OU shotguns...

SKB and Miroku build great shotguns - a lot of them under other names including Browning and the earlier Ithaca SKB. I have an early 20 Ga Ithaca SKB Mod/Imp. @ about 5.5#. Easy to carry and great pointer

Miroku builds rifles, with several Winchester replicas and the quality is excellent.
 
The number one consideration when buying a shot gun, especially for clay sports, is Does It Fit You? If not you are going to be fighting the gun. Then there is which sport - Trap, Skeet, Sporting Clays etc. Parallel Combs are typical for skeet where Sporting Clays guns are have dimensions more like a field gun.

If you are going to shoot multiple disciplines, you either need a specif gun for each or one with a full set of adjustments. In that case you will spend a lot of time switching all the adjustments as you change games..

Then how much are you really going to shoot it? A serious Registered Skeet Shooter may shoot thousands of rounds of practice shells and a typical full event is 500 rounds. A lot different than a hunting gun.

Best bet is to go hang out at a shotgun range, talk to the shooters and I would bet you will be able to try out a few guns

My 22 shotguns include 6 over and unders.
 
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Got into sporting clays shooting a Rem 1100. Great shotgun! Wanted a O/U till I shot one. Have a torn rotator cuff in each shoulder and the O/U was just to much after 20 or 30 rounds. I thought so, as I can't shoot a pump anymore either.
Definitely shoot a Browning, then a Beretta. I discovered Italian shotguns Fit me just fine. Being left handed, the shim system they use is wonderful for cast and drop also. Have a Beretta 400 xcel and a Benelli montefeltro sporting. Can't decide which one I like better.
 
For no particularly good reason, I have an itch to look into OU shotgunts. I currently have a 20 ga Remington 1100, so I am most interesting in sticking with 20 ga. I am most interested in skeet. QUOTE

Go to a registered skeet and/or sporting clays shoot and see that the 4 gun shooters are using then take your pick.

I would suggest that you get a shotgun with an adjustable comb and butt plate already installed. I've never met a shooter that a factory stock would fit well.

You may want to consider a 12 rather than a 20 and equip it with sub gauge tubes like Briley or Kolhar.
 
Before you get too far into this, what is your budget? And, used ok?

An 1100 in 20 gauge will certainly kick less than an over/under in 20 gauge. So, how recoil tolerant are you?

The other thing you can do is take a road trip to Findley, Ohio. Jaqua's is one of the leading "Game Gun" (As in trap, skeet etc. not hunting game) dealers in the east. There you can let them see what stock dimensions fit you the best. Over the years I have bought a number of guns (new and used) from them and they are great to do business with.

Bob
 
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I see words telling me about trying guns to see which one "fits the best"---other words telling me about the need to "learn" my gun. RUBBISH!!

Buy the gun you like because it's light---or pretty---or reliable---or all of the above, and then head for a GOOD gunsmith. A GOOD gunsmith understands shotgun shooting. He's been there and done that. He's a WIZARD!!

It's likely the first words you'll hear him say are "Shoot me in the eye." Do as you're told. Then brace yourself for a very unpleasant experience. He's going to take your very shiny, God awful expensive shotgun and walk over to a belt sander. You're going to see this in slow motion-------pretty sure you know what's going to happen (but not believing it), and then it happens!! He snaps the switch, and GGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUCCCH--------wood chips and sawdust fly. Don't panic---it'll be alright. There are several variations of this theme, but in the end you'll hear, "Do you want a recoil pad on that?"----and then, "I'll call you when it's ready."

And then it's ready. And you don't have to try anything to see if it fits---and you don't have to learn anything----except how to get along all by yourself. Everybody hates you. Nobody will go shooting with you. You never miss. It's almost boring----almost.

Ralph Tremaine
 
You can get a BEAUTIFUL 20 Gauge Belgium Made Browning Superposed (from the 60's or 70's) for between $,2,000 & $2500 on the used market. Yes they are pricey, but you will then have an heirloom Shotgun to pass on and you will enjoy the heck out of it every time you shoot it!

I have one in 12 Ga. and have fired thousands and thousands of Shells through over the years. They never break, never fail and you will enjoy each shot! I've used mine for Pheasant, Quail, Grouse, Chukker, Trap, Skeet and Sporting Clays - LOVE IT!
 
