Regarding shotguns, what is the difference?

Depends on the specific gun. But what you typically see in over unders is field grade guns are lighter, have a shorter barrel, and are cheaper. Sporting typically are nicer materials and finishes and with certain manufacturers have ported barrels.

sporting guns typically weightmore to absorb recoil, and occasional have different stock dimiensions. While both usually come in a 28" and 30" barrels, not a lot of field guns come in 32" but almost all sporting O/U have that option.

[This message has been edited by AggieGunslinger (edited 8/22/2014 1:44p).]

Field Grade is designed to be used in the field.

Sporting Grade is designed to look good in the caddy/golf cart.

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sporting guns typically weightmore to absorb recoil, and occasional have different stock dimiensions. While both usually come in a 28" and 30" barrels, not a lot of field guns come in 32" but almost all sporting O/U have that option.

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Was looking at Brownings about a year ago. If I recall correctly (at least for the citori), most of their field grade are available in 26" or 28". Their sporting grade are available in 28", 30", or 32".

[This message has been edited by htxag09 (edited 8/22/2014 2:31p).]

There are "Hunting" grade guns as well. Mine is field grade in weight, but with silver/chrome instead of blueing with beautiful scroll work.

I assume these date back to royal bird hunting with loaders and peasants driving birds, but who knows.

"Field" and "Sporting" are not "grades", they designate configuration. Field guns are intended for hunting - carrying in the field.

Sporting guns are intended for target shooting and feature longer barrels, heavier weight, and a different stock configuration.

Neither one is superior to the other in materials, metal or wood, although it is more common I guess to spend more money on nicer wood and more engraving on a sporting gun. After all, there are few places on a sporting clays course where one might scratch a gun.

Finally, both field and sporting guns can be had in a variety of grades - which does signify higher degree of prettiness - fancy wood and engraving.

If Beretta O/U, the field and sporting have different safety mechanisms. The field has an automatic safety that sets on safe every time you crack open the gun, which many find annoying when shooting clays.

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If Beretta O/U, the field and sporting have different safety mechanisms. The field has an automatic safety that sets on safe every time you crack open the gun, which many find annoying when shooting clays.

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My Red Label does this as well and is the only thing I don't care for about it. Other than that it's a great gun.

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If Beretta O/U, the field and sporting have different safety mechanisms. The field has an automatic safety that sets on safe every time you crack open the gun, which many find annoying when shooting clays.

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My Red Label does this as well and is the only thing I don't care for about it. Other than that it's a great gun.

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I think you can send it to ruger and they will disconnect that feature. While I dont think I have ever put the safety on on my clays gun i would want that feature on my bird gun.

[This message has been edited by aggiegunslinger (edited 8/22/2014 11:01p).]

On Sporting guns you don't have the safety automatically reset after you reload it, for obvious reasons. If you are shooting in a 100 target tournament, for instance, you don't want to be required to switch the safety off each time you reload it. Who would want to have to manually turn the safety 50 times? However, on a field gun it makes sense to have it reset to safety each time while hunting.

On a Browning Citori 725, the Sporting has ported barrels. The field grade does not. Also, if memory serves, the receiver on the field grade has some etching/designs whereas on the Sporting it does not.

There are probably more differences, but these are what come to mind.

I went with the Sporting and it is a pleasure to shoot.

Thank you everyone for all of the useful info!