Why Over and Under?

[L84CABO]

Newbie Question. Please forgive me...

But what are the benefits of an Over and Under shotgun for skeet, etc? Why an Over/Under vs. say, a single barrel semi-auto? Or is it simply a preference/style thing? Always did love the way Over/Unders look and some are really works of art. Have yet to shoot one though.

[bill_k_lopez]

Hmmmmm.......
two rounds, two birds, no pump or action required to reload when shooting doubles..

[Rampage.Maupin]

Well, it would be more traditiional to shoot a double barrel vs. a semi auto. Also, you would not need to worry about an over and under stovepiping or worry about FTE. I shoot a semi auto and I love it but, to me shooting an over and under is much more fun.

[LittleChickie]

Always seems like an easier, smoother swing to me.

[Turo]

I would say tradition is most likely the reason they are the most popular. That said, I don't have a double barrel shotgun, so I shoot trap and skeet with a pump.

If you have never shot an over/under shotgun for skeet or trap, you're in for a surprise at how nice it is. The handling is great, the swing is smooth, and the second round comes out as soon after the first as you want it to.

[BigJ]

Safer, better balance, reliability, two chokes, faster reloads. Definitely the top choice at the range. For hunting, autos, give you a third shot (remember they are plugged), but reloading is painfully slow when birds are going up randomly like when you're moving through the middle of a busted covey. Seems to be less of an issue with waterfowl as usually they'll be gone after two or three shots.

In upland hunting, the third shot in a flush is usually a hail mary and wasted anyway.

If we're talking competition skeet, two chokes would be the number one reason.

If we're talking recreation skeet, lots of folks get into their guns like many of us get into cars. All cars go, stop and will get you from point A to point B. But sometimes getting there isn't the point; how you get there is often far more important.

[PoorRichRichard]

Better for upland bird hunting IMO because they are generally lighter than an auto. I like carrying the gun broke open over my elbow on long hike/hunts. Also like the option of having 2 different sized chokes.

[CK_32]

Because they look sexy AF!

And because they are classy and traditional. Skeet is like good all about being proper and classy sport.

[-hanko]

Lighter in weight, shorter than a pump or auto with the same barrel length.

Sweet to carry all day in the field.

-hanko

[Harrison_Bergeron]

Sounded bogus to me, but when I was shopping the guy that introduced me to clay shooting insisted that I get an o/u, he said that some follow up shots would be impossible with a semi because of the time necessary to cycle the second round.

I bought a Beretta 3901.

The best reason to buy a semi is that a good semi costs a hell of a lot less than a good o/u.

[mcmikeblues7]

I actually JUST asked this question to a real prodigy of a trap shooter at the chabot gun club. This guy is only 16 and REALLY knows his stuff, in fact he was the range master at the time.
He said that some say it is for reliability, but he though others were just as reliable. Some say it is for looks, but there's more to it than that. It is really all about the balance. When you are shooting in a very competitive setting and one missed round that you could have gotten might mean the difference between winning and losing.

[Chubs T]

Why an O/U?
1. Weight (mine is almost 10lbs which promotes a nice smooth swing)
2. Reliability (I should be good for 500,000+ rounds)
3. Ability to use subgauge tubes since American skeet tournaments are shot in 12, 20, 28, & 410.

Also, if you reload, you don't have to look all over for your empty hulls. If you're only shooting one gauge and if the O/U weighs under 7 lbs, you're better off using a gas operated semi-auto to soak up some recoil.

By the way, some of the worlds best American skeet shooters shoot semi-auto's in 12 gauge and double events.

[AAShooter]

Why an O/U?
1. Weight (mine is almost 10lbs which promotes a nice smooth swing)
2. Reliability (I should be good for 500,000+ rounds)
3. Ability to use subgauge tubes since American skeet tournaments are shot in 12, 20, 28, & 410.

Also, if you reload, you don't have to look all over for your empty hulls. If you're only shooting one gauge and if the O/U weighs under 7 lbs, you're better off using a gas operated semi-auto to soak up some recoil.

By the way, some of the worlds best American skeet shooters shoot semi-auto's in 12 gauge and double events.

This! Having two separate firing systems allows for two separate chokes for shot 1 and shot 2. Also, should you have a problem with one, you might still be able to shoot the other. It is very easy to verify the barrels are clear of obstructions--great when shooting unreliable reloads. Finally, you can buy a combo set that provides a single barrel for things like singles trap, and handicap trap as well as a set of double barrels for shooting doubles.

[ysr_racer]

If we're talking competition skeet, two chokes would be the number one reason.

Wouldn't they both be skeet chkokes?

[AAShooter]

. . . Sounded bogus to me, but when I was shopping the guy that introduced me to clay shooting insisted that I get an o/u, he said that some follow up shots would be impossible with a semi because of the time necessary to cycle the second round. . .

Bogus is a very nice way to describe this bit of advice . . .