SxS recommendations

[ntxyankee]

I am asking for some recommendations on buying a double barreled shotgun.
I want a light weight, well balanced, fast handling gun.

It seems as I get older my pump gun gets heavier and the quail get faster and harder to kill.

I am thinking about a 20 gauge but do not know enough about double or single triggers or what the differenaces are between a box lock or side lock.

With Smith and Wesson, Ruger, Kimber and others importing good looking doubles I just do not know enough to make an informed decison.

Thanks

 

[Oldnamvet]

If you have been using a pump gun for all these years, you might be better off considering an O/U. I can tell you from experience that switching from looking down a single barrel to looking down 2 barrels will throw your timing off. I have switched back and forth and still don't get it right.

 

[evbutler462]

You need to go shopping at a reputable gun dealer that has some used SKB's, Franchis, or Berettas, etc., in stock. Handle them and make believe that you are hunting. Put it to your shoulder and play with it a few minutes. Many private dealers have a range where you can shoot a used gun. When you find one that you like, go for it.

Another thought, go to your nearest skeet or trap club and chat up the guys there. Try out some of their pieces. Every one of them will offer the opinion that theirs is the best but only you can determine that. Friendliest folks you will come across, the shooters at the club. Of course, theirs will usually be specialty guns designed for trap or skeet, but you can pick up some good tips out there. Everyone out there will be offended if you don't try out their gun, as it is better than the ones the others are using.

What with Quality Control being what it is currently with new guns, I would suggest you start out with an older used gun.

 

[evbutler462]

I fully agree with oldnamvet. Been there, done that.

 

[skeeter1]

I've had a pair of SKB SxS doubles for 30 years now, and both are excellent. The model 100 with its 26" IC/Mod barrels is ideal for upland game hunting. Light weight, quick pointing, but in 12-gauge it does have quite a bit of recoil.

The other is a 200E, also in 12-gauge with 28" Mod/Full barrels. It's quite a bit heavier, and I only use it at the trap range.

SxS doubles are surprisingly easy to shoot, with one caveat -- don't try shooting slugs out of them. They stink at that. The barrels are regulated for standard 1-1/4oz loads and with 1oz slugs, there is a lot of crossover.

 

[huntershooter]

The lightest, fastest handling SXS's I own are an Ugartechea and an AYA-both are sidelocks with double triggers. I used to shoot Sporting Clays with Berreta O/U's and feared the broader sighting plane of the SXS would be a problem. Proved to be a non issue. I guess if you are hunting and focused on the bird you don't even notice the barrels.

 

[huntsman]

I am asking for some recommendations on buying a double barreled shotgun.I want a light weight, well balanced, fast handling gun.

Start at a $1000. for used and go up for new. I don't think you can get good handling dynamics on the low grade stuff. the Uggie's and SKB would meet you requirements. try billhanusbirdguns.com and lyon or lion country supply for Uggie's.

 

[ArmedBear]

Bear in mind that a low-profile receiver design on an O/U can handle much like a SxS, but has the sight picture of the O/U.

I picked up a 20 Gauge Ithaca SKB 500 used in excellent condition for $500, for exactly the application you would want it for. I like the little thing.

Low-profile guns include the SKB 505/585, Beretta 686, Browning Cynergy. The Browning Citori and similar have larger, boxier receivers. I am now a fan of the old Superposed, but 12 Gauge with 30" barrels. For a little, fast gun, the slimmer ones appeal to me because they pop up more like a SxS.

BTW Ruger does not import the Gold Label, or any shotguns, or any other guns. They're all made in the USA.

S&W makes theirs in Turkey. I'll be goodandgoddamned if I am the first to buy an unproven new Turkish shotgun for over 2 grand! Just get a CZ, if you feel lucky and must get a Turkish gun; they're a lot cheaper.

AFAIK Kimbers are Italian, as are Weatherby's (Weatherbies?). Nice guns, all. Marlin imports "LC Smith" SxS shotguns from Italy also.

