I started hunting seriously when I was abot 12 - 1960's. I lusted for a SXS, and finally scraped up enough "hay baling/corn breaking/barn cleaning" $$$ to by a used Ithaca "Nitro Special" from a neighbor. I used this shotgun for decades on everything from rabbits to geese to deer. And O/U probably has a lot of advantages over a SXS, but I am too old a dog to change now ! I love 'em.