I hate my O/U

[Hawk]

I'm getting curious again, and that's never a good thing...

Would a Field model 21 be re-choked or set-up for screw-ins to play clay games? I'm guessing a M&F field 21 would tend to be over-tight tho maybe not as noticably as my '48 Elsie?

If one were really going to put some mileage on a SXS, how'd a Beretta Silver Hawk work? They seemed "stout" when I was looking at them but I've never handled one of those svelte English guns so I'm lacking in perspective. A Silver Hawk can be had for 3K and it's current production - warrantee, parts, and all that.

Lastly, Since Browning is standard no cast and Beretta is standard cast-off, wouldn't that make rather of a huge difference in feel? This article is saying even the field Berettas are cast. Somehow, I just would have thought that an egonomic issue like that would be more public with two major players in the same market having such different approaches.

Hadn't heard about it until this thread. Or is cast or straight just not as big a deal as I assumed it was?

 

[scubie02]

I don't actually know anyone who uses a sxs for clays or anything where they will be shot for gazillions of rounds in a year like that. I was always under the impression that the nature of the design meant they weren't going to hold up to the round counts that an o/u for instance would.

As far as shooting one well and not another--when you go from one style to another there is often a significant difference in drop, general fit, etc, and its generally just a matter of getting used to the new style, though its not uncommon at all to have one style that "fits" you best. I shot a double for years when it was the only shotgun I had--it was an old one with ALOT of drop in the stock. Took me awhile to get used to it when I got it, but I eventually got pretty good with it after years and years of use. When I finished college and got a real job and could afford some "new" shotguns, I usually found it took awhile getting used to the new one. I can't just use one for months even, then switch to something else and hit the same way generally. For the past few years I have used o/u's more than my others, and probably shoot them best.

BUT, if you like the feel of the double and shoot it alot better/more naturally, well, thats what you shoot better. Its not the Browning's fault though.

 

[BozemanMT]

I dunno. handled a 20ga Silverhawk. Felt mighty nice. Might be needing to order me a new 12ga one. Of course, if i get another new shotgun before the wife gets a new one....
I've heard that big major magnum loads aren't good for SxS's, but dunno about lots of round counts. I would have to wonder. There are 1000's of early 1900's doubles still around, that even if only a thousand rounds a year woudl have close to a 100k rounds through them.
thoughts?
someone more knowledgeable than me.

 

[Hawk]

I'm new in the hobby - couldn't say anything about high round counts. My impression is that the L.C. Smith seems like it'll keep running after my CZ gives up but I don't have anything objective to base that on.

Ditto the Silver Hawk but I've only handled, not shot that one.

If a cast-off 687 just doesn't do it for you, maybe it's time to take a day off and try mount a couple dozen SXS's.

If you make it to DFW for Ray's and the Beretta Gallery, I'll buy lunch!

 

[BozemanMT]

well, that's a fine offer, but at $3 bucks a gallon.......... Maybe if I can get my cousin to invite me down to San Antonio for some quail hunting....
Yeah, the CZ is a fine starter gun, and it really appears to be put together better, but mine just broke. Hopefully they fix it up and send it back soon. I told the wife, next tuesday night we go out (tuesday night is open trap night), I'm shooting 22's until my SxS comes back. She can go get her 25 with me at the pistol range.

 

[scubie02]

I've heard that big major magnum loads aren't good for SxS's, but dunno about lots of round counts. I would have to wonder. There are 1000's of early 1900's doubles still around, that even if only a thousand rounds a year woudl have close to a 100k rounds through them.

nah, I would be willing to bet that the average hunter puts a box of shells or less through their shotgun in a year, and with an old shotgun, who knows how many years it sat on a shelf in a store or something out of its life. A halfway decent sxs will last your average hunter for his lifetime easily, and his kids lifetime, and probably his grandkids lifetime. But somebody into shooting birds might easily put more shells through his gun in a year than all three of those hunters would in their lifetimes.

Anyway, I don't remember all the reasons why a sxs isn't supposed to hold up to the high round counts, but I was thinking that one basic part of it was that by its very nature, you are putting uneven pressure on everything every time you shoot it, basically wrenching the action side to side.

 

[huntsman]

What out there now is, you pays your money you take your chances till you get to about $2500. or so.
You can go with 70's era japanese stuff SKB,BSS.Winchester model 23 all decent quality but inflated by double IMHO.

That B siverhawk would do as a field gun and so would a Uggie but I'm not sure I'd do serious target shooting with that lite of guns.

My dream is a lower level Merkel in either 20 or 28 gauge but at over $4000. it's going to be awhile yet.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

the L.C. Smith seems like it'll keep running

My gunsmith explained it to me many years ago, so forgive me if I don't get it right, but the Elsie was designed so that if it shot loose, there was an adjustment to tighten her back up, and she would last many more thousands of rounds.

I had an Elsie once. Finest shotgun I ever owned. The lead ban came, and I abandoned her, and then traded her off. Never again.

Scubie is right. 1000 rounds per year is WAY more than the average shotgunner (hunter) puts through a gun per year. I've owned my 11-48 for over thirty years, and I doubt if it has 1000 rounds through it.

 

[huntsman]

here's your m21 http://www.jaquas.com/gunlist/details.asp?stocknumber=100811

it's a bit more but has choke tubes.

 

[BozemanMT]

Scubie is right. 1000 rounds per year is WAY more than the average shotgunner (hunter) puts through a gun per year. I've owned my 11-48 for over thirty years, and I doubt if it has 1000 rounds through it.

You guys need to shoot more.
My wife has done more than that in a week.