Thinking about SxS shotties - Advice?

Tudenom

Tudenom

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
132   0   0
Location
Prince George BC
I'm thinking I'd like to get myself a SxS shotgun that'll do dual purpose for cowboy action shooting and hunting grouse/rabbits. I'm not a shotgun guy and know very little about what to look for in a good shotgun.

Does anyone have any reccomendations on what to get?

Here's what I figure I need it to do:

1) be light and fast pointing
2) be good for close range work on very light game, this isn't a duck gun or a bear defense shottie.
3) external hammers would fit the bill for action shooting but not req'd.
4) no extractors
5) doesn't have to be pretty, will see rain and snow, and probably be dropped more than once!

Is 12ga reccomended? I see a lot of 20 guages floating around for pretty good deals and I'm wondering where the advantages are (if any) for punching paper/knocking down steel targets and taking down small game at close range.

What should I look out for in a used gun? Loose actions, bulged barrels, etc? Should I avoid damascus barrels?

How much $ am I getting myself into here?

Thanks for the input folks!
 
"...Should I avoid damascus barrels?..." Like the plague. They're unsafe. Especially with modern smokeless ammo.
Do some on line research for what's available, but decide how much money you want to spend first. Some of 'em can be expensive.
 
sunray said:
"...Should I avoid damascus barrels?..." Like the plague. They're unsafe. Especially with modern smokeless ammo.
Click to expand...
Yet again sunray is wrong. Damascus barrels that are nitro proofed and haven't been screwed with are not unsafe with modern loads. Instead of pulling misinformation out of his ass sunray would be well served if he read some of the testing work done by Sherman Bell among others.:rolleyes:

Now to the original question. Any older shotgun you might consider should be checked over by a competent gun smith whether Damascus or not. Among the new guns those being marketed by by CZ would be worth consideration. They are being sold for around the $1,000 mark.

http://www.cz-usa.com/products_shotguns.php?m=1
 
Considering you are looking for a general all 'rounder and "it doesn't have to be pretty, use in rain & snow, & proberbly be dropped a few times" doesn't put you in Claybusters relm of $1,000 CZ's, although they'll be beautiful & worth the $$. I'm sure a nicely cared for 26" 20ga (or 12ga) sxs for under $300 would be more suited for your needs to start off with. There are good guys on CGN who would direct you some fine deals at reasonable pricing. Perhaps giving us your price range would help.
 
I was thinking in the under $400 range - $1000 is a little too rich for my blood, especially for my first shotgun attempt :)

I definately would take an older shotgun to a smith for inspection. The extra assurance is worth every penny in my opinion.
 
Used side by sides made by Laurona, Zoli, savage 311, etc. can be bought for around $300.....Stoeger make(import) some for around $400 new! Epps always has quite a few of these types for sale on their website! One suggestion though on the used ones...most will not have removable chokes and may not be compatible with steel shot! I have a Zoli, a Stoeger, and a few old British Guns with Damascus barrels and all work well! I do like the old Damascus ones and shoot them regularly with B.P. Loads.
 
A nice tight Savage 311 (12 gauge) for up to $300 - maybe less.

I picked one up on CGN, was in very good condition, hardly used for $300. Unfortunately :) it's in the shop right now having the barrels cut down to 20".

So much for accuracy.:rolleyes: Hello coach gun.
 
Although those short barrelled 'coach guns' can be used for upland game, they do have a disadvantage. Typical upland doubles have a 26, 28 or even a 30 inch barrel. Some feel that the 26" barrel is too short and gives difficulty in developing a smooth swing-through - too easy to jerk it around all over the place. So I can't even imagine how unbalanced 20" barrels would feel while trying to swing across a bird.

But I'm picking the fly sh!t out of the pepper. Yes, you can definitely use a coach gun for upland game; rabbits, grouse, squirrels, etc. Look for Savage/Stevens, Baikal, CIL, Rossi, etc. as cheap entry level guns that won't suffer by having their barrels bobbed.
 
A friend of mine HAD a 12ga Stoeger coachgun. He couldn't hit squat with it so I got it for peanuts. I couldn't hit squat either.

It's loooooong gonnnnnnne now! :dancingbanana:




.
 
Tudenom said:
I'm thinking I'd like to get myself a SxS shotgun that'll do dual purpose for cowboy action shooting and hunting grouse/rabbits.

Here's what I figure I need it to do:

1) be light and fast pointing
2) be good for close range work on very light game, this isn't a duck gun or a bear defense shottie.
Click to expand...

Admittedly, this is not gonna be a conventional Upland gun, however, IMHO, a 20" bbl would be effective for the purposes mentioned provided shots are kept within reason - 20yds or under.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom