I have been known to be wrong but in this case I would say doesn't exist. The whole reason even cheap SxS are so expensive, relative to pumps, is the complexity of the parts and the requirement for precision fitting or the gun doesn't work.
On the other hand, when properly assembled and working, with no cracks in wood or gaping wood to metal fit, there are far fewer places for moisture and dirt to enter as compared to a pump. A lot of people shot a lot of ducks in a lot of marshes without a lot of gun disassembly before pumps and then semis took over.
Fair enough - I'd suspected as such but wasn't sure if there was some obscure gun out there that fitted the bill. Agreed on the difference between pumps and SxS' - I find I somehow attract rain, or get myself into situations where I'm soaking wet, and now having moved, I get wet in the day, then temps drop (further) below freezing at night. Seems either you oil it to keep the water off and the oil gets gummy in the cold, or you wipe the oil down and it tries to rust on you
Another vote for the Russian with hammers version.
Any particular leaning towards a specific make or model?
Anytime I have the butt off of my 58 I always apply a coating of good carnauba wax where the wood meets metal. Never had any moisture issues rain or shine. I like the idea of the Toz hammer gun but a safe way to carry it ready is not really possible. I have watched Russian hunters on u toob carrying the hammer Toz with both hammers back when hunting flushing game. I would not recommend that. The Toz would about as bullet proof as a double could get.
Darryl
Good Idea on the carnauba wax - might have to try that.
If it came to it, a tang safety could probably be added, or possibly a stalking safety behind each hammer. A tang safety would be better but would probably come down to which gun it was and where the space was. With a safety it would be about the same risk as carrying any internal hammer gun with the safety on or off I suppose.
Tradeex has a lot of modest but serviceable side by side shotguns. Simple extractor is much less complicated than ejectors, less to go wrong.
The East German Sauer or Merkels are good, even the cheaper Thalmann is a solid gun. Brno sidelocks are reliable. I have a 16 gauge AyA that I bought two years ago that I like a lot. I would be more cautious buying the lesser name Spanish shotguns, not being confident in their reliability.
Removing the buttstock and waxing the metal under the wood is a good start to protecting a side by side shotgun.
You do not routinely take the butt off any shotgun, side by side or over/under, or pump.
Agreed on both the German guns and Spanish guns. I appreciate everyone' direction to Tradeex - I'd forgotten they had shotguns somehow.
My main reason for removing the butt stock is that it's the only way to access the internals on some guns (or somehow most of mine). I'm not fond of doing it, but I also hate the idea that there might be rust forming somewhere I can't see it
I have had 3 IJ-58's and they were all tanks. They only got traded when some fancy-dancy rifle came by that I had to have. I always knew I could pick another one up. Simple. Robust. Accurate. Priced right not to worry about nicks and scratches.
Yeesh - the IJ58's seem to have a great following. Explains why I'm not seeing any on the EE at the moment
H.Wally, there is a CIL SxS on the EE right now for stupid cheap dollars.
Go check it out before I come back and delete the heads up and buy it myself.
Rob
Haha - taking a look - thanks for the heads up.
The Thalmann is an absolute beast. They are as solid as they come, although certainly not fancy. Very well built gun right up there with all the German guns as long as you don't need anything fancy.
Good to know - another vote for the Thalmann - appearances mean nothing in this case, so whatever is reliable.
Stoeger/IGA are solid. I have had the Uplander, the Overland and several Coach guns. A little stiff when new but good guns for the money.
Was wondering when Stoeger would be mentioned. I've heard they're a bit less robust than the Baikals in terms of heavy use, but no real mention of how so. Any comments on what about them may need to be watched/replaced? I do like that parts seem to be readily available for them and should be for the foreseeable future.
