sxs for upland ? (bss sporter 20 or....)

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twoshots

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Hello,

My first gun was a 12g sxs mk54 izh which locks up tight and is looking for some lightweight company for upland hunting.

I have been offered a bss sporter base grade straight grip selective trigger 20g 26" barrels m/ic made in Japan which appears to have been used little but has some light chamber pitting and some dings in the wood, one dime sized.
I would use it for hunting so the marks are not a deal breaker.

It is offered at $1500 and I value it at $950 tops but maybe I am out to lunch as I'm relatively inexperienced with sxs.

Should I keep looking for a sauer or buy something new? My budget is $2000

Thanks for any experienced advice :)
 
I've never handled a BSS in 20 ga., but I have used one in 12 ga. They were made by Miroku and are a reliable, very well put together, but a bit robust (i.e. heavy), at least in 12 ga.

For $1500 I would expect a gun in VG condition (no pits, bluing all there except for normal wear area on receiver and light handling/hunting marks on wood). The seller has probably added a premium because of the straight grip. Your counter-offer is not unreasonable at all, but keep in mind that for a bit less than you can get a clean SKB (provided you are willing to be patient while religiously monitoring the FS boards and act fast if you see one).

A 20 ga. in a Sauer will be hard to find.
 
You might want to look for an SKB on the EE, they are lighter than the BSS and handle well . They are a very good gun and are undervalued IMHO. Different models come with different features such as extractors vs ejectors.
 
twoshots said:
Thanks guys, was the skb offered in a straight grip?
Click to expand...

The SKB Model 100 was never offered in a straight grip. Having said that, I do own a 20 ga. Model 100 with a straight grip, but that's another story.

The higher grade Model 280 had a straight grip, but it will likely put you in the $1000 plus price range, if you can even find one.
 
Good for you if you can manage a straight grip for all day upland hunting carry. Myself I like to carry my 20 gauge sometimes with the butt stock resting on my hip. And getting that butt into the shoulder as swiftly as possible is a bit slower for myself with a straight style grip. Seems I can torque and manipulate the deeper swooping down, pistol grip much better. But that's just me & my own problem. And I wish this wasn't so, because to my eyes the 280 SKB with an English grip is a thing of superb beauty!
 
My opinion is that they are in the same quality class (for a country that has little use for guns, the Japanese sure know how to mass produce great doubles!). The Ithaca/SKB is overall a more fine-boned gun; smaller frame, lighter barrels. It has a reputation for being prone to hairline cracks in the wood where the head of the stock meets the scalloped receiver. A highly regarded authority on the Ithaca/SKB's once told me that issue can be totally prevented by taking time once or twice a year to check that the through-stock bolt is tight. You'll see (if you pull the stock off) a lot of SKB's with glass-bedded stock heads, done either as a preventive measure or in response to a hairline crack starting to show.
 
I agree. For less money you will get a gun of the same quality and a bit lighter if you look for an SKB. Mind you, if you keep looking you may also find a better deal on a BSS. I would not pay $1500.00 for the one you were looking at in the condition you described.
 
Dont feel 1000-1100 for a straight grip 20ga is unreasonable. I sold a 12ga few years back for around 800 and it was gone in a day.
 
To put in perspective...I bought a BSS 20 gauge sporter (26" barrels, straight grip, open chokes) last fall, it was, and still is in LNIB condition. Literally only about 100 rounds through it since leaving the factory. I paid $1800 shipped. So $1500 for one that has pitting and dime sized dings is not good enough...$1000-$1100 as mentioned...maybe..but I would need to see some seriously detailed pics or handle in hand before passing over the money. I also have a SKB 100 20 gauge that I grabbed for a few hundred, had a shortened pistol grip stock along with those hairline cracks at the receiver.. I just had it restocked in straight grip style, head glass bedded and completely re- slow rust blued (barrels and receiver). Now, with factory 25" barrels, and modified/improved cylinder chokes with a weight of 5.4 lbs, she will be an upland dream! Both are great guns, kinda similar, but the skb is almost 1.5lbs lighter...which is a big deal if carrying all day.
 
twoshots said:
I have been offered a bss sporter base grade straight grip selective trigger 20g 26" barrels m/ic made in Japan which appears to have been used little but has some light chamber pitting and some dings in the wood, one dime sized.
I would use it for hunting so the marks are not a deal breaker.

It is offered at $1500 and I value it at $950 tops but maybe I am out to lunch as I'm relatively inexperienced with sxs.
Click to expand...
The BSS with straight stock is a bit odd and hard to find. It's a nice feature to some buyers. The 26" with IC/M chokes would be perfect for upland. I think you be happy with that shotgun. $1500 is a bit high, but not out to lunch given the configuration and condition. Somewhere between $1k and the asking would be fair.

As mentioned, the SKBs are a very good shotgun as well. I've had 4 over the years, two of them we 20s 26" IC/M. I wouldn't trade one for a browning again.

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Not trying to get you to spend more than you need to but if what you want is a gun for upland and your budget is $2000, I'd be looking for a Fox Sterlingworth in 16 or 20. The 20 will cost more.

The gun will be older than what has been discussed so far but a small bore Fox is in a different league than what has been discussed. I have 2 16 gauge Foxes. You'll have to wait and watch for a good one but they show up.
 
Your budget opens up a lot of opportunity on the used market. An older well cared for SxS at $2000 could be a very nice gun. Handle lots of them before you buy.
 
I have only one (out of about 20) SxS gun in my safe that I paid over $2000 for. It is a very high grade Manufrance Ideal. If I take a look at some of the others that I paid between $1000 and $2000 for, I would guess that at least five of them would cost in the $8000 to $20,000 range to get the same thing new today. Completely hand made or hand fitted, sidelocks and boxlocks, extensive engraving, high quality tubes, beautiful straight grained wood, good dimensions and ideal weight for upland hunting. Having learned enough to know what makes a high quality shotgun, I wouldn't look at a new (or newer) SxS when I consider what level of quality can be found on the used market. These are guns I use for hunting. Yes, I don't use steel in them and yes, I am careful about the loads I run through them. And I tend not to use them for waterfowl. But for upland, IMHO there is no other option.

Here are a few examples. BTW, all these guns weigh between 6 pounds 3 oz and 6 pounds 11 oz:

Beautiful Army & Navy 12 bore


F.W. Heym 16 gauge


Lovena 12 gauge


A pair of Piepers in 16 gauge


Another Pieper, this time in 12 gauge


A Fox Sterlingworth in 16 gauge.


And just for comparison my Ideal for not a whole lot more.
 
Thanks for all of the input so far. I would be totally fine with patiently waiting for the right upland respectfully used. I have been researching what to look for in a used sxs and would like to have something by fall but will wait a season if necessary. I would like something totally reliable and smooth handling if not fancy, worthy of passing on to the next generation.

eta: wow, thanks for taking the time to post those pics. They are beauties! I'm totally fine with a light 12g if that opens up more prospects. My mk54 is fine for the big stuff
 
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