What side by side?

conor_90

conor_90

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I promise not to use the term high end this time lol.

So this spring I traded in my Henry single (yes you were all right, I wanted a second shot) and got a huglu side by side.

It seemed to hit all the numbers; boxlock, English styling, straight grip, case hardening, double triggers, steel rated, butt pad and interchangeable chokes.

Then I took it out for the first time, took the safety off and it doubled breaking my distal phalanges and tearing my thumb open.

I like side by sides, I like boxlocks. I would have liked a third bite, simply because I think they're a cool design, much like the crf rifles I like. Not really a matter of practicality or superior design, just nostalgia I guess? I ended up settling though.

So how do I find these things without paying 5 grand or buying Turkish? I'm literally gunshy of the huglus now, though PR is handling warranty repair with their usual speed and excellent customer service and I will likely use it this season when it arrives.

Is there a " middle ground" price and quality wise? Does the ~2000 dollar modern side by side exist?

I am not a big shotgunner, i just got into waterfowling because Im going to school in Sask and cant big game hunt as a non resident. I enjoy it but I plan on moving elsewhere and it will never replace big game hunting for me.

Will not be used for thousands of rounds a year, more like 5-6 sessions pass shooting ducks abd geese, a bit of chicken shooting, camp/canoe gun duty while big game hunting, some gravel pit clays in the summer and maybe a few trap and skeet nights at the range.

Am I better off finding a genuine English gun with 2 3/4 chambers and modifying chokes and barrels to be able to shoot steel? Maybe the same with a BRNO sidelock? Their design is cool too and I doubt they will be around for intersurplus prices for long.



Open to opinions, rants and outlandish suggestions. Thanks guys
 
conor_90 said:
I promise not to use the term high end this time lol.

So this spring I traded in my Henry single (yes you were all right, I wanted a second shot) and got a huglu side by side.

It seemed to hit all the numbers; boxlock, English styling, straight grip, case hardening, double triggers, steel rated, butt pad and interchangeable chokes.

Then I took it out for the first time, took the safety off and it doubled breaking my distal phalanges and tearing my thumb open.

I like side by sides, I like boxlocks. I would have liked a third bite, simply because I think they're a cool design, much like the crf rifles I like. Not really a matter of practicality or superior design, just nostalgia I guess? I ended up settling though.

So how do I find these things without paying 5 grand or buying Turkish? I'm literally gunshy of the huglus now, though PR is handling warranty repair with their usual speed and excellent customer service and I will likely use it this season when it arrives.

Is there a " middle ground" price and quality wise? Does the ~2000 dollar modern side by side exist?

I am not a big shotgunner, i just got into waterfowling because Im going to school in Sask and cant big game hunt as a non resident. I enjoy it but I plan on moving elsewhere and it will never replace big game hunting for me.

Will not be used for thousands of rounds a year, more like 5-6 sessions pass shooting ducks abd geese, a bit of chicken shooting, camp/canoe gun duty while big game hunting, some gravel pit clays in the summer and maybe a few trap and skeet nights at the range.

Am I better off finding a genuine English gun with 2 3/4 chambers and modifying chokes and barrels to be able to shoot steel? Maybe the same with a BRNO sidelock? Their design is cool too and I doubt they will be around for intersurplus prices for long.



Open to opinions, rants and outlandish suggestions. Thanks guys
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear about your misfortune, but I do not think this is typical of Huglu shotguns, but of that particular gun. As one of our good members here once stated " Buy the gun not the brand"
I have seen instances where very high end guns malfunctioned as well .
As far as doubles go, unless you can actually handle it, buying any gun from an online sale is pretty much a pig in a poke so to speak.
There are some dealers who are reliable in their assessments of a gun, Ellwood Epps is one, Prophet River another.
Tradex was very clear on the condition of their guns yet I heard of negative reports - I never had one in over 30 guns I bought from them over the years.
Inter surplus might be okay as well, I haven't dealt with them.
Cat
 
I bought it because I had a huglu over under with battue sights that I used to shoot slugs from that was by some miracle well regulated enough to put two in a pie plate from 50 yards.

Honestly I was impressed with the gun from a fit and finish perspective before I was staring at my mangled thumb squirting blood.

Unfortunately I do not know squat about shotguns and cannot tell if a used one is in good shape or not, besides the very obvious

My experience with rifles tells me that even buying new, you are often rolling the dice when it comes to function.

