shotgunning. when an O/U fits..

[vash]

i have an older Browning Citori. i took it out for the first time last month. this is a hand-me-down when my FIL passed.

my first box of shells, i got five birds..the second box? 11 shells = 8 birds. something clicked. it got to where it felt like i was just pointing that thing and folding them up. loading my truck, it was difficult choosing between my shortie Remmy1100 or the Citori. i'm glad i took the Citori. that thing is fast pointing and the added safety of an opened up action is undeniable. this was my best quail hunt ever. shooting was so intense, it almost ruined a perfectly good deer hunt.

btw, the cottontails HATED my virgin .22 PCP pellet gun. they would lay over with a plifft of the puff of air. i hit a dung beetle at 15 yards with it and a couple of hovering yellow jackets at 18 yards. that thing is ridiculous.

[legion]

I want a new O/U for skeet. I'm using a Remington Spartan (Baikal) right now. Fit and finish are total crap, and I had to put a pad on the stock to raise the comb. I've had my eye on a Browning Citori, but every time I pick one up (at Bass Pro, or Dick's, etc.), they are always "field" models and way too light. I want something with some mass so that my swings are smooth and the inertia forces my follow-through.

[flipper35]

I need to go hunting with you.

[MBAtarga]

So what does dung beetle or better yet - yellow jacket - taste like? chicken?

[sammyg2]

Wow, that thing is quite a bit longer than my goose gun.

it only has a 18" barrel so I have to sneak right up next to those gooses.

[craigster59]

I have a new "to me" 12g that comes up and swings like a breeze! I know it will be death on birds and great sentimental value to boot! Can't wait to give it a test drive!

[vash]

Originally Posted by craigster59

I have a new "to me" 12g that comes up and swings like a breeze! I know it will be death on birds and great sentimental value to boot! Can't wait to give it a test drive!

sah WEET!

[Hugh R]

I've had a Citori, O/U 12 ga for years, its a skeet gun with changeable chokes.

[vash]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

I've had a Citori, O/U 12 ga for years, its a skeet gun with changeable chokes.

you just touched on my "fly in the ointment".

i also have choke tubes. i cant tell if they are invector or invector plus. it says nothing on my barrel or the existing choke tube that i do have.

(which makes me guess i have the invector -older stuff)

[dmcummins]

I ordered a 20 ga citori back in the mid 80's. it was my favorite quail gun, it has the inventor chokes. I also purchased a couple of skeet chokes. It was the lightning model and I wanted 28" barrels instead of the usual 26.

I havnt been hunting in years, no more bird dogs for me, but I still have the gun.

[M.D. Holloway]

My Son shoots a Citori 725 for competition - use that with Clever shells and yes choke selection makes a big difference in skeet, trap and sporting clay. Great gun.

[craigster59]

My "go to" is a Winchester 101 with screw in chokes. I can dust clay pigeons with that baby. I borrowed a similar gun from a fellow Pelican (thanks Jim) and couldn't hit my ass with both hands.

A familiar O/U is like an extension of your pointing finger, it just puts that shot pattern perfect.

[targa911S]

My go to is an SKB 200E SXS choked M/F. I'm stalking a Fox Sterlingworth 16 though..fit is essential in a shotgun. If it don't fit you won't hit s***.

[legion]

Originally Posted by M.D. Holloway

My Son shoots a Citori 725 for competition - use that with Clever shells and yes choke selection makes a big difference in skeet, trap and sporting clay. Great gun.

I currently reload Winchester AA shells on my MEC press. I prefer "hot" loads. (19.5 grains of Red Dot.) Recoil doesn't bother me much. I've been playing with the idea of reloading brass shells, but it looks like I'd have to use a different wad as the brass shells are much thinner.

[tevake]

If I may ask, does the choke affect the pattern of the shot at different distances from the shooter?

Thanks Richard

[vash]

Originally Posted by craigster59

My "go to" is a Winchester 101 with screw in chokes. I can dust clay pigeons with that baby. I borrowed a similar gun from a fellow Pelican (thanks Jim) and couldn't hit my ass with both hands.

A familiar O/U is like an extension of your pointing finger, it just puts that shot pattern perfect.

my brother shoots the exact same gun. i have to walk fast to get a crack at birds. he is deadly with the thing.

i think i saw the side by side version in my mom's gun safe last week. winchester 100?

[vash]

i have a berreta silver pigeon that i am having growing pains with...we are jinxed together. haha.. i need more time with it.

[legion]

Originally Posted by tevake

If I may ask, does the choke affect the pattern of the shot at different distances from the shooter?

Thanks Richard

Yes. The tighter the choke the tighter the shot pattern and the further it will fly. The more open the choke, the wider the shot pattern and the sooner it drops.

From tightest to widest:

Turkey
Extra Full
Full
Improved Modified
Modified
Light Modified
Improved Cylinder
Skeet
Cylinder
Blunderbuss

[craigster59]

Originally Posted by vash

i think i saw the side by side version in my mom's gun safe last week. winchester 100?

Winchester 21, 23 or 24. Nice find!

[Tom '74 911]

I have a Citori Special Sporting Clays Edition O/U that I acquired this past summer which I use for trap, skeet & sporting clays. The fellow I bought it from had an adjustable comb installed and it fits me like a glove. It took me quite a few boxes of shells to come to grips with it, but once I did... I now love that gun...