Looking at o/u, an autoloader was suggested for skeet

I prefer O/U, but either would do. 30" is a bit long for an autoloader though I think. My 28" A400 dwarfs my 30" O/U (the A400 is a 3-1/2" action, so there is that) I shoot some competition skeet - so my o/u is tubed for sub-gauge.

Recoil will be less noticeable with an autoloader. On the other hand , recoil for 1 oz 12 ga loads isn't all that big a deal unless you are particularly sensitive to recoil.

The O/U makes it a bit easier to manage your empties. If you reload this is a good thing. If you don't reload someone has to wander around the field and pick up your empties. I also find the movement and noise of the autoloader a little distracting, but not uncomfortably so.

There is some advantage for using different chokes in the O/U. I shoot skeet/skeet in mine so different chokes is not important to me for skeet. I do occasionally shoot a round of sporting clays - then it is nice to have different chokes for different presentations.

I shoot a Citori 625 with 30" barrels for skeet and sporting clays. I like the ability to have two chokes for clays. For skeet of course they are the same.

When I was shooting competitive skeet in the 1990s, many top shooters would shoot an auto loader in the 12 gauge event and a tubed O/U in the sub gauges. Others would use an O/U for all events.

I've not kept up with the sport so I do not know what shooters are doing these days.

At least for the sub gauges, a tubed O/U swings the same for all three gauges. Not important if you do not plan to shoot any of the sub gauges.

I shot a tubed O/U when I was competing.

I'd suggest doing some research and see what the top sporting clay shooters are shooting and lean in that direction.

A gas semi auto can attenuate recoil. An inertia autoloader will not, unless you get one with one of those two piece stocks.

My preferred is a Beretta 686 Onyx O/U. I like the balance, point and faster handling of a good over under. Some prefer the weight and momentum of a longer semiauto. Also the softer recoil. But then I like shooting Sporting Clays over trap or skeet.
Bennelli makes a very good shotgun and I shoot well with them myself. Which one do you like the feel of best or fits you best. I would start with the Beretta and buy the Bennelli later, or vice versa. Both are good choices although some would prefer a heavier gas semiauto.

When I first started shooting, I was set on a Benelli SuperSport. While saving for that, I spent some serious time shooting O/Us. I bought an O/U and greatly prefer it due to the way it swings and points. (Aesthetically, the wood-and-blued-steel trumps anything, but that has nothing to do with performance.) This is, of course, a personal preference. The one undeniable difference is what John3921 mentioned:

John3921 said:

I do occasionally shoot a round of sporting clays - then it is nice to have different chokes for different presentations.

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I like to shoot sporting clays more than trap or skeet, and I like having a light mod over an improved cylinder or sometimes a mod over an improved cylinder, depending on the pair. While that's a nice feature, I don't think it ought to be the decisive factor.

You may want to shoot an O/U if you have the opportunity. You may find that it is perfect for you, or you may choose the autoloader. Good luck.

Go with the Beretta 686, great gun.

When I shot skeet years ago, the range I was at would not allow any shotgun that ejected empties.

Policing empties on a hot range was a safety issue, and the range was too busy to shut it down so people could pick up hulls. So I had to set my shotgun aside and grab a range loaner.

I don't know if other ranges do this, or even if that range still does.

I've seen ranges that prohibit picking up empties. Basically when they hit the ground they belong to the range. I don't know if that was because of safety issues, or an attempt to keep ranges moving. Shoot your round and get off the field so someone else can shoot.

We tell pullers and shooters not to go past the baseline. Basically you'll loose your station 7 and high 8 hulls since they will get thrown outside the baseline. This is a safety concern, once you step out past the baseline on a skeet field you are in the line of fire for an adjacent field. Also, stepping in front of the window on low 7 is a bad idea - someone throws a target and you could get seriously hurt.

I've never seen a range ban autoloaders though. I know a lot of trapshooters get grumpy about autoloaders slinging hulls at them on the trap line.

It really sounds like a personal preference thing. Try both and see if one speaks to you more. If you don't like to clean your shotguns that much, you can go longer between cleanings with the over under. Not sure if that matters to you or not.

sbwaters

Many years ago my first O/U shotgun was a Beretta Model 680. I tried a lot of other shotguns and settled on the Beretta because for me it had the best balance and handling of any other shotgun out there. I also have had a Franchi Renaissance that felt very much the same way as the Beretta.

