O/U vs. SxS ?

[R100]

I imagine this subject has been flogged to death, but this will be my first shotgun (65th birthday present) and my choice has come down to one of the two.
It will be a Stoeger Condor or Upland in 20ga.
Are there any huge drawbacks with one over the other? Is one more difficult to be proficient with? Or is it just a matter of preference, what feels better? First impression has the SxS feeling better, perhaps due to the shape of the forestock.
For what I plan to spend, the Condor has a second bead and single non-selective trigger, the Upland a double trigger.
Most of the shooting will be skeet and sometimes trap.

 

[Gordon]

The O/U is better for clay sports. Either works well for field work.

 

[rcmodel]

Many folks have trouble adapting to a S/S doubles wide sighting plane if all they have ever shot are pumps & autos thier whole life.

Something to consider.

And nobody who is shooting top winning scores in skeet or trap are shooting S/S doubles anymore I betcha.

rc

 

[oneounceload]

For minor use in a non-competitive environment, either will work. The advantage of the double triggers will be instant choke selection, especially since the other has a non-selective trigger. O/U's are typically used more for targets than SxS - many have issues with the wide sighting plane on the SxS. FIT is paramount and the SxS usually requires even more attention to that than the O/U. Pick what you want and enjoy it. Before buying, you might want to head over to your local skeet club and ask folks what they're using, ask to borrow or try some of the gun. You might find something else that fits your needs better that you can actually try out before you buy

Good luck either way

 

[Zip7]

I have one of each, and have used both for many years. My SxS is a Victor Sarasqueta and my O/U is a Citori.

In today''s market, there is a little advantage in going with an O/U in that there are is more quality available for less money than there is in today's available sxs guns.

I like both of mine, but I prefer the SXS mainly because I have been toting it off and on since I was 12. However, the Citori sees more use because it is far more ruggedly built and repair and replacement parts are actually available for it.

 

[R100]

O/U vs SxS

I did visit the local skeet club and a kind fellow let me use his 20ga. O/U Winchester. First I shot 5/25, then 15/25. Nice gun.
No one at the club had a SxS.

With the Stoegers, the SxS just felt more natural than the O/U. It is also a little heavier to soak up some recoil. The sighting plane is like looking down the freeway, but maybe you get accustomed to that.

What to do? What to do?

 

[winchester '97]

I would consider a Remington spartan or a Baikal over a Stoeger, or something really nice used for about the same price, but a O/U is a whole heck of a lot better for clay games, and its a matter of which one you like best for hunting.

 

[oneounceload]

The issue with the Spartans, Baikals, and Stoegers is the quality of the guns. Heaviness does not equal quality - usually, it is the opposite. BALANCE is second only to fit with the SxS. If you really want an inexpensive SxS, a used Ugartechea running around 1,000 would be the best bet as far as quality and handling. Otherwise, Lanber, older Brownings/Berettas/SKBs or similar would be a better bet for targets