From: jessie@iastate.edu (Brent Danielson)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Re: Advice on which Over/under to Buy
Date: 27 Sep 92 00:17:32 GMT
Organization: Iowa State University

In article <Bv53EE.13x@fc.hp.com>, scot@hpfcla.fc.hp.com (Scot Heath) writes:
# What a tall order!  Here are some things to consider:
# 
# 1) For skeet, a short barreled gun is typically used.  26" over unders are
#    the standard.  For trap, a long barreled gun is typically used and for
#    Sporting Clays, guns in the 28" - 32" barrel length range are the norm.
#    I suggest using the longest barrel you can comfortably swing well on the
#    skeet field.  My guess is a 28" or maybe a 30".
#
I find the 26" barrels way too short.  Don't forget, you won't have the 5" or so
receiver that a pump or semi-auto would add behind the barrel.  Short barrels
are quick, but easy to "over steer" so to speak.  The short sight radius does
not aid in pointing accurately.  Anyway, swing a few and see what you think. 
I'd never own a 26" gun, but then I had a hunting partner that would never touch
a 28".  To each his own, just make sure that you know what you want.  The
difference in feel and balance is significant.
 
# 2) You mentioned waterfowl.  This probably means steel shot.  For this
#    reason, I would go with a gun capable of handling 3-1/2" shells.  If you
#    decide to do this, you basically have one off the shelf choice:
#    Browning's Hunting Model 3-1/2" Mag.  This gun has a couple of other nice 
#    features, it has a bore of .745" instead of the normal .729" which means 
#    somewhat higher velocity and better patterning.  It also has the Invector 
#    Plus choke tube system.  You absolutely have to have choke tubes to do
what
#    you want and the Plus system is longer than the normal invectors, again
#    resulting in somewhat better patterns.
#
I'd think twice about about 3.5" shells.  They don't necessarily do better. 
Patterning can be quite poor, and slamming that much steel into a choke with a
magnum load ain't good for thin walled barrels.  Nonetheless, there are other
off the shelf guns in this category.  The Berretta 686 o/u is one for about $1k
and it has interchangable chokes and chrome barrels.  The Berretta 626 is the
side-by-side version.  It also comes in 3.5" for about $1350 if you shop REAL
hard - $1550 is more commonly the going price.  There are possibly others (like
Ruger Red Labels), but I've only looked at side-bys and ended up choosing a
Merkel with 3" chambers.  If you're interested in Side-bys, expect to pay a
little more because there is relatively little demand for them unfortunately.

You might also check out an article on steel shot loads that was published in
the NRA's American Hunter magazine.  Lots of different loads that do pretty well
even in 2.75" loads.


# 3) You can always have the chamber in another gun reamed to get the 3-1/2"
#    shells to fit but I would be wary of the pressure and the wall thickness.
# 
# 4) This gun is a compromise for skeet and trap but is an excellent hunting
#    gun.  In the future, as you build your collection, this gun will remain
#    an excellent hunting gun, one you will be proud to own.
# 
# 
# Good Shooting,
# 
# -Scot
# 
# 
Expect to do some serious hunting FOR your gun as well as With your gun.  If
you're interested in side-bys, let me know, I hunted hard for mine, and I
haven't actually got it in the bag yet.  It's due to arrive from Germany by the
"end of the month".

Brent Danielson
jessie@iastate.edu