Beginner

Gunit90: I guess the first question to ask would be: In what role do you see your gun? Hunting? Sport Shooting....ie: Sporting Clays, Trap, Skeet, etc.? Competition? That might give folks on this forum a clearer idea of what might work best, for you.
 
You sound like you want to try them out so a few hundred dollars at intersurplus will give you a taste. A low price gun can be had for $300 or so which will get you stared. Husqvarna, FEG, Merkel or for more $$ AYA or SKB
 
Gunit90: Intersurplus is a great site to pick up good quality, reasonably priced SXS's. There are some real bargains to be had, there.
Arcosdad and Hunter5425 have already given you some useful leads. There will be more. The selection is fairly broad. Including, English makes.

Caution: When researching guns on the site, pay careful attention to chamber dimensions. A lot of European shotguns will feature 2 1/2" chambers, rather than the more common 2 3/4" chambers found in North America.

Though 2 1/2" shotshells are available in Canada, they may not always be as easy to find, as standard 2 3/4".

Something to look out for, in your search.

Hope this helps:

Al
 
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There numerous article on the subject of using 2 3/4 shells in a 2 1/2 chamber
The consensus seems to be
- stay away from paper shells
- keeps the load/velocity reasonable


Look up the data , 7/8 or 1oz loads at 1200fps ought to be safe
- I wouldn't do it with a Damascus barrel

Sherman Bell, in article titled "Finding Out for Myself" Part V "Long Shells in Short Chambers" (Double Gun Journal, Winter 2001) said that with loads that are sensible in a light 2 1/2 inch gun, no dangerous pressure levels were produced. He said there was no reason, related to safety, to lengthen an original 2 1/2 inch chambered gun to shoot 2 3/4 shells, as long as the pressure of the 2 3/4 inch load you use is the same as the pressure of a 2 1/2 inch load.

There also the option of rolling your own... or trimmings existing 2 3/4 shells and use a overshot card
 
There numerous article on the subject of using 2 3/4 shells in a 2 1/2 chamber
The consensus seems to be
- stay away from paper shells
- keeps the load/velocity reasonable


Look up the data , 7/8 or 1oz loads at 1200fps ought to be safe
- I wouldn't do it with a Damascus barrel



There also the option of rolling your own... or trimmings existing 2 3/4 shells and use a overshot card
For a beginner I think it would be wise to stick to standard shell lengths. Especially given he/ she might want to sell/ trade up. There isn't much market for the 2.5" guns though some of the pre-war ones are pretty nice.
 
I agree with Arcosdad. Though there is nothing wrong with guns with 2 1/2" chambers(Considered the "standard" chambering in Europe, for many years), for someone starting out in the North American shooting scene, it makes better sense...at least in my opinion... to stick to the widely used 2 3/4" chambering.
For no other reason than it makes ammo and gun choices less complicated for beginners. Of course for an experienced shooter...especially one who reloads, the 2 1/2" chambering is very versatile.

Al

ps: I remember Sherman Bells's articles in the Double Gun Journal. Always liked his work. Great publication, Was a subscriber, for quite some years. Big fan of Ross Seyfried, too. Have some experience with 2 1/2" shells, myself. Solid performers.
 
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Hi All,
Question : whats few good brands for beginners trying to buy side by side shotgun?
Thanks 🙏🏽
First question, are you real or a bot?
Second, what is your budget and intended use?
Third, are you outside of average height and weight, meaning usual shotguns may not fit you well.
Fourth, do you have a particular reason for choosing a side by side? All of them are good, btw.
 
First question, are you real or a bot?
Second, what is your budget and intended use?
Third, are you outside of average height and weight, meaning usual shotguns may not fit you well.
Fourth, do you have a particular reason for choosing a side by side? All of them are good, btw.
No Im real
I like to use it for sporting or hunting small game maybe
Im a tall guy around 6.4 or 6.5
I like side by side shut guns
 
Gunit90: Intersurplus is a great site to pick up good quality, reasonably priced SXS's. There are some real bargains to be had, there.
Arcosdad and Hunter5425 have already given you some useful leads. There will be more. The selection is fairly broad. Including, English makes.

Caution: When researching guns on the site, pay careful attention to chamber dimensions. A lot of European shotguns will feature 2 1/2" chambers, rather than the more common 2 3/4" chambers found in North America.

Though 2 1/2" shotshells are available in Canada, they may not always be as easy to find, as standard 2 3/4".

Something to look out for, in your search.

Hope this helps:

Al
Yes
Im looking for 3” chambers and I really like the Beretta486 but kind of expensive.
 
Gunit90: Perhaps the Weatherby Orion SXS might be a more affordable option. Manufactured for Weatherby by Yildiz, in Turkey. Very affordable. Features 3" chambers.

While you're at it, check out some of the SxS shotguns currently being produced by Huglu. Manufactured in Turkey. 3" chambers available. Reviews of these guns have been quite positive.

Then, there's Churchill. Also manufactured in Turkey. Feature 3" chambers. Quite affordable.

An even better option: Fausti. Fausti Stefano is a highly respected gun company from northern Italy. High quality. Also feature 3" chambers. A bit pricier, but very good value for the money.
I own a Fausti SxS. In this case, a Weatherby Athena d'Italia. Very nice gun. My favourite all-around gun, especially for upland game.

Finally: Chapuis. High quality. Also features 3" chambers. Don't own one, but have shot one. Compares very favourably, to Fausti.

I've probably missed a few. Perhaps these may fit your budget, for a relatively high-end shotgun.

May be worth a look.

There are other lower cost shotguns available. Stoeger, Stevens, etc. All depends on your budget and tastes.


Al
 
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Strick with a gun that has 2 3/4 inch chambers and use 2 3/4 inch shells.

Any time you use a shell that's longer than the chamber is cut for you increase the chamber pressure since the mouth of the shell opens up into the forcing cone creating a constriction. I know that some people don't think this is an issue but frankly they are playing with fire and have no idea what kind of pressure they are running.
 
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