Sporting clays is one of the most demanding shotgun sports there is, and the right over/under makes a real difference. This list isn’t just the guns we reviewed this year. It pulls from five years of sporting clays reviews, and every shotgun here is one we’ve personally shot and spent real time with.
In this article
- How we picked the best sporting clays over/under shotguns
- Best budget sporting clays over/under
- Weatherby Orion Sporting
- Best value sporting clays over/unders
- Beretta 688
- Rizzini Sporter X
- Best sporting clays over/unders: reasonable tier
- Caesar Guerini Summit Sporting
- Beretta 694
- Fabarm Elos N2 RS Sporting
- Best sporting clays over/unders: mid tier
- Zoli Z Sport
- Best sporting clays over/unders: elite tier
- Perazzi High Tech
- What to look for in a sporting clays over/under
- Common questions
- Final thoughts
Our 2026 picks are coming soon. Join the TFL email list and we’ll send you the new list as soon as it’s live.
How we picked the best sporting clays over/under shotguns
Sporting clays guns span a huge price range, so instead of forcing one “best overall,” we sorted the list into three groups:
- Best on a budget: the most affordable purpose-built sporting gun we’d recommend, with honest caveats.
- Best value: the most gun for the money.
- Best overall: our favorites in three price tiers (reasonable, mid, and elite), because a gun at one tier isn’t a fair fight with a gun that costs three times as much.
Best budget sporting clays over/under
Dedicated sporting clays over/unders under $1,500 are rare, but one clearly stands out.
Best on a Budget
Weatherby Orion Sporting
- Gauges
- 12 Gauge
- Action
- Over/Under
Purpose-built for sporting clays, with features you don’t often see at this price, including an adjustable comb. If you want a true sporting configuration on a tight budget, this is the clear choice.
The catch: it’s a bit chunky, and recoil is slightly heavier than the other guns on this list.
Best value sporting clays over/unders
This group is about the best mix of price and quality, and it had a clear winner with a strong runner-up right behind it.
Best Value
Beretta 688
- Gauges
- 12 Gauge
- Action
- Over/Under
The 688 really surprised us. The balance and shootability make it feel much closer to higher-priced Berettas like the 694 than its price suggests.
The catch: the laminate stock won’t be everyone’s favorite. Once you start shooting it, though, the performance speaks for itself.
Value Runner-Up
Rizzini Sporter X
- Gauges
- 12 Gauge
- Action
- Over/Under
A dependable, well-built sporting gun for shooters who don’t want to jump into the $5,000 to $8,000 range. It’s a simpler Rizzini, but still a great shooting shotgun.
The model we reviewed was the BR110 Sporter IPS, which adds extras like an adjustable rib and costs more. If value is the goal, the Sporter X is our pick.
Best sporting clays over/unders: reasonable tier
This is where the competition really heats up. There are several excellent options here, but one clearly rose to the top.
Best Overall: Reasonable Tier
Caesar Guerini Summit Sporting
- Gauges
- 12 Gauge
- Action
- Over/Under
From the moment we shot it, everything clicked: balance, recoil management, target acquisition, and overall feel. It’s one of those guns that sticks with you long after you put it down.
Reasonable Tier Runner-Up
Beretta 694
- Gauges
- 12 Gauge
- Action
- Over/Under
A proven performer with a great action and excellent reliability. We’ve shot it a lot, in our review and at several sporting clays shoots.
The Pro version looks great and offers a ton of adjustability, but we’d choose the standard 694 with an adjustable comb.
Reasonable Tier Runner-Up
Fabarm Elos N2 RS Sporting
- Gauges
- 12 Gauge
- Action
- Over/Under
A well-built, thoughtfully designed gun with standout features, including adjustable fore-end tension that lets you fine-tune how the gun opens. Excellent quality for the price.
Best sporting clays over/unders: mid tier
Best Overall: Mid Tier
Zoli Z Sport
- Gauges
- 12 Gauge, 20 Gauge, 28 Gauge
- Action
- Over/Under
A finely crafted Italian shotgun built for serious sporting clays shooters. Recoil management is excellent, fit and finish are impressive, and it’s easy to see why so many competitors gravitate toward Zoli.
Is it twice as good as a $5,000 shotgun? That’s a personal call, but the quality and performance are undeniable.
Best sporting clays over/unders: elite tier
Best Overall: Elite Tier
Perazzi High Tech
- Gauges
- 12 Gauge
- Action
- Over/Under
A fully customizable, no-compromise competition gun. Everything about it is built to the highest standard, from the materials to the craftsmanship.
Perazzis are custom-made, so fit is critical, and the one we reviewed wasn’t built for us. Even so, the quality was unmistakable. We haven’t reviewed many guns at this level yet. If there’s an elite sporting gun you want us to test, tell us in TFL Insider.
What to look for in a sporting clays over/under
- Weight and swing: sporting guns carry more weight than field guns, which keeps the swing smooth and soaks up recoil over 100 targets.
- Barrel length: 30 and 32 inch barrels are the most common on the course. Longer barrels feel steadier, and shorter barrels feel quicker.
- Adjustable comb: fit drives consistency. An adjustable comb lets you get your eye right on the rib every time.
- Interchangeable chokes: sporting clays throws everything from close rabbits to long crossers, so extended chokes you can swap quickly are a must.
- Where it fits in the price tiers: each step up buys better wood, finish, and longevity. Decide how much you’ll shoot first, then pick the tier.
Common questions
What is the best sporting clays over/under shotgun?
In the reasonable price range, the Caesar Guerini Summit Sporting is our favorite for its balance, recoil management, and feel. At the mid and elite levels, our picks are the Zoli Z Sport and the Perazzi High Tech.
What is the best sporting clays gun for the money?
The Beretta 688. It shoots much closer to the more expensive Berettas than its price suggests.
What is the best budget sporting clays over/under?
The Weatherby Orion Sporting. It’s one of the few true sporting configurations under $1,500, and it comes with an adjustable comb.
Can I hunt with a sporting clays over/under?
You can, but most sporting guns are heavier than you’ll want to carry all day. If you want one gun for both, see our best all-purpose over/unders. For the field, see our best upland over/unders.
Is a $10,000 sporting gun worth it?
For a serious competitor who shoots a lot of targets, the fit, finish, and longevity can be worth it. For most shooters, a gun from the value or reasonable tier will break just as many targets.
Final thoughts
From entry-level sporting shooters to seasoned competitors, this list covers the whole spectrum. On a budget, the Weatherby Orion Sporting is the practical choice. The Beretta 688 proves you don’t need to spend $5,000 to get serious performance. And the Caesar Guerini Summit Sporting is still the gun that haunts my thoughts for how well it shoots.
Which sporting gun is in your safe, and which one should we review next? Let us know below.
And remember, whether it’s targets in the field or targets in life, you’ll only hit what you’re focused on. Live the #TargetFocusedLife.