If you're unsure, though, there's always the Stoeger Uplander. You should be able to get the base model in 20 for around $350, maybe less. It's sure no H&H, but it's a cheap way to find out if you like SxS hunting, and they are pretty durable. They point okay for me; others with discriminating tastes my differ. It's the kind of gun you buy as an experiment, and it can always serve as a backup or loaner gun if you move up.

 

[skeeter1]

As far as I can tell, the current Weatherby doubles are all Italian made, but I can't track down the manufacturer. SKBs are Japanese. In either case, fine shotguns.

 

[Two Cold Soakers]

BE CAREFUL

The SxS world is madness. Pure madness.
Expensive madness.

Please, be careful.
So many guns, and there is (at least) one out there for you.
Ohhh, the humanity......

Okay, I'd best add something useful.

Check out this link for a little rundown on the genre.

In my experience, 28" bbls, minimum. (They've got no receiver, so put the 2" back in the barrel) Shorter barrels make it easier to stop swinging after you shoot. - Follow through, you know.

7 (or a little more) lbs, maximum (6.5 for a 20).

There are mechanical differences between Box and Sidelocks, but for our purposes, boxlocks are fine. Some scribe once said a good boxlock is better (and less expensive) than a poorly made sidelock.

I like 2 triggers, even on clays. And open chokes (I prefer none and 1/2).
Hull extractors are fine. Ejectors only if you can select "extract."

Used, if bought through a reputable seller.

Like this one

Enjoy the hunt.

 

[BozemanMT]

What TwoColdsoakers said

Beretta Silverhawk, 28" barrels, english grip, very nice (of course I have one)

Many of the Spainish guns are excellent (Aya, Urge..............)

The SKB's are very solid if a bit blocky for me.

6.5lbs in a 12ga, maybe a little ligher in a 20ga
longer barrels is a plus

You'll love the SxS, i sold my O/U's after getting into SxS's

 

[kentucky_smith]

I like AYA's.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=268031

Many of the Spainish guns are excellent (Aya, Urge..............)

BTW, Kimbers are Turkish.

 

[Two Cold Soakers]

Kentucky's gun.... Mmmmmm

400 dollars for a spanish double?
Heck, I'd go 26" single trigger for $400 on a AyA
Very tempting.

With Buy a Gun Day 3 day's off, and a refund on its way....
All summer to fiddle with loads,

Stop stop Arrgh,
ohhhhh, the war wound........

Nice gun, Smith.

 

[SwampWolf]

Strictly personal opinion here but I find any sxs over 16 ga (i.e.,12 ga) to be too fat and bulky. I love 20 ga doubles and I have no trouble whatsoever switching from shooting my auto and pumps to my sxs. As other posters have noted, some folks do.

The best advice I can give you is to not buy cheap. This isn't to say that you have to spend an exorbitant amount of money to get a good double but if you're buying new, I'm not aware of many doubles under $1,000.00 that will give you the quality, reliability, handling and pride of ownership that such an investment should.

The second bit of advice is to handle the gun personally at length and, if at all possible, shoot it or one like it on a clays course.

Thirdly, if you don't know much about what to look for when deciding on which double to buy, try to find a friend or acquaintance who REALLY knows about shotguns and doubles in particular. Sometimes a good shop will have a knowledgeable person on board but don't count on it.

I've owned more than a few sidexsides and over&unders in my time and the one I've kept and liked best is my little Merkle twenty, 3" chambers, straight-stocked, double triggers (I've had more than a little trouble over the years with single/selective triggers and the very fastest ways to select a choke-one of the bigger reasons for shooting a twin barrel-is with two triggers) and choked imp cyl/mod. The Merkle is hell for stout with its Greener/Kersten crossbolt lock-up and side clips, yet still weighs under six pounds (5 3/4).

Don't worry too much about choosing between boxlocks and sidelocks. Everything else being equal, the boxlock will cost considerably less than an equivalent sidelock without giving up much in terms of performance.

Again, I think it's better to wait while "saving up" and buying a quality double rather than getting something cheaper that will invariably disappoint you as the years go by.