Help me choose a trade ex sxs...

A

aletheuo

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I've been getting into shooting clays with my father on the weekend. It's pure redneck stuff with a hand thrower but we are having loads of fun. I've been shooting a cooey single but have been thinking a double would be cool for the missed birds and then I discovered trade ex has a bunch for under $200. I like it.

Here's a few things I "think" I'm settled on... 12 guage 2 3/4 is perfect, no damascus barrels. But what brand and what chokes... I think it would be good to have two different chokes.

What would you choose? I'd likely also find myself shooting the odd grouse with it but nothing more than that.
 
If you are shooting basically pasture clays with a hand thrower, that means they probably aren't getting out there that far. Typically, for trap, guns are choked full. But since you are maybe going to use it for grouse besides the pasture clays, modified and improved cylinder would be nice. However, a lot of those guns on tradeex will be choked full and modified which will still be good for your purpose. Some wil be choked full and full. You can always get one barrel opened up. But before you do that you want to pattern the gun to know exactly what choke you have. As for the gun itself, that is a personal choice. Ideally, it would be nice if you could handle the guns to get one that fits you. However, Tradeex also has a lot of guns in the $300.00-$400.00 price range. If it were me I would be looking in this range. You will be surprised in the difference in gun and condition you will get over the $200.00 gun.
 
Haven't looked on their site for a while, but I recall they had some Baikals. 28 inch mod & full chokes seem to be the norm, but I had mine chopped at 26". now has cylinder barrel and is my favourite gun for anything under 25 yards. I've never had a problem with Baikal
 
:agree:

Anthony and Antal are always really helpful whenever I have questions.

If you've got time and the inclination to research deeper, sometimes there's some real gems hidden within the shotgun pages. When researching Spanish shotguns, for instance, I discovered that there's a large number of mediocre/okay brands and some really well built models. A few years ago I purchased a Sarriugarte OU in VG condition with ejectors for $350 (plus GST and shipping) after learning that their lowest grade of shotgun was roughly on par with a Browning Citori. I was also really happy with a FEG SxS with ejectors that I got for $225, but I had nostalgic reasons for getting a Hungarian built shotgun for European style game drives with the local Hungarian Hunt Club. The clunkier but solidly built Baikal's would serve your purposes just as well, as would any Savage/Stevens shotguns for which parts might be easier to find. There's also lots of cheap Lauronas that are probably a safe bet.

The main issue with these guns is that most are choked Mod/Full, whereas IC/Mod is better for grouse and woodcock, while the tighter chokes probably don't fare well with steel shot for waterfowl. If you sift through all of the pages though, you'll often find an exception in IC/Mod or other open choke combination.

Good Luck!

Frank

PS. Don't dismiss any pump or semi's that they might have in stock. They've had some decent Llama Franchi Semi's in VG condition and decent prices.
 
I just got a Baikal IJ58 in 16 bore from Anthony. It is by no means clunky. I also got a BRNO sidelock 12 bore and it is the nicest handling sxs I own. Give Anthony a call he will help you much. They are choked tight and most are not steel friendly but there are options with loads. No tox bismuth for ducks and Fiocchi spreader loads for close targets.

take care, Darryl
 
I have nothing to do with the listing but there is a very nice Feg 12 gauge just posted on the EE at a very reasonble price. The Fegs are good quality guns. Can't go wrong for the price. If I didn't have 3 Fegs already I would seriously think about it.
 
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