I'm thinking of picking up a tradex SxS for a coach gun project. They seem to have a good selection of old shotguns. I was wondering if anyone could recommend a particular brand. The three that I was considering were Husqvarna, Laurona or maybe JP Sauer and Sons. I mentioned those 3 because I have heard of them. Is any one a better value then the others? Thanks for you input.
Tradex SxS
- Thread starter Miles Teg
- Start date
You probably won't go wrong with any of them, but if something breaks parts could be a definite issue. The parts that are most likely to cause an issue are hammer springs and firing pins... You also might want to consider the Baikal's on page 10. I have an IJ-26 Baikal SXS and it is a very solid gun with a reasonable finish and nice wood.
The only Husky's I'd stay away from are the ones that don't appear to have a forearm, they are just plain ugly in my opinion.
The only Husky's I'd stay away from are the ones that don't appear to have a forearm, they are just plain ugly in my opinion.
gunsaholic
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Winnipeg, Manitoba
Of the three you listed, in my opinion I think the Sauer is the best of the three. And there is no problem dealing with Tradeex. However, if you want a coach gun project, why not consider an old Stevens 311 series. These guns are usually tough as nails and stand up to a lot of shooting. They come up for sale frequently on EE or other gun sites and they can be had for cheap, especially if you want a project gun. In fact I have bought five of the 311 series in different gauges in the past few months from average condition to like new. Most of the guns on tradeex will be 12 gauge which is fine if that's what you want. You can often find the 311's in sub gauges.
Hmm, I hadn't thought about parts. I am not going to be putting thousands of rounds through it. I just want it for fun/bear protection. I am going to try my hand at prospecting this fall and I want something short and light near by. I owned a nice Sauer once and it got me thinking. I also owned a stoeger and I couldn't get rid of that thing fast enough, it had the worst triggers. I'll have a look at Tradex again, I would definately consider a Baikal.
When you talk to Tony, ask him if the gun you chose has 2 3/4" or 2 1/2" chambers. There are plenty of both at Tradex. Those chambered in 2 3/4" are suitable for your project, those chambered in 2 1/2" will be a problem getting ammo for (almost impossible for slugs), unless you load your own.
