What exactly is an "over-and-under shotgun"?

Question

I see certain ones advertised from Beretta for example, usually the very expensive ones and they are described as being over-and-under shotguns.

What exactly does this refer to? Thank you.

Answer 1

Well im british and our choice of guns for hunting some what differ to you lot across the pond,
The berreta is a fine gun, and a decent one will hold its value and in most cases go up .
If you think there expensive look up Purdy, Holland&Holand & AYA.
For your Question now --Its pritty enough simple.
With a over and under the barrels is mounted verticaly upon the other, where with a side by side its mounted beside.
0!0 side by side
0
0 Over & under

Answer 2

I read a few of these and they are not very informative. An over and under shotgun has two barrells. One on top of the other. This allows the shooter to shoot one shot right after the other without having to pump in the second round. These guns are traditional shotguns that were all the rave before semi-automatics were available and there were only pump actions or single shots available to the public. The mechanism that allows the gun to shoot either the top barrel first or the bottom barrel first is very complicated and is one of the reasons for the high price. I have several shotguns. I have a pump, a semi and an over and under. Personally, I like my Beretta Silver Pigeon the best. It is a true work of craftsmanship. The gun is very well balanced and outperforms my other shotguns when "I" use it for pheasant and skeet. I probably paid way too much for it but I like the way it looks and shoots. It was expensive because of the materials used to make the gun.

Answer 3

O/U shotguns are also called "superposed" as one barrel is superimposed over the other. That style is expensive to make and usually only the big companies make them. However if you want one at a reasonable price, the Russians are making them and they are very good and very inexpensive. They are called Balka firearms for the area they are manufactured in. I had always wanted a .410 O/U but never could afford one. (don't ask me why I wanted one) Finally I saw an ad for a Russian O/U and the price was under $500. I now have my O//U .410 and it is lovely and shoots just fine.
Sarge

Answer 4

An "Over and Under" designation refers to a shotgun or rifle/shotgun combination that has two seperate barrels but they are mounted vertically one on top of another hence the term Over-Under.....These guns can have 2 barrels the same gauge or caliber or 2 different calibers , either way..

Answer 5

An over n under shotgun (also called "O/U shotguns") is where the barrels are positions one beneath the other rather than side-by-side. Some people seem to think that this gives the shotgun a better balance than when the barrels are positioned side-by-side.

It is all a matter of taste. I've seen some LC Smith side-by-side shotguns that balance beautifully.

Best.

H

Answer 6

That's where the barrels are. I grew up with side-by-sides and finally, after thirty years of never getting used to having the barrels on wrong, gave my Citori to one of my kids:-)
By the way, if you think the Berettas are pricey, you ought not to get interested in English Bests. They can run more than a house in price!

Answer 7

The barrels are on top of one another as opposed to side by side. In some case's of different gauges.

Answer 8

It has two barrels arranged one above the other. They are often chambered differently so the shooter has a choice of which one to use for that particular shot.

Answer 9

It is a double barrel shotgun and the barrels are on top of each other.

Answer 10

One shotgun barrel on top and one below... as opposed to side by side barrels