I've only purchased components from intersurplus and would describe my experience with the way the business is run as mixed. Makes me a bit leery of their quality assessments

A big take away from this is that PR is great to deal with, but I already knew that
 
The idea of modifying a English double or any old double for steel is not possible so that counts that idea out
Possibly buying a browning bss or a win 23 with factory mod and imp cyl choking may work if you don't use steel shot larger than number two
I have a Ithaca skb 100 with mod and imp cyl chokes that work fine also I would only shoot 2/34" 1400fps or less out of these guns a bit lower pressure than the 3" 1600 FPS ammo
I not a fan of hugula or other Turkish guns but for the most part they are fine I think you just had bad luck
 
I have a browning bss and love it but, it’s a little heavy (has never bothered me in the blind) and it is mod/full. My CZ ring neck SxS was nice but just didn’t fit as well. Try to see if you can hold one first. Fit is very important.
 
Huglu shotguns generally have a good reputation. Having said that a 202B that I purchased did have a minor problem that I had to fix on the first outing with the gun but after that the gun has functioned flawlessly since. You don't mention whether yours has been fixed or what the warranty experience was like. If it's fixed and you like the gun then why would you look for another so soon?
 
Have a CZ Bobwhite project upland and it works well and has never doubled. I concur it is a bit heavy compared to my English doubles but dropping it will not cause heart failure. That being said I bought my grandson a new Huglu single shot 28g and it is an aberration. Must have been built by the new apprentice, could not get the fired casing out of the chamber without a knife ,patterned it was /is a full pattern low, and opening the barrel with the trigger guard requires two hands.It will not be going to anyone I know and will be gone this year.
 
Oh man that really sucks sorry to hear it.
That’s a huge let down when you first took it out too.
I always figured those Huglus were great value.
My vote is with FalconFlyer and persevere with this gun now, they should be able to get it working properly for you, or supply you with one that does.

For something else I agree with Browning BSS, Winchester 23, a Beretta, or an SKB Japanese or Turkish.
A Webley and Scott 700 post WWII could handle 2 3/4” and would likely be good value for a British gun, or the 20 gauge if one comes up.
Standard grade Fox and Parker for American guns but the 12’s are usually heavy I think.
All in all a 20 if you could find it as a first choice for anything for an upland gun.
Or sometimes you see short barrelled AYA Churchill 12 ga’s in that price range and they’d work if you are okay with the 25” barrels.
Pretty much get as new as possible in most cases.
BryBenn has shot the heck out of some Huglus and I think they were good for him.
I have a Webley and Scott 2020, it’s Turkish made by AKUS and the same as the Dickinson Estates, Smith and Wesson Gold and SKB 200 HR/Field. Not the same factory as the Huglu and was a little more than 2x as much new. It’s been a tank of a 20 gauge though with lots of round through it (2000~ target rounds) and no problems whatsoever, not a single hiccup.
I don’t shoot it a lot anymore.
It was my first SxS when I got ‘back’ into them almost 10yrs ago.
Trigger pull a bit heavy, sure, and stock on mine is the pistol grip which is a bit bulky for upland, and comb and rib are high so it points high, but all in all nice wood, awesome real case colours and a solid close on the action make for a really nice gun. I’d recommend one if a used one turned up.
It’s a great little duck gun too with bismuth jump shooting or whatever.

My first SxS that I used to hunt with was a BRNO.
I think trouble with BRNOS and other vintage like Sauers and Merkels are usually chokes are tight, they are heavy, stocks can have a lot of drop and plus you don’t often find 20gauges.
Still good value in 12’s though because the price is right.
I bet a lot of those Continental guns wouldn’t have been messed with and worked over either, as much as similar British stuff (especially earlier) can have the potential to be, as it seems like that was a part of the British tradition.

Good Luck and don’t give up on the SxS !
 
Gun has not been fixed yet, PR has been good and they vouched for the smith who does the work saying he is experienced working with euro and continental doubles. Can't remember who it is though, just that it's not Gravel (I was scared when they said it was going to Ontario). They vowed to get it back ASAP for duck season. I won't hold them to that because it took me a while to mail it out re working in remote areas (and still trolling cgn all the while, bless up starlink)


Why am I considering replacing it? I dunno, trauma response?

I really appreciate the style of the gun, hard to find elsewhere without getting into truly expensive stuff or sacrificing modern features it seems. Pistol grips and beaver tail forends just don't do it for me in the same way as straight stocks and splinter fore ends do.

