Affordable old-school SXS

[Zeke Menuar]

Affordable meaning $500 or so. Can't arouse too much attention from the "Imperial Red-Headed Scorpio"

Old school meaning no Russian New production guns.

I think more like a Stevens 311 or some other good solid working class double that is afforadble and can be used in the field. A beater isn't out of the question. My latest milsurps have turned out really good. Like to apply my newfound skills on something else,

I know that good quality guns came out of Spain, Turkey and even from here in the states

What direction should I go to start looking for a SXS to compliment my 1906 M97?

Thanks
ZM

 

[JohnBT]

The first two that come to mind are the 311 and the Fox Model B. Here's a Model B for $500 www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976580805.htm

 

[grimjaw]

Don't know what Oregon has, but Gander Mountain in Ohio had a Savage/Stevens 411 12 gauge SxS with 26" bbl for less than $400.

However, that gun might be made in Russia.

I don't know where Stoeger is made, their website may say. Lots of 311 types were available via the online auctions last time I checked.

jmm

 

[Zeke Menuar]

I passed on a spanish made SxS that was at a shop down in the "Peoples Republick of Eugene". The gun was great. My budget at the time wasn't.

Not much selection here in Monsoon Central. None of the local stores offer any sort of layaway or short term "easy payment plan".

I haven't run into a 311 or a Fox in person yet. I hope to.

ZM

 

[PJR]

The 411 is Russian made as is the Remington Sparta series. Another make on the market is BSA. These are not English BSAs but are made by Hermanos Zabala in Spain.

Spanish guns are like Spanish wines. The expensive ones are good, the cheap ones can be good IF you are cautious. If you see a Laurona at a good price that would be worth consideration.

The Stevens 311 is an option but I'd rather have a Fox even one of the Savage-made versions. A real prize would be a Fox Sterlingworth but that might be getting over your budget.

Paul

 

[JohnBT]

'Beautiful, early, 20 ga. Sterlingworth', sale pending at $1950.

They didn't used to cost that much.

www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976589864.htm

John

 

[KarbineKrazy]

Hey, what do you have against Eugene!!!

 

[Zeke Menuar]

Hey, what do you have against Eugene!!!

I grew up in Springfield. I watched the minroity loud-mouth self important liberal morons at the U of O run the town into the ground. They even have there own liberal mouthpiece "The South Eugene Register-Guard". Enough jobs were lost in Lane county that I had to move out to get decent work. I have never witnessed a group of people work so hard to chase out good jobs to save a tree or a swamp.

Springfield had it's problems, losing Sony and Monaco all in the same week. But nobody is chaining themselves to a dead tree to protest it's cutting. Thank god no one does that here in Salem.

I do visit S&M guns almost every I go down there. Marv has expanded, and to my amazement aquired a personality. Pretty good shop now. His shop had a SxS I passed on because the barrel had been shortened enough to remove the choke.

ZM

 

[KarbineKrazy]

Well, we have a stronghold. The government is screwed up but there are still plenty of good people, fighting the power.

 

[scout26]

To bring this back, ahem, on topic.

I believe that the Stoeger's are made either in Italy or Turkey. I got the Belnelli info packet in the mail last week and the Stoeger catalogue was included. I kinda liked the Uplander Special. IIRC the MSRP in the catalogue was $350.

Last night we're at Dick's Sporting Goods (a former Gaylan's) to buy my 11 yo Softball playing daughter a Sliding Pad so her legs don't look like ground beef this summer, so the boy and I kinda get lost and head over to the small hunting section. *Sigh*, it's about half the size of what it was when it was a Gaylan's, there are no reloading supplies nor handguns. I see ONE SxS and ask the only clerk to see it. "No, the side by side shotgun", "Over to your left", "No, back to your right.", "No, that's a Mossberg combo pack, your other right." "Next to that one." Its the Stoeger Uplander, seems to fit well, locks up good, handles and points nice. Price tag states $363. Wow, 13 bucks more then the catalogue states is MSRP.

Yeah, and they didn't have sliding pads either.

 

[Okiecruffler]

If you can find a better SXS for the money than a 311 I'd love to know what it is. But if I had 5 bills laying around for one SXS, I'd probably go for a Fox, just cause their a little prettier. Due to money problems I'm down to just 4 311's now. I sure do miss them.

 

[seeker_two]

Stoeger SxS's are made in Brazil & Argentina, IIRC. And they are some of the best of the breed in inexpensive doubles. I love my Coach Gun & wouldn't trade it for anything. In fact, I may get an Uplander (SxS w/ 28" bbl. & interchangeable chokes) or a Condor (O/U w/ 28" bbl. & interchangeable chokes) for a dedicated hunting gun....

But the Russians make good guns, too. Just expect a longer break-in time for all the levers & triggers before they get as smooth as the Stoegers...

 

[Dave R]

Another make on the market is BSA. These are not English BSAs but are made by Hermanos Zabala in Spain.

I have heard very nice things about Szabala shotguns. My brother in law bought one and loves it.

My pet SxS is a "Liberty". I have no idea who made it. Bought it well-used. But its light enough (an under-estimated virtue until you spend a day in the fields hunting upland game) and it shoots to point of aim. The barrels are labeled M and F, but both pattern as M to me. I don't care. It carries well and knocks down dove and quail.

 

[M99M12]

Do those Stoeger doubles have ejectors? Either way, they are awfully attractive at that price.