If you happen to shut your eyes and picture your self following a well-trained chook canine by way of an autumn area, there’s probability the shotgun you’re carrying on this daydream is a fine-looking over/underneath. However you’ll additionally discover O/Us on clays ranges in all places from the native membership to the Olympics. The over/underneath is a confirmed platform that’s used to provide high-end competitors weapons and lovely area weapons alike.
Sadly, magnificence comes at a value. Although a majority of contemporary O/Us are made by CNC machines, they’re usually costlier than pumps or auto-loaders. The excellent news is there are all kinds of O/Us at a number of value factors. The most effective over/underneath shotguns are pricey, however there are additionally cheap choices that can get the job executed all the identical, simply with a bit much less model. For this story I’m focusing, together with my fellow Outside Life editors, on extra attainable O/Us — although we’ve additionally included a number of high-end choices as properly.
Greatest Over/Below Shotguns
Greatest Total: Browning Citori 825
Professionals
- Candy shooter
- Glorious handing
- Positive workmanship
Cons
- A bit expensive for an on a regular basis looking gun
Key Specs
-
Gauges: 12 to .410 -
Weight: 7 kilos, 4 ounces -
Total size: 45.75 inches (28-inch barrel) -
Barrel size: 26 and 28 inches -
Inventory: Gloss oil end Grade II/III walnut -
Chokes: F, M, IC -
Value: $3,000
The 825 is our favourite iteration of the Citori but. It’s supplied in quite a lot of lure, sporting clays, and area configurations and in 2026 it will likely be supplied in sub-gauges as properly. We examined the usual area model in our 2025 Shotgun Test and it wowed the check workforce, taking dwelling our Editor’s Alternative award.
“In comparison with the Citori 725, one other gun we like, it has a modernized look and extra elegant and refined elements, particularly the highest lever and security/barrel choose. The 825’s inventory has a softer, extra rounded profile, the place the 725 strains are extra angular and outlined. Which appears to be like higher is only a matter of non-public style,” OL taking pictures editor John B. Snow wrote concerning the gun in our 2025 shotgun check. “We additionally appreciated the 825’s easy adornment, with a grouse on one facet and pheasant on the opposite.”
I later hunted with the shotgun and located that it carried and swung simply as fantastically because it appeared. By way of value, efficiency, and aesthetics, it will likely be robust to discover a fashionable over/underneath that’s higher than the Citori 825.
Greatest Sporting: Beretta DT11
Professionals
- Glorious patterns
- Championship pedigree
- Excellent efficiency on the vary
Key Specs
-
Gauges: 12 -
Weight: 8 kilos, 9 ounces -
Total size: 49.5 inches (32-inch barrel) -
Barrel size: 30 and 32 inches -
Inventory: Left-hand choices accessible -
Chokes: F, IM, M, IC, C -
Value: $11,420
American skeet shooter Vincent Hancock has received a document 4 gold medals with Beretta shotguns, together with the DT11 Black. And because it’s the shotgun of alternative for the most effective skeet shooter of all time, it will get the nod as the most effective over/underneath gun for clays. A carbon-fiber rib permits shooters so as to add size to the barrels with out including weight. Hancock used to shoot 28-inch barrels, however bumped as much as 30s within the DT11. An extended barrel set can assist preserve your swing on monitor, and for those who like extra weight within the entrance of your over/underneath, you need to use the included rib weights to seek out the correct stability. Beretta’s Steelium Professional barrels, used within the Italian gunmakers’ high-end double weapons, come normal as do 5 Optima chokes.
