Any interest in good quality doubles

[Snow Dog]

I love SxS's! They are my first love in firearms. At present I have a nice little Cogswell & Harrison, a couple of field grade W.W. Greeners and few Belgian clunkers. I also have an Ithaca Flues and a Stevens 311A - the Stevens goes to turkey shoots with me and we do fairly well.

Look around for a decent used field grade English gun. They are around and reasonably priced compared to new doubles. Also, the new doubles for some reason, all seem to come with single select triggers. SST's just seem wrong to me - two barrels should have two triggers, right?

 

[benelli one]

two barrells = two triggers. no questions asked!

 

[Claybuster]

I come from a family environment where Upland and Waterfowl hunting revolved ONLY around English (and just a couple Spanish) sxs makes......all else, mostly, were kind of frowned upon

Having said this, I'm afraid that mere talk about such over on-line forums may only result in conveying the impression of a full-time snob

I wouldn't worry about it.

There is the perception of elitism and then there is the reverse elitisim when it comes to expensive guns. I've seen it often in gun forum discussions about higher-end clay target guns when eventually someone comes along and declares they are all a waste of money because he always humiliates the rich guys with expensive guns using his (insert name of inexpensive gun here.)

The price of a standard grade Perazzi or my Spanish sxs (including the trip) is less than the price of a bass boat and motor, most snowmobiles and ATVS and myriad other things you can spend your money on. Which do you think you will use more and will retain value?

There are many lower-priced sxs that are perfectly serviceable including the CZ, Bakails, Lanbers, etc. There is a good used market too. Right now on the EE is an English sxs going for the price of a new Browning target gun.

Fine guns needn't be about elitism and snobs. Anybody who thinks they are somehow better because they own a 6 figure shotgun should keep those opinions to himself because there is always someone who can out shoot him with a less expensive gun. I can think of one fine gun owner I shot with on a preserve pheasant hunt who I suspect will never again say anything critical about Spanish sxs (at least he won't about mine.)

Reverse elitism should be just ignored. If someone resents you simply for what you have they aren't worth the bother.

 

[diananike]

I love the look and feel of SxS guns.
Definitely nicer than O/U and more classic.

I was however dissappointed with the Spanish Bufalo I bought from Tradex recently. The chokes were too tight for upland and poorly regulated too. The gun shoots signifigantly to the left with one of the barrels.
Also about 2 months after I bought it the safety started engaging after every shot. I think I need a gunsmith. I ended up giving the gun to my son in law.

For my next purchase I'll get a Stoeger upland one with changeable chokes and a straight grip. Straight gripped SxS's are the nicest guns ever!!!!!!

 

[Ahsan Ahmed]

Also, the new doubles for some reason, all seem to come with single select triggers. SST's just seem wrong to me - two barrels should have two triggers, right?

two barrells = two triggers. no questions asked!

Agree on DTs over a single - anytime.

Having said this, I also own a couple used Beretta sxs - a 626E and 626 Onyx, both 2 3/4" chambers, fixed and screw-in chokes respectively - those have SSTs but I do not feel too great a constraint in terms of Upland hunting. Likely make great waterfowl guns too coupled with Tungsten Matrix although I never used 'em for such.

 

[Ahsan Ahmed]

I love the look and feel of SxS guns.
Definitely nicer than O/U and more classic.

I was however dissappointed with the Spanish Bufalo I bought from Tradex recently. The chokes were too tight for upland and poorly regulated too. The gun shoots signifigantly to the left with one of the barrels.
Also about 2 months after I bought it the safety started engaging after every shot. I think I need a gunsmith. I ended up giving the gun to my son in law.

For my next purchase I'll get a Stoeger upland one with changeable chokes and a straight grip. Straight gripped SxS's are the nicest guns ever!!!!!!

A friend I hunted with last season also bought the Buffalo from Tradeex. In view of the sxs price/condition, he promptly chopped a couple inches off the barrels (by himself ) converting those to full Cyl. Come to think of it, he did well with that on Woodcock. I was out with him once for Woodcock, here is an image of his sxs and dog. Believe he also mentioned something about the safety.....

As far as a new shotgun is concerned, you may wish to inspect the CZ Bobwhite model - a very good value in terms of a moderately priced sxs - I personally like the 20ga the most.

 

[dilly]

Thats a nice looking Britt...
Ahmed, I went through Questar and have to wait a bit for the Ugartechea...I will post something when I get it with my impressionsand some pics. I ordered it just before the prices went up and I am told they are going up again before Spring due to the strength of the Euro.
Sorry for the hijack...

