Shotgun: Straight grip, double triggers, extractors, splinter forend, auto safety

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earlthegoat2

earlthegoat2

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There seems to be a serious shortage of these around. It seems that if you want one you have to reach into the world of the Bespoke guns. It has seemingly been ages since the concept of double triggers was ever even considered on a production gun. The only one I can think of is the CZ partridge and bobwhite. Most of the coach gun replicas have them as well. Same thing with extractors. They all have the selective ejectors these days. Splinter forends are harder to come by as well with that monstrosity of a beavertail up front I cannot let my hand do the pointing of the barrels for me. I am disappointed to look upon a Ruger Gold Label and see the single trigger. This is the only reason I never bought one. Where have the Ithaca Flues models gone to. Even if Baikal decided to make one with the options laid out in the title I would suredly buy one. I am not above spending a pretty penny on a shotgun but the medium grade models really seem to have been caught up in consumerism as well.

I guess the point of this thread is to discuss what you like in a double shotgun and why. I like a 20 gauge SxS with 26 inch barrels choked IC/M. A straight grip stock and a splinter forend. Double triggers and an automatic safety. Make it extractors too so I can do the characteristic flip to eject my empties.
 
Merkel is one, and Purdey and H&H are others, almost into the realm of Bespoke with a Merkel.
 
Yep, single triggers on a double and automatic transmissions in trucks.

Maybe it that whole thing about evolving. After all things are made according to whats selling.

When you make 2,000,000 trucks with autos and 2,000,000 with stick shift and it takes twice as long to sell the sticks even at a reduced price. You kinda figure out it's not productive to make so many sticks.

Same thing with double bbl shotguns, very few want double triggers, splinter forends cause you to burn ya fingers when the bbls get hot. Ejectors instead of extractors because you can reload faster.

Im sure all these things have been well thought out by the gun makers. And when it's 250,000 to 10 in favor of single triggers, beavertail forends and ejectors. Guess witch group will make the guns mfg's more money ?

And for those 10 out of 250,000, there are Merkels, H&H's Purdy's and such.
 
Connecticutt Shotgun Manufacturing

Tony Galazan still makes very high quality SxS shotguns in 16,20, and 28 with almost any configuration you want. You're getting a semi-custom American made gun for around $3,000. It's the best buy I know of.
 
All the above

Have a Jamart 12 ga sxs.P of W grip tho.Sorry.Also have Flues model.Know where there is another 12 ga similar to the Jamart.Might get it.Know what you mean.2 bbls -2 triggers.Would also prefer 2 on my o/u.Older Condor models could be got w/2 tr.Instant bbl selection.Me and 'chinery don;t get along:banghead:
 
The Spanish guns are what you seek that will cost less than a house - Uggie, AyA, Grulla, Arietta will all meet your needs - as will an American gun by CSMC

depending on the game......I will prefer 28-30 inch tubes....for close birds, C & IC.....for wild birds, IC & IM......28 or 20 will work
 
I have a Merkel Model 147EL that I paid under $3,700.00 for (I'm not wealthy-I saved, sold a couple of guns and made my wife mad at me for the rest of the year in sacrifice for this gun-and,yes, it was worth it!) a few years back. At least until recently, you could buy a "stripped" Merkel (the Model 47E) for well under $3,000.00.

I hunt grouse and woodcock (and quail when I can) with the Merkel. For my upland bird shooting (which is done mostly in northern Michigan, southern Ohio and western Pennsylvania), I want a sxs double to be what my 147EL is: a 3" chambered 20 gauge (though a 16 gauge would be fine if the receiver was scaled appropriately), weighing no more than six pounds (the Merkel weighs just over 5 1/2 pounds) ,the 26 3/4" barrels (even longer-up to 28'', might be better) choked Improved Cylinder and Modified (interchangeable chokes would be alright but I would rarely, if ever, need them), with double triggers, an auto safety (I never understood the opposition to a safety going to safe automatically), auto ejectors, straight ("English" style) grip and a splinter forearm (even on my best day grouse and woodcock hunting behind my setter, forty to fifty flushes with even less shots taken, will give me no concern over suffering burnt fingers!).

In addition to the Merkel, I also use my old Browning DoubleAuto twelve gauge for my upland bird hunting. This gun has an extra barrel with (the seldom used) interchangeable chokes installed.

All of my upland bird hunting chores are well covered by these two shotguns.
 