Won't be giving up on side by sides, I have wanted a functional one for almost a decade since I owned a (genuinely terribly made) mossberg silver reserve I saved for months to buy
 
conor_90 said:
Gun has not been fixed yet, PR has been good and they vouched for the smith who does the work saying he is experienced working with euro and continental doubles. Can't remember who it is though, just that it's not Gravel (I was scared when they said it was going to Ontario). They vowed to get it back ASAP for duck season. I won't hold them to that because it took me a while to mail it out re working in remote areas (and still trolling cgn all the while, bless up starlink)


Why am I considering replacing it? I dunno, trauma response?

I really appreciate the style of the gun, hard to find elsewhere without getting into truly expensive stuff or sacrificing modern features it seems. Pistol grips and beaver tail forends just don't do it for me in the same way as straight stocks and splinter fore ends do.

Won't be giving up on side by sides, I have wanted a functional one for almost a decade since I owned a (genuinely terribly made) mossberg silver reserve I saved for months to buy
Click to expand...

I had a gun double on me before and I haven't shot it since.

I think that your search for a SXS that "does it all" is in vain.

You would be much better suited if you only have 2 k total to spend, in my humble opinion, to purchase a good quality vintage American or European SXS to scratch that itch and then just get a $300-$400 Remington 870 or some other pump gun for the other stuff.

You can buy a helluva lot of 12 gauge SXS these days for $1500-$1700 bucks.........
 
Couple thoughts. First, (and this really doesn't;t matter), IF the Huglu is like my CZ Bobwhite, and I think they ARE pretty much the same, it is not a box lock but, rather, it is a trigger plate lock. Like I said, shouldn't matter but it is what it is. My CZ has been stellar so far but I have only put a coupe flats through it. I have mostly heard good things about both the CZ and the Huglu but have also heard of guys having issues with both. I think cases like yours are relatively rare. If you are only interested in shooting waterfowl from a blind, something to consider would be a Fox Model B. While it does not check many of the boxes on your list, they are a solid performer and ideal for waterfowl shooting from a blind and they can be had for <$500 all day long. I have a Fox Model B BLSE (Box lock, selective ejector) in 12GA, Mod/Full that points and shoots wonderfully (for me). However, I have retired it and replaced it with the Bobwhite (20GA) as all I shoot is clays and upland. Like you, when I went looking g for a 20GA I wanted, straight grip, double triggers, splinter forend, screw-in chokes, extractors instead of ejectors and NO auto-safety. The Bobwhite checked all those boxes AND the stock dimensions were spot on for me. I LOVE it (so far). The Fox is heavy, single trigger, beavertail forestock, pistol grip, fixed chokes (the one thing that is now ON my list after having one with screw-in chokes) and auto safety. Still, it is a nice gun to shoot and the weight should not be a problem when shooting from a blind (as opposed to walking around hunting upland) and is good for reducing the recoil. I DON'T, however, know if the Fox is steel compatible. Don't hunt waterfowl so that was never something that I cared about. I am thinking of selling my Fox but you can get them at any gunshow and at most online used gun sites. They are quite common. After having said all THAT, IMO, I would wait until you get your Huglu back. While some details could be missed in the assembly in a factory setting causing your issue, having gone through by a GOOD gunsmith familiar with the Huglu trigger plate action, it SHOULD come back as a solid performer having been basically assembled and "tuned" by hand.
 
conor_90 said:
I promise not to use the term high end this time lol.

So this spring I traded in my Henry single (yes you were all right, I wanted a second shot) and got a huglu side by side.

It seemed to hit all the numbers; boxlock, English styling, straight grip, case hardening, double triggers, steel rated, butt pad and interchangeable chokes.

Then I took it out for the first time, took the safety off and it doubled breaking my distal phalanges and tearing my thumb open.

I like side by sides, I like boxlocks. I would have liked a third bite, simply because I think they're a cool design, much like the crf rifles I like. Not really a matter of practicality or superior design, just nostalgia I guess? I ended up settling though.

So how do I find these things without paying 5 grand or buying Turkish? I'm literally gunshy of the huglus now, though PR is handling warranty repair with their usual speed and excellent customer service and I will likely use it this season when it arrives.

Is there a " middle ground" price and quality wise? Does the ~2000 dollar modern side by side exist?

