PeterHenry Posted January 27, 2020 Report Share Posted January 27, 2020 Hi all, I've recently purchased a Browning over and under after shooting (more or less exclusively) with old English and Scottish side by sides. Granted, it's a very different gun - however, i was wondering if theres any truth in having to 'aim' / point at the birds feet with an over and under, instead of straight at them as with a side by side (with a conventional rib). All thoughts appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted January 27, 2020 Report Share Posted January 27, 2020 Very much depends if the gun fits you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted January 27, 2020 Report Share Posted January 27, 2020 hello, theres a post much like your by PW member Dad, in general shooting matters. Just now, oldypigeonpopper said: hello, there is a post much like yours by PW member Dad, in general shooting matters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunman Posted January 27, 2020 Report Share Posted January 27, 2020 Rule of thumb . with S x S you shoot in front and behind , with a O / U you shoot above and below .Like all new guns you just have to learn to shoot it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterHenry Posted January 27, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2020 25 minutes ago, TIGHTCHOKE said: Very much depends if the gun fits you! Ah, yes - it does - I made sure of that when I got it. 25 minutes ago, oldypigeonpopper said: hello, theres a post much like your by PW member Dad, in general shooting matters. That's great thanks, I'll try and dig it out. 18 minutes ago, Gunman said: Rule of thumb . with S x S you shoot in front and behind , with a O / U you shoot above and below .Like all new guns you just have to learn to shoot it . Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted January 27, 2020 Report Share Posted January 27, 2020 1 hour ago, PeterHenry said: Ah, yes - it does - I made sure of that when I got it. That's great thanks, I'll try and dig it out. Thanks hello, let us know what O/U you have and that will help to give you more info on here, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterHenry Posted January 27, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2020 35 minutes ago, oldypigeonpopper said: hello, let us know what O/U you have and that will help to give you more info on here, Thanks - It's a Browning special wildfowl with 30" barrels and 3 1/2" chambers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted January 27, 2020 Report Share Posted January 27, 2020 18 minutes ago, PeterHenry said: Thanks - It's a Browning special wildfowl with 30" barrels and 3 1/2" chambers ok, i am sure a PW member will have the same so will help with any more info, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted January 27, 2020 Report Share Posted January 27, 2020 (edited) On crossing targets. With over and under I find the bird needs to be above the barrels. With SXS I need to swing the barrels more through the bird so shoots very flat. Edited January 27, 2020 by figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted January 27, 2020 Report Share Posted January 27, 2020 If it’s standard and not been altered they shoot a touch high as gunman says get out shooting it and get used to it im sure more knowledgeable will be along soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted January 27, 2020 Report Share Posted January 27, 2020 Surprised no one has mentioned it yet, as you're confident that the gun fits, shoot a pattern plate and then you'll know. The problem I have is where the shot goes when the 'plate' decides to move but that has nothing to do with where the gun shoots, just where I shoot and can be anybody's guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted January 27, 2020 Report Share Posted January 27, 2020 If the gun fits where did you have it fitted to shoot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultrastu Posted January 27, 2020 Report Share Posted January 27, 2020 As the 2 gentleman above have asked . How do you know it fits ? ..if your missing targets Imo . (Not that i know everything )id start on a static pattern plate and start with a comfortable aim at a dot and see where your landing ,and repeat . Then when happy move to much faster quick acquisition of the target and fire .you should still hit dead centre and repeat . After that you can move onto moving targets simple clays .and hopefully break them . (We tend to see and follow and position our gun on a moving target different to that of a static one .) When your happy you breaking these easy clays .you can say the gun fits you . Obviously if your not hitting your aimpoint at any of the 3 stages above you need to adjust the gun to suit you till you are and then move to the next stage and fine adjust if required . Well thats how i get a gun to fit me anyway .non of this someone looking down the barrel at my eye pap . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted January 27, 2020 Report Share Posted January 27, 2020 Don't POINT the gun in the first place. As TC says the gun should fit you and then it will automatically come into play as you look at the bird. I was asked today if I look at 'the flat' when shooting....honestly hadn't a clue what he meant ... I said I just look at the bird, I don't SEE the gun. My 410 ain't no fancy expensive article , just a base model Yilditz O/U but the moment I lifted it to my shoulder in the gun shop I knew it fitted me as near as dam it. A dozen partridge and half dozen pheasants today seemed to agree Get a Pro Stocker to check you out with the gun wearing your normal shooting clothing. The two guns I have had professionally fitted a pattern plate was not used. After checking the gun was empty the stocker stood about 15yrds infront of me and asked me to mount the gun in one smooth action and look at his nose without actually AIMING along the barrel and having done this half a dozen times with his try gun he then made up my stocks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted January 27, 2020 Report Share Posted January 27, 2020 SxS are so easy to get moving but also so easy to stop as you pull the trigger, too many factors for you to try and sort easily, a session with a good coach will help. Ultrastu you had me chuckling at, non of this looking down the barrel at my eye pap 😂😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultrastu Posted January 27, 2020 Report Share Posted January 27, 2020 Well ive seen people do it .how does that guy know where the shooter places the barrel in relation to a bird ? .i personally have my bird (say on a flat crosser .) Quite a lot above the barrel .i like to see all the bird and never cover it unless its coming directly towards and above me . Thats my sight picture . My mate is the opposite he covers his bird with his barrels . So