Norinco Coach Gun for hare/rabbit

oddione

oddione

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Some of my best memories as a kid have been of beagling with my grandfather for hare.

As I am preparing to get back into the sport, i'm looking for a nice short side by side shotgun. Say, 20" 12ga side by side. So far the best deal I have found are the norinco "coach guns". BUT, I noticed that the hammers are external..

I already have a pump and a few single shots but I really want to use a short side by side with a modified choke.

Any advice? Hammers being external a bad thing? I mean for 300$..
 
If you want a short hammerless double, there is a Rossi which is at least the equal of the Norinco.
There are also some Baikals around which I would consider to be superior to either the Norinco or the Rossi.
 
Dont forget about the IGA/ Stoegers they make a nice short hammerless SxS and the supreme models come with removeable chokes . And i belive the price for them now is about $400 or so. Yes i have one and yes im in love with it ;):p
 
I find the 20" SxS shotguns way too short for upland hunting. I had one for a time and sold it off PDQ.

A small 20ga with 26"or 28" bbls handles way nicer.


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I would have to agree... shorter barrels are tough for such small critters and what's a couple more inches anyway.

Don't we all wish for a few more inches? :cool:
 
People hunted with hammer guns for a long time. Keep your action open and #### the hammers only when you are ready to make a shot.

I have to fully agree hunting with a 20" barrel is more trouble than its worth. The swing will be jerky and the balance just wrong.

You don't say what your budget is. There's the Trade-Ex (site sponsor above) Husqvarna Swedish shotguns in the $200-400 range. The hammer guns are 12ga-2.5" chambers but the Kent gamebore pure gold 2.5" shells are quite readily available, or better yet roll your own. The hammerless guns are standard 2-3/4".

Most of the Spanish SxS doubles like AYA are decent guns too (some are outstanding).
 
well it's for fairly thick brush.. which makes it impossible to make a long shot anyway. And I don't want to be scared of scratching the gun either. This gun will get beat.
 
MauserMike said:
Keep your action open and #### the hammers only when you are ready to make a shot.
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You sure aren't going to shoot any game that way. When do you put sheels in the chamber? By the time you flushed a Pheasent Grouse or Rabbit it would be in the next WMU. :)
 
Win/64 said:
You sure aren't going to shoot any game that way. When do you put sheels in the chamber? By the time you flushed a Pheasent Grouse or Rabbit it would be in the next WMU. :)
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X2.

If your hunting over pointers, that might work. The fact is, hammers or not, no gun should be considered safe with loaded chambers. Just because your hammerless double has a safety, does that make it alright to rely on it to not discharge? Keep your fingers out of the trggergaurd, and you will be as safe as with a hammerless gun.
 
It's all very simple a "Coach Gun" is not a game gun. Find a nice hammerless sxs in 16 ;) or 20 ga. with 28" barrels or a nice little semi. This is where you will end up in the long run anyway. Hammerguns are cool but they have seen their day. Have you ever tried to fool with hammers with gloves on?
 
My hunting buddy uses a longer barrel with hammers and does very well shooting huns, sharpies, pheasants and migratory birds.
I have used a friends 20 in coach gun a few times and made meat. I considered it a novelty as I am 6 feet but for a shorter hunter a coach gun could work well.

Also I do use my double barrel Pedersoli muzzle loader on occassions. The hammers on it are less hunter friendly as they block my view. With it I only #### one barrel at a time. It is kind of like a single shot that only needs feeding every second flush.


As for fooling with hammers while wearing gloves i recall one hunt when we were using some tank camo netting. When the geese arrived the damn stuff was catching on every button, lever, hammer etc. Rather than being met with shot the birds must have heard our laughter as one guy yelled, " Damn, I feel like a trout in a net."
 
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oddione said:
well it's for fairly thick brush.. which makes it impossible to make a long shot anyway.
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it's not about making long shots, it's about using a shotgun that handles properly. A 20" SxS does not handle well for upland use .... PERIOD!

You've been warned. ;)

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Hare's can't fly

Hold on guys- he said "beagling for hare", which in my experience doesn't need the picture perfect swing of a long barrel. It needs the lightning quick of a short barrel, both to shoulder AND to change muzzle direction. I have a Ithaca flues 20 ga. bought from a fellow CGNer (thanks Dan!) that is perfect for that kind of up close, super thick brush hunting where you can barely stand up. The hare, grouse and woodcock in my freezer tell no lies. I say find one that feels like an extension of your arm and start hunting.
BTW- I have a 12ga. SxS with 30 inch barrels for shooting upland over dogs.
firstbunnywithithaca.jpg
 
jaydog said:
Hold on guys- he said "beagling for hare", which in my experience doesn't need the picture perfect swing of a long barrel. It needs the lightning quick of a short barrel, both to shoulder AND to change muzzle direction. I have a Ithaca flues 20 ga. bought from a fellow CGNer (thanks Dan!) that is perfect for that kind of up close, super thick brush hunting where you can barely stand up. The hare, grouse and woodcock in my freezer tell no lies. I say find one that feels like an extension of your arm and start hunting.
BTW- I have a 12ga. SxS with 30 inch barrels for shooting upland over dogs.
firstbunnywithithaca.jpg
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Exactly, I am usually very close to the hare and there is no need to "swing". Just need lighting fast shots for the 2-3 seconds that I may have a clear shot.

My question refers specifically to the external hammers and which would be a proper way to carry the gun when my dog is on a hot lead and i'm moving through thick brush. Hammers cocked or not? I'm trying to get a CHEAP double barrel shotgun having 20inch or so barrels. The pump is annoying, my long thirty inch over and under is just too long for hunting in the winter and will rust and it's so beautiful I am scared of damaging it.

I've been hunting succesfully with a single shot 12g and a single shot 20ga but I missed a few hare last year which really pissed me off. Hence why I want that second shot. I don't mind double triggers. It's the hammers that concern me.
 
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