The Olympics are coming on in a few weeks, check out what those folks use.

In 2012 every medalist used an O/U. That ought to tell you something about what the best in the world think of autoloaders for skeet.

If the recoil bothers you, get it ported and a recoil reducer put in the stock. My Beretta 682 Gold is a very mild shooting gun.

The Olympics are coming on in a few weeks, check out what those folks use.

In 2012 every medalist used an O/U. That ought to tell you something about what the best in the world think of autoloaders for skeet.

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Many of those guns prices are in 5 figures. For the elite I have no doubt they are better. But for informal shooting auto's have a very strong following and in the under $2000 range you'll get a lot more gun for the money.

I'd rather have a top tier semi-auto and money to spare than a budget O/U.

Back in skeet years, I've shot 1100's, 870's and Browning Purbaugh set...
the O/U was favorite...also used the tube gun in the field! Just didn't like chasing hulls and the fit.
Dan

As long as you are spending your money buy what pleases you most.

jmr40 said:

Many of those guns prices are in 5 figures. For the elite I have no doubt they are better.

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For active competitive shooters in clay shooting games, reliability is an important feature and the top tier guns are very reliable. These guys and gals shoot ammunition by the pallet load.

But, more down to earth, a Browning Citori or Beretta 686 survive well in a competitive environment and are good entry level competitive guns. When I was actively shooting competitively, I put in excess of 5000 rounds per year for four to five years through my Citori without anything breaking.

jmr40 said:

But for informal shooting auto's have a very strong following and in the under $2000 range you'll get a lot more gun for the money.

I'd rather have a top tier semi-auto and money to spare than a budget O/U.

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I agree.

Chasing hulls is the only downside I see with a semi-auto. That is not as important today with the higher cost of reloading components relative to the lower cost of bargain priced ammunition.

Shot gun fit is an important consideration. They all fit a little different unless modified to fit the shooter and can have a definite affect on one's ability to hit the targets.

If you will shoot regulation NSSA Skeet, you need an O/U for the multi-gauge tube sets.

I have shot casual skeet with an Anschutz Miroku O/U bought cheap at a gun show because nobody knew what it was. Shells are the lightest reloads in the book, about 20 ga equivalent. But my ATA Trap singles gun is an 1100 for the lower recoil, although I have an O/U used only for Trap doubles and backup if the gas gun goes down.

The price of shot vs the price of cheap shells has turned a lot of shotgunners off of reloading, in which case an auto throwing your hulls in the weeds would not be a factor.

Prefer a 20ga for myself.

I have a couple o/u's and prefer the balance of them over an auto-loader, personally. The 20ga Beretta BL-3 has Ballistic Specialties Angle-ported chokes The Verona 501 is a 2-barrel set with 410 and 28ga barrels. The 20 and 28 are really fun for skeet and sporting clays. The recoil of the small bores doesn't pound you as bad as a 12ga. Especially after 100 rounds.

20ga ammo runs about the same cost as a twelve. Handle a 12 and a 20 in the same model and see if the 20 doesn't feel and balance better. JMHO.

You say that you already have an 1100, why would you want to buy anything else? The 1100 is a perfect gun for both skeet and trap. Spend your money on barrels and correct stocks.

A 26" barrel on an 1100 with a straight stock, is the Bees Knees for skeet. and the 1100 with a 32" barrel and a canted stock, is the same for trap!

I shot competition, in both skeet and trap, as part of the Chicago Lincoln Park Team, all through the 1970s & early 80s and that is the only gun I ever used. Of course, I had four of them in the required gauges. I have many 100s under my belt!

sbwaters said:

A quality shotgun dealer and gunsmith measured me and added 1/2" to the 1100 stock for me. Said that was all I needed. I like it.

I admit it. I don’t want to pick up hulls. :-/

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Okay, just leave them be, where they fall. Of course, if you want to reload, that is a different situation.

Shell catcher option

Works well! www.amazon.com/Birchwood-Casey-12-Gauge-Semi-Auto-Shotgun/dp/B001U9YK8I