Is the SxS dead these days?

Status
Not open for further replies.
If you like it and it works for you, so what? Go and enjoy it and be a little different than the black plastic pump crowd.
 
Absolutely, I have two of them. The first, and my nicest, is a 12 gauge BRNO ZP49, circa 1955-60. Its choked skeet and light modified, handles like a dream, and I use it for all things flying. Matter of fact, I put no less than 700 rounds through it last dove season and its still tight as a bank vault. The craftsmanship of these guns is superb, they were all hand built in Czechoslovakia by expert craftsmen. I jokingly call it my "communist Purdey".

The second gun is far more workman like. Its a 1939 model 24 Winchester, 16 gauge. Its choked modified and full, and is plain as a washer-woman, but the damn thing shoots great. Squirrels can't get high enough in a tree to out run it, and its taken many nocturnal invaders bent on a chicken supper. Lots of folks don't like the 24 because of the way they're built, but I sure do like mine. It actually handles decently, but not near as nice as the BRNO.

One day I'd like to find a nice old 12 or 16 gauge hammer gun. I cut my shotgunning teeth on an old LC Smith f grade 10 gauge. Sure do miss that gun.

Mac
 
I really like S&S's and hunt with them... Here's my old Remington that I use to hunt with a LOT,

standard.jpg

My Krieghoff that these days, I hunt with more than any other gun that I have,

standard.jpg

and another German made S&S I like a lot and some times use for pest control,

standard.jpg

DM
 
I'm looking at 16 ga SxS's. Thought I had one, but it fell through. He has two more that I plan on looking at, other wise I know where a couple L.C. Smith 12's are reasonable.
 
entropy said:
I'm looking at 16 ga SxS's. Thought I had one, but it fell through. He has two more that I plan on looking at, other wise I know where a couple L.C. Smith 12's are reasonable.
Click to expand...
A Dr. friend of mine had a custom 16 built with 3" chambers. His plan is to load solid brass hulls for pheasant. Italian made, either Sabatti or Siace -can't remember - what a beauty!
 
Even with the demand from cowboy action shooters, SKB 100 and 200s, and the Browning BSS can still be found for about $1500-1800. If you want one of those go to a big cowboy match and talk to the gun vendors. I have 2 BSSs as my match shotguns, although in 22 years of shooting I have only needed a backup one time. As a much younger man I carried a Savage-Fox BST ( a 311 with nicer wood and roll engraving) when bird hunting. Heavy but reliable.

The new CZ doubles are good guns also, very stiff out of the box, but breaking them in can be lots of fun.
 
They're my favorite for pheasants and grouse. One day I'd love to find a 16ga double that fits just right. I like to feel nostalgic in the field.
 
Cvans said:
There's just something makes me feel good when looking down those two barrels.
Click to expand...
You don't feel too good when looking down them from the other end. To me, a side-by-side shotgun is one of the most intimidating looking guns there is.

I love side-by-sides, and have four of them. Three are Savage/Stevens Fox B; not a high dollar gun, but well-made and reliable as rain. My 20 gauge was made in 1950, the 16 gauge in 1964, and the 12 gauge in 1972. All three have 2-3/4" chambers, double triggers and mod/full fixed chokes and I've used them all shooting clays, but generally used the 12 gauge. I recently bought a CZ (made by Huglu in Turkey) Hammer Classic. Exposed hammers, double triggers, 30" barrels with screw-in chokes. Turkish walnut stocks. I've been very pleased with it, mounts and swings quickly, weighs right at 8 pounds. This one has 3" chambers and can shoot steel shot, but recommended for #5 and smaller only. The first day I took it to the range, I shot two rounds of 5-stand and a round of sporting clays. A hundred rounds the first time out, it was fun!. DSC08182.JPG

DSC01649.JPG DSC01652.JPG
 
I agree, with the advent of Cowboy shooting starting the resurgence. followed by inexpensive guns like those from CZ and a harkening back to dad/grandpa's gun, a lot of folks find a SxS to evoke something from their past that they enjoy.
 
I have a Fox Model B I bought in '81 and it was my hunting gun until CA outlawed lead shot so now, sadly, she's retired:(
 
bangswitch said:
I recently bought a CZ (made by Huglu in Turkey) Hammer Classic. Exposed hammers, double triggers, 30" barrels with screw-in chokes. Turkish walnut stocks
Click to expand...
I sure do like the looks of those. Glad to hear your happy and hope you get a lot of good use from it.
 
MacAR said:
Mighty nice pest control gun, DM. Is that a 12 or 16? And seeing as how its a drilling, what's the rifle caliber? Whatever it is, its mighty pretty.

Mac
Click to expand...
The Remington is a 12ga... The other two are both 16ga, one drilling 8x57jrs and the other, the hammer drilling it 9.3x72R...

I've shot a LOT of big game with the 8x57, from moose and bear on down

standard.jpg

and I generally shoot two or three white tails with it every fall too.

standard.jpg

DM
 
John Joseph said:
I have a Fox Model B I bought in '81 and it was my hunting gun until CA outlawed lead shot so now, sadly, she's retired:(
Click to expand...
If yours is like mine, the barrel walls are THICK and should be enough for the installation of thin wall chokes. That said, the cost of that will most likely be more than the gun is worth so only you can determine if it is worth that expense.
 
George P said:
If yours is like mine, the barrel walls are THICK and should be enough for the installation of thin wall chokes. That said, the cost of that will most likely be more than the gun is worth so only you can determine if it is worth that expense.
Click to expand...
I heard the issue with these was the soldering that holds the barrels would shoot loose with steel.
Of course, I could always shoot Bismuth for $1.50 a shell
 
Now I have a dilemma. I looked at a 1920's Sauer & Sohn 16 SxS; the only downside is it is 2 9/16" Chambers, so I'd be shooting RTS shells. It's 30", F&F, Nice shape, good wood that need a little love, good patina, this was (is) a hunting gun, not a wall hanger. I fired a couple rounds, like the feel and action. Kicks a bit at 6.25 pounds, but would be a joy to tote through the fields.
I also shot a round of Trap with a Beretta S56? ('75 manufacture) 12 ga O/U, Selective single trigger (Not what I like) 28" M&F, kicked worse than my 101 did, the barrels were a bit whippy, but I shot it ok. They are within $50 of each other. Do I get the classic 16 SxS I've always wanted, even if I have to shoot $$$ shells, or the O/U 12 ga. most guys would love to have for a pheasant gun?
 
Get the gun you've always wanted; the shells aren't that expensive and you can always reload them. Another option is to find a competent smith and see if the gun is capable of being opened to 2-3/4" ammo and just shoot low pressure ones
 
I had a Stoeger Coach Gun awhile back and I enjoyed it.

These would make decent travel guns. Easy to break down and carry in luggage without looking like a scary black rifle.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

357smallbore
  • Locked
Stevens 5100 SxS
Replies
5
Views
308
Steel Hayes
Steel Hayes
GJgo
  • Locked
Old J. Stevens SxS- safe for modern "light loads"?
Replies
5
Views
2K
GJgo
GJgo
J
  • Locked
Tell me about my mystery SxS shotgun
Replies
6
Views
546
aaronrkelly
A
B
  • Locked
SxS at long last
Replies
15
Views
763
Salmoneye
Salmoneye
357smallbore
  • Locked
Does anyone still hunt with SxS today?
2 3
Replies
70
Views
6K
George P
George P
Back
Top