xtarheel
Member
I really want a nice English stocked, tube choked, S X S in 20 gauge. I know these run from about $800 to the 6 figure range. My budget is about $2,000.
What should I be looking at?
What should I be looking at?
$2,000 20ga double
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oneounceload
member
Typically, your better guns in that range come with fixed chokes. A nice, used Uggie, perhaps a used Beretta 470 or 471 Silverhawk might be in the price range. You might be able to find a used SKB with tubes, but they tend to be on the heavier side. Used AyA's might be in the ballpark, but again, they come with fixed chokes.
Thing is, if you find the right gun - even if it has fixed chokes, Briley and others can thread for tubes, so keep that in mind.
Also remember, some have double triggers, some have single triggers. Not all of them with single triggers have selective ones either
I recently picked the S&W Elite Gold SxS - a 20 with fixed chokes, chromed barrels - had a choice of single or double triggers, 26 or 28 inch barrels, English or POW grip. Since they are being closed out, selection is dwindling. CDNN and a few others still have them though for about 12-1400. While Tuirkish, these are NOT made by Huglu, but by the same company who made the Kimber SxS. The S&W originally listed at 2500
Thing is, if you find the right gun - even if it has fixed chokes, Briley and others can thread for tubes, so keep that in mind.
Also remember, some have double triggers, some have single triggers. Not all of them with single triggers have selective ones either
I recently picked the S&W Elite Gold SxS - a 20 with fixed chokes, chromed barrels - had a choice of single or double triggers, 26 or 28 inch barrels, English or POW grip. Since they are being closed out, selection is dwindling. CDNN and a few others still have them though for about 12-1400. While Tuirkish, these are NOT made by Huglu, but by the same company who made the Kimber SxS. The S&W originally listed at 2500
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huntsman
Member
I have no experience with this gun but it has peaked my curiosity, Soo.... why don't you buy one and give us a report
http://www.billhanusbirdguns.com/swgoldelite.html
http://www.billhanusbirdguns.com/swgoldelite.html
oneounceload
member
Seems Bill must have bought some of the closeouts and has marked them up a little......
huntsman
Member
DUH I missed your post, so you have one, how about the review? yeah I saw them in the CDNN catalog but I thought the Hanus one's were upgrades.
oneounceload
member
Have a gun writer friend who writes for several more "upscale" shotgun mags buy one. He brought it out to the local club where he let everyone try it out. First, gun writers spending their own money on a gun isn't typical, secondly, for him to gush like a teenager who just got a sports car for his first car is unheard of. After we all tried, many of us bought one. We call ourselves the "Turkish Delight" club - there are about 9-10 of us who bought one.
I have the 28", DT, English stock and splinter forearm - even though I am LH, the triggers are easy for me to operate, and after a round or two of 5-stand, became second nature. The bluing is very deep, in the sunlight it has a slight purplish tinge to it. The color-case hardening is real, not cosmetically faked. The barrel flats are machine-turned, the action has that scalloped edge and is just slightly proud - all hallmarks of a double gun that has had some attention paid to it. The butt is checkered - since I shoot a light 3/4oz reload in mine, the recoil is very manageable for the equal of a round of sporting clays. It points like a wand, the LOP of +/- 14-3/4 works very well. The one thing I personally would change is the white bead - I would replace it with the more traditional brass one. It has the slightly raised game rib which is more popular in the US than the somewhat more traditional swamped style found in the UK, but I have no issues with it - I like it. Even shooting it low gun, it comes up fast and swings well. One thing to be aware - if you are not familiar with shooting a SxS with a splinter forearm, you typically are holding the barrels with a long arm approach - it would behoove you to use a golf glove or something similar as the barrels can get warm with quick repeat firing - the look of that style though - English, DT and splinter is just such a classic style.
