Looking for a new shotgun for Upland hunting. I have an older Remington 11-87 but kicking around the idea of an O/U.

Any recs for something that isn't crazy high dollar? Would you go with an O/U or go with a lightweight semi?

Just put a deposit in on a Llewellin Setter, so really excited to get out on the prairies

I wanted an O/U for years. Then I got a benelli sbe semi auto and I like it much better than an O/U.

https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/shotguns/classic-doubles-shotguns/9275--classic-doubles--classic-101-field---ic-mod-screw-in-chokes--20-gauge--2-3-4-and-3--chambers--straight-grip--vent-rib--ejectors--will-take-winch.cfm?gun_id=103361833

BrazosDog02 said:

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Put up a budget so the board can guide better.

Personally, I pass regularly on berettas unless I just want to buy something and I have an itch. I'm not a huge fan due to fit. I will go out of my way and spend way too much on Ithaca O/U though. Ithaca OU and Model 70 Post 64 CRF are my jams. I have several and I am partial to the SKB varieties. My go to is a 20 gauge with an English stock. It fits. I custom ground my recoil pad for my own LOP and i just can't miss with it. I wouldn't trade it for a free beretta even steven in any world.

But YOU need to shoulder several and see how they fit you. Benelli fit me very well. My Ithaca does as well. Remington no. Browning is meh. Beretta is meh. The fit needs to be your guiding light. At clays tournaments you can always see who bought based on the logo.

If I were you, I'd go to my LGS and shoulder everything in my budget and the when i had three or four I liked, I'd come home and google "xxxxxx problem forum" where the xxxxx is you brand and model and see if there are any known issues. Then pick the one that looks best.

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Sounds like yet another trip to Scheels is in order

Beretta A400 Xplor in 20g or a Winchester SX4 Upland in 20g.

I have the A400 Xplor in 20 and a 12g SX4 and absolutely love walking all day with that Xplor behind a dog, it beats the hell out of lugging around a 12g of any kind. I've handled my buddies SX4 upland in 20g and it's very nice as well although maybe a touch heavier than my A400 but not by much. Can't go wrong with either of those guns, both very reliable and nice to look at.

Player To Be Named Later said:

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BrazosDog02 said:

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Put up a budget so the board can guide better.

Personally, I pass regularly on berettas unless I just want to buy something and I have an itch. I'm not a huge fan due to fit. I will go out of my way and spend way too much on Ithaca O/U though. Ithaca OU and Model 70 Post 64 CRF are my jams. I have several and I am partial to the SKB varieties. My go to is a 20 gauge with an English stock. It fits. I custom ground my recoil pad for my own LOP and i just can't miss with it. I wouldn't trade it for a free beretta even steven in any world.

But YOU need to shoulder several and see how they fit you. Benelli fit me very well. My Ithaca does as well. Remington no. Browning is meh. Beretta is meh. The fit needs to be your guiding light. At clays tournaments you can always see who bought based on the logo.

If I were you, I'd go to my LGS and shoulder everything in my budget and the when i had three or four I liked, I'd come home and google "xxxxxx problem forum" where the xxxxx is you brand and model and see if there are any known issues. Then pick the one that looks best.

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Sounds like yet another trip to Scheels is in order

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"I'm just going to look!"

My dad was the bird hunter. I never really got into it, preferred deer. He swore by his riot pump shotgun for quail. This doesn't help you but I thought it would be spice for the conversation. He always said it had to do with the shorter barrel and factory choke dispersing the shot. He shot nothing but double barreled shotguns for dove (o/u, side by side) but used his riot gun exclusively for quail (no plug).

Another derail - I got all his guns but 2. I left that riot gun with my ex-wife so she'd have something to protect herself with. The other was my grandfatherss service 38 S&W (a gift from a Mission police officer). That was all i wanted that was his. My dad wanted it, too. Several years later, he gave it to my POS brother in law. He forgot I wanted it.

