O/U or SxS??? and Why?
- Thread starter Mount Sweetness
- Start date
Henry: J. P. Clabrough, after apprenticing in Birmingham, emigrated to the States and bought a store in San Francisco. The shotguns he sold there were manufactured in Birmingham. He also opened a retail store in London. The hardware store in San Francisco was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake, but was relocated and operations continued. They have traded as D.V. Johnstone, then Clabrough and Johnstone and also as J. P. Clabrough. On occasion the name has been spelled as Clabrough or Claborough. The guns haven't much collector interest, but they are of reasonably good quality. What Clabrough is not is a London gunmaker.
Sharptail
Sharptail
According to my Brits, he had two operations: one in London and the main one in Birmingham. I was with Chris Batha at the Orvis Cup. He said it was a London gun. Maybe it was a gun from the London store? When I do the right thing, it shoots well. I got a silver plate at the Orvis Cup this year in the Saturday SxS event, with it!
Henry
Henry
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- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
I like both, but prefer the SXS , just because!
Cat
Cat
The sxs and/or o/u could also be used to shoot slugs and buckshot.....many people hunt everything (small/big game) with either sxs or o/u. Having said that, folks who have "dedicated" Upland guns ( sxs or o/u) almost exclusively shoot birdshot in such guns as those are specifically designed for that purpose.
Thank you....I fidured it was possible just most guys use a pump (I think) for buckshot and slugs.
SORRY FOR HIGH JACKING THIS THREAD!
You are right. A single bbl (read single sighting plane) is more preferable as that can better facilitate aiming even if one is using just a single bead to achieve that.
No need to be sorry, we are all sharing/exchanging info one way or the other
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Dangerous game rifles, the very guns for whom reliabilty is paramount, are typically SXS break action rifles. They're not shot guns, but I find it interesting that wing shot purists and dangerous game hunters both prefer a similar design.
My personal interest in firearms is as a shooter and collector of 1890's to 1960 period guns. Except for big game hunting, I don't collect or use many rifles. My particular area if interest is with vintage shotguns (British and American). Along the same lines, I like shooting and collecting Colt SAA wheelguns and wartime pistols. But, BY FAR my greatest passion involving firearms is upland bird hunting.
I've hunted game birds with pumps and autos. I've hunted them with singles and doubles. I enjoy hunting them with whatever gun I have in my hands at the time. But for me, there's a special feeling in hunting the uplands with a nice sub-gauge SXS side lock with open hammers.
That places my Saxton 20 ga at the top of my favorites list these days. I posted pics of it when I got it, but for anyone who missed those, here's a couple shots:
More to my surprise, though, is the gun that's earned itself notice this season. I purchased a 12 gauge Spanish boxlock from the Eibar region earlier this year. It caught my eye because the case colours were in good condition, it was nicely hand engraved, and it locks up like a bank vault (double under-lug, Greener cross-bolt, AND side clips!!). The only negative was that the wood is worn bare and the butt plate is not original. Having paid only $275 for it, I can hardly complain. I can refinish the wood and refit a butt plate myself, no big deal. But I must say I'm impressed with the handling and balance of this gun. I'll have to weight it and see if it's really as light as it feels in the hands.
I have no pictures of that gun, yet, except one that I took of it during a pheasant hunt 2 weeks ago. It's the one on the opposite side from the dog:
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=403483
SxS
I have done most of my hunting with a 12g 870 Wingmaster, I was carrying her last year for rabbits and grouse and decided I needed a upland small game gun after hauling it through the thick bush.
I went and held a bunch of 20g SxS and O/U from different makers and I have $1000 to spend. I really like the SxS for upland, it to me just seems like a classic sporting gun for hunting. I have been looking long and hard at the CZ Bobwhite in 20g and like what I see.
If I knew more about SxS I would try to look at the used market but I have no idea what to look for. Go shoulder them, but for me it is the SxS all the way!!!
I have done most of my hunting with a 12g 870 Wingmaster, I was carrying her last year for rabbits and grouse and decided I needed a upland small game gun after hauling it through the thick bush.
I went and held a bunch of 20g SxS and O/U from different makers and I have $1000 to spend. I really like the SxS for upland, it to me just seems like a classic sporting gun for hunting. I have been looking long and hard at the CZ Bobwhite in 20g and like what I see.
If I knew more about SxS I would try to look at the used market but I have no idea what to look for. Go shoulder them, but for me it is the SxS all the way!!!
