I bought a break open shotgun because:

[jn1965]

Just bought my son (19 years old) a Baikal single barrel break open for skeet. We have been using the Mossberg pump and while it works, it just looks wrong on the range We will be trying the new Baikal out soon and will report back.

I bought a break open because it was cheap ($120), looked really nice, was light and balanced esp. compared to the 'berg and is made like a Russian tank. I think there are three moving parts and they all look well made.

I also like the trigger guard break/cocking action.

My FIL has a nice Savage Fox sxs he picked up at a Sears catalog store 30 years ago. That is a sweet gun.

 

[MCgunner]

I have a Spartan (Baikal) SxS and love it, very rugged gun and shoots where I look. That Baikal should serve well.

MCgunner, which Spartan did you buy, the single or double trigger? In my old age, I am changing over to a 20 and am set on getting a Spartan.

Mmm, a little late, but mine has double triggers. It's the SPR220.

Oh, and since this thread was last alive, I added an H&R 10 gauge turkey gun to my collection. I've used it on geese, awesome.

 

[oneounceload]

Because Perazzi doesn't make a pump gun

Absatively, posilutely!

The utmost in reliability combined with the ability to out fox the worst human jamming individual, makes a break open supreme

 

[GigaBuist]

I have never had a problem with a shotgun feeding the shell in a H&R Topper...

Heh, I saw one fail last week. Not sure what happened, I'm guessing the hull had been reloaded one too many times, but he got the rim of the shell to hop over the ejector while loading. We had to take a pair of pliers to the shell and mangle the rim to get it back out.

Never thought I'd see that happen.

 

[cchris]

No honest man needs 3 shots? I heard that somewhere. Maybe I dreamed it.

I think you're referring to the Ruger Letter, the quote was: "no honest man needs more than 10 rounds in any gun"

As for why I bought a break-open...I wanted a shotgun (at that point I only had a 10/22), it was cheap and hard to mess up, and it's versatile - you can shoot 2-3/4" or 3" shells and slugs, and older autoloaders can't do it (i.e. my later-purchased 11-48).

 

[kentucky_smith]

I've seen several HR/NEF's fail to eject, had a .223 that was really bad about it.

I think the saying is the 3rd shot is a prayer anyway. But it sure would feel good to get that trifecta on a quail covey.

 

[Tom Held]

In case one barrels falls off.

 

[tactikel]

Because:
-they have better balance without the 1.5 lb receiver.
-they are 5-6" shorter for the same barrel length
-they give you 2 chokes instead of one.
-they are much faster for a second shot than a pump.
-they allow me to shoot a field load for the first shot and a 3" mag for no. 2
-they are lighter
-they are faster to unload at a fence line or road.
-they are prettier
-they are easier to clean
-the trigger is usually much better (a + for competition shooters)

 

[Two Cold Soakers]

Back gets a little stiff bendin' over pickin' up my litter.

 

[Magic_Man]

I picked up a SxS b/c I like the look. Then I sold it, but I still want another. It'll be a coach gun this time, though.