Any SxS shotgun fans on here?

[FNSafari]

I'm looking to purchase an upland SxS 20g for grouse/woodcock. I want it to stay sub 6lbs, would like it to be more around 5-5.5.

Not looking to drop crazy coin as it will be hunted, but an something with investment potential could be a case to twist my arm. I'm not super well versed in this market, but I've looked at some in the $3k range (Merkel, Churchill, etc.) Anyone have suggestions on a model or place to look that deals in these. I'd want ejectors, english grip, splinter forend. Thanks

I’ve had a Merkle for over 40 years a 147E boxlock 20 gauge. It’s a delightful shotgun it’s never once given me any problems misfired or otherwise. Right at six pounds. You can’t go wrong with either the 47 or 147. Good luck. I’m on my third Brittany with mine.

As of 6/14 when my Brittany Avon suddenly died due to liver cancer, I'm not on my fourth. Sad, but very grateful to have found a good breeder and with dame lineage back to Avon.

 

[FNSafari]

Id sure like to have a tiny 28ga

Like my Merkle 280EL?

 

[FNSafari]

Duster
Look at the cz bobwhite special.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Duster
Look at the cz bobwhite special.

I have been waiting for CZ to build their new factory down by my office to buy anymore cz firearms. They broke ground a few years ago, got the pictures and havent been back.

 

[mikeinct]

Play with some of the old SxS jobs in the smaller gauges. Lots of semi-custom old ones have survived. & as for a brand specific, it has to fit you First, then have the features you want. I was charmed by an old Parker 28ga. looked unfired, it was over 100 years old But it was $11,999.00 7 or 8 years ago. I bought my wife a 28ga Franchi Squire. 20 28 set. I can live with that choice.

 

[FNSafari]

I have been waiting for CZ to build their new factory down by my office to buy anymore cz firearms. They broke ground a few years ago, got the pictures and havent been back.

Patience is a virtue!!

 

[FNSafari]

I picked up a nice Merkel O/U ( yes I fall off the wagon once in a while) in 20 GA. It has been cut down a bit but fits me perfectly in cold weather when I have to wear a wool coat under the vest. Snappy, easy to carry, light and fast little job. I love Merkels!!

 

[Bocephus]

Some of the best here: https://connecticutshotgun.co/

If you're on a smaller budget, see if you can find a Browning BSS or an Ithaca/SKB 200s model. They seem to last forever and will hold their value as I've only seen them go up over the last 20+ years.

If you want super reliable and super inexpensive, Stevens 311 series or a little nicer, the 530 series.

Yessir, Yessir, three bags full!
Before the ruffed grouse became almost extinct in this area and I was young enough to chase them in even the toughest rhododendron thickets, the M200 w/26” IC & Mod was my ticket to “grouse ‘n gravy.”
Balance was suberb, pointed like a dream and patterned high brass 7 1/2s with both barrels.
Bottom line, I’d do it again in a “skinny minute!”

 

[ChrisA]

My buddy has a small collection of BSS and he brought a 20 guage over for a trap shoot on my birthday a few years ago. I'd never shot a side x side before or since but I could not miss with that thing, and I'm a rifleman, not a wingshot. Lovely little gun and fit me well. I really should own one someday.

Chris

 

[Kracken McGraw]

My buddy has a small collection of BSS and he brought a 20 guage over for a trap shoot on my birthday a few years ago. I'd never shot a side x side before or since but I could not miss with that thing, and I'm a rifleman, not a wingshot. Lovely little gun and fit me well. I really should own one someday.

Chris

Is this a Browning?

 

[Knotwild]

I used to shoot them when I was younger. I still have 2 - 20 gauge Lefevers. They look old and used, but they are tight. I am thinking of selling them both.

 

[SShooterZ]

Is this a Browning?

Yes. BSS stands for Browning Side by Side.

 

[snert]

I sold my beater 20 ga BSS to a grouse hunter in the Carolina's. While I miss it, I miss the legs that carried me hunting with it much more!

Blaspheme, I know, but I had a Browning model 12 pump in 28 that was the bee's knees on flushing pheasant. It was a fixed modified but shot hard and tight. I sold it with the MEC 650 when I hit a hard patch financially. Another gun I am sorry to have sent on its way, but realistically, I just would not have used it anymore so had to let it go.

I also sold a Ruger RL 28 inch 28 ga. I loved its looks, but could'nt hit chit with it! I never missed it.

I will never let go of my Win 42 or 1100 20 ga special field.

But I do miss a SxS.

 

[ChrisA]

Is this a Browning?

Yes

 

[Adam in WI]

Y'all making me want a sxs.

 

[209jones]

I have a CZ Ringneck, made by Huglu for CZ, been using it for 11yrs now, nothing but 3" 1oz loads thru it, still tight. It is a single trigger and no ejectors, but, has been a great gun, killed all kinds of birds with it, huns to geese. Huglu offers some options CZ doesn't.
The other one I have is a FAIR Iside Vintage hammergun, DT's, hammers, no ejectors. Great little gun, it's killed some waterfowl as well, only had it 2-3 yrs though.
Other ones I have are 12ga Fabarm Classis, a std and a ClassisIV, would not hesitate to buy a 20ga in that, good guns, only issue is single trigger, they have ejectors, may be hard to come by in US though. I know the Autumn is avail in US, about the same price as a Classis IV though. I've got 8 yrs of 3" 1-1/4oz loads thru the one, other is 7 yrs. They've killed a lot of birds.

 

[FNSafari]

I sold my beater 20 ga BSS to a grouse hunter in the Carolina's. While I miss it, I miss the legs that carried me hunting with it much more!

Blaspheme, I know, but I had a Browning model 12 pump in 28 that was the bee's knees on flushing pheasant. It was a fixed modified but shot hard and tight. I sold it with the MEC 650 when I hit a hard patch financially. Another gun I am sorry to have sent on its way, but realistically, I just would not have used it anymore so had to let it go.

I also sold a Ruger RL 28 inch 28 ga. I loved its looks, but could'nt hit chit with it! I never missed it.

I will never let go of my Win 42 or 1100 20 ga special field.

But I do miss a SxS.

Speaking of "shooting hard and tight", I have an old dog-eared Winchester model 97 16 gauge full choke. When we used to sea duck hunt a lot it was the most devastating shotgun I ever used. You either hit them or missed them but when you hit them they were dead. It patterned more like a super full choke with modern plastic wad 1 1/8 oz 4 shot.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

Back in the mid 70's, I had an Ithaca SKB 200E. It was absolute death on quail in South Texas. Light, quick and it shot where you looked. It was one of the best shotguns I ever shot. And I've run quite a few tons of lead through a shotgun barrel in my lifetime. At the time, I think I paid less than $300 for it new. I wonder where it is now.

Selling a mint condition one now...

 

[TTE]

JP Sauer & Son
My 20 SxS is light and fast, not to mention well made

 

[jdh47]

Older shotguns were choked for the card/fiber wads. Our plastic uni-wads will either get blown patterns or shoot tight. prices these days are pretty steep on good shotguns, around here at least. At an auction a few weeks ago even Citori o/u's were going for $1500 up. Same with the BSS. There was a Parker that was listed as a DHE but at the viewing it turned out to be a VHE. I think it had been restored. It had vivid case color and bright blued barrels but the serial numbers engraved on the tang were worn. I think it went for over $3K. The guns I bought and sold in the 70's-80's make me want to weep.