I am not a big shotgunner, i just got into waterfowling because Im going to school in Sask and cant big game hunt as a non resident. I enjoy it but I plan on moving elsewhere and it will never replace big game hunting for me.

Will not be used for thousands of rounds a year, more like 5-6 sessions pass shooting ducks abd geese, a bit of chicken shooting, camp/canoe gun duty while big game hunting, some gravel pit clays in the summer and maybe a few trap and skeet nights at the range.

Am I better off finding a genuine English gun with 2 3/4 chambers and modifying chokes and barrels to be able to shoot steel? Maybe the same with a BRNO sidelock? Their design is cool too and I doubt they will be around for intersurplus prices for long.



Open to opinions, rants and outlandish suggestions. Thanks guys
Click to expand...

Buy a decent quality American side by side (they tend to be heavier and more tolerant of lots of heavy shooting) and shoot bismuth shells. You could get a good A Grade Fox for a grand, give or take, and shoot contentedly forever with bismuth shells.

There are deals on English guns, but by the time you get them out of the UK and over here there is a significant jump in price that may well not be worth the trouble.
 
Your Huglu likely went to Precision Arms for warranty (as did mine, for doubling). I had much better luck with my Churchill O/U which hasnt missed a beat for about 2K rounds. Havent owned a Churchill SXS, but some friends have had good luck with them. They run about a G-note.
I've owned various makes over the years, so i have a pretty good baseline for comparison. Since you want to use this gun for waterfowl (eg heavy steel loads), you might consider a Baikal. I have recent production model with SST, chokes, 3 in chamber and steel compatible. They aint the prettiest girl at the dance, but they are functional, reliable, heavy (not a bad thing for heavy loads) and relatively inexpensive. With the Russian embargo, you would have to buy used, and could likely get one for ~500$.
 
conor_90 said:
I promise not to use the term high end this time lol.

So this spring I traded in my Henry single (yes you were all right, I wanted a second shot) and got a huglu side by side.

It seemed to hit all the numbers; boxlock, English styling, straight grip, case hardening, double triggers, steel rated, butt pad and interchangeable chokes.

Then I took it out for the first time, took the safety off and it doubled breaking my distal phalanges and tearing my thumb open.

I like side by sides, I like boxlocks. I would have liked a third bite, simply because I think they're a cool design, much like the crf rifles I like. Not really a matter of practicality or superior design, just nostalgia I guess? I ended up settling though.

So how do I find these things without paying 5 grand or buying Turkish? I'm literally gunshy of the huglus now, though PR is handling warranty repair with their usual speed and excellent customer service and I will likely use it this season when it arrives.

Is there a " middle ground" price and quality wise? Does the ~2000 dollar modern side by side exist?

I am not a big shotgunner, i just got into waterfowling because Im going to school in Sask and cant big game hunt as a non resident. I enjoy it but I plan on moving elsewhere and it will never replace big game hunting for me.

Will not be used for thousands of rounds a year, more like 5-6 sessions pass shooting ducks abd geese, a bit of chicken shooting, camp/canoe gun duty while big game hunting, some gravel pit clays in the summer and maybe a few trap and skeet nights at the range.

Am I better off finding a genuine English gun with 2 3/4 chambers and modifying chokes and barrels to be able to shoot steel? Maybe the same with a BRNO sidelock? Their design is cool too and I doubt they will be around for intersurplus prices for long.



Open to opinions, rants and outlandish suggestions. Thanks guys
Click to expand...

Don’t be afraid to shop estate sales and gun shows. I was put onto a fellow years back who was a collector of quality American guns.
He had a couple of beat up Spanish guns in a corner which he asked me to take away for $75 for the pair.
One was a 1938 AYA and the other was a Grulla.
The AYA didn’t fit me and had a gummed up mechanism to #### the second hammer, so I sold it for $1000 as is. The Grulla is still my favourite gun and I hunt with it ever year. I paid for it to be restored several years ago, and still feel I got the deal of the century.
 
If you have a Cabelas (or perhaps even a Bass Pro) within reach, the one here in town has been stocking older British Webley and Scott side by sides for some months now, when one is sold there's a pause and then they get another one in. When I looked at one, the salesman couldn't tell me a thing about chokes and chamber lengths, nor did he want me to break the gun down to check, but if you're less easily put off you might get a pretty fine gun by buying one of those. As has been seen in this forum, the Brit market for side by sides is pretty dead at the moment, they're all modernizing and it seems that Cabelas at least is smart enough to import some of them.
 
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