Side by Side?

[rrflyer]

Thinking about getting a new shotgun and would like to shoot something different.

Current gun is a beretta a390 that I've been shooting for 10 years now and really would like to try a decent side by side.

Any suggestions for upland bird hunting thats not gonna break the bank?

 

[Jst1mr]

I have a 26" barrel Charles Daly SXS in 20 gauge that has accompanied me through the grouse woods for years...may not be a glamor queen, but it is short, light, points well, and its not afraid to help break a path through the brush! Typically a couple or few hundred $ less than the more notable types...

 

[ArmedBear]

http://www.doubleshotguns.com/ugartechea.htm

Or go used. There are many old American guns out there. Some might need stock work or something, but with some willingness to do a bit of work on a gun, you can get into a great-shooting double for a few hundred bucks.

Depends on what you want.

What kind of birds?

 

[MCgunner]

Beware of old side by sides. Parts might be scarce. I can vouch for the quality and shootability of the Remington Spartans. The new Yildiz looks good, checked 'em out at Academy recently. Had the hots for a Yildiz O/U for a bit when I got my Spartan SxS instead. Stoeger has good no frills working guns. Some of the Turkish guns look great, but are questionable in my mind just that I don't know a lot about 'em. Just about all the affordable SxSs are of Turkish origin now days except the Remington Spartans and, I think, the Stoegers. Spartans ain't that pretty, sort of no frills, but they work great and are built really rugged.

 

[oneounceload]

since you already shoot a Beretta, why not look at a nice used Silverhawk...had a friend pick one up in 12 gauge for $600....it's an older one with fixed chokes, but shoot very well

 

[ArmedBear]

--- still kicking myself for passing up a gun like the one your friend got, for about the same price ---

MC's right about old SxS's. You do need to be careful and patient. However, I got an old gun for $235 and a bit of work, that I'd much rather have than any of the cheap new ones.

Since you have a gun that works well already, this is just a whim. That's a good thing, since you need not hurry.

If you have some cash, though, and want NIB, check out Franchis. Not bad prices, by today's SxS standards, and really nice guns.

 

[ctgmi]

You may want to specify what your budget may be, if its under $1000 I would recommend used SKB’s. If you come across a SilverHawk in the $600 price range like the previous poster jump on it.

 

[rrflyer]

I was thinking in the 500 dollar range.

20 or 12 guage
preferabbly interchangable chokes
shorter barrel...24" is nice and handy.

Most of the SxS's i've seen are older and have 30"+ barrels or are coach style guns made for cowboy action shooters and come from turkey...but they are nice and cheap.

Gonna be used for pheasant, quail, and doves.

Thanks for the suggestions so far guys! Keep 'em comin.

 

[Speedo66]

I'll no doubt get flamed for this, but if you see and like an older 30" barrel model, buy it. It's then your gun, have the barrels cut to your liking. Have choke tubes put in. Probably cost you no more than $500 total if the gun was $200-300 to start with.

 

[oneounceload]

The old gent that bought that silverhawk had a friend in MI spot it in a gun shop. Choked M/F and does it ever smoke targets on the FITASC and SC fields!...
If I'm lucky enough to find one, even if it needs a little work, I agree - I'm jumping all over it!

 

[sillpapa]

Stoeger : I Own 3 A 12ga Uplander SxS , 16ga O/U & 20 Ga SxS. All Have Nice Wood An Get The Job Done Without Breaking The Bank. Dispite What Other My Say Stoeger Is A Fine Shotgun For The Sportsman Hunter . @ Dick's Sporting Goods You Can Get A New Stoeger For Under 350.00. An Have A Nice Shotgun!!! ENJOY WHATEVER YOU BUY AN GOOD HUNTING !!!

 

[MCgunner]

Most of the SxS's i've seen are older and have 30"+ barrels or are coach style guns made for cowboy action shooters and come from turkey...but they are nice and cheap.

My old Sarasqueta 12 has 28" M/F barrels, kinda useless now days for waterfowling not being steel shot compatible and it's a little tight for doves. My Remington Spartan SPR220 is a 20" coach gun with screw in chokes. Talk about handy, even fits in my motorcycle bags! It does a great job of tossing a pattern out past 40 yards. I choke it IC/M for dove and it's about perfect inside 40 yards. Inside 25, the IC choke, the bird is MINE. A light, short gun like that takes a little concentration on swing and follow through if you're used to a heavier gun, but once you have the swing of it, it's down right deadly. It's my favorite dove gun. I revert to my 12s for waterfowl, but have taken teal with the 20 over decoys choked Cyl/IC. The gun is a hammerless.

The Spartan is the Russian Baikal rebadged by Remington. I think final assembly is done in Florida.

 

[45crittergitter]

CZ, made in Turkey by Huglu.

 

[a-sheepdog]