 

[Gunslinger]

Dilly I was also looking at the Uggie, what model did you get?

 

[12magnum]

Nothing from Purdey's is cheap. When I was there last they had a deck of playing cards that came in an engraved sterling silver for £900, a pair of socks was £150.

Purdey is still the marque to be measured against. I certainly like their guns more than H&H. But with a 6/49 win in my pocket I'd land in London see what Wm. Evans had on the rack that I could bring home immediately. Then take a train Scotland and order a gun here:

http://www.mckaybrown.com/index.html

I'd shoot the gun from Evans until the McKay Brown arrived.

i've toured around their website for quite a while now. i don't think my golden retriever needs a 125.00 pound dog collar or 150.00 leash!! or their leather bound silver drink cups at 325.00. eek,eek eek!! that 649 could add a lot of things, but it would be great to be able to be able to order a best gun wouldn't it. ah well, we'll just have to dream on.i've got a browning sxs field grade and it's a nice gun. it'll have to do for now. LOL

 

[Ahsan Ahmed]

Nothing from Purdey's is cheap. When I was there last they had a deck of playing cards that came in an engraved sterling silver for £900, a pair of socks was £150.

Speaking of Purdeys......Epps has a (obviously refinished) very nice Beesley on the Used rack marked for aprox $13K

 

[diananike]

Wow I wish we had woodcock here I would totally love demolishing those little freaks

I've often thought of cutting the barrels on my Bufalo to 18.5" and making a little coachgun but it still wouldn't solve the problem with the safety. And until my son-in-law upgrades it's all he's got so..... He also uses it on ducks (the steel damages the barrels so we are really careful with reloading the shells and use only small shot with thick wads and keep pressures real low ) so the choke is important. It stays imperfect for now.

 

[osborne]

Nothing looks better than a nice o/u or sXs with fine wood and engraving. I have been fairly lucky and managed to purchase a very nice Beretta 687 EELL with fantastic wood for a decent price. I don't think I'll ever justify upgrading but I always curse cabela's fine gun room and the the high end manufactures and dream!!!!

As for tactical shot guns, I don't own a single one. If I was into ipsc maybe, but I don't see any advantage for one shooting sporting or skeet!.

 

[beretta boy]

Yes, there are a few of us "Doublegunnutz" around.

Some have it way worse than others !!!

 

[doubleman]

SxS guns

How about some pics in this thread, there must be some nice SxS guns in the ranks. I'll even get it started with a nice cased english box lock(I know its only a box lock but it will do for now)

 

[Gibson]

2 Barrell's need 2 trigger's and 2 external hammer's don't hurt neither I think their would be alot more interist in SXS's if their wer more affordable quality gun's being made 500-700$ range I wan't a nice SXS but can't afford new and can't find a used I like yet but I never got on the cheap pump wagon with almost everyone yet. I'm happy to waight with my single shot's did everyone forget the Cooey's,Champion's ECT these are all from before my time and I'd rather go after grouse and rabbit with one over a pump.

 

[Claybuster]

Speaking of Purdeys......Epps has a (obviously refinished) very nice Beesley on the Used rack marked for aprox $13K

Yes I spotted that. I wonder if it's the same one they had on the rack about a year or two ago going for $15,000. It sounds like the same gun. Doesn't interest me much with IC/IC chokes.

I am also, not without reason, exceedingly wary about ANY used gun that Epps has for sale much less a Beesley.

On a happier note I like the CZ but can't abide a boxlock with sideplates. I know they make them without but everyone I've seen has had them.

 

[Ahsan Ahmed]

How about some pics in this thread, there must be some nice SxS guns in the ranks. I'll even get it started with a nice cased english box lock(I know its only a box lock but it will do for now)

Churchill? (which one?)......nice gun!


For lack of current images......here's an old Belgian clunker that I picked up last year.....

 

[Ahsan Ahmed]

On a happier note I like the CZ but can't abide a boxlock with sideplates. I know they make them without but everyone I've seen has had them.

Frankly, the Bobwhite is perhaps the only CZ model that I have a bit of faith in as far as those Turk shotguns go

 

[sillymike]

Any interest in good quality doubles ?

Of course there's an interest... it the price that is usually a little less interesting!

 

[dilly]

Dilly I was also looking at the Uggie, what model did you get?

I ordered the Grd IV with the cyl/ic barrels. Its for woodcock and incidental grouse...and I am just trying to fit in with my partners who weild names like Arrietta, AYA, Benadelli, and Beretta....