- Location
- Saskatchewan
Lots of good advice and info here. I too hunt with both and shoot targets with both, but I'd say for hunting I'd choose a SxS with double triggers like my Krieghoff, and for targets a U/O with single selective trigger like my Browning Superposed.
But I often hunt with a nice old Merkel U/O with double triggers and shoot skeet with an AYA #1 with single non-selective trigger.... aw heck just try 'em all and do what you like!
But I often hunt with a nice old Merkel U/O with double triggers and shoot skeet with an AYA #1 with single non-selective trigger.... aw heck just try 'em all and do what you like!
Mount Sweetness
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Ontario
Just picked up a nice light Charles Daly O/U, 20ga, 3in chambers. Very happy with it so far.
SxS
I am looking for a nice SxS in 20g for hunting pheasent, rabbits, grouse, squirrel, woodcock and other upland game. I would like it to have 26" to 28" barrels and double triggers. I have about $1000 to spend on it total and want to see what I can get on the used market. I have seen and read about the CZ Bobwhite and like what i see in it. But I want to see what is out on the market in a sub-sized frame 20g SxS for under $1000? Is there a possibility to get into a decent used spanish, english or american bird gun for that price?
What should I be looking for??? Make/Models?
I am looking for a nice SxS in 20g for hunting pheasent, rabbits, grouse, squirrel, woodcock and other upland game. I would like it to have 26" to 28" barrels and double triggers. I have about $1000 to spend on it total and want to see what I can get on the used market. I have seen and read about the CZ Bobwhite and like what i see in it. But I want to see what is out on the market in a sub-sized frame 20g SxS for under $1000? Is there a possibility to get into a decent used spanish, english or american bird gun for that price?
What should I be looking for??? Make/Models?
beretta boy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Orillia, Ontario
I have owned maybe 60 (maybe more ! ) shotguns including autoloaders, pumps, side by sides and over & unders. and currently own and frquently use a couple of each type, both for targets and hunting. I prefer the O/U and autoloaders for targets, the SxS and pumps for hunting.
No matter which double you decide on... fit, feel & balance are primary considerations.
The gun has to shoot where you are looking. It should fit you and be balanced between your hands. It should swing smoothly, and be neither hard to start that the gun is so long & heavy nor jerky because the barrels are so short and the gun too light.
If you are a novice to the shotgun field, the best money one can spend is on gun fitting and some basic coaching on the fundamentals and mechanics of shotgunning.
As a "1st" double, I too would recommend an O/U ... there's far wider selection of decent quality O/U guns on the market today than there are SxS's in the same price range.
For starters, I think I would look to a 28" or 30" barreled Browning or Beretta ... new or used, but certainly with screw-in chokes and a selectable single trigger.
! ) shotguns including autoloaders, pumps, side by sides and over & unders. and currently own and frquently use a couple of each type, both for targets and hunting. I prefer the O/U and autoloaders for targets, the SxS and pumps for hunting. No matter which double you decide on... fit, feel & balance are primary considerations.
The gun has to shoot where you are looking. It should fit you and be balanced between your hands. It should swing smoothly, and be neither hard to start that the gun is so long & heavy nor jerky because the barrels are so short and the gun too light.
If you are a novice to the shotgun field, the best money one can spend is on gun fitting and some basic coaching on the fundamentals and mechanics of shotgunning.
As a "1st" double, I too would recommend an O/U ... there's far wider selection of decent quality O/U guns on the market today than there are SxS's in the same price range.
For starters, I think I would look to a 28" or 30" barreled Browning or Beretta ... new or used, but certainly with screw-in chokes and a selectable single trigger.
yildiz, bss, ringneck
I picked up a 20g cz ringneck this summer with 26" barrels and really like it. The fit and finish are pretty good for a 1000 dollar gun, definitely not up there with the beretta or browning but still pretty close.
You can likely pick up a used browning bss for around the 1500 dollar mark...doubt you'll find one for around 1000 though.
I've never handled one, but have heard pretty good things about the yildiz guns. Prophet River in Lloydminster has a pretty good selection and it seems to me they are for the most part under 1000 bucks.
Good luck.
I picked up a 20g cz ringneck this summer with 26" barrels and really like it. The fit and finish are pretty good for a 1000 dollar gun, definitely not up there with the beretta or browning but still pretty close.
You can likely pick up a used browning bss for around the 1500 dollar mark...doubt you'll find one for around 1000 though.
I've never handled one, but have heard pretty good things about the yildiz guns. Prophet River in Lloydminster has a pretty good selection and it seems to me they are for the most part under 1000 bucks.
Good luck.