Certainly understand the desire for a O/U. I use a Browning 725 Sporting myself, but as far as upland hunting, I use a Benelli Ultralight semi. It's light to carry and a nice gun that is far cheaper and lighter than the 725.

Fit, weight, gauge, brand. In that order.

Fit is by far the most important factor in a shotgun since it is instincive shooting. You want/need that fit to be right so when you shoulder it you aren't having to adjust because you don't have time to adjust.

Weight is second - a heavy gun is heavy and one you will get tired of carrying if you are truly shooting upland birds and carrying it all day in the field. If you are a clay buster, it doesn't matter nearly as much.

Gauge, falls more into the weight category than anything. I don't have a 28ga so I can't speak on them, but I would imagine they are light and easy to swing compared to a 12ga. Drawback for them is they are expensive to shoot. 20ga to me is the perfect upland bird gauge. I've killed an absolute mess of dove and quail (even some farm raised pheasant and chukkar) with my 20ga Ithaca. Love that gun for a field gun.

I just picked up a 12ga Rizzini for sporting clays, it fits me absolutely awesome. Not sure I'd take it on a field hunting trip though, it's significantly heavier than my Ithaca and doesn't have any real advantages IMO in the field over the smaller and lighter 20ga.

I'd personally stay away from brands like Yldiz and some of the other lower end O/U's because they are heavy as all get out when compared to comparable models and most aren't going to be guns you want to shoot all day long. I'm not a huge "you get what you pay for, so buy expensive" type, but there are reasons that guns like Beretta and Benelli and Rizzini and the like are as good as they are. There are good mid priced options as well - Ithaca is one of them IMO. Browning makes some good guns that you can find that won't cause you to take a mortgage out either.

I still want a 28ga, just because. Hell, I want a nice .410 O/U as well. Just because. And a few nice sidelock SxS, just because. I want them all really.

Benelli SBE3 is a great all around gun. Ducks, upland, etc. 12 if using for ducks, 20 if mainly upland.

Beretta A400 upland is a great gun, 20 with the kickoff system is fun to shoot.

Over/Under is nice, but less versatile. Heavier for walking. Son has a Beretta silver pigeon and I have a Browning.


Have done a few all day upland hunts. O/U is heavier, but I never had issues carrying it all day. Even with the longer barrels.


have all three above and I would take anyone of them upland hunting without a thought. Decision would be based on weather more than anything else. (rain/wet -Benelli SBE. Muddy upland hunt - lighter gun (walking through mud with heavy gun is less fun), Heavy winds- 12ga vs 20 ga.)

During the spring semesters I worked for a dog trainer out of Wixon Valley who traveled down from Nebraska. He brought down a Browning Citori 28ga with him, and just about everyday I was shooting ducks and pheasants behind some good dogs.

Light, well-balanced, and reliable. Best gun I've ever got the pleasure to shoot and the best job I ever had!

pfo said:

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The most important thing for upland birds is a light gun and secondarily, light ammo because you are going to be carrying it most of the day.
So 28ga > 20ga>12ga.

More shots are better than fewer if getting the most birds is your goal. So that's a semiautomatic like a SBE3. It's light and holds lots of shells.

But if you want to look cool and be cool, an O/U or SxS is the ticket. Get one that fits, is lightweight and in your budget.

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I actually am seriously considering going with a 20ga since this will be primarily my skeet, dove, and quail gun.

Can always bump to my 11-87 for a pheasant day if need be. But I'm 52 and the allure of a 20ga is pretty intriquing.

This is a very intriquing option. I like the cerakoted barrel finish for the snow/sleet/rain.




CZ USA Upland Ultralight All-Terrain 20 Gauge Over-Under Shotgun

Player To Be Named Later said:

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This is a very intriquing option. I like the cerakoted barrel finish for the snow/sleet/rain.




