O/U Field vs. Sporting Models
Just beginning a search for an O/U as I've just moved to Kansas pheasant territory... My first question is what general differences are there between Field and Sporting Models from various manufacturers? Specifically advantages of one over the other? Any other comments on what to look for or consider while researching would be appreciated! As for manufacturer - the little searching I've done has left me impressed with the Lanber line as offering much for the price. I'm open to any suggestions about make too! Thanks in advance!
0
-
Most field guns will be chambered for the 3" shell, most sporting guns will be chambered for the 2 3/4" shell.
Other than that, the biggest differences will be in the size/shape of the forend and grip. The pattern center/aim point might also be different, with trap guns shooting high, field and skeet guns hitting level, and clays guns hitting low (we're only talking 3-5 inches @ 40yds, not enough for most field shooters to notice the difference).
Select the one that fit's you like your favorate pair of jeans, not by the size of the price tag. If you don't like the fit, you won't use the gun. If you don't use it, you've wasted your money.
The reason clay shooters lean toward the "high end" brands is life expectency, as a average clay shooter will burn more ammo in one day than most hunters would even dream about shooting in a year (serious clay shooters will fire at least a case of ammo every day, just for practice), and the "economy" brand guns just won't take the pounding.
Recogmendations, Browning Cetori Field, Ruger Red Label, Beretta, Perazzi.
Some guys like a mag full of lead, I still prefer one round to the head.0 -
Tailgunner pretty well covered it. One thing about alot of sporting models is they are ported. Ported guns are loud, that's not usually appreciated by your hunting companions! I've found that ported chokes serve the same same purpose, and I'm still invited to hunt with my friends.
Browning would be my 1st choice in an O/U, but the #1 thing you want is fit. You can spend $30K on a shotgun, but if it doesn't fit you, you wasted alot of $$$! #2 thing you look for is quality, a broke gun in the field will ruin your day.
Lanber, Stoeger, Baikal, etc. are lower/midrange end O/U's. The 2 brands that I have been watching rise above the rest lately are, Fausti by Traditions, and Huglu from Turkey. I would put the Huglu above the Fausti because of the choices in screw in chokes. Best buy I've seen lately is the BSA that's made by Huglu. Most off the shelf guns have wood that surpass Brownings costing 3-5 times as much. Do a search here on GB and see whats offered.
"Aim small...Miss small"0 -
I shoot sporting clays, dove, quail, and pheasant... and the advice from tailgunner and trap55 is right on.. except, I've owned a Benelli and Stoeger and got rid of them both... didn't hold up with use... I prefer Beretta's, am shooting an O/U 686 Onyx and an automatic AL 391 Teknys Optima... but it needs to fit you at first or it'll end up gathering dust... "Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it." Lord Chesterfield0 -
clay target guns pattern 60/40 and 70/30. field guns are 50/50. meaning: when you sight down a bbl on a field gun, 50% of your pellet swarm will go below the bbl and 50% will go above. this is designed to help you hit birds that dip in flight. since clays dont dip and are more predictable, shooters of clays guns like the swarm more on top and in plain sight to saturate the target. these guns send 60% of the swarm above your line of sight. on trap guns, 70% is sent above the bbl to intercept the target further out there. also too, clay guns get more use thus causing heat mirage down the sighting rib. to help eliminate this, clays guns have 'high ribs'. field guns with high ribs can get gooked up with mud and get snagged on tree limbs, so field guns tend to have low ribs, and since they arent 'shot until hot,' mirage isnt a factor. hope this helps. btw..correct me if im wrong, but pheasent run and fly up and away from you, thus a trap style gun is a good choice for pheasent?
former air operations officer SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2. former navy skeet team, former navy rifle/pistol team member. co-owner skeetmaster tubes inc.. owner/operator professional shooting instruction. NRA certified instructor.0 -
Agree with all the above. Only thing I usually see is the sporting clays and trap guns generally have 28 to 32 inch barrels and skeet generally 26 or 28. At least the sp. clays guns sometimes are heavier as well, to soak up recoil, make your swing smoother, ect. There are always exceptions but this has been my experience. You defineately want one you like and fits and by all means go to a range and see if someone has one like what you are interested to try. I prefer Browning, but the next guy may like Ruger or Beretta. They all fit a little different than the other. One advantage of Ruger is they now make an all stainless for hunting, tho I have not hefted one. 0 -
I just bought a DeHaan. They are imported by Mark DeHaan..made by Huglu. I bought the U4..its his Trap gun. He has everything from SxS to O/U. Mark is a great guy to work with and he will gladly talk to you over the phone about any of your concerns. Check the website out DHshotguns.com..I only paid $755 for mine. I then got it ported for $160.
oh yeah and Tailgunner1954.. "Sporting" guns don't shoot low either. If anything 50/50.
Sam0 -
Thanks to all... You've given me much to think about and work with! 0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
7 comments