Author Topic: Best all-around O/U? - Citori?  (Read 1803 times)

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Offline HuntingGuy

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Best all-around O/U? - Citori?
« on: December 17, 2005, 06:09:49 PM »
Hi All,

I am a rifle guy myself, but have recently been shooting trap with my old semi auto Springfield.  I am interested in purchasing a nice over under shotgun 12ga, and am new to this world.  I would be willing to spend 1500-2000.  Ultimately, it will be used for trap, skeet and pheasant hunting.  I have been looking at the Browning Citori Trap.  Does anyone have experience with this gun?  Why is it that they have different guns for trap, skeet, etc?  If I bought a trap gun, could I still hunt with it and shoot skeet?

Please, feed me your knowlege on this!  I am new to shotguns, but am purely fascinated with a quality over under.  I think it would be a great addition and start of a great sport for me.

Thanks  :D
HuntingGuy
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Offline lefty o

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« Reply #1 on: December 17, 2005, 08:40:10 PM »
generally trap guns have a higher POI than other shot guns, this is to make it easier to hit rising targets. yes you can hunt, or shoot skeet with a trap gun. the citori trap/XT is an excellent shotgun.

Offline dave375hh

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« Reply #2 on: December 18, 2005, 02:01:21 AM »
I'd suggest a sporting clays model with an adjustable comb. That way you can adjust it for what your doing that day. Raise the comb for trap, lower it for hunting. The trap model is heavier than a field gun and will mount, and swing slower also. The swing arc in trap is only about 45 deg. at max. Hunting under some circumstances could be 360 deg. I use a XS sporting for trap doubles and skeet, it works great. I use a BT99 for singles though. Both the XT and the XS are heavier than an ideal field gun, but IMHO the XS will come closer to doing what you want.
Dave375HH

Offline Graybeard

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« Reply #3 on: December 18, 2005, 06:13:20 AM »
First up understand there is no "BEST" brand or model for all round or any other use. They are all compromises and what might be "best" for you might not be for me or the next guy. Having said that let's address your uses and what might work for them.

Trap is a very specialized game. All targets are shot going away from you and the gun is generally premounted. All those targets are rising also. So the guns made for use on trap fields have a few things in common. They almost always have longer than standard lenth of pull that might present a problem when hunting in cold weather as mounting them might not be fast or smooth. They have a higher POI in relationship to POA to compensate for the rising targets. Now this isn't necessarily so bad if what you're shooting is flushing birds. But on crossing shots it can be. Trap guns in general don't make good all round guns.

Skeet is a totally different game. Targets are all shot far closer to the gun and are flying reasonably flat when shot. You want a gun that has a POI very close to the POA. Generally speaking you'll not shoot as well on a skeet course with a trap gun as one made for field or skeet or even for sporting clays.

Sporting clays is a game that has a wide variety of target presentations and each course you shoot will be different from all others as well as each station being different from the others on the course. You'll see incomers, outgoers, straight up targets and targets falling like a rock, crossing targets and all sorts of ranges and presentations. Guns for it are usually slightly modified field/skeet type guns but generally with very long barrels. Mine has 32" barrels. Few who have dedicated guns for this game go shorter than 30" with their barrels.

So if you're going to be serious at either of these games you'll want a gun specifically intended for it. If you just want to play at them for fun and to improve your field shooting them get a field or skeet gun and make do. Unless trap will be shot seriously for competition then I'd not get a dedicated trap gun at all.

For an all round gun to be used for all uses, field, trap, skeet and sporting clays I'd get a gun labeled by the maker as a skeet or sporting clays gun. Get 28" or 30" barrels and a variety of choke tubes. You'll want a pair of tubes marked skeet, an IC, a MOD and maybe a Light Mod and a Full at least. Use the gun as is for all but trap and for that you might buy a slip on or tie on leather cheek piece to raise the comb to suit it better to the game of trap. But if you're only playing at it and don't care if you reach your absolute best at it then just use the gun as is and don't worry about it.