CZ USA Upland Ultralight All-Terrain 20 Gauge Over-Under Shotgun

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I have this shotgun in the "Premier" level. The one you listed is the one I wanted, but it was sold out when I was looking to purchase for an upcoming trip.

The Weatherby Orion and the CZ's are the absolute money maker O/U Shotguns for under $1000.

I have the 12 guage and it has a pretty decent kick to it because of how light it is. Perfect field gun, though. Nice enough to work every time you pull the trigger, but not too expensive that you worry about it hitting the dog boxes setting them in the back of the truck.

You won't mind carrying the CZ around in the field on bit. If you do decide to get the 12 and shoot a lot of clays, I would go another direction though. After about 50 shots with this one, your shoulder will let you know. For the field though, great gun.

Probably shot a fair amount of clays with it. Have a nice place about 20mins from the house to shoot sporting clay course for $.50/target. So I'm leaning towards the 20ga

Player To Be Named Later said:

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Probably shot a fair amount of clays with it. Have a nice place about 20mins from the house to shoot sporting clay course for $.50/target. So I'm leaning towards the 20ga

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Well my friend, let me tell you about a field and a competition gun then...

I have made the move to semis for my competition guns and I do not care what anyone says about them ha. I can shoot 500 clays in a weekend and not think about slacking on my form one time with these newer autoloaders. That is a very big change from running my Ceasers during competition weekends.

If you don't mind, what course are you close to? We are always inviting new people to come shoot with us. Good luck picking one out, remember it is only temporary. You can always go buy another one.

TacosaurusRex said:

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Player To Be Named Later said:

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Probably shot a fair amount of clays with it. Have a nice place about 20mins from the house to shoot sporting clay course for $.50/target. So I'm leaning towards the 20ga

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Well my friend, let me tell you about a field and a competition gun then...

I have made the move to semis for my competition guns and I do not care what anyone says about them ha. I can shoot 500 clays in a weekend and not think about slacking on my form one time with these newer autoloaders. That is a very big change from running my Ceasers during competition weekends.

If you don't mind, what course are you close to? We are always inviting new people to come shoot with us. Good luck picking one out, remember it is only temporary. You can always go buy another one.

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Close to this one

Northlake Shooting Sports

Player To Be Named Later said:

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pfo said:

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The most important thing for upland birds is a light gun and secondarily, light ammo because you are going to be carrying it most of the day.
So 28ga > 20ga>12ga.

More shots are better than fewer if getting the most birds is your goal. So that's a semiautomatic like a SBE3. It's light and holds lots of shells.

But if you want to look cool and be cool, an O/U or SxS is the ticket. Get one that fits, is lightweight and in your budget.

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I actually am seriously considering going with a 20ga since this will be primarily my skeet, dove, and quail gun.

Can always bump to my 11-87 for a pheasant day if need be. But I'm 52 and the allure of a 20ga is pretty intriquing.

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Ok…. Then a 20 ga SBE3 (super lightweight)… semiautomatic

And/or

A 20 ga Rizzini Aurum light 5.6 lbs
A Caesar Guerini Magnus Light
A Caesar Guerini Tempio Field Light

All the O/U lister above weigh only about 5.6 lbs

The other fine choices are 6.2 pounds and are:
Rizzini Regal or Beretta Silver Pigeon

Another thing to keep in mind, when upland hunting, you are usually in taller grass. An o/u is a lot easier to keep track of empty shells rather than digging around in the grass for them.

pfo said:

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Player To Be Named Later said:

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pfo said:

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The most important thing for upland birds is a light gun and secondarily, light ammo because you are going to be carrying it most of the day.
So 28ga > 20ga>12ga.

More shots are better than fewer if getting the most birds is your goal. So that's a semiautomatic like a SBE3. It's light and holds lots of shells.

But if you want to look cool and be cool, an O/U or SxS is the ticket. Get one that fits, is lightweight and in your budget.