I went through a progression of shotguns. I was always a handgun/rifle shooter but about 20 years ago a friend talked me into a few rounds of trap. All I had was my 20 ga. 870, but I broke birds with it. That was traded off on a 12 ga 870, and that lasted a year and I wanted an O/'U and bought a older SKB Mod 500 IM/F. It was a great gun ans I sort of wish I had it back. I wanted choke tubes so I traded for a Remington Peerless, (at that time a replacement for the 3200, ((it wasn't))).

After a year and getting close to retirement when I expected to shoot more, I bought a Browning Citori Lightning Special Sporting Clays. That is a great gun. I shot it for trap and Sporting Clays, and Skeet. It fit me, only modification was having a Kickeeze pad put on (Stock cut 1/4" to keep LOP the same). I'm still shooting it for Skeet and Sporting Clays, but bought a Browning BT99+ for trap. I have no idea how many rounds have gone through the Citori, but at least 20,000, and it locks up as tight as when new.
 
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Fit,fit,fit and fit some more. No such thing as an "average" build really. Scatterguns need to be quick handling and fit is the most important. It will aid in pointing/aiming and felt recoil as well. To me nothing points better than a well fitting O/U
 
I shoot the Browning 725 and 525, both work very well for me.
I have 12, 28, 410 and a 20 that will be here after Christmas. It took several years but I have a compete set less the 16 gauge, I doubt that will happen.
 
If you wish to stick to 20 ga. then your 1100 is as good as it gets. Swings as well as any O/U and kicks a lot less. The 1100 is also very dependable and very easy to fix on the spot when you carry spare parts.
If you just plain want another gun and it has to be an O/U, then I would go for a 12 ga Beretta and get insert tubes for 20 ga. If you are a handloader you could load 12 ga. shells with 7/8 oz of shot which would give you 20 gauge performance in a heavier and better swinging gun with less recoil.
All things aside, If all you want is 20 ga and skeet, then you have the best right now in your 1100.

I do like my 1100.

Part of the motivation is I am coming to realize that the only opportunities in my field are in the anti-gun overcrowded big cities on the E and W coasts. I won't take my gun collection any place that requires registration, and I figure an OU shotgun would be near the bottom of the banners list.

Plus I figure an OU would have fewer moving parts, be more durable and reliable. My 1100 is pretty reliable, but does start to malfunction after a lot of shooting.
 
The number one consideration when buying a shot gun, especially for clay sports, is Does It Fit You? If not you are going to be fighting the gun. Then there is which sport - Trap, Skeet, Sporting Clays etc. Parallel Combs are typical for skeet where Sporting Clays guns are have dimensions more like a field gun.

If you are going to shoot multiple disciplines, you either need a specif gun for each or one with a full set of adjustments. In that case you will spend a lot of time switching all the adjustments as you change games..

Then how much are you really going to shoot it? A serious Registered Skeet Shooter may shoot thousands of rounds of practice shells and a typical full event is 500 rounds. A lot different than a hunting gun.

Best bet is to go hang out at a shotgun range, talk to the shooters and I would bet you will be able to try out a few guns

My 22 shotguns include 6 over and unders.

I've heard about 'fit', but never really understood what goes into it. Does height/armvspan factor into it? I'm 6' 2", my sleeve length is about 36", so I am a little taller than average but not on the extreme fringe.
 
Before you get too far into this, what is your budget? And, used ok?

An 1100 in 20 gauge will certainly kick less than an over/under in 20 gauge. So, how recoil tolerant are you?

The other thing you can do is take a road trip to Findley, Ohio. Jaqua's is one of the leading "Game Gun" (As in trap, skeet etc. not hunting game) dealers in the east. There you can let them see what stock dimensions fit you the best. Over the years I have bought a number of guns (new and used) from them and they are great to do business with.

Bob

I am reasonably recoil tolerant. My Winchester M70 in 30'06 doesn't bother me. My 1100 is soft shooting - it is an older model that was built on the heavier 12 ga frame. The newer ones are on a lighter 20 ga frame.
 
