Fine side by sides -- what's your fantasy?

Claybuster

Claybuster

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Let's keep the double gun discussions going.

The scenario is this: A long lost relative has willed you a sum of money with the specific requirement that you buy a custom sxs shotgun. The gun and all expenses are covered. Who makes it isn't important. Your gun could come from Brescia, Lieges, St. Etienne, Eibar, London or somewhere else.

Describe the gun you would order. What configuration, gauge, barrel lengths, chokes, etc. No detail is too small except it must be a sxs.

What does your gun look like?
 
My perfect sxs,

20ga.
28" barrels
straight stock
splinter forend
round body sidelock
case coloured receiver

In a nutshell a Grulla Supreme, fitted of course!
 
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Claybuster said:
Let's keep the double gun discussions going.

The scenario is this: A long lost relative has willed you a sum of money with the specific requirement that you buy a custom sxs shotgun. The gun and all expenses are covered. Who makes it isn't important. Your gun could come from Brescia, Lieges, St. Etienne, Eibar, London or somewhere else.

Describe the gun you would order. What configuration, gauge, barrel lengths, chokes, etc. No detail is too small except it must be a sxs.

What does your gun look like?
Click to expand...

Mine came as a 2 gun set. Oh hell I just liked the picture. http://
 
Max Owner said:
After reading the title, I woulda said Trish Stratus and Stacey Lynn.

http://www. trishstratus.com/gallery/dreamteam_2001/




Only side by side that I have an interest in is the Ruger.

http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/FASubType?type=Shotgun&subtype=Side-By-Side
Click to expand...

i would have to say Shania Twain and Faith Hill. oh yeah the gun. Purdey 28" barrels choked light mod. and skeet, single trigger, 16 ga., splinter forend, straight stock..... i probably stand a better chance of getting the purdey.
 
I think too I would go Spanish and probably save enough bucks to make it two guns. Removable sidelocks with a gun in the classic English style.

Pedro Arrizabalaga would be high on my list. Pity that the prices have been spiraling up for the last 5 years.
 
It's funny. About a week before that other thread started, I pulled a magazine off of my shelf for the bathroom rotation - the December 2000 issue of the "Shooting Gazette". Then CB mentions Mckay Brown and there on the back cover is a full colour shot of a matched pair.

Flipping through this thing I realize that there are a lot of fine doubles that I wouldn't mine owning. Choosing the exact one would be an impossibility. On the practical side, though, I can say what specs best suit my style/type of hunting - and they probably won't match anything from that magazine:

1) 20 gauge (on a 20 gauge frame). Lighter than a 12, easier to find ammo than a 16 (around here at least). A 28 is beyond my skill-set for late season grouse.

2) Double triggers, because I like them.

3) Extractors, because I don't want to have to go looking for my spent shells.

4) Bored cyl/mod. One for the "holy crap!" shot and the other for the recovery.

5) 28" barrels. For me, the best trade between length and stability. Some say you need shorter barrels in the woodcock alders. I have no empirical evidence to discount that, but in situations where my gun's length prevented me from making a shot, even one of those Dlask-equipped doohickeys would not likely have helped.

6) Case coloured or blued receiver. I am not a fan of the shiny stuff and I don't like my ding/scratch repair options with an alloy.

7) I really don't care about box or side lock - but I don't want a box that's been made to look like a side. I think that's just dumb - like the GTO decals on a Pontiac Sunfire.

8) Prince of Wales. Wow. I said it. Although I prefer the looks of a straight grip, I prefer the feel of a POW. A full pistol is too restrictive.

There. I have bared myself. Let the shaming begin.
 
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I would order a color case hardened 28 ga with a 2 barrel set, 28 and 26 inch barrels. I want extractors not ejectors. I am thinking a schnabel tipped forearm with a round pistolgrip stock. I think I would go American rather than Spanish or the UK though. Maybe from Conneticut Valley either a Winchester Model 21 or the Fox reproduction. Of course I wouldn't say no to an original, something to go with my Parker, and LC Smith. Good ole what's his name he was my favorite relative...
 
looch said:
There. I have bared myself. Let the shaming begin.
Click to expand...
No shame there.

