new shotgun thoughts

D

David Allen

Active member
OK, I want to but a new shotgun. Specifically, a new 12, 3.5 inch over and under. This will serve as my only shotgun. I plan on shooting skeet, sporting, ducks, geese, partridge and anything else that comes up. I am thinking Browning or Beretta. The looks of a Cynergy are not a factor for me. So what are your thoughts on Cynergy, Citori, 686, or other guns that will last a lifetime?
 
As for one gun for everything, I'd opt for two guns. As far as a o/u 12 3 1/2", I'd take another look. Try shooting one or a pump. Recoil is tough... Sold one to a friend and shot one shell, was enough for me. I'm a big guy and it was not pleasant.
I would get a auto loader for hunting 3 1/2". A 2 3/4" for clays. Most 3 1/2" guns do not function well with light loads.
 
I'm with the Capt., I had the same idea as you until I shot 3.5's out of an OU. I would spend a little less on each and get a middle of the road auto loader and an OU. I am partial to Beretta, my Xtrema has run flawlessly for 13 years now. My Franchi OU was bought lightly used for around $425. Good luck
 
Had a Citori Satin Hunter 3.5 and hunted it twice. Sold it to a friend. He ended up getting pretty beat up shooting heavy shells through it. I still shoot over and under a lot of the time (own several) but always shoot 3" or less.

I like the Cynergy guns.
 
Recoil while hunting has never been an issue for me. I do not hunt snow geese, so the number of shots I take is limited. Last year the maximum number of shots taken in a day was 20 to 25, most of which where water swatting sea ducks my son took down but were not quite dead. I have a browning gold 3.5 semi that I have hunted with for years. I went to a Beretta O/U because I was wearing the semi out. The semi is still serviceable but does malfunction every once in a while. I have found I shoot and o/u better than the semi, and I do not like switching between guns.
If recoil does prove problematic I have a Gracoil with length of pull sitting new in a box that I can install. I planned on putting it on my Beretta as I moved my 12 year old from a twenty to a 12, but we have not made that move yet.
 
I shoot a tristar hunter mag o/u in duckblind camo and it shoots anything up to 3.5". My 1100 hasn't left the safe since I bought my o/u.i use it for ducks upland and turkeys.
 
I hear ya on not wanting to switch between guns, my only beef with the idea (not that it matters, it's your gun and your decision) is that any OU that is heavy enough to be tolerable shooting heavier loads is going to be a bear to carry upland and cumbersome shooting clays. That being said there are a number of good choices, Ruger, Browning and most other companies will make an OU that will make you happy. Go to a store and shoulder a bunch, whatever feels best, buy it.
 
My humble opinion: Get a good used Browning Gold 10-gauge autoloader, and a good used Beretta 686 2-3/4-inch chambered over and under for clays and upland birds. Neither ever wear out, and more and more 10-gauge factory loads available. A 10-gauge will always outpattern those Roman Candle 12-gauges, and even kick less ...
 
Bought a citori 3 1/2 " 28" barrel O/u years ago when they were first introduced. Thinking along the same lines as you... One gun for all my wingshooting. Chose that gun because of weight and stock dimensions. Heavier and more drop at comb than Beretta 686. Probably haven,t shot 2 boxes of 3 1/2" duck loads thru it in all the years i,ve owned it because of excessive recoil> Changed pad to a Limbsaver which helped greatly but with the great 3" waterfowl loads available today 3" is all thats needed if gun is choked properly and patterened. That being said it was my go to gun for years shooting sporting clays, five stand and skeet. Gun just fit me better than most sporting o/u i tryed. Its not the gun you would want to walk around with birding because of that mentioned weight but that sure does make it swing smooth.
 
Absolutely! Foolish quest of lost youth. Found it much better to own about six duck guns and and about the same amount of upland guns. Trick is getting them all to fit the same!
 
Not longer than 3 1/2" but the mighty 10 is a lot less punishing on the shoulder than any of the 3 1/2" 12,s I shot. BPS 10 ( steel shot intro days) i shot years ago for geese Wasn,t bad at all, mainly because of weight soaking up recoil.On the other hand a Super Black Eagle I use to own was a shoulder wrecker when patterning lead 2 Oz. turkey l loads. Friend of mine who smithed for Benelli said it was close to recoil of 500 nitro . My shoulder agreed.
 
Interesting .... I have never felt much recoil off of my SBE. Also, I question..."wearing out" the Browning auto.
 
Never noticed it shootin 3" duck/ goose loads but when shooting those turkey loads from benchrest it would get you attention quick. Hard to wear em out but the best of them will break parts and malfunction eventually if not maintained properly.
 
I will be taking my Browning to a gun smith. You are correct I should not be having issues as I only have about 20,000 rounds through it. That does not address the issue that I shoot an O/U better though.
 
I would have to agree with most people on here that two guns is the way to go or three or four.... I will say this, buy a nice side by side with pretty wood and long barrels and you'll forget about the weight of the gun when in the field, leave the o/u crowd at the range scratching their heads and look really cool downing doubles on ducks while saving that often non-effective third fleeting shot.
Keep in mind those o/u 3.5 Brownings have not been around for very long and with all that pounding that piece of wood takes I can't imagine those guns lasting a lifetime without a stock replacement. I used to shoot 3.5's out of my Rem 870 with a limbsaver pad and got fairly sick of that. I only shoot 3" now and also because I have two sxs duck guns that will take those loads and I find it best to not have 3.5's in the bag in the dark while trying to load one of my sxs a few minutes before shooting time.
The Franchi O/U is the nicest looking O/U for the price that I have held and pointed. Very nice fit and finish and well below the price of a new Citori or Cynergy. I'm not a semi auto guy unless they're 100 years old but I did happen to pick up a Benelli Super Vinci and as odd as it looks I really liked the feel of that gun and it came up and pointed very well.
I don't know how old you are or what you do for work and what you make a year but I tried the one gun for all with a 3.5 870 for years and for the most part it worked and never malfunctioned. I have 3 sxs's one really old semi and my pump and two of the sxs's are what I shoot for everything now. Save the money and buy two but make sure they fit the same and have very if not identical dimensions in the stock or you will screw yourself all up come ducks season after shooting the other all summer.


Eddie
 
Good morning, David~

I am irretrievably Old School - never saw a reason to go beyond 2 3/4" - so bear that in mind. But, as I have followed this thread, I have wondered - why the 3 1/2" gun?

In any event, I hope you find a gun(s) that fits you and all your needs.

All the best,

SJS
 
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