DT stands for “removable set off.” You’ll be able to drop the set off out by opening the motion, aligning the lever with the security, pushing the security ahead to reveal a black dot, and shifting the lever to the appropriate. Removable triggers have crisper set off pulls—the DT11 breaks at 3½ kilos—and it’s simpler to wash and regulate set off weight. The cross-bolt motion of the DT11 is 3mm wider than its predecessor, the DT10, giving it a stronger lock up so it could maintain up even after tens of 1000’s of shotshell ignitions. Beretta provides quite a lot of completely different shares for the DT11 in order that shooters can expertise a extra customized match. —Joe Genzel
Greatest Mid-Priced Sporting: Fabarm Elos N2
Professionals
- Nice worth
- Glorious barrels and chokes
- Adjustable comb
Cons
- Some could not like enamel ornament
-
Gauges: 12 -
Weight: 8 kilos, 4 ounces -
Total size: 49.5 inches (32-inch barrel) -
Barrel size: 30 and 32 inches -
Inventory: Oil-finished walnut with an adjustable comb -
Chokes: IM, M, IC, SK -
Value: $3,680
If the DT11 is somewhat too wealthy to your blood, think about the Fabarm Elos N2. Longtime gun author Phil Bourjaily picked this shotgun as his prime O/U for sporting clays. “The gun has TriBore barrels and Fabarm’s house-made Exis choke tubes with a novel curved internal geometry rather than the same old conical/parallel choke design,” Bourjaily wrote. “From a very anecdotal standpoint, I can say that this gun hits targets exhausting, and that Fabarm has lengthy been recognized for its barrels and chokes. The N2 RS is an offshoot of the N2, with weight added by way of denser wooden, a strong mid-rib and a bulkier forend. It’s made for shooters preferring extra heft to their sporting gun, the place the usual N2 is for individuals who desire their gun to be extra nimble.”
Greatest for Upland Birds: Ruger Red Label III
Professionals
- Made in America
- Very gentle and nimble
- Handles splendidly
Cons
- No engravings on receiver
Key Specs
-
Gauge: 20 -
Barrel Size: 28 and 30 inches (examined) -
Total Size: 47.5 inches -
Weight: 6.59 kilos (measured) -
Inventory: Walnut -
5 screw in Tru-Choke model chokes included (SK, IC, M, IM and F) -
Value: $2,720
In 2026 Ruger is resurrecting its standard Crimson Label line with the III. This slender O/U is being made for Ruger by Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing Firm and, in my view, it’s the most effective Crimson Label but. This model of the Crimson Label has easy but considerate options. The darkish inventory (black American walnut and Turkish walnut) is enticing, however not so fancy that you simply’ll really feel unhealthy about placing scratches in it. The wooden sits proudly above the receiver, because it ought to. The inventory has a impartial forged and a splendidly slender Prince of Wales model grip.
I’ve hunted geese and pheasants with the gun and I’ve discovered that it’s completely balanced for carrying on lengthy hunts within the uplands. The longer 30-inch barrels assist you swing by way of targets. And true to the Crimson Label historical past, it’s chambered in 20 gauge and made in America. Learn my full evaluate of the Red Label III right here.
Most Versatile: Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon
Professionals
- Comparatively reasonably priced
- Glorious do-it-all shotgun
Cons
- Security requires adjustment
Key Specs
-
Gauges: 12, 20 -
Weight: 7 kilos, 2 ounces (12 ga) -
Total size: 46 to 48 inches -
Barrel size: 26, 28, 30 inches -
Inventory: B Quick, European Walnut -
Chokes: F, IM, M, IC, C -
Value: $2,449
The Silver Pigeon is taken into account to be Beretta’s working man’s over/underneath. It’s a strong competitor to the Browning Citori and whether or not you like one or the opposite actually comes down to non-public tastes. The fashionable model of the gun comes with a silver (in fact) receiver that has good laser engraved floral patterns. It’s a fairly, fashionable O/U with options like Beretta’s Steelium barrels and B-FAst inventory system in-built.
Govt editor Natalie Krebs carried the 686 Silver Pigeon throughout sage flats and up rugged plateaus out West this season with good outcomes. “Previously, I’ve opted for lighter weapons which can be simpler to hold at altitude, however whose whippiness proved pricey when it got here time to shoot,” she says. “I a lot desire the straightforward swinging and fast dealing with of the Silver Pigeon, which got here by way of for me on more durable photographs, together with a tough left-to-right crossing hun and one other that pulled a U-turn, forcing me to spin and shoot on a steep slope.
My solely critique is that the tang security is simply too stiff out of the field and its ergonomics — a bulge somewhat than a groove — don’t assist issues, gloves or no. It was tremendous if I had superior discover of impending taking pictures over a degree, however it value me a chukar when my Lab flushed a shock single that flew right away — a uncommon chip shot. Too unhealthy I used to be preventing the security and by no means acquired the shot off. Fortuitously, it’s one thing a fast journey to the gunsmith ought to resolve, which I’ve executed previously for an additional Beretta with the identical situation.”