You've thought this one out. One of the "challenges" of ordering a custom gun is the degree of detail that you need. In 1998 I helped a friend order a custom gun in Spain. With my limited Spanish and a phrase book it took quite some time to answer all of the questions. The risk if you don't answer them they will just assume what you want. No detail is worth overlooking.
 
I'm not too up on what manufacturers are best for what, so based just on the fact that my 10 gauge is a greener I'd probably try to get a matching one just because. Merkel would probably be my other choice.

1. Would be in 12 gauge since most of my hunting is waterfowl related and I don't always want to drag around a 10.5 pound shotgun (ie the 10)

2. Definitely double triggers, I consider it sacrilegious to have a single trigger on a sxs.

3. Extractors simply because thats what all my sxs's to date have had and whenever I get ejectors I whack myself between the eyes. Also I've never had any reason to regret having extractors on the guns I have.

4. I know this is sacrilegious too but I may have to go with screw in chokes unless I could have a matched set of barrels. I'd want mod/full and cyl/improved. If I have that high end of a gun I want to have it good for all occasions I may have for it's use.

5. 28" tubes, that length has worked fine for me and I can't see a reason to change, no true justification though, so I could be swayed. Would be single bead, I have not seen any real value in a second bead personally.

6. Color case hardened receiver with blued barrels, because thats the way a shotgun is supposed to look.

7. Box lock, I just like the simple look of them, and engraving would be minimal to non existent.

8. The stock I'm not certain of yet, I haven't really found any of the stocks I've used to be something I particularly noticed as being good or bad for pistol grip or not (I'd be open to hearing reasons for one over the other). Would of course be fitted to me perfectly. Although I prefer the looks of a splinter forend I would get a beavertail so I don't burn my fingers when shooting clays and I don't freeze my fingers on the cold metal in the goose blind.

9. Would probably be chambered for 2 3/4 only as with good bismuth loads I could do what I need while keeping the gun light and fast handling in comparison to a beefier 3" model, and the 10 can pick up anything the 2 3/4" 12 can't handle.
 
My tastes are becoming a bit specialized. I'm not even sure which makers would build it for me, but I suspect I'd have to look to the UK; either one of the smaller London/Burmingham makers or the Scots. What I want:

Sidelock, 20 gauge SXS (scaled frame)
External hammers
Case coloured receiver & furniture with high-grade figured walnut stocks
28" barrels, blued, solid rib, single brass or ivory bead
Extractors, manual safety
hand-detachable side locks
Double triggers, straight stock, splinter forend (both checkered)
Choke tubes preferred, or choked Full and Modified
 
MauserMike said:
Was it pretty easy to get the shotgun from Spain to Canada? Did you have to use an importer?
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When I went through the process in 2000 it was easy enough. The maker organized the export permits and when the gun arrived the airline informed me where to pick it up. I went to Pearson, paid the taxes and took my gun home.

Whether that is still the case in the post 9/11 world isn't something I can answer. I know a small dealer who brings guns in from the U.K and he uses a customs broker.
 
What I would like most is an original Winchester Model 21 in 28 gauge.If it were a new manufactured SXS it would be one of the new baby frame 28 gauge Model 21 shotguns manufactured by CSMC.Straight stock with single selective trigger.Splinter forearm choked modified and modified.
 
Well, since you've allowed us all to step into a state of reverie......here's what I would like.....

A DMB sxs in 16ga, 28inch bbls, DT with straight stock and if that relative has left me enough :) (thinking along the lines of a Purdey)....then I shall get another DMB sxs 28ga (same configs) to go with the former.

And, I shall use both exclusively and extensively for Upland!
 
Great thread...right now I would like an English 16ga with DT, ejectors, semi beavertail and straight stock of eye popping marble cake walnut. Sideplates with custom bulino engraving of my German wirehair on point on one side and holding a grouse on the other....MMMMM

As for the fantasy...I like the semi beavertail on this...
19f.jpg

Just think of all the good ringneck cover in the background!!
 
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