Any SxS shotgun fans on here?

[OmegaRed]

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

 

[Tommie]

CZ Bobwhite

 

[rr2030]

I like ejectors over extractors for hunting. Add $800.00.

 

[joshb]

Look for an old Parker.

 

[Bugs]

Watch for an older gun that came out of Belgium. These are sometimes referred to as "guild guns" and most often began life as a Francotte (in the white). The pictured gun is a Jager haarlam (unsure of the correct spelling) 12 bore with 27" barrels that shoots right where it looks! These guns can sometimes be had for cheap money. Also keep an eye on "Lion Country Supply" in Central Penna. They sort of specialize in doubles and usually have a couple of good buys on used guns, especially the spanish stuff.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

https://www.joeletchenguns.com/
These guys should have some.

 

[CharlieNC]

Have you shot SS vs OU? I enjoyed SS 12ga for years, then got an OU 20ga which I like much more. It handles and points Moore naturally for me.

 

[OmegaRed]

Have you shot SS vs OU? I enjoyed SS 12ga for years, then got an OU 20ga which I like much more. It handles and points Moore naturally for me.

I have a sporting clays Beretta O/U that I bought when I was shooting competitively. It's a great gun, but a bit overbearing while walking a lot afield. 8.5lbs or so - I'm still young, but I'm not getting in any better shape as the days go by.

 

[OmegaRed]

Watch for an older gun that came out of Belgium. These are sometimes referred to as "guild guns" and most often began life as a Francotte (in the white). The pictured gun is a Jager haarlam (unsure of the correct spelling) 12 bore with 27" barrels that shoots right where it looks! These guns can sometimes be had for cheap money. Also keep an eye on "Lion Country Supply" in Central Penna. They sort of specialize in doubles and usually have a couple of good buys on used guns, especially the spanish stuff.
View attachment 1371345

I'm familiar with them. Didn't realize they sold guns. I've had some really excellent customer service from them in the past.

 

[Fuj]

Look for an old Parker.

Fox Sterlingworth fan here.

 

[lp6]

28” barrels are a must. No shorter.

 

[joshb]

Fox Sterlingworth fan here.

...or an LC Smith...
I have an Ideal grade in 16 gauge that looks unfired. My Dad gave it to me so I can’t even think of selling it.

 

[CharlieNC]

I have a sporting clays Beretta O/U that I bought when I was shooting competitively. It's a great gun, but a bit overbearing while walking a lot afield. 8.5lbs or so - I'm still young, but I'm not getting in any better shape as the days go by.

I'm 73 so I get it, which is why I switched to a 20ga. My Beretta OU weighs a little over 6lb, has surprisingly light recoil with 3in mags, and carries nicely. If you like the way your 12 shoots, give the 20 a try. Our crew is headed back to Kansas for pheasant soon and it's the only gun I take now.

 

[SShooterZ]

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.

 

[TTE]

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 have not weighed it, but my JP Saurer & Sons 20ga SxS is pretty light. A nice gun with ejectors. Light is difficult in an ejector gun at a budget price.

 

[TTE]

Look for an old Parker.

Tough to find with the proper chokes and not at all cheap if in quite good shape.
Mine is a 12 gauge (pretty nice shape) but not choked for Sporting Clays, which I mostly shoot, so it basically sits in the safe.
I have many more SxS's than O/U's ... I kinda like the old school stuff .......... like me.

 

[TTE]

SKB

Just weighed my SKB 20ga (SxS with factory choke tubes) ...... 7lbs.
Not a splinter forend.
It is a nice shotgun ........ but hard to come by as most SKB SxS's are, in good shape.

Sorry, can't weigh the JP Sauer & Sons .... it's in my other safe. But it is a nice gun. Took it quail hunting in Georgia a couple of times.

 

[Rsadams]

You may think I am nuts for suggesting this but shooting shotguns on a skeet course constantly in Texas heat and shooting 100 rounds at a time you learn which guns will live... Believe it or not the yildez that they sale at academy have managed to live under that sort of shooting.... Their cheep and have a lifetime warranty.... Their light weight and in 12ga that's a problem.... But in 20ga or .410 their great right out of the box.... One guy had one chip a firing pin after about 5000 rounds and of course they sent him the firing pins for free and offered to repair the gun also if he didn't have someone to install them.... Of course for free with the lifetime warranty....I am actually planning on buying one of them in .410 , to make skeet a little more challenging and don't want to spend Beretta money on it....

I do shoot a Beretta normally in 12ga and have put about 10,000 through it in the last couple of years with zero problems.... The firing pin issue on the cheaper yildez brand gun has been fixed for awhile now and I have never seen one go down.... Just FYI yildez is academy's house brand and run about $500 bucks and their a nice looking gun but it's not a gun I would be scared to haul through the woods... I wouldn't do it with my Beretta because I wouldn't want to scratch such an expensive sporting gun....

I know there's more than a few side by sides and over and unders at the $500 price point but seeing those little yildez live in 100 degree Texas weather for years has made me take notice.... The guns are very tight brand new and you need to work them some to loosen them up but that's better than sloppy in my opinion.... Plus if it gets wet or scratched etc while hunting it won't hurt your feelings like doing that to a $3000 plus Italian shotgun... And if your only using it for that and not shooting 300+ rounds a week 52 weeks a year it seems like it would last a very very long time.... So go by academy and ask to see a few because they actually have them in stock constantly..... I wouldn't suggest one if I didn't think it would live because like I said I have seen many other brands of cheaper shotguns not make it more than a year being used in skeet shooting... It's truly a good test....

EDIT....they do come with some chokes depending on which model either hand screw in or wrench screw in type....If anybody has had problems with the updated new models please leave a comment but please don't try and compare it to your $5000 shotgun.... I would also be interested in other comments if you have had problems.... Because I plan on picking on up as soon as .410 ammo comes back....

 

[moondog]

I like ejectors over extractors for hunting. Add $800.00.

I'm just the opposite, don't like tossing shells. Careful of older Spanish cheap ones. I have several Beretta o/u and they are forever shotguns. Yeah, no trap, skeet or clays are really won with sxs guns. But, give me a English stocked, double trigger SXS any day. Connecticut shotguns, Williamlarkinmoore, colguns have used anything from mild to 2nd mortgage. I can personally vouch for the 1st two as being very honest.

 

[mike mccormick]

I recently bought a CZ Bobwhite in 28 gauge. Beautiful little shotgun, perfectly regulated barrels, with 5 choke tubes included. For $725 out the door, pretty hard to beat.