Over and Under Shotguns

Today the most popular by far is the single trigger over and under. These guns come in two basic types; field guns and competition guns. From there you evolve into the world of premium grade guns, but be prepared to open your wallet wide, these beautiful guns are often as much a work of art as they are a firearm.

The firing mechanism is recoil operated, automatically switching to the second barrel after the first round is fired.

Although no longer as popular as the single trigger gun, the double trigger gun has the advantage of using the appropriate trigger for the range of shot. Most guns are configured with two different chokes; often an improved cylinder and a modified. If the bird travels beyond the range of the IC all you need to do is slip your finger to the modified and take the shot.

Break action shotguns are generally considered to be one of the safest guns in the field and many upland field trial events will only allow experienced gunners using break action shotguns to shoot at their trials. When the gun is "broken" you know it's safe! There is no guessing about whether your partner has the safety on. It also allows the gunner to quickly see whether the gun is loaded or not. In the broken position it also allows for convenient and comfortable carrying positions.

Another real advantage of an over and under is that you can have a variety of choke tube inserts that allow you to adjust your shot pattern according to the type of hunting you will be doing. It also allows you to have two different chokes on the same gun. This is great for most upland game hunting situations where a miss with the first shot means that you will be shooting a tighter pattern for the second shot. Shorter barrels make it an ideal choice when hunting in dense bush.

All in all the over and under is by far the most widely used firearm for upland birds like pheasant, chukar, quail, and grouse. It is also the first choice of most competitive shooters because of the single sighting plane, superior balance, and the ability to get of a second shot very fast.

Take time to select the gun that's right for you and you'll have a hunting companion for a lifetime.