• You are using the old High Contrast theme. We have installed a new dark theme for you, called UI.X. This will work better with the new upgrade of our software. You can select it at the bottom of any page.

Any good sxs?

Status
Not open for further replies.
W

washambala

Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2009
Messages
148
Location
Phoenix, Arizona
Hey guys,

I would like to know if there are any good SxS shotguns that fit these criteria

Shorter barrel (18-22")
Double triggers
3" chambers ( not really important, just dont want to have to worry about whats going into it)
NO automatic safety (safety doesnt come on when you open the action)
Easy to open (not quite gravity drop smooth. that always scared me)
Can be closed without moving the action release lever (dont know how common this is)
Removable choke tubes ( again not nessesary, just something thats nice to have)
Relatively new (20 years or so. doesent matter too much as long as it can easily handle modern ammo and isnt a collectors item to someone)

Any thoughts?

Edit: internal hammers too
 
Last edited:
The only one that comes to mind is the Coach Gun put out by Chaparral Arms, but it is a hammer gun with open fixed chokes. They are popular with the Cowboy Shooters. Check out their website.
 
What doesnt it have thats on that list besides the fixed chokes and hammers?

Also: Is it difficult to add a few of these features to a run of the mill gun (perhaps adding chokes, making it close without manually moving the lever, removing automatic safety)?

Another thing I was wondering about is whether it was possible to get a double gun with the action release lever located on the side of the action in such a way as to be actuated by pushing down on it with the thumb. We have an old shotgun (late 1800s) thats set up like this. Its marked WW Forsyth Fine Twist.
 
My go to Pheasant gun is a Remington Coach SPR 220. It has screw in chokes. Thumb push safety. Like a Mossberg 500. Gun can be had for around $300 to $ 350.00. It serves as my Home defense weapon as well.
This is what i have. Less the rabbit ear hammers. Mine is a hammer less. But dam i like the looks of the rabbit ears on this shotgun
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQKNE77LYKw
 
Last edited:
Neither Remington nor EAA imports the Baikals anymore, don't know if anybody is right now.
Denis
 
You asked if there was a GOOD gun in that situation - IMO, the answer is no. However, there are several inexpensive guns that might work most of the time. Since coach length guns are typically lousy for hunting, you need to determine if choke tubes are really necessary. Most come with an auto safety, but a good gunsmith might be willing to alter it. One should never have to move the opening lever to close ANY shotgun of this type, no matter the quality. As to chamber length, to "not have to worry about what's going in it" seems somewhat cavalier or careless...decide on what you will shoot in it and go from there
 
I love my Coach for hunting every thing from rabbits to pheasants & quail. Its a great upland bird gun.
spr220-12 gauge upland birds
Mossy 835-12 gauge Turkey,Snows & Canada's
Mossy 500-youth 410. still take this out opening day & closing day
Remington model 11 12 gauge.Acquired today. Cause its old & i wanted it
 
Since coach length guns are typically lousy for hunting, you need to determine if choke tubes are really necessary.
Click to expand...
This gun would theoretically cover a bunch of different tasks. HD duty or shooting clays or shooting bottles of water or just shooting for the fun of shooting. Thats the reasoning behind the tubes. To see what it might be capable of in my hands. Thats why I said they arent important. One thing it almost certainly will never be used for is hunting as I dont hunt and would not choose a gun like this if I were to start.
Most come with an auto safety, but a good gunsmith might be willing to alter it.
Click to expand...
Then I will go this route and cross it off my list of necessary features in a new gun.
One should never have to move the opening lever to close ANY shotgun of this type, no matter the quality.
Click to expand...
This I did not know. The only coach gun I have handled recently was a Lefever Nitro Special and it did not have this feature.
As to chamber length, to "not have to worry about what's going in it" seems somewhat cavalier or careless
Click to expand...
This just meant that I want to be able to buy ammo even if 2 3/4 shells arent available. If those are all sold out then I want to be able to pick up 3" to hold me over until they get more of the regular stuff in.
 
For the record. The screw in chokes & the fact that they are short & fast to the draw.
Is what makes it for me. The full choke will reach out there.
 
Short barrels are easy to swing and even easier to stop on moving targets, whether clay or feathered. I prefer 28 to 32" barrels for smoothing out my swing.

