i would like to no if there is any advantage to what style of double barrel is used or is it personal preference?id like to get a db early next year and have been fond of the o/u but would like to hear about side/sides too.it would be mostly informal trap and maybe a acational phesant hunt. thanks jason.

For whatever the reason, the narrower sighting plane, centered recoil (faster recovery) whatever, there is no question that the O/U is SLIGHTLY more accurate or kills more birds, breaks more clays than a S/S, however you want to put it. This has been a fact for years, go to almost any National level competitive shotgun event and you will likely see ZERO shooters using S/Ss. Obviously the antigue arms type shoots don't count.

The most telling event is live pigeon shooting. These boys use what works at the top levels and none of them use S/Ss that I know of. Why, there may be 10s of thousands of dollars riding on one shot. They use what works best for them, period.

All of that said, if you become used to shooting a S/S, the differences in the field are probably minimal and, if I liked them for style, pointability I wouldn't hesitate to use one. And have many times. A sweet little 28 ga Parker repro that I took to South America comes to mind.

All of that said, part two, a good man with a S/S will outshoot a lesser quality shot with anything, O/U or otherwise.

Your life doesn't depend on it, choose what gives you pleasure to use. I choose an O/U but I enjoy shooting S/Ss as well.

I think it's personal preference. A lot of shooters like o/u because the side-by-side wide-appearing barrels block targets to the left and right, they think.

SXS, are faster to eject, and reload. where as OXU are easier to regulate, thats about how I see it

thanks for he info ive always wanted a o/u so that what ill probly get. just wandering about the side bye side. thanks jason

I agree with Gatogordo. Moreover, the traditionalist uses a side-by-side for wingshooting, and an over-under for target games. Semi-auto's are relegated to marsh-hunting waterfowl.

In Best Guns, Michael McIntosh reflected that the SxS was perfected by the British in the late 1800s, and likewise, the O/U was perfected by the Italians by the 1960s. That said, the weight of an Italian 20 gauge O/U compares with a 12 gauge SxS and makes an excellent upland game gun.

The OU, as already mentioned, has the recoil more in line so you get a faster recovery, as well as better durability.

The wide sighting plane of the SxS makes the gun a little more instinctive (to me at least) but will cover up a rising target more. I like the feel in my hands of a SxS better as well, but maybe its just nostalgia? Also, SxS usually have two triggers, while most OUs just have one, and the bottom barrel is typically fired first.

Also, I think some South American live pigeon shooters still use SxS due to the lively feel and them being more instinctive to point at the irratically flying birds. But this is about the only place in competition that the SxS is still used.

I can only speak from my own preference. I have owned two Browning Citoris and have shot several Browning Side by Sides, Franchi over and unders, Browning Superposed, Ruger Red Labels, and some Spanish side by sides and for me (note for me) I find the O&U's much quicker pointing. It is distracting to me to look down the barrel and feel like I am sighting down the wide side of a 2x4 and I find myself lifting my head off of the stock before I pull the trigger. If I had learned on a SxS instead of Remington 870's and 1100's or Browning A5's it might be a completely story.

It is personal preference, I have a bunch of shotguns, SXS O/U Pumps, semi in each of 12 and 20 gauge, I always will go broke for SXS, I prefer them over any other configuration, although I will hunt with the repeaters mainly. Its like the SXS rifles...not the most accurate rifle on the shelf but how many people go broke to have one, someday so will I. When I started hunting I had a Browning A5 which I used for many years until I fell prey to a low cost spanish SXS, I shot that gun until I almost melted the barrels. I replaced that gun with several Browning SXS. I also own a couple of citoris but they just don't get the use the SXS. I actually feel I am more accurate with the SXS, like one other SXS lover told me your eyes are SXS why not you barrels...but its pure preference.