Modern SXS

[Scrumbag]

Hello folks,


Following on from another thread on picking a shotgun to hunt the world (https://www.africahunting.com/threads/pump-action-or-semi-auto-to-hunt-the-world.44513/#post-466794) got me thinking:


Does anyone these days make a reasonably priced side by side with say 26” barrels, twin triggers, steel proofed and perhaps with multi chokes?


Scrummy

 

[Ridgewalker]

What do you consider “reasonably priced”?

 

[WAB]

Beretta

 

[Red Leg]

I shoot a number of English and Continental doubles, but I have a 12 bore Connecticut Shotgun RBL with 3-inch chambers and choke tubes https://connecticutshotgun.com/ that is my foul weather and go anywhere SxS. Mine has thirty-inch tubes because I much prefer longer barrels on a shotgun. These are not cheap guns, but mine has been a lot of places with me over the last 15 years - specifically numerous waterfowl trips to Canada, "driven" pheasants in the South East and mid-Atlantic, and sharpies and wild pheasants out west and north. It is built like an elegant tank.

The new Beretta Parallelo is in about the same price range. However, you can likely find a used 12 bore Beretta Silver Hawk in good shape for under $1500. It likely won't have choke tubes, but they can be installed fairly cheaply on a SxS. https://www.gunsinternational.com/g...hawk-12ga-single-trigger.cfm?gun_id=101068876

 

[sierraone]

Follow Red Leg's advice. He is a double guru, among many other things!

 

[WAB]

Follow Red Leg's advice. He is a double guru, among many other things!

I agree, he sure knows a lot more about it than I do! I'm more of an O/U guy. If you are in the UK I would give Park Street Guns a visit.

 

[Red Leg]

Follow Red Leg's advice. He is a double guru, among many other things!

LOL - hardly a guru - but I do know where to find a couple when I need one.

Park Street is good advice and the Beretta shop is another.

 

[Alistair]

The AYA guns are always worth a look. A decent second hand no4 or yeoman is a good gun for not a lot of money, whilst the fancier models are good value in an entirely different market.

 

[Scrumbag]

What do you consider “reasonably priced”?

Beretta

Beretta might be a bit pricey but second hand could work (Basically $5000 in the UK. Also you don't see the double trigger often)

Scrummy

 

[Ray B]

The problem with one shotgun to hunt "the world" is that there are different situations that call for different features in the gun, similar to having one gun for both trap and skeet. The situation can be compensated somewhat by having changeable chokes but there's still the weight and barrel length situation. My solution would be to find a well cared for Parker 0 frame 16 ga with IC/IM chokes for the upland birds and a Win 21 3" magnum w/ IM/F or F/F for waterfowl. It would be difficult to find a single gun that was a compromise between those two and have an end result that was at all workable.

 

[leslie hetrick]

my favorite double barrel is a older(1977) browning BSS sporter 20ga 3" chambered with 28" barrels F-M choked with SST-AE. its on its third generation of hunters, firing thousands of shells, both factory and reloads with out a wimper.

 

[rafaellinne]

Rizzini BR550 or BR552

 

[Roan]

I have a Beretta Parallelo. Not twin triggered or multi chocked though but I shoot everything with it here is SA.

From clays to Geese and rabbits.

Love that gun.

 

[steve white]

You specified "steel" ready as well. Ruger makes a double that is bombproof.

 

[Scrumbag]

Rizzini BR550 or BR552

Hadn't thought of that, thanks.

You specified "steel" ready as well. Ruger makes a double that is bombproof.

Well, increasingly a lot of the wetlands seem to require non-taxic shot so seemed sensible to make it suitable for all non-toxic shot.

 

[Scrumbag]

Well, increasingly a lot of the wetlands seem to require non-taxic shot so seemed sensible to make it suitable for all non-toxic shot.

Pah! I must be thinking of hunting in Connecticut... "Non-taxic"

 

[sierraone]

Hadn't thought of that, thanks.



Well, increasingly a lot of the wetlands seem to require non-taxic shot so seemed sensible to make it suitable for all non-toxic shot.

My understanding is that the Ruger Gold Label SxS is the equivalent of their RSM rifles. Not many of them but pretty high demand. There is one for sale on GI now at $3000.

 

[Red Leg]

You specified "steel" ready as well. Ruger makes a double that is bombproof.

Not a SxS for several years, and they aren’t exactly cheap on the used market. Very few were made, and a number seem to have had barrel selector/safety issues. That said, I bought one for my son when they came out and it has performed very well.

 

[sierraone]

my favorite double barrel is a older(1977) browning BSS sporter 20ga 3" chambered with 28" barrels F-M choked with SST-AE. its on its third generation of hunters, firing thousands of shells, both factory and reloads with out a wimper.

View attachment 240661 View attachment 240662 View attachment 240663 View attachment 240664

I tried buying one of the Browning sxs's twice about five years ago, and both times someone got to it before I did. They have a great rep. When I was after one, they were about $1800. I am sure they have went up since then.

 

[sierraone]

Not a SxS for several years, and they aren’t exactly cheap on the used market. Very few were made, and a number seem to have had barrel selector/safety issues. That said, I bought one for my son when they came out and it has performed very well.

I have never seen one except on the on line dealers such as GI or Cabelas.