hunting situation calls for, you will need to compromise on something; to me it continues to be a personal preference. personally, I narrowed it down to U/O or semi
However, you bring up a good point and that is price. Might not be the foremost deciding factor for you and me, but certainly for many (look at the high number of pump actions still sold today; i.e. <$500). It's no secret that an European-made break action will cost you (significantly) more than a US or Japan-made semi. And of course it holds true that you get what you pay for...

[terrym]

I'm not "anti semi". My turkey/waterfowl gun is a SBE2. I have a BAR 7mm08 for deer but when hunting upland will grab one of my doubles every time. My hunting O/U each weigh 6lbs and are a joy to carry. Just added a Sauer 16g SxS that weighs 6.5 lbs.

[fishhawk]

nobody wants to spoil your gun!
all I'm saying is that semis lost a lot of weight over the last decade (which used to be an argument against them) and that you get for roughly the same weight a relatively long gun, which some will prefer (shooting) and others maybe not (thickets). And because of whatever the particular hunting situation calls for, you will need to compromise on something; to me it continues to be a personal preference. personally, I narrowed it down to U/O or semi
However, you bring up a good point and that is price. Might not be the foremost deciding factor for you and me, but certainly for many (look at the high number of pump actions still sold today; i.e. <$500). It's no secret that an European-made break action will cost you (significantly) more than a US or Japan-made semi. And of course it holds true that you get what you pay for...

I hear what you are saying and I am a big fan of semi autos as well, been using them my self for years. I own Beretta's and Brownings and there nice guns, and since the manufactures have gone to aluminum receivers the weights have gone down. I personally like to use O/U and SxS for upland game for reasons stated above. But a good semi or pump is hard to beat.

[Waftrudnir]

one thing that maybe hasn't been mentioned are the loads required for upland hunting - comparably light LEAD loads - and the subsequent requirements on a gun
looking at the new dove regulations I'm kind of concerned (although not surprised) what way we are heading. traditionally, we can use lead for woodcock, but not for dove, which are typically hunted over dry ground...

[welsh]

I hate having two triggers! I think I can count on one hand how often I switched to the tight choke first while hunting with an O/U.

On the other hand I prefer double triggers. To each his own.

[TPM]

We're talking about 12 3.5" here...
Maxus Stalker 3-1/2 in., 28 inch barrel: 6 lbs. 15 oz.
Vinci, MAX-4 Camo, 26 inch: 7 lbs., 1 oz.
A400, non-KO, 28 inch: 6 lbs. 13 oz.

The old 12ga 2 3/4" were around the 9lbs.

Semi's certainly have come down in weight. Both my SxS's weigh in around 7 lbs but they are by no means light weights by upland game gun standards. A good game gun should be a lot closer to 6 lbs than 7lbs. Interestingly enough my current go to bird gun is an Ithaca 37 pump in 16ga. Handles well, shoots well and weighs in at 6 lbs 2oz.

[ninepointer]

Semi's certainly have come down in weight. Both my SxS's weigh in around 7 lbs but they are by no means light weights by upland game gun standards. A good game gun should be a lot closer to 6 lbs than 7lbs. Interestingly enough my current go to bird gun is an Ithaca 37 pump in 16ga. Handles well, shoots well and weighs in at 6 lbs 2oz.

Not surprising, considering the Model 37 receivers were sized for each gauge. A friend of mine has one and when you pick it up you know you're holding a true 16 ga., not a 12 ga. in disguise.

Not that this has anything to do with anything, but I've always preferred the snick-snick sound of Model 37's action over the clackety-clack of an 870.

[Fox]

You can pretty easily dismiss every single one of these 5 reasons.

I have a bolt 410, single and double 16ga, pump 20ga and pump 12ga. I have used every single one of them hunting upland game, not a single one could not be used for hunting upland game.

The only thing I have ever had freeze was a firing pin and that could happen on a single or double just as easily as anything else.

[finsfurfeathers]

You can pretty easily dismiss every single one of these 5 reasons.

I have a bolt 410, single and double 16ga, pump 20ga and pump 12ga. I have used every single one of them hunting upland game, not a single one could not be used for hunting upland game.

The only thing I have ever had freeze was a firing pin and that could happen on a single or double just as easily as anything else.

Dismissed may read a bit harsh but I agree with you. This reads more like five reasons to give the wife for permission to buy another gun. In reality for me there is only 1 reason to use a gun...because I prefer this one and it feels good in my hands.