---

I actually am seriously considering going with a 20ga since this will be primarily my skeet, dove, and quail gun.

Can always bump to my 11-87 for a pheasant day if need be. But I'm 52 and the allure of a 20ga is pretty intriquing.

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Ok…. Then a 20 ga SBE3 (super lightweight)… semiautomatic

And/or

A 20 ga Rizzini Aurum light 5.6 lbs
A Caesar Guerini Magnus Light
A Caesar Guerini Tempio Field Light

All the O/U lister above weigh only about 5.6 lbs

The other fine choices are 6.2 pounds and are:
Rizzini Regal or Beretta Silver Pigeon

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I bought a Rizzini BR110 a couple of years ago and it's the sweetest thing I've ever shot afield.

SunrayAg said:

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I wanted an O/U for years. Then I got a benelli sbe semi auto and I like it much better than an O/U.

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A little old school, but I love a double trigger side-by-side. Don't know anyone who uses a single selective trigger on an over-under effectively. With double triggers you (with a little muscle memory) can actually easily select the barrel you want to shoot first depending on how far out the bird rises. Also, like someone else mentioned, you don't have to bend down and pickup shells when hunting with an overunder or side-by-side (again it becomes a habit to put your hand over the receive and catch the shells when you break the barrels).

Benelli Legacy or Ethos 28ga.

If you don't want to spend $2k for a SBE, check out the Franchi Affinity - is a Benelli owned product that has the same action as the SBE. I got the Affinity Elite 20 ga after my first big upland hunt.(~$1200) after carrying a beretta A400 12 ga for the week. Haven't used it on pheasant yet but it was great on its first trip for dove.

AgDad121619 said:

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If you don't want to spend $2k for a SBE, check out the Franchi Affinity - is a Benelli owned product that has the same action as the SBE. I got the Affinity Elite 20 ga after my first big upland hunt.(~$1200) after carrying a beretta A400 12 ga for the week. Haven't used it on pheasant yet but it was great on its first trip for dove.

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I was between these two when buying a new duck gun a few months ago. Let the stupid salesman talk me into the a400. What have you found is better or worse about the affinity?

offshoreAg00 said:

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AgDad121619 said:

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If you don't want to spend $2k for a SBE, check out the Franchi Affinity - is a Benelli owned product that has the same action as the SBE. I got the Affinity Elite 20 ga after my first big upland hunt.(~$1200) after carrying a beretta A400 12 ga for the week. Haven't used it on pheasant yet but it was great on its first trip for dove.

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I was between these two when buying a new duck gun a few months ago. Let the stupid salesman talk me into the a400. What have you found is better or worse about the affinity?

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I got the Affinity only because the A400 was really heavy to tote all day while we were hunting pheasant and grouse in SD. I really like it and it was my first left hand auto loader. I would use it for duck blind hunting all day if I wasn't walking for hours. If I have complaint with A400, it is that it requires more cleaning than I have heard most owners of A400 report. I will have shells not ejecting cleanly if I don't clean it after a dove shooting session - not a heavy cleaning but the gas exhaust area that cycles the action - I hear everyone talk about the A400s can run through Argentina level shooting with no issues. Really just minor complaints of weight and cleaning frequency

I got the Affinity for upland walking for weight and really like the forend feel since it is slimmer because of the inertia action versus gas action. Used it exclusively for my dove hunt and it was flawless. Was actually more accurate with it as 20 gauge than I was with my 12 Ga A400. I got the Affinity Elite


My recommendation - add the Affinity to your collection. Can never have too many options

I love my Affinity 20g. Wish I'd shot it more last year dove hunting instead of sx3 12g.

You ain't wrong about the cleaning frequency and cycling issues. Shot about 100 rounds at some clays few weeks back and it started having trouble. Took it home and cleaned it real good and put a heavy coating of oil on the action. Hoping that extra little bit will prevent something like that from happening again.

I love my Browning Citori 525 Field.