I agree with what 4evrhtn stated about finding the hunting lines and doing your research.. However your research needs to be done with any hunting dog breed there is.. A turn off is when they tell me that this dog can do both hunt and show.. I am not saying that a good hunting can not be both however.. The norm is either it can hunt or it can't.. I know when I was setter hunting I was hunting one of the hardest hunting breeds to find.. I can not be any happier with what I have choosen.. But research is and always will be a must have..

For as far as which is better I really can not give you much input as you know I enjoy hunting with the old fashion Irish setters..