The Browning Citori is an excellent gun and perhaps the most popular and best selling of them. Beretta is also fine and generally a bit lighter. Today there are so many names out there it's hard to settle on just one. But really Browning and Berreta seem the most used and especially so in the price range you have mentioned. Ruger will work OK also.

Most folks who are serious shotgunners will have a variety of O/Us for the various uses to which they will put it.


Bill aka the Graybeard
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I am not a lawyer and do not give legal advice.

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Offline HuntingGuy

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« Reply #4 on: December 18, 2005, 07:02:17 AM »
GB,

Thanks for the response - it has helped me immensely.  I will look and see what they offer with the Citori in skeet or sporting, rather than trap.   :D   If I have any other questions, i'll let you know.  I really appreciate it  8)
HuntingGuy
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Offline hobbyist

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« Reply #5 on: December 22, 2005, 06:27:39 PM »
You can always count on good advice from GB.  My hat off to you.  :toast:

Offline Daks

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« Reply #6 on: December 22, 2005, 11:57:30 PM »
I shoot trap with an Citori XT Trap that is 20+ years old, fixed chokes.

Wonderful for trap. Terrible for skeet or sporting clays. For the last two games, I shoot a field grade Model 12, which generally shoot a bit higher than point of aim. Works for me. I tried a Beretta Sporting Clays O/U - too danged heavy to get it moving well sideways. The Model 12 is like pointing the end of my finger. I do much better with the light gun, other guys say they like the heaviness of an O/U to keep their swing going. I practice in order to be a better hunter, though, so I just shoot clay birds to tune up for the field. If I was going to shoot clays for the sake of shooting clays, I might choose a different gun.

Offline HappyHunter

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« Reply #7 on: February 17, 2006, 11:02:03 AM »
This is a great post for me, as I have the same questions.  I am new to shotgunning and want to hunt as well as bust clay.  

Let me run a gun that I have found past you guys.

It is a Beretta 686 white onyx.  O/U 26 inch 12 ga with tubes.  The original owner also had a barrel made by Beretta:
  It is a single barrel 32 inch with tall vent rib and full choke barrel,  is y a trap barrel?

Does this sound like a decent combination?
Is the single barrel good for trap...is it only a single shot game?

Sorry if I ask obviouis questions but I am new to this sport.

Also gun is in 99% and dealer wants $1400, is this reasonable?

Thanks,

Fred  a/k/a  HappyHunter
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Offline Graybeard

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« Reply #8 on: February 17, 2006, 12:44:23 PM »
Barrel length is really a personal matter. On doubles and especially O/U guns I prefer 28" barrels as 26" just seems "too short" for me. Mine White Onyx has 32" barrels and I kinda wish I'd gotten either 28" or 30" instead. These feel a bit too long for me.

I think the gun you are looking at is WAY over priced personally. The trap barrel don't make it a trap gun as it really needs to be stocked differently for that use. I'd personally consider that barrel wasted money.

I've been offering my New in Box and unfired gun with the 32" barrels at $1300 with no takers. My plan being to buy another with shorter barrels. But come warm weather if it's still here I'll take it out and shoot it and it won't be NIB anymore. Heck I may love those long barrels after shooting it. I've owned 30" and liked those guns fine.


Bill aka the Graybeard
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I am not a lawyer and do not give legal advice.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life anyone who believes in Him will have everlasting life!

Offline daddywpb

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« Reply #9 on: February 18, 2006, 04:43:41 PM »
Look at a Ruger Red Label. Mine has 26" barrels.

Offline HappyHunter

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« Reply #10 on: February 23, 2006, 12:04:14 PM »
Ended up getting a Browning 30 inch Lightning sporting clays o/u,  It is ported with choke tubes.

It shoulders very well for me, I am very pleased with it.

Thanks for the help.

Fred
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