Why autoloader and not o/u

I have a Russian autoloader (Baikal MP-153 or Remington SPR 453). I regularly shoot clays with it and sometimes go dove hunting. The gun has never let me down. I have observed the following reasons to prefer an autoloader over an over/under shotgun.

1. Less recoil: The recoil of an ordinary autoloader is and will always be less than that of an expensive over/under shotgun. No amount of advanced technology in an o/u shotgun can reduce the recoil which an autoloading shotgun naturally reduces by virtue of its cycling operation.

2. Single point of aim: The single point of impact (POI) is another great benefit of an autoloader. The shooter knows the point where all his shots are going to land. In an o/u there are two points of impact corresponding to a single point of aim (POA). A person shooting an o/u has to do a lot of calculation before placing the shot and a lot of analysis after missing the target. The autoloader gives you an ease as there is only one POI corresponding to the POA.

3. Adjusting shot volume: Shot volume is the ratio of pellets above and below the target. 60/40 shot volume means 60 percent of the pellets are above the target and 40 are below. You can adjust the shot volume of an autoloader to your desire (even to 100/0 in case of adjusting it for trap), but doing the same with an o/u is impossible because changing the shot volume of one barrel will disturb the shot volume of the other barrel.

4. POA is same as POI: In autoloaders, the POA is always the POI whereas in an o/u shotgun POA is not always the POI. In an over/under shotgun, each barrel has its own POI. A person shooting an o/u has to juggle with one POA and two POI.

5. Magazine capacity: Autoloader wins hands down. Some autoloaders have a magazine capacity of 11 cartridges.

Perfect wife and over-under shotgun

Buying an over-under shotgun is similar to undergoing an arranged marriage. You never know what kind of girl you will get. She always gives you odd surprises at odd times. And you are never sure about her, no matter how many times you go for arranged marriage. 

Getting a semi-auto is like marrying a girl whom you have been living with for years. You know what you are getting. No matter how many times you marry, you can never be wrong at finding the right person. 

I am searching for an over-under these days. My finances wont allow me to go beyond the budget guns (baikal and tula) in Pakistan. The problem with the budget over-under shotguns is that no two are similar. Two guns having consecutive serial numbers are different in stock dimensions, which are key to good shotgunning. The two barrels of the over-under might shoot left and right besides shooting over and under – a problem every shotgunner dreads to face. 

One ejector may also turn out to be less co-operative than the perfect other, ruining a beautiful day in the fields with friends. Trust me, carrying a screw driver to pluck the spent cartridges out in the field is no good experience and that too in front of your friends. 

And yes, the new-in-box Baikal is highly likely to have these problems. After having a conversation with my shotgun friend, Hassan Tariq, I have been convinced not to buy a new budget o/u as its a gamble with a lot of risk. The little secure gamble is to go for your friend’s used over-under which you have fired a couple of times at a target board. Its like falling in love with your friend’s would-be ex-girl friend.