Is there an "inexpensive" side by side?

mr00jimbo

mr00jimbo

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Or are they all an arm and a leg? You can buy Moss 500s and Remington 870s, which are great guns, for rather cheap compared to the pricetags some side-by-sides I've seen carry. But I like the idea of a double-barrel shotgun, seems cool. :D
So am I pretty much out of luck unless I were to spend lots of $, or are there entry level DB shotguns?
 
mr00jimbo said:
You can buy Moss 500s and Remington 870s, which are great guns, for rather cheap compared to the pricetags some side-by-sides I've seen carry. But I like the idea of a double-barrel shotgun, seems cool. :D
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You can buy new cars for rather cheap compared to the pricetags of some side-by-sides.:eek:

Check out the CZ line of sxs shotguns. They are around $1,000. A little more than an Baikal or Stoeger but nicer guns IMHO.
 
That Stoeger Coach gun looks great. Very beautiful! They're pretty solid and reliable guns, eh?
I guess nothing can really go wrong
 
The only problem with buying one of the inexpensive SxS's is that they'll lose half their value when you walk out the store with it. You may be better off picking up a quality used gun like a Parker or LC Smith which should hold its value if you take care of it.
 
Good advice from Snow Dog. Look for a used, quality gun. They're around, and represent much better value than one of these new, lower priced imports.
 
Mr. OOjimbo, I am here to give you hope. Not only are inexpensive SXS's available, but there are Great SXS's available at very reasonable prices. In the past couple of years I have seen a cased J. F. Smythe (English) sell for $250, a mint condition LeFever with nice Damascus barrels sell for $70, and a variety of Continental (German and Spanish mostly) guns sell for less than $400. I watched a cased Mortimer hammer gun escape me for a sum of less than $1,500 (I would have payed more). These are all fine guns, well balanced and lively. You will not find many of them on your dealers shelves, look at auctions, gun shows and in publications such as the Bargain Finder Press (classified ad papers). If you pay attention you will find what you are looking for. The hunt for the gun is loads of fun.

Sharptail
 
You can find many SxS pretty reasonable priced all over the place. Try to find a Spanish SxS (150-350). They are well made! No need to buy a new one as long you don't use it for skeet or trap or waterfowl (chokes, steel shot). For hunting upland (lead!) any old SxS is good enough, has history and is veeeery cool:D

Martin
 
Both slugs and shot? Better check the gun before using slugs - some older European guns have slender barrels; also make sure that the slug is going to clear the choke. Likelihood of a double throwing slugs from both barrels to a single point of aim is remote, and of course there won't be proper slug shooting sights. There are French doubles designed for slugs. Probably better to forget about slugs or steel shot in older guns. For slugs, get a modern slug gun. For waterfowling use bismuth. At one time I had a Miroku (like Charles Daly) double that would print slugs from one barrel and buckshot from the other to a single aiming point. Slug accuracy with only the bead was fine to 50 yds.
 
History is full of SXS's made to shoot both shot and ball. A Holland & Holland Paradox gun would be perfect. It will, however, cost tens of thousands of dollars. For those of us on a lesser budget, take tiriaq's advice or 1) get a heftier, stronger SXS (lightweight game guns and modern slugs don't mix well), and 2) stick to a more open choked pair of barrels, such as IC &Mod. Shoot various slugs at paper until you find a slug / barrel combo that shoots to point of aim. Use that barrel and load for slugs like a single shot. Of course you lose all of the advantages of a nice light game gun, and you don't gain much of a deer gun. To get both parts working harmoniously takes a lot of work, and that is why the Paradox, and guns like it, cost so much money.

Sharptail
 
Keep your eyes open for a Stevens 311. They are no longer in production but I've picked up an old 12 ga in vg condition for about $200 a year ago and see them listed in gunshops quite often for between $2-300.

I have read in an old "Gun Test" book put out by Consumer's Guide that despite the plain wood and finish that these guns are made as well as other SxSs costing triple their cost.

I haven't had a chance to fire mine yet but can attest to the fact that it is a solid, well built gun.

Cheers,

Frank
 
I'll second Martin's recommendation to find a spanish gun. They can usally be found for around $300. I bought a used one from Epps and had them open up the chokes on it. It's a really nice gun for the price I paid.
 
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