sxs advice

hairygrump

hairygrump

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Hi, I'm in the market for a side by side. The plan is to use it for upland bird hunting and possibly skeet or trap. I have been considering a stoeger uplander as a starting gun but I'm a bit leary because of a few bad reviews so I figured I'd ask the question here. Any other recommendations that won't cost a fortune and won't leave me hanging? Also, I was thinking about a 20g so my wife would be comfortable shooting it but I don't have enough experience with shotguns and birds to know if thats going to do the job. Any info you guys can kick down would be appreciated. Thanks.

Al
 
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I don't own an SxS shotgun (I WANT ONE THOUGH!), but I own an O/U shotgun and shopping for either one can be a pain in the ass. For some reason cheap pump actions seem to work work work yet, a cheap O/U or SxS may leave you disappointed at the range or in the field. I purchased a CZ Redhead and I’m super happy with it. I've had it for about a year now and got 12 grouse with it last fall hunting season. I can't stand the American style round knob pistol grip but for the quality it is I was willing to settle. I looked at a CZ Bobwhite at Wholesale Sports the day I got the Redhead and it’s a nice quality piece. CZ Shotguns are made by Huglu, A Turkish Company. An American high class shotgun brand Deehan also have their shotguns made by Huglu just they do the engraving themselves and sell it for $2500 with only two years of warranty well CZ sells them for $800 with 5 years of warranty.

If you can't afford the $800+ for the Bobwhite then get a Baikal. Them crazy Rusky shotguns are built like the AK-47. Super ugly, cheap, and they just work work work. The Savage Stevens SxS, if they even make them anymore, are alright shotguns.

Stoeger got a bad rep years ago when the IGA shotguns were really poor but, Beretta took over and the company is putting out some decent shotguns (just ugly) now. Their coach guns are very popular.

The pieces of crap you want to stay clear away from are the Mossberg Silver Receiver SxS and O/Us. Everyone I know who got one loved it at first, then months later the firing pins break and they hated it.
 
If you want to shoot trap as well as skeet, then you are really going to need a gun that will accept choke tubes. That means a newer gun. I would look at the CZ line or Yildiz. If you are not going to shoot skeet, I would be looking at a well maintained used gun. You can get pretty good quality at an affordable price. 20 gauge is a fine choice , especially if you are going to carry it a lot. That being said, this is just the basics of SxS advice.
 
Had one decades ago, used it for shooting pheasant. Fun gun, but for my purposes I found it too heavy and went back to my wingmaster. Mine was a 12ga, forget the brand.

I wouldn't get one without screw in chokes, unless you get it Really cheap, and new one's are, what, 430.00 at wholesale?
 
You can do absolutely anything you want with a SXS choked IC/MOD. if you are talking upland, waterfowl,and the OCCASIONAL round ofm skeet and trap.
No need to complicate things at all.
I have many SXS guns , and have no problem doing any of those with IC/MOD barrels, in any gauge , but I prefer 20's or 28's.
Cat
 
I agree with Catnthehatt. My shotgun came with 5 chokes but all I ever use if IC/MOD for everything. The only time you what a tighter choke for a 20ga is if you shoot trap. Trap is supposed to be for 12ga shotguns only because anything smaller just can't reach out that far well enough. If you’re throwing the clay birds from right beside you, a 20ga will have no problem reaching out and grabbing it. If you get a CZ Bobwhite then your set for life with a quality piece, comes with 5 choke tubes, and for a good price. Dam I sound like an Infomercial.
 
I jut got a Yildiz 20 Ga sxs. I only used it for 2 round skeet so far. Let me tell you something the gun is very light (2.4 Kg) and have some kick. So your wife might be better of with a 12Ga heavier gun. The gun looks like well made and point real nice and its under $1000 including Tax.

Jozsef
 
Hey guys I would suggest he purchase a used one... I have about 8 sxs of various qualities, believe it or not my favorite is a 16 gauge, made in 1939 in Belgium. It was brought over here as a advertizement special for a lure company. I have a USSR made double 12 kills ducks like crazy, better than my browning. After owning and shoot some many different side by side, I have recommend that you borrow a few different types, gauges and try'em . The cheaper ones might surprise you.
 
So, I pulled the trigger and plunked down on a new Stoeger Uplander 20Ga. Couldn't find much in that gauge used. Did a bit of digging and decided that there were enough favorable reviews of the uplander to warrant spending a bit of money. Should have it in my hands in a week or so to try it out and see how well it shoots and how reliable it turns out to be.
 
Christ, the wife doesn't know about the last two rifles I bought let alone the shotgun. Hopefully, there won't be too many additions or I'm a dead man. But, that buffalo rifle did catch my eye.......
 
hairygrump said:
Christ, the wife doesn't know about the last two rifles I bought let alone the shotgun. Hopefully, there won't be too many additions or I'm a dead man. But, that buffalo rifle did catch my eye.......
Click to expand...

Welcome to the club,the statement above qualifies you as a gun nut :D and I fully understand what you are talking about...discussions and plusminus one firearm away from a divorce.

But maddawg is right about used SxS...I collect external hammer guns (the old ones) and seriously,there is nothing that can go wrong with a old SXS that was good enough for hunting the past 80 years! And I blow up clays with a 20" SxS 12ga...Improved and modified cyl.! In some areas I get the "looks" because I'm not competing with a 4000$ + O/U and come up with an short old SxS instead.Let's put it that way: the more you use your tool the better you get,no matter how ####ty it looks like in others opinions.
Guaranteed a conversation starter if you do as good as a 10 times more expensive gun ( my above mentioned- meanwhile really used looking- SxS was around 250 bucks used...I only had it for the past 12 years) :rockOn:
 
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