his sight picture is different Thats nothing to do with the gun its just how we prefer to see our bird .so he sets his guns up different to me .as a consequence i cant hit a cows back end with his guns and he cant shoot mine .Though we are similar size and shoot similar guns . Like walker says above .you should just be able to pick it up and hit what you want with virtually zero thought as to aiming it .if your constantly trying to get your head down or over ,or looking at the bead then your not looking at the bird and the gun doesnt fall naturally or shoot where the eye is looking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted January 28, 2020 Report Share Posted January 28, 2020 7 hours ago, Ultrastu said: Well ive seen people do it .how does that guy know where the shooter places the barrel in relation to a bird ? .i personally have my bird (say on a flat crosser .) Quite a lot above the barrel .i like to see all the bird and never cover it unless its coming directly towards and above me . Thats my sight picture . My mate is the opposite he covers his bird with his barrels . So his sight picture is different Thats nothing to do with the gun its just how we prefer to see our bird .so he sets his guns up different to me .as a consequence i cant hit a cows back end with his guns and he cant shoot mine .Though we are similar size and shoot similar guns . Like walker says above .you should just be able to pick it up and hit what you want with virtually zero thought as to aiming it .if your constantly trying to get your head down or over ,or looking at the bead then your not looking at the bird and the gun doesnt fall naturally or shoot where the eye is looking. The gun fitter know how the client like his/her gun set up by talking to the client at about their shooting and preference then watching them shoot. The gun fitters experience then comes into play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultrastu Posted January 28, 2020 Report Share Posted January 28, 2020 Ok thats fair enough . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultrastu Posted January 28, 2020 Report Share Posted January 28, 2020 (edited) But does beg the question..if the op has gone from a sxs to an ou.and they generally have a different sight picrure (as people have pointed out above ) how does the client know what he likes to see with no experience of an ou .? How can he give good reliable info to the gun fitter ? Just a thought ..im not trying to totally poo poo professional gun fitting. Its just that it seams to me that it could be an expensive way of getting bad info and still not get a gun to shoot where u want .but ive not had it done for me .as i couldnt afford it .and prefer my grass roots approach . Edited January 28, 2020 by Ultrastu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterHenry Posted January 28, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2020 Thanks for all the replies. I had it 'fitted' when I brought it, by which I mean the owner of the shop, who I've known since I started shooting about 15 years ago, who still makes guns on site, and who's adjusted the stock dimensions on my side by sides to fit, watched me repeatedly shoulder the gun, eyed it up, and then said no alterations were necessary. So perhaps not 'fitted' in the way some of my other guns were, but I have no overt reason to doubt his word. That said, I take into account that it's not fitted to the degree where I have specified the point of aim, et cetera. I've only taken it out twice - once shooting (and missing) a few snipe with steel cartridges choked to full when out after ducks, which perhaps isnt a particularly fair test, and secondly while somewhat hungover, flighting pigeons on Saturday, shooting while crouched in a hedgerow, so again, perhaps not the best test. I think I'm going to have go at patterning it once I have so spare time on my hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted January 28, 2020 Report Share Posted January 28, 2020 hello, the pattern plate would be a good idea, then you may find if shooting high or low to centre point so you can adjust your swing through, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted January 28, 2020 Report Share Posted January 28, 2020 12 hours ago, Ultrastu said: Well ive seen people do it .how does that guy know where the shooter places the barrel in relation to a bird ? .i personally have my bird (say on a flat crosser .) Quite a lot above the barrel .i like to see all the bird and never cover it unless its coming directly towards and above me . Thats my sight picture . My mate is the opposite he covers his bird with his barrels . So his sight picture is different Thats nothing to do with the gun its just how we prefer to see our bird .so he sets his guns up different to me .as a consequence i cant hit a cows back end with his guns and he cant shoot mine .Though we are similar size and shoot similar guns . Like walker says above .you should just be able to pick it up and hit what you want with virtually zero thought as to aiming it .if your constantly trying to get your head down or over ,or looking at the bead then your not looking at the bird and the gun doesnt fall naturally or shoot where the eye is looking. 100% There is so much garbage talked on this subject when it is simple. The gun should become your third arm and the muzzle your forefinger tip. You don't have sights mounted on your finger but I bet you can point with your finger accurately every time. I have seen so much expensive stuff stuck on barrels and the shooters still can't hit anyhting consistently. Don't listen to the chatter about, Oh you should buy this gun or taht, go into enough stores and pick every one up your allowed to and run with the one which just feels right. As said mine is a cheapy little Yilditz O/U but the moment I picked it up I knew it would work for me, it just naturally came to my shoulder and felt like that thrid arm. Not bragging but a fellow gun a week or so ago, said to my wife..."Does he ever miss?? !!!" she replied yes he does and it is his fault not the guns.....she knows me too well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultrastu Posted January 28, 2020 Report Share Posted January 28, 2020 Nice 😃 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted January 28, 2020 Report Share Posted January 28, 2020 You don't do yourself any favours, used very little and then used hung over and then with full chokes and steel 😂 Best get some more open chokes in and to a clay ground where repeatability is key to getting consistent with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerry78 Posted January 28, 2020 Report Share Posted January 28, 2020 I was taught the old saying using any shotgun Wither o/u s/s semi auto BUM BELLY BEEK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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