Anyone still shoot a side by side.

Cricket

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I was just wondering if anyone still shooted one of these I would like to get one but dont know what for. I kinda want a 16ga just for some upland or somthing like that. What do you think.
 
Cricket, I love SxS's and I love 16 gauge. In Alberta 16 gauge shells are not hard to obtain, even CanTire stocks them. A 16 will throw a better pattern than a 20, and a 1 ounce load of 6's or 7 1/2's will bring down anything the uplands has to offer. Target loads for the 16 are not generally available, if you plan on using the gun for extensive skeet shooting you have to become a hand loader. As an upland hunting gun, occasional clays use and even a bit of duck hunting, the 16 is an ideal guage. In a double, it can make a fast handling, well balanced gun with few peers. Don't get a 16 gauge built on a 12 gauge frame - the magic disappears, and you may as well get a 12. For under $1K, you can have a scaled frame CZ / Huglu in 16 ga. If you find a nice English example, don't buy it - call me, I'll buy it and test it out for you.

Sharptail
 
I also really enjoy shooting with SxS shotguns. There is just something special about a trim, well balanced SxS that no other configuration can offer. My favorite was a little Beretta 409 in 12g that was made in 1950. It had a straight stock and was under 6lbs. I even used it for trap. My brother has it now.
 
I use a light 12 gauge sxs for hunting. It only gets out to the clay ranges when I feel like something different or to tune up for the upland season.
 
Hey I am just going to use it for a little trap but mostly upland. Thanks for the info!

Cheers-----
Crick
 
A friend of mine just bought an old spanish SxS. Its a neat gun, but it has a problem of firing both barrels when you pull either of the triggers. He's going to have it deactivated and hang it on the wall.
 
And it's not just the SXS configuration, but the complete genre. What I mean is that an overwhelming majority of SXS's are straight stocked with nicely figured walnut, usually with at least a little engraving (if not heavily engraved), double-triggered, solid ribbed, case colored, and blued.

There are always exceptions, but you just don't see synthetic SXS's with a stainless finish. I find the shot gun market to be somewhat like the guitar market. There's all kinds of run-of-the-mill stuff available, but the more knowledgeable we become, the more likely we are to gravitate towards the quality and balance of a handcrafted instrument.

SS
 
I just picked up a 16 gauge SxS and I plan on taking it out trap shooting. It may not be the best choice because of the fixed chokes, but I have nothing else to use at the moment.

Ammo's not that hard to find in general, but no target loads due to a lack of a 16 gauge class. I just picked up 3 boxes today actually of Remington Game Loads 7 1/2 which I'm going to use.
 
Side by sides are the sweetest and I only use side by sides for my hunting....I think one is at a slight disadvantage for clay targets, but fun for sure!!
 
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