The ejectors are properly timed and throw empties forcefully and equally. The triggers are crisp - while not as light as some of the guns in the 10K range, they were very close on pull weight between both - about 5.5 and 6#. The bores measured .619 - a slight overbore from the norm of .615 on my gun - others were between .615 and .619. The chokes were mic'd - mine were .009 and .016 - right what a 20 in IC/M should be.
It comes with a lifetime warranty from S&W and an heirloom warranty for your heir for their lifetime. While it may or may not prove out to be worth the paper it is printed on, S&W seemed to think they were properly built so they offered it. The gun is made in Turkey, but NOT by Huglu. UTAS brothers made this and the $4500 Kimber. It is my understanding they are currently looking for someone to take over the marketing of these so production might resume under a different label at a different date - much like the English gun trade has done for centuries.
IMO, for the price I paid, it was the steal of the decade. For a few hundred more, they are still a VERY good deal
JMO, YMMV. HTH
I have the 28", DT, English stock and splinter forearm - even though I am LH, the triggers are easy for me to operate, and after a round or two of 5-stand, became second nature. The bluing is very deep, in the sunlight it has a slight purplish tinge to it. The color-case hardening is real, not cosmetically faked. The barrel flats are machine-turned, the action has that scalloped edge and is just slightly proud - all hallmarks of a double gun that has had some attention paid to it. The butt is checkered - since I shoot a light 3/4oz reload in mine, the recoil is very manageable for the equal of a round of sporting clays. It points like a wand, the LOP of +/- 14-3/4 works very well. The one thing I personally would change is the white bead - I would replace it with the more traditional brass one. It has the slightly raised game rib which is more popular in the US than the somewhat more traditional swamped style found in the UK, but I have no issues with it - I like it. Even shooting it low gun, it comes up fast and swings well. One thing to be aware - if you are not familiar with shooting a SxS with a splinter forearm, you typically are holding the barrels with a long arm approach - it would behoove you to use a golf glove or something similar as the barrels can get warm with quick repeat firing - the look of that style though - English, DT and splinter is just such a classic style.
The ejectors are properly timed and throw empties forcefully and equally. The triggers are crisp - while not as light as some of the guns in the 10K range, they were very close on pull weight between both - about 5.5 and 6#. The bores measured .619 - a slight overbore from the norm of .615 on my gun - others were between .615 and .619. The chokes were mic'd - mine were .009 and .016 - right what a 20 in IC/M should be.
It comes with a lifetime warranty from S&W and an heirloom warranty for your heir for their lifetime. While it may or may not prove out to be worth the paper it is printed on, S&W seemed to think they were properly built so they offered it. The gun is made in Turkey, but NOT by Huglu. UTAS brothers made this and the $4500 Kimber. It is my understanding they are currently looking for someone to take over the marketing of these so production might resume under a different label at a different date - much like the English gun trade has done for centuries.
IMO, for the price I paid, it was the steal of the decade. For a few hundred more, they are still a VERY good deal
JMO, YMMV. HTH
Mark8252
Member
Maybe I missed what you intend to use the shotgun for......
Hunting, skeet, whatever.
The reason I mention this is that if you buy a shotgun with fixed chokes you best be getting fixed chokes for that purpose.
Example..I have a older SxS with IC fixed chokes that works great for skeet.
Hunting, skeet, whatever.
The reason I mention this is that if you buy a shotgun with fixed chokes you best be getting fixed chokes for that purpose.
Example..I have a older SxS with IC fixed chokes that works great for skeet.
xtarheel
Member
i'll pretty much be shooting released phesants up here until I retire in two years and move back to North Carolina. Then probably mostly dove. If I go with fixed chokes, most likely IC/Mod
oneounceload
member
For that, either a 20 or 28 will work nicely, especially with IC/M...........
xtarheel
Member
The S&W looks like a good deal for the money. Upgraded wood, bent for a left hand - left eye shooter delivered to my FFL dealer for under $2,300. Think I'll do it. Thanks for all the help. You are definetly my go-to guys.
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