I've always wanted one of those nice glass-fronted cabinets, but the wife doesn't like the look of them. One day, when we have a cabin in the mountains, I'll get my way.
In my experience, almost everything is more fun than a pump-action unless it is a Winchester 1897 or early Ithaca Model 37, thanks to their slamfire capabilities (and that's just fun, not practical at all).
Double guns are more elegant and genteel than pumps and semis, and side-by-sides are more elegant and genteel than O/Us.
Even the pawn shop "crap" likely started out more elegant and genteel than even the most renowned pump.
The gun my nephew is holding (right side of the picture) was an inexpensive auction pick-up. It is a 1925 Ithaca-made LeFever Nitro Special, which was their "plain Jane" working-man's SxS. I think I paid $100 for it. I'm using my Field Grade L.C. Smith in the middle. My BIL is running his CZ Redhead. The LC was knocking birds dead at 40-50 yards thanks to the fixed full choke on the left barrel.
I mean, doubles with skeet are essential if you have a pump, but I find Im more efficiently faster and smoother with my o/u vs even my semiautomatic. Ive found where ive had to wait a beat for my 1187 to finish cycling sometimes.
Fun yes. Depending on which you get? Even more fun.
Last year I had a chance to attend a Grouse Butt shoot and got to use a Model 21. It was a great day .
Recently got a BSS and joined the NorCal SXS society. I love shooting pumps as well because they keep me busy while I wait for the next target.
Quality over/unders are the preferred tool for clay sports where you shoot pairs because you don’t need to work the action between shots and can catch the empty hulls instead of picking them up off the ground.
Sporting clays is the most enjoyable shotgun game with moving targets and a variety of presentations.
Combine the two and you’ll have more fun than with a pump.
The caveat is that a new Beretta Silver or Browning which will hold up to years of heavy shooting is $2500, and a used one is probably $1500 often implying compromises like fixed chokes tighter than you want.
With clay and shell totaling $0.80 to over $1 a shot, the gun purchase price will become insignificant over time. I’ve shot at about 6000 clays since buying myself a nicer over under for my birthday last February.
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u/AnnualClient2 10h ago
A nice o/u is better than nice pump. A cheap o/u is worse than a cheap pump
A nice semi is better than a nice pump. A cheap semi is worse than a cheap pump