SxS shotgun?

Just a few quick points. If you are talking about shooting slugs for deer and bear - no, they are usually not good, because finding one that shoots both bbls close to the point of aim is a crap shoot and near impossible.

Problematic for trap, but they have often been used for skeet. The extra bbl etc is just not a plus for trap.

Fine for small game - my favorite squirrel shotgun is a little 20 ga sxs and of course they are classic for grouse, pheasant and quail. A sxs will do just fine on turkey as well. All points are just my opinion, which I am stuck with.

Depending on your local laws, of course.
I used to hunt deer with an old Stevens 16ga SxS. Only gun I had. Slug in the open barrel and buckshot in the choked side fo jump shots. Worked pretty well.

African dangerous game double guns are built on beefed up SxS platforms. "Good"and "cheap"do not go together with a SxS. SxS guns were used for waterfowl, upland, trap and skeet for decades before the advent of other styles of guns. The comment about the barrels being properly regulated is true, especially with cheap guns. SxS guns built for the upland will be light and therefore somewhat brutal with heavy turkey or deer loads

The point of impact comparative to aim is true of any double gun over and under or side by side it is just pattern will tend to obviously be above or below or either side dependent on which double you are comparing, but really this is not that significant in any double shotgun regardless of price. Some of the worst shotguns i have ever used that are out on point of aim point of impact have been Berettas.
The key point to a Sxs is the nice low profile of the gun they tend to be lighter and less bulky in the hands than over and unders, and lend themselves due to the low action profile to a thinner neater straight hand stock than the deep O/U action does.
It is personal preference at the end of the day what do you like to use and for what purpose, whatever the sport a suitable Sxs will cut it with the best of them. The great shotgun author Percy Stanbury used a 12ga webley 700 SxS and shot everything with it.

Funny you mention Webley - a friend has the same gun, it weighs 6 pounds, as a proper English gun from the 20's would, and I would use it for upland, but nothing super heavy or more than its proof

Webley 700s are a great shotgun and the 500s too the 500s they have disk set strikers so technically superior i guess.

appalachian hunter said:

want to know you guys opinion on SxS shotguns
are they good for big game?
just for trap and small game?
turkey?
good info would be appreciated,i never used one and want to know the pros and cons
thanks

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I've used a SXS for hunting exclusively since 1982, bird, buck and slugs no issues and my BSS will throw slugs within 3" at 50 yards with just the bead.

SXS's

I grew up hunting squirrels and rabbits with an old Stevens 16 ga SXS. During the past 10 years I have hunted birds all over the country and outside the country with a BSA (British Small Arms) 16 ga. SxS....I have harvested hundreds of birds with this gun and also use a Smith & Wesson "heirloom" 20 ga. SxS with 26" bls....they are wonderful guns for birds, light, fast and deadly.
I haven't used any of my doubles for big game, leaving that duty to pump action slug guns or large caliber rifles. Although in a pinch they would suffice.

Loc n Load said:

I grew up hunting squirrels and rabbits with an old Stevens 16 ga SXS. During the past 10 years I have hunted birds all over the country and outside the country with a BSA (British Small Arms) 16 ga. SxS....I have harvested hundreds of birds with this gun and also use a Smith & Wesson "heirloom" 20 ga. SxS with 26" bls....they are wonderful guns for birds, light, fast and deadly.
I haven't used any of my doubles for big game, leaving that duty to pump action slug guns or large caliber rifles. Although in a pinch they would suffice.

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Birmingham small arms Loc n load, you have there one of the most underrated shotguns ever produced it will say on the barrels jessops fluid steel those barrels were used on all BSAs and by the big names in the British arms industry too. The BSAs were a mass market gun with all the quality assembly of a best gun. But i don't need to tell you this you already know. That little metal pin in the grip area of the but stock is not a repair but an indexing mark for the profiling machine BSA had by the way. A BSA and 16ga i recon you will be holding on to that tightly with its killer first barrel awesome things the BSAs.

Correction

You are correct Cota, I misspoke....I have made that error before when describing the BSA.....all I know is that this gun fits me and most of the time I drop birds with it, I cannot recall even seeing the sights. I mount the gun, swing thru the bird, pull the trigger and send the dog to retrieve. Coupled with the 16 ga. I think it is the one of the "best of breed" when it come to bird guns. Thanks for your input. And you are also correct about the "first barrel", as I rarely shoot the second barrel, except on doubles.