Bear Arms .410 SxS review... it ain't great

C

CL2000

CGN Regular
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Location
Newfoundland
For my birthday I wanted to get myself something nice. I saw a beautiful side by side .410 shotgun, just amazingly high quality wood, great feel, hammer gun that folds in half and fits in a great leather case and comes with 4 or 5 chokes. I loved it, it looked amazing, it felt amazing, and just shy of $800. but when I got some shells in it...

My first trip out, I took it shooting and every time I shot it would jam up solid, the extractor wasn't nearly strong enough to pull the shells out, even unfired shells would get stuck. Luckily I had my mauser with me and used the cleaning rod to knock the shells out. A few more shots, every time sticking on extraction, I get a light primer strike and decide to call it a day.

I go home, clean the barrels, take extra care to clean the chambers in case they where dirty and making she shells stick, and put it away.

My second trip out. I took it out shooting and it started giving me more light primer strikes than before and worse, one firing pin was permanently protruding and would leave little scratches on the back of the shells. That's surely not safe. This time because I was lacking a cleaning rod so I was forced to grab the extractor and pull, there isn't much to grab so this wasn't easy or comfy. I decided I had enough. I went to fold it and... Nothing... It wouldn't even fold now... I was just devastated at this point.

I took it home and called the shop where I got it and the next day I got a full refund. Unfortunately they didn't have much of interest around the same price point so I went home without a birthday gift.

So all together I give the Bear Arms side by side .410 folding shotgun a 1/10.
 
I've found thru using more than several folders from various makers they are what they are. Cheap crude and a waste of money
If you can spare another few hundred I suggest a 410 sxs from huglu. They lack choke tubes but are well built. My 4 huglu guns all came from prophet river
 
You are lucky you got your money back. El Fasian /Spanish is also pot metal junk. Avoid Brazil,Chinese and Turkish crap like the plaque. No parts to be had for when they break not if.
 
I've owned a Huglu Bobwhite (Gen 1) .410 SxS for about 17 years. It's been flawless. Dandy, but tiny little gun. Double triggers, extractors, straight grip stock. Very well regulated too.
 
I've had a Cooey .410 single shot for what seems like 100 years, great little gun that got a lot of use when the kids were small. Sometimes, older is better, and always, North American is best.
 
Blockcaver said:
I've owned a Huglu Bobwhite (Gen 1) .410 SxS for about 17 years. It's been flawless. Dandy, but tiny little gun. Double triggers, extractors, straight grip stock. Very well regulated too.
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Same.. mine is a CZ 'partridge' (same as Bobwhite but with nickel finish). Never had any issues with it; it's my 'go-to' gun for upland birds... just bagged three ruffies this morning! But I must agree that not all Turkish guns are created equal. I've had issues with a few other brands
 
mbogo3 said:
You are lucky you got your money back. El Fasian /Spanish is also pot metal junk. Avoid Brazil,Chinese and Turkish crap like the plaque. No parts to be had for when they break not if.
Click to expand...

Yeah, if you would have bought it at Cabelas you would now own an $800 paperweight.
 
Blockcaver said:
I've owned a Huglu Bobwhite (Gen 1) .410 SxS for about 17 years. It's been flawless. Dandy, but tiny little gun. Double triggers, extractors, straight grip stock. Very well regulated too.
Click to expand...

My new Huglu 28gauge O/U has been great, shot my limit of Ruffies with it last weekend, no complaints so far.
 
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