Double-barreled shotguns have been a staple of hunters and shotgunners worldwide since the 18th century. Their mechanical simplicity contributes to their reputation as robust and dependable firearms.
Two configurations exist; the classic Side-by-Side (SxS) and the Over/Under (O/U), referring to the arrangement of the two barrels, respectively horizontal and vertical.
Although the SxS configuration remains a traditional choice, O/U shotguns have become more prevalent in recent years. Not only are they the top choice of clay shooters and bird hunters, but most new shotgunners also find O/U models easier to aim and shoot than SxS shotguns.
Whether you’re looking to shoot clays, hunt birds, or simply want a reliable shotgun for all-around use, learn about the five best O/U shotguns available on the market today.
Best OverUnder Shotguns
1. Stoeger Condor Field
In the past, traditional double-barrel shotguns had the reputation of being expensive and unreachable firearms, making them closer to status symbols than practical guns, despite being mechanically simpler than conventional pump-action and semi-auto shotguns.
The Stoeger Condor Field challenges this notion, aiming to be the most affordable O/U shotgun. Yet, as a brand name owned by the Beretta group, Stoeger shotguns offer no compromise on build quality.
The Condor Field is available in multiple calibers (12 gauge, 20 gauge, 28 gauge, .410 bore) and up to two different barrel lengths (26” or 28”), depending on your caliber of choice. All models feature 3” chambers.
Most models are available with elegant A-grade satin walnut furniture. However, if you prefer synthetic stocks, Stoeger has recently released a new model in the 12 gauge range featuring black synthetic furniture.
If you are a passionate bird hunter, Stoeger also offers a special version of the Condor Field: the 12/20, which features a 12 gauge barrel and a 20 gauge barrel. This configuration is reminiscent of combination guns, taking the guesswork out of whether to bring the 12 gauge or the 20 gauge.
Specifications:
- Manufacturer: Stoeger Industries
- Model: Condor Field
- Caliber: 12 gauge, 20 gauge, 28 gauge, .410 bore, or combination 12 ga./20 ga.
- Chamber: 3”
- Barrel length: 26” or 28” (26” only on the 28 gauge and .410 model)
- The Condor 12/20 features both: 28” 12 gauge and 26” 20 gauge
- Length of pull: 14 1/2”
- Overall length: 42” or 44”
- Weight: 7.3 lbs. (12 gauge, 12/20), 7 lbs. (20 gauge), 6 lbs. (28 gauge and .410)
- MSRP: $449 (all calibers)
- Condor 12/20: $649
2. CZ Reaper Magnum
The Reaper Magnum is a derivative of CZ’s other bird hunting over/under, the Swamp Magnum, offering a host of features specific to turkey hunting.
Like its predecessor, the Reaper Magnum features a RealTree camouflage finish, two barrels with 3 ½” chambers, and compatibility with extended chokes.
The Reaper Magnum’s main advantage is a shorter pair of barrels: 26” instead of 30”, increasing maneuverability and reducing weight. The receiver also features a short length of Picatinny rail, allowing the hunter to attach their favorite optics, such as a red dot sight or a holographic sight. The included QD swivels make it easy to install a sling and keep your shotgun with you at all times.
The box includes five extended interchangeable chokes of different sizes, saving you from buying them separately. The choke sizes range from improved cylinder to extra-full, letting you prepare each barrel for different ranges to be ready for birds showing up at any distance.
The best feature of this shotgun, by far, is the safety and barrel selector. With a flick of the thumb, you can select either barrel (or place it on safe) and take full advantage of the Reaper Magnum, provided you’ve configured it for multiple distances.
For example, you can install a full or extra-full choke on one barrel and keep it loaded with a 3 1/2″ shell for turkeys at 40 to 45 yards while fitting the other barrel with a modified choke, keeping it loaded with a 2¾” shell for close-range targets (up to 10 yards).
Although CZ intended the Reaper Magnum to be the ultimate turkey gun from 40 feet to 40 yards, you can also press this shotgun into service as a workhorse waterfowl or upland bird hunting gun. No matter the purpose, this shotgun is almost infinitely configurable and will serve all your needs efficiently.
Specifications:
- Manufacturer: Česká Zbrojovka (CZ-USA)
- Model: Reaper Magnum
- Caliber: 12 gauge
- Chamber: 3½”
- Barrel length: 26”
- Length of pull: 14½”
- Overall length: 44¼”
- Weight: 7 lbs.
- MSRP: $1,025
3. Beretta 692 Sporting
Most U.S. shooters should be familiar with Beretta’s extensive lineup of handgun products. Still, if you’re into hunting and shotgun competition, you may also be familiar with their lesser-known shotgun products.
The Beretta 692 is one of the finest sporting shotguns ever produced by the Italian firm, featuring a pair of 3”-chambered 12 gauge barrels, each either 30” or 32” in length, depending on the options purchased.
