Does anyone still hunt with SxS today?

[357smallbore]

I have two double barrel shotguns. One an Eastern Arms and the other a Stevens 5100. Both are 12ga. And I believe both were made mid to late 1930's. I love these guns. But I dont take em in the field to hunt. I will plink and target shoot with them. And ocassionaly shoot some clays with friend in the pasture. Anyone really do any hunting with the double barrel any more?

 

[entropy]

My pheasant hunting buddy, even though he could afford to hunt with a Perazzi sporting model, uses "Blondie" his much loved, 60's manufactured Stevens 311 20 ga., and he just got a plain jane L.C. Smith 20 ga. also. He has me looking for a Charles Harvin 20 ga. like the one he had as a young man, no luck so far.

 

[Sovblocgunfan]

A friend of mine likes to dove hunt with an older Miroku BSS copy. It’s perfect for the job!

 

[25-20 WCF]

My Ugartechea 20 g. SS still gets used on dove from time to time. My 1920s-vintage A.H. Fox 12 ga. not so much; the last time was on Sandhill crane in Delta Junction.


.

 

[paulsj]

I have two double barrel shotguns. One an Eastern Arms and the other a Stevens 5100. Both are 12ga. And I believe both were made mid to late 1930's. I love these guns. But I dont take em in the field to hunt. I will plink and target shoot with them. And ocassionaly shoot some clays with friend in the pasture. Anyone really do any hunting with the double barrel any more?

There are a whole bunch of guys at Doublegunshop.com that prefer SxS to anything else.

 

[DM~]

I take my Remington 1900 out once in a while,



But I mostly hunt with my Krieghoff,



DM

 

[Tusker10mm]

Yes indeed. This is Sarah's gun. SXS 28gauge. Have a Stoger in 28 gauge but never use it since I got Sarah. It can be had for $275.00+ shipping to your FFL.

 

[troy fairweather]

yup 1882 newman sxs 12ga side lever. only have a few bad pics off it. 2 1/2 drams of pyrodex and #6 shot, works good for small game and not much recoil.

 

[DM~]

I have a "side lever" double that I've been using to keep the "pest" trimmed down, around here...



I shoot "light" 2-1/2" loads, from RST in it...

DM

 

[John Joseph]

I would if I had one that handles the steel shot mandated by CA.
There is no faster second shot than a double with two triggers.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

I use my 28 ga SXS once in a while for doves, just for grins. My percentage is probably about the same as when I use my 12 ga Citori. I had an LC Smith field grade with no finish left before the lead ban on waterfowl. My favorite gun ever for ducks. Traded it off in a foolish moment.

 

[paulsj]

I would if I had one that handles the steel shot mandated by CA.
There is no faster second shot than a double with two triggers.

I'm watching Kent Bismuth at Cabela's on regular basis. Few months ago they had 28ga and 16ga on sale for $18.99 per box of 25. I have never seen the stuff sold for less.

 

[cfullgraf]

I have my Dad's 28 gauge side by side that he grew up with. A good shotgun that I shot alot as a youth. But, as I got into competitive skeet, I got used to single trigger on my over/under skeet gun and I've lost the ability to remember to use the two triggers on the side by side.

Not that I could not get back into shooting a two trigger shotgun again, kind of like remembering to stroke a pump shotgun. But, Dad's shotgun deserves "retired" status these days. I bring it lout once in a while for nostalgia, but I doubt that I would hunt with it these days.

But, a side by side is a classic shotgun and would be just as successful at getting game as any other shotgun.

 

[earlthegoat2]

All my rabbit and pheasant hunting is done with a Stevens 311 in 12 or 20ga or my Bernadelli game gun in 20.

If I did more bird hunting the Bernadelli would get the nod for that.

My only single barrel, a BPS 20, is only ever used for trap and slug shooting.

 

[SwampWolf]

Most of my hunting for grouse and woodcock is done with either a Merkel 20 gauge ("English-style" straight stock and double triggers) side-by-side or a Browning Double Auto, chambered in 12 gauge.

 

[CoalTrain49]

Hang out here for awhile and you'll see a dedicated group of upland bird hunters using sxs's.

http://uplandjournal.ipbhost.com/

A sxs was my favorite for grouse, pheasant, chukar and huns. I've had three or four over the years and still have an old G E Lewis, although my hunting days are over. When steel shot was mandated here for upland that shut me down. Won't go there.

 

[huntsman]

I was a dyed in the wool bird hunter, my firearms of choice were sxs 16 gauges. Local birds disappeared, dogs got old and died and doubles were sold.

Still have a BSS 12 gauge that I’m occasionally carrying for turkey and would like to do a midwest pheasant hunt yet before I get too old and slow.

 

[rodinal220]

I prefer a SxS,especially vintage ones. I like my "modern" Pedersoli 12 gauge muzzle loader and my Colt 1883 10 gauge (loaded down).

 

[MacAR]

You bet! I have an old BRNO sxs 12 gauge that I use for dove, quail, and pheasant. Choked I/C and Mod, it's pure murder on anything that flys and its a beautiful gun to boot. My pet load is 1 1/8th oz of #6 shot, but have had good luck on dove and quail with 1 oz of #7 also. Also have an old Winchester model 24 in 16 gauge that gets used quite a bit in the squirrel woods and around the farm. Again, 1 1/8th oz of #6's are deadly on everything I've encountered from birds to raccoons. Just last night a large 'coon made the mistake of trying to deprive my chickens of life & liberty. The right barrel of "ol' ugly" quickly changed his mind

Yes indeed. This is Sarah's gun. SXS 28gauge. Have a Stoger in 28 gauge but never use it since I got Sarah. It can be had for $275.00+ shipping to your FFL.

Pictures of the Stoeger? I might be interested in it, never owned a 28 gauge.

Mac

 

[Fyrstyk]

I shoot an old Meriden Arms 12 ga SXS. It's light, and points where I look. I only wish it was bored imp cyl and mod instean of mod and full. I have to let the birds get out there before I pull the trigger, otherwise there is nothing but feathers.

 

[MacAR]

I shoot an old Meriden Arms 12 ga SXS. It's light, and points where I look. I only wish it was bored imp cyl and mod instean of mod and full. I have to let the birds get out there before I pull the trigger, otherwise there is nothing but feathers.

A good smith can open those chokes for under $100, if you're so inclined. It sure made a difference in my wingshooting.

Mac

 

[Johnm1]

Mac - I see your from the Ozarks. Its been 40 years since I visited there. Beautiful place to visit. It must be nice to live there.

Tell me, is that farmer sill driving around on State Highway 21? You know the guy. Drives a '64 Dodge pickup pulling a hay trailer 25 MPH below the speed limit?

You get to see some beautiful country driving behind him.

 

[Johnm1]

To keep my post on topic, I hunted last year with a Fox Model B in 16 Gauge. This year I'm preparing to hunt with a Fox Sterlingworth in 12 Gauge. We'll see how that goes.

 

[Fyrstyk]

Macar;

Can you recommend someone that can open up the chokes on my old gun. I talked to a guy a long time ago, and he said he would not work on such an old gun for fear of damaging it.

 

[troy fairweather]

you can probably rent the reamer. i had a set a few years ago but sold them when money was tight.