Greatest Mid-Priced: Franchi Instinct Sideplate
Professionals
- Engaging but sturdy over/underneath fitted to exhausting use within the area
- Cheaper than the Citori and Silver Pigeon
Cons
- Ejectors didn’t at all times work as anticipated on our check pattern
Key Specs
-
Gauges: 12, 20 -
Weight: 7 kilos, 7 ounces (12 ga) -
Total size: 46 to 48 inches -
Barrel size: 28 inches -
Inventory: AA grade satin walnut -
Chokes: IC, M, F -
Value: $2,149
That is a horny Italian over/underneath that represents a strong worth. Its wooden is darkish and wealthy, the colour case-hardening on the motion is properly executed, interesting gold-inlay looking scenes on both facet are augmented with engraved scrollwork and borders, and the highest lever is sculpted with tremendous cuts.
It shoots properly, too. The Sideplate has an automated security that additionally capabilities as a barrel selector that operates easily with no slop or uncertainty. It comes with prolonged choke tubes to tune the diploma of constriction to the shooter’s preferences, and our pattern (chambered in 12 gauge with 3-inch chambers and 28-inch barrels) did job breaking clays.
The one actual situation we had with the shotgun was inconsistent ejection. At instances it wouldn’t pop empties free from their chambers, which is a little bit of a nuisance if not a deadly flaw. Even so, for a shotgun at this value, that value it factors within the reliability class.
Greatest for Duck Looking: Mossberg Silver Reserve Eventide
Professionals
- Dependable duck gun
- Swings properly
- Handles recoil surprisingly properly
Cons
- Has extractors not ejectors
Key Specs
-
Gauges: 12 -
Weight: 7 kilos, 5 ounces (12 ga) -
Total size: 45.5 inches -
Barrel size: 28 inches -
Inventory: Artificial, camo -
Chokes: C, IC, M, IM, F -
Value: $846
I shot the Mossberg Eventide on a duck hunt in Maine and located that it shines brightest underneath the very worst circumstances.
On these frigid, salty mornings the semi-autos that different hunters had been utilizing began to jam up, however my over/underneath simply saved operating. This Turkish-made shotgun’s hefty weight and good stability helped me swing on passing sea geese, dropping chook after chook. This shotgun was at dwelling among the many rocks and saltwater, however I wouldn’t thoughts utilizing it as a late-season goose gun or a chosen boat gun (which are supposed to be beat to hell). It dealt with the recoil of heavy duckloads surprisingly properly. The sling studs on the barrel and inventory are a pleasant function for duck hunters.
Throughout vary testing we did have one glitch with the gun that affected its reliability rating. When opening the gun, it’s doable to unlock the lugs with out pushing the highest lever over totally. When this occurs, the highest lever won’t click on into its open locked place, that means the locking bars within the receiver will stop the motion from closing.
My solely different situation with the shotgun is that it has extractors as a substitute of ejectors. This makes reloading slower, which is a flaw in a duck gun while you’ve acquired a downed diver swimming off into the waves. On the upside, it makes it simpler to gather your spent hulls after the hunt.
Professionals
- Nice worth
- Good dealing with for a finances gun
Cons
- Made in Turkey
- Finicky security
Key Specs
-
Gauges: 12, 20 gauge -
Weight: 7 kilos (12 ga) -
Total size: 45.75 inches -
Barrel size: 26 and 28 inches -
Inventory: Turkish walnut -
Chokes: F, M, IC -
Value: $989
OL’s information editor Dac Collins has been looking upland birds nearly completely with the Weatherby Orion for the previous couple seasons. This Turkish-made O/U is an all-around strong worth and a confirmed area gun.
“The Orion I’ve been taking pictures is a 20-gauge with 28-inch barrels, and it’s killed a variety of pheasants in Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming,” Collins says. “I’ve additionally carried it within the mountains fairly a bit to hunt blue grouse. These walks are usually lengthy, steep, and brutal, so that they actually name for a lighter gun you could mount and swing shortly within the timber.
“My solely knock on the Orion is the security, which isn’t simple to function with thicker gloves. Though hardly ever, I’ve had it get caught within the center place, which retains the security engaged and is irritating when a chook is already within the air. I additionally just like the plain end and fundamental inventory. This gun has taken a beating in opposition to bushes and rocks, so there’s no must child it now.”
Ultimate Ideas on the Greatest Over/Below Shotguns
What’s nice about immediately’s over/underneath shotguns is you could spend $12,000 or $900 and nonetheless go dwelling with a practical firearm. The over/underneath market is so aggressive these days that it has pressured gun makers to construct extra dependable shotguns with higher options. So resolve how a lot you’re keen to spend, which options matter most to you, after which decide a gun (or possibly two) from our record.
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