I doubt you will see a situation where there are no 2-3/4" shells of some kind an only 3" on the shelf............light guns with heavy loads tend to hurt..............
 
The only coach gun I have handled recently was a Lefever Nitro Special and it did not have this feature.
Click to expand...

A Le Fever Nitro Special. A coach gun? Some one must've cut down an original, cuz' as far as I know LeFever did not produce a coach gun. Sigh, what a sad thing, though, to cut up a classic - unless there was something irreparably wrong with the muzzles.
I'm not sure what feature the shortened LeFever did not have. My Nitro Special does have the safety by the tang.
About the gun that you want.....get one that will be the best at what you will be doing the most. Personally, I am not a fan of short barrelled SXS....I find them too limiting. (I have one 20" O/U,an old Savage, cut down from a damaged barrel. I use it as a slug gun) Many times, the desire for a coach gun is related to Cowboy Action Shooting or HD. You make no reference to the first so I take it that that is not a reason for wanting a coach gun; you are probably not going to be defending a Coach, so that's out. HD is left. Chances are, if you are even halfway lucky in this life, you'll never need one for that. Point - get one for what you will use it for the most - clays, bottles, general plinking. A barrel at 26-28" will serve you as well or better than one ten inches shorter, especially for shooting at things that move.
(Note to short barreled SXS owners - I did not say that those guns are bad nor that some of you use do not them effectively and aren't justly fond of them. Just that, in general, the longer barrels are more effective, easier to use)
Pete
 
Last edited:
Pete- Yes. That Lefever has been cut down. to just under 19". you can still see the lines on the muzzle from the saw. I know its sad but this was done more than thirty years ago, well before my time. BTW does anyone know how to take one apart? It could do with a cleaning.
 
A Stoeger Coach Gun Supreme has short barrels and screw chokes.
It has an automatic safety which is routinely deleted for CAS.
It might be a little tough to open but the same Cowboy gunsmith who neuters the auto safety can smooth it up a lot.
 
+1 -What Jim Watson said. I have the Stoeger Supreme Coach. It's kinda all prettied up and shiney, and it has loosened up a bit over time. I bought it just after my friend bought a Baikal (Russian SPR) coach SG. With both of them close together, it was hard not to do a side-by-side comparison. It was almost an apples to oranges kinda thing- his didn't have screw in tubes. Overall for fit, finish, function, sharp edges, patterning, point of aim, and general feel of quality- the Stoeger won out overwhelmingly. The Baikal is out of service at the moment and my friend said some sort of internal part came lose or broke and he has yet to get it repaired.
 
Washambala: By take one apart......how far down do you want to take it? The forend snaps off and then the barrels can be removed. That's as far as most folk go. If you want to get into the action, etc., then instructions get a bit more complex - though taking the butt stock off and cleaning the trigger and hammers and springs is not particularly hard to do. I've done this on a number of old guns. On some of these, the trigger guard must be rotated out of the way so as to give access to screws that secure the action; that is in addition to the stock bolt.
If you can isolate the action, then an Ultrasonic cleaner would work nicely.
Pete
 
Thanks Jim Watson. I didnt realize that Stoeger had a coachgun with the chokes and such.

Pete- This thing hasnt been shot in well over 10 years and probably not cleaned in twice that. I need to open it up and look to make sure that nothing has snapped as well as cleaning it. Unfortunately I dont have access to any high tech cleaning equipment, just the usual brushes and solvents and a few scrapers. I have no doubt I could get it apart but I dont want to try unless I know I can get it back together. I cant seem to find a guide for it.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

P
  • Locked
A SXS question
Replies
1
Views
439
Dave McCracken
D
K
  • Locked
Help - Looking for a good SxS Shotgun.
2
Replies
26
Views
4K
rugerfreak
R
M
  • Locked
Ever used rifled tubes in your SxS?
Replies
12
Views
987
mr.trooper
M
J
  • Locked
Sears 12G SxS = Stevens 311?
Replies
2
Views
650
Okiecruffler
O
J
  • Locked
Turkish Charles Daly SxS any good?
Replies
4
Views
3K
ArmedBear
A
Back
Top