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I guess the point of this thread is to discuss what you like in a double shotgun and why.
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My preference is a light 12 gauge, 6-1/2 pounds, custom fitted, 28" barrels choked Skeet and Light Modified. Double triggers, straight grip, splinter forend, auto safety and a flat rib. I ordered this gun from Spain a decade ago and it has been my constant companion chasing grouse, pheasant, woodcock and partridge. It also was pressed into service against a charging porcupine. ;)

Double triggers allow an instant choke selection. They aren't hard to get used to with a little practice. I am now so used to them and the automatic safety that if shooting a single trigger sxs I'm automatically reaching for the second trigger.

A straight grip is better for walking in the field. It is more natural and easier to carry when the barrels are pointed up. The splinter forend makes for a faster handling more instinctive gun. They can get hot if the action is heavy so a glove on the forward hand isn't a bad idea.

I don't mind the ejectors but wouldn't mind an English boxlock non-ejector if the right one came my way.
 
My dad just picked up a Connecticut Shotgun exactly matching your description. I had never shot a round with a side-by until he got that gun, and now I see why they are so popular. Someday it will be mine, but int he meantime, I just may have to get a 12 gauge of similar build.
 
This is an older post, but just wanted to mention that CDNN Investments has a closeout on CZ shotguns. $499 shipped for a CZ Bobwhite in 16 gauge.
 
Get a nice used American gun from the turn of the century (1900). They represent a great value, are still plentiful on the market, and if you choose one properly it will only appreciate.
 
"A straight grip is better for walking in the field. It is more natural and easier to carry when the barrels are pointed up. The splinter forend makes for a faster handling more instinctive gun."

This is a matter of opinion. I know that I shoot a lot better with a pistol grip stock than a straight one.
 
You can fill your order with a used, smith- inspected best quality Spanish gun for under 2k.
It might be well used, but the Spanish guns have a good reputation.

A new Aya goes for less than a 4 y.o. used car.

Merkels are pretty, and solid, but be sure to swing one around a few times before plopping down the cash, they have a different feel as I recall, than the English / Spanish guns.
 
Get a nice used American gun from the turn of the century (1900). They represent a great value, are still plentiful on the market, and if you choose one properly it will only appreciate.
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They're designed and built for black powder, they have chambers too short for any modern production ammo, and many have damascus barrels.

Some of them might appreciate, but for the field, they're not a good value at all.

Start around 1925, and you can find some that are useful to a modern hunter who isn't necessarily interested in playing around with obsolete guns and ammo as a new hobby.
 
"They're designed and built for black powder, they have chambers too short for any modern production ammo, and many have damascus barrels."

Smokeless came about before 1900. In fact, you will see most 1900 era guns marked "smokeless."

Indeed, if you have an old gun that is not marked smokeless, it would be unwise to shoot anything but black powder out of it.

But my old Fox has eaten up at least 50,000 rounds of smokeless.
 
(Damascus guns were) designed and built for Black Powder
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True. But I had to fix it for you.

If barrels are fluid steel, there is no blanket guarantee they are safe to shoot.

European Guns will have been proofed if they are suitable for the pressures generated by smokeless Nitro powders. Precious few Damascus barrels have survived the proof house, but, if certified RECENTLY, can hold modern pressures. My point is if the steel (any barrel material) can pass proof, it can be used with the appropriate modern loads.

2.5" (and even 2") 12ga Ammo is in modern production The 20, which our op has indicated is his preferred bore, may have been manufactured with a 2.5" chamber. This is common on many American shotguns until at least 1945 or so.

find some that are useful to a modern hunter who isn't necessarily interested in playing around with obsolete guns and ammo as a new hobby
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This is decent advice your previous statements are inaccurate.
 
European Guns will have been proofed...
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He specifically said American guns, and that they were a good value. I don't believe even Ithaca's guns are safe with modern ammo until the 1920s, and the earliest ones that were, were Lefever-branded (I've got one). Chambers are too short, even if they're nitro-proofed. That's true of early Model 12s, even.

2.5" (and even 2") 12ga Ammo is in modern production
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Where?

I'm not talking about boutique loaders like Polywad, from whom I've bought 2 1/2" ammo. It wasn't too bad when I bought it; now it's 11 bucks a box or so. And that stuff is the FILTHIEST ammo I've ever shot, other than black powder.:eek:

I'm talking about production ammo.

I'm not saying you can't get any ammo. I am saying that you can't stick anything from a local store in it. Plan on mail-ordering it, and paying a lot extra for it -- or getting set up to reload it, with adapter kits and home-modified hulls.

Not saying it can't be done, just that, contra Andrewski's claim, these guns are not a good value for an average shooter as opposed to an antique gun hobbyist.:)
 
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not sure what beavertail is
but i just got rid of one and the front hand grip looked like the one in the above picture
 
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