The 692 features Beretta’s Steelium Plus barrel technology, featuring a unique, 14”-long progressive forcing cone design, resulting in a smoother transition from chamber to barrel. On the field, this transition results in denser and more uniform shot patterns, increasing accuracy and decreasing perceived muzzle rise.
Beretta designed this model as a midpoint between the hyper-focused competition-oriented Beretta DT11 and the hunting-oriented 680-series shotguns.
Although the 692 remains oriented primarily for skeet and clay shooting, it also possesses an excellent potential for use as a field gun against high birds, such as doves or pheasant.
The 692 is compatible with the well-regarded OptimaChoke HP extended choke tubes. These chokes are also used in the A400, DT11, SV10 Perennia and Prevail, and other select models, giving you access to up to ten different choke sizes (from cylinder to extra-full, plus two skeet sizes).
Whether you prefer busting clays or hunting birds, the Beretta 692 is a sound investment that you can pass on from generation to generation.
Specifications:
- Manufacturer: Beretta
- Model: 692
- Caliber: 12 gauge
- Chamber: 3″
- Barrel length: 30” or 32”
- Length of pull: 14¾”
- Overall length: 48” or 50”
- Weight: 7.5 lbs.
- MSRP: $4,800
4. Browning Citori 725 Trap
Trap shotguns are in a category of their own compared to skeet, clays, and other shotgun competitions. A trap shotgun is hyperfocused; it may only be suitable for trap shooting, but it will beat every general-purpose shotgun at it.
If you’re a trap shooting enthusiast, you know the importance of having a well-balanced gun and why you can’t simply use the same piece you’d also use on clays or birds.
The Browning Citori 725 Trap is a trap shooting version of the company’s legendary Citori line of shotguns; itself descended from John Moses Browning’s original B25 Browning Superposed.
Despite belonging to the same family, the 725 Trap has almost nothing in common with its Field variant. The Trap model features a grooved semi-beavertail forearm, a raised cheek rest, two ported barrels, a high-visibility fiber-optic sight, and a trap recoil pad.
Specific models may feature an adjustable cheek rest, an adjustable comb, or both.
However, the 725 Trap retains the original shotgun’s compatibility with Invector-DS chokes, granting it the same versatility as its hunting-oriented cousins.
This shotgun is one of the best demonstrations of why Browning is a significant player in the world of trapshooting, from small local matches to the Grand American World Championship. Just about any trap shooter can benefit from moving to the Citori 725 Trap or one of its variants.
Specifications:
- Manufacturer: Browning
- Model: Citori 725 Trap
- Caliber: 12 gauge
- Chamber: 2¾”
- Barrel length: 30” or 32”
- Length of pull: 14⅜”
- Overall length: 48” or 50”
- Weight: 8 lbs. 7 oz. (30” barrel) or 8 lbs. 10 oz. (32” barrel)
- MSRP: $3,509
5. Benelli 828U
If keeping the gun’s weight and recoil as low as possible are your primary concerns, going to a 20 gauge shotgun feels like the natural solution. Most 20 gauge shotguns are shorter and lighter than their 12 gauge equivalents.
For the same reasons, 20 gauge shotguns are the natural choice for young or inexperienced shotgunners. In contrast, if you’re a more experienced shooter, going back to a 20 gauge can be challenging; many of these guns are youth guns that will feel too short and uncomfortable for an adult shooter.
The Benelli 828U is not a youth shotgun by any means, even in 20 gauge. With a LOP of 14 ¾” an overall length of 43.25” (with 26” barrel) and an overall weight well under 7 lbs., the 828U is oriented towards adult hunters seeking the most practical O/U shotgun today’s market can offer.
Even though it is an over/under, it’s also a Benelli, which means this shotgun is packed full of technological innovations.
The patented steel locking system comprises an all-steel breech block intended to contain the pressure generated by fired cartridges. This unique design addresses a common failure point in traditional O/U shotguns, increasing the gun’s lifespan.
The stock also features the Benelli Progressive Comfort System, an innovative recoil absorption system intended to be more efficient and comfortable than a traditional stock fitted with a recoil pad. This technology uses internal polymer buffers designed to compress and absorb compressed energy. The more powerful the load, the more buffers activate to cushion the recoil.
Specifications:
- Manufacturer: Benelli
- Model: 828U
- Caliber: 12 gauge, 20 gauge
- Chamber: 3″
- Barrel length: 26”, 28”, or 30” (12 gauge only)
- Length of pull: 14¾”
- Overall length: 43¼”, 45¼” or 47¼”
- Weight: 5.9 to 6.7 lbs. (12 gauge), 6 lbs. (20 gauge)
- MSRP: $2,699 to $3,199
In Conclusion
Like with every other firearm, choosing the right O/U shotgun is all about picking the right tool for the intended application.
Hunters enjoy using them for upland bird hunting to turkey, ducks, and other waterfowl, whereas competition shooters frequently shoot clays, skeet, or trap with theirs. Shooters of all ages can enjoy O/U shotguns, provided the gun’s dimensions and chambering are correctly adapted to their height and build.
