A "good" over and under shotgun
Hi, Experts. I'm looking to buy my first over and under shotgun. Don't want to spend a fortune on it. Will use it mostly to shoot clay pigeons. I'm thinking about a Ruger Red Label.
(1) Anybody have any experience with the Red Label, good or bad? Is this a good choice?
(2) Any opinions about other moderately priced over and unders I should be looking at? Many thanks Jim
(1) Anybody have any experience with the Red Label, good or bad? Is this a good choice?
(2) Any opinions about other moderately priced over and unders I should be looking at? Many thanks Jim
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Ruger will do a good job for you. 0 -
Being that it is your first over and under, you are not going to have a lot to compare what you purchase to. The Ruger Red Label is an excellent value provided it fits you and feels right. If not, it isn't a good value.
What are you shooting now? Usually a similar length of pull and weight to what you now have will feel right. Try out several if you have the opportunity, asking someone else their opinion for fit is a little bit like asking how a new pair of shoes fits. Everyone is gonna be a little bit different.
Good luck
Dan R0 -
Had a red label 28ga last year. Fit and handled well but the trigger was really bad. Inconsistent with plenty of creep. Never could get a 25 straight in 16 yard trap because of it. Sometimes it went off with a "normal" pull and sometimes it would take a real hard jerk. I never knew what to expect. My gunsmith said he could'nt do anything with a ruger trigger so I sold it and went back to my 870 wingmaster. Maybe its an odd case but it ruined my view of ruger. I have heard Browning/Beretta have better triggers but can't vouch for that myself. Try as many as you can before you lay down the cash. Its a lot of money to blow on something if you don't like it later. 0 -
I have a Red Label 12ga. Very nice shooter. Its an early gun with fixed chokes, but still a killer. 0 -
Go to a dealer that carries several brands of over and unders. See which one feels best to you and try to find a dealer who understands shotgun fit. Most folks working at a Cabelas or Bass Pro have no idea what that means. Then try to shoot the model you're interested in if possible; maybe a friend has one or visit a gun club and there will likely be someone there who would be willing to help. You might want to look at used Browning Citoris before you go with the Ruger. I've owned and used both but only have Brownings now. You won't be disappointed with a Browning and you should be able to find a nice used one for $800 or so. 0 -
If you've got a skeet/trap/sporting clays club near you, go out and see what others are shooting. I'd imagine that most shooters would let you swing their gun, maybe fire a few shots, etc.
Try as many as you can, see what fits best for YOU.
Only real suggestion is to make sure that it takes choke tubes, OR can be ordered with whatever chokes you want/need if they are fixed.0 -
Forget Brand names, get one that fits you like a glove. Red labels are nice shotguns with crummy triggers in my experience, but the most Rugers have crummy triggers. 0 -
Try an SKB. Great gun for the money. Here is one up for sale.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=1390155260 -
You'd have to go a long way to best a Browning. (there's a reason they've been around for ever) Is it written somewhere you have to buy a "new" gun? 0 -
What kind of clay pigeons? There are different species, a Skeet is not like a Trap, nor is a Sporting Clays bird and the same gun will not serve all of them equally well.
As He Dog says, stock fit is the A Number One requirement for a good shooting shotgun. Handle all the different ones you can. Get acquainted, like iwanna says. People are good about you handling or even shooting their guns.0 -
quote:Originally posted by brummiejim
Anybody have any experience with the Red Label, good or bad? Is this a good choice?
I've put about 300 shells through one, with no problems whatever. I really liked, and would definitely consider buying one, absolutely.
In contrast, my pal who was shooting with me shot the exact same gun. . .absolutely HATED it, and after 50 shells refused to shoot it any more as it was beating him up so badly.
Bottom line. . .gun has to fit *YOU*.
If it does, this could be a good choice, if not. . .go for something else.0 -
Fit and and then purpose both need to be considered.
Do you need a 20 or 12 guage?
Will you be walking or shooting out of a blind?
An O/U in a blind may not be a good choice because of how far you have to open the action to eject and reload shells.
For target, I have an all guage Citori skeet set which I really like. But my field Citori's feel like they weigh a ton, especially if you are working a cane field. I only use those when I don't have to do a lot of walking.
I have a Winchester 101 20ga when there is a lot of walking. It light and I like the mechanical trigger. It switches to the next barrel whether or not the first barrel fires. Inertia or recoil triggers need the first shell to fire before it switches to the second barrel.
Do you want an Upland style (straight) stock or pistol grip stock?
24 or 26 or 28 inch or longer barrel?
Interchangable chokes or fixed?
Lots of choices.
Best bet is to try several and zero in on what you like and shoots well for you.0 -
My thanks to all who provided input, and plenty did! Lots to think about. I shoot trap and sporting clays with a Browning A 5 in 16 ga. I love the ole "humpback" and 16 ga., but the constant lack of 16 ga. ammo. makes me want a 12 ga. I like a neighbor's over and under so I thought I'd try for one as well--at the right price. Thanks again Jim 0
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