Wisdom in Jokes

On a trip to Argentina I heard a fellow hunter refer to his 1100 as a 1099 because one part was always broken. Bad joke for a good gun, but there is a measure of truth. The good news is that they are easy to fix. Another quip is that there are no good gunsmiths for Citoris because they never break. Again, there is a measure of truth in there. Your perceptions can be severely distorted by individual experience and prejudice, especially firearms. On a recent pheasant hunt, only one gun broke, a Beretta O/U that came down with a case of light strike FTF, probably from dirt. I guess I'm prejudiced. I have Citori's in 12, 20, 28 and 410, all 26 in. straight grip. I couldn't begin to wear out any of them. Citori's are heavier than Berettas for equivalent gauge and barrel length. There used to be a slur going around on Berettas about inferior lockup with their pins instead of underlugs on Citori's. Pish posh. John Browning once fired a Superposed with locking lug removed to demonstrate ruggedness, inertia keeping the breach shut. I like O/U's because I don't like mechanical clatter and churn of automatics.
 
WITHOUT CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS...

If you shoot clay REGULARLY say 100 rounds/4 at bats a week for even 6 months, the cost per at bat & for ammo will be over the cost of the gun "fairly quick", you do the math, not my best subject. 12 Months, give or take???
 
Simple 20

I've never had an OU shotgun, but they do look nice. I am a big 20 ga fan. Always have been. I've actually got several 20's and not a 12 ga in the house. My son and I hunt with 20's a lot. Everything from squirrel to deer. I have a Remington 870 20ga and he has a Weatherby PA-PA08, (Turkish). I have to admit that I have been really impressed with his Turkish Weatherby. I'd love to have an 1100, but it's just not in my budget. After the luck my son has had with this Weatherby I may put the SA08 on layaway first of 2019. If I do, it'll no doubt be another 20. I've always favored them. They are lighter for this fat old hillbilly to tote in and out of a field.
 
I know exactly what you mean, johngalt. I had the same hankering a few years ago and decided after a lifetime of good utility guns (A-5s, 870s, and Ithacas) I ought to own a nice O/U. I found a Superposed that was too expensive, too big (12 gauge) and didn’t fit exactly right, but I laid it away anyways.

I stopped in to make yet another payment and I spotted this svelte little Beretta. It was like Mikey Corleone when he spotted the Sicilian girl in the old country - struck by lightning. Perfect size, perfect fit, and priced right.

Either one is a good choice, but sometimes right is right.
 

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You can get a BEAUTIFUL 20 Gauge Belgium Made Browning Superposed (from the 60's or 70's) for between $,2,000 & $2500 on the used market. Yes they are pricey, but you will then have an heirloom Shotgun to pass on and you will enjoy the heck out of it every time you shoot it!

I have one in 12 Ga. and have fired thousands and thousands of Shells through over the years. They never break, never fail and you will enjoy each shot! I've used mine for Pheasant, Quail, Grouse, Chukker, Trap, Skeet and Sporting Clays - LOVE IT!

You can get a 12 for about $1500 on the used market - just make sure it isn't a "salt wood" gun - you can Google to see what years were involved.
 
Ive owned a red label ....it shot well and was Nice but Beretta makes first class Shotguns. I own 2 686's Both used... 1 has 3K rds from low brass to High... never a issue....fit and finish are excellent. Excellent point of aim for me,,,, swings quick.
 
If you wish to stick to 20 ga. then your 1100 is as good as it gets. Swings as well as any O/U and kicks a lot less. The 1100 is also very dependable and very easy to fix on the spot when you carry spare parts.
If you just plain want another gun and it has to be an O/U, then I would go for a 12 ga Beretta and get insert tubes for 20 ga. If you are a handloader you could load 12 ga. shells with 7/8 oz of shot which would give you 20 gauge performance in a heavier and better swinging gun with less recoil.
All things aside, If all you want is 20 ga and skeet, then you have the best right now in your 1100.

Ruger 22’s comment about the 1100 is spot on. Sure, you have to chase the hulls, but for shooting dynamics and ease on your shoulder not much beats an 1100. That said, while I have an 1100 Sporting I also have a 20ga Browning Cynergy that is an exceptional O/U. It has a low profile receiver which directs more of the recoil force straight back and makes it a very soft shooting O/U compared to the standard Citori. Also the Cynergy has mechanical triggers instead of inertia triggers, for me a plus as I use the gun primarily for hunting. Right now the Cynergy CX is a good value. Some are put off by the more modern style, but mechanically the gun is great! Browning adapted much of the Cynergy’s engineering in the Citori 725- but in a more traditionally styled gun at at least a 50% higher price.
 
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