sxs shotguns

[olympia]

hey guys i saw some nice looking shotguns on tradex ranging from 150 to 250 dollars(the sxs kind) I know nothing about shotguns and was wondering if anyone here has bought one those and what they think of them. I was thinking of buying one and cutting the barrel down to around 20". I basically just want one for plinking and the cool factor of having a double barrel shotgun.

 

[gunsaholic]

A $150.00 gun is a $150.00 gun and with the price usually comes the condition/age to warrant the price. Read the descriptions carefully. Many of those guns will have some cracks or pitting or bluing loss etc. Some will have 2 1/2" chambers which you don't want for your purpose. But otherwise if it's just for having fun, you should be fine. If you do a search on tradeex guns you should find other comments on the guns. They have been discussed several times.

 

[Mount Sweetness]

If you want one of them call TradeEx and have them help select one for you with 2 3/4in chambers.

For $200 you would get coolness factoritis

 

[BigUglyMan]

You might get a minor increase to your cool, but you will get no cachet for $200. None. Still, no reason not to go for it if you just have to have one. Just be warned...you'll get the bug!

 

[MarkJnK]

This is a $225 Tradex gun, with about 4hrs of refinishing/cleaning. Read carefully and choose wisely, there are some excellent guns on the site, but also some that would require major repairs in cracked stocks etc.

As received from Tradex... the Before Shots





During the refinish...






After...

 

[Lead Loader]

Look into a baikal, they are great sxs guns for that price, ususally about $250

 

[f7 666]

Great job refinishing that beauty !!! What to sell it lol

 

[smellie]

Lot of work into that old RENO, but sure worth it. Beautiful job!

If having a double gun makes one "cool", I must be halfway to Antarctica.

Right now the rack says 10, 11, 12, 12, 12, 12, 16, 16 and there are a 24 and a 13 (muzzleloader) coming along.

The old 10 is a lot of fun: 28-inch tubes on a 1885 hammer gun, load with 90 grains of Black and a .690 Ball with a collar: huge boom, lotsa smoke. Ultimate "home defense" load: fire a round into the floor, the smoke blinds the intruder, he falls into the hole in the floor and breaks a leg. When the smoke starts to clear, you can find the telephone and call the cops.

 

[SHELL SHUCKER]

Nice work on the Reno.....I hope she's as tight as she appears.

 

[MarkJnK]

She is. Shot trap with her, performs flawlessly. Shot a 23 and a 22 with her. Great gun.

 

[Jeepguy]

Any body use one of the bikal hammer guns ?

 

[straightshooter]

Any body use one of the bikal hammer guns ?

I have Baikal SXS's with open hammers in 12 ga, 16 ga, and 20 ga. What did you want to know?


BTW, you do yourself a disservice when you pose a new question in an existing thread. Many people have read this thread when it was originally posted. They won't necessarily read it again when a new post is added. They may never see your question.

 

[Jeepguy]

Thanks straightshooter. I just figured why not. I love seeing all the cool stuff people buy and fix up or by and use as is. Was ruinous if anyone here had one on those guns and if they liked as well as if they thought it was good value for the money 480$.

 

[arigaza]

Get a Baikal, if you can find one with double trigger is better , they are good shotguns for the price.
Cutting the barrels is not a good Idea.

 

[straightshooter]

Thanks straightshooter. I just figured why not. I love seeing all the cool stuff people buy and fix up or by and use as is. Was ruinous if anyone here had one on those guns and if they liked as well as if they thought it was good value for the money 480$.

I originally bought the 16 ga. I'm a big fan of open hammer guns and I've found it difficult to find such guns that are proven for nitro shot shells. The Baikals are built strong enough for heavy loads suitable for sharptail and pheasant. They were built in the mid-20th century, before the steel shot mandate, so no steel shot shells. The metalwork is utilitarian, but solid. The stocks tend to be roughly fit and poorly finished. Overall, they are reasonably balanced and in the optimal weight range for the gauge.

Upon buying the 16 gauge, I refinished the stocks in a darker stain, improving both the fit and the aesthetics, IMO. I enjoyed tremendously hunting with this gun and never had to worry about damaging an expensive gun in the bush. In subsequent years, I added a 20 ga model and a 12 ga to complete the collection. They're all the same design, but scaled to the gauge.

The price would depend on the individual gun. $480 is appropriate for one of these in excellent condition, but a bit high for one in good condition.

 

[Dexter Morgan]

MarkJnK;

That shotgun looks fantastic.

Could you please do us all a favor, and give us the specifics of how you did the refinishing?

Did you use a chemical stripper to remove the old finish? If so, what kind?

What product was used for the new finish?

Was there a lot of sanding involved?

 

[Megaclocker]

Here's my 200$-250$ Tradeex SxS (can't remember exact price). Took maybe 10 hours to get it that clean. That things was a mess.

Had a defective trigger, broke firing pin, finish was peeling off, no buttpad and real dull metal finish. (all disclosed by tradeex)
I wanted a project gun. SxS with external hammer and at least one barrel with a full choke.

After some polishing on the metal
Sanding, chemical stripping, new stain + poly finish
New firing pin, repairing the trigger and installing a buttpad.

Here it is ! (bluing is nice, just camera flash...)
It shoots and handle way better then my Stoeger Condor

 

[Jeepguy]

Sweet gun. It amazes me how nice these guns are from trades ounces cleaned up.

 

[a j cave]

If cool factor & fun is your intent, look at the Outlaw that Canada Ammo sells. Lots of fun and makes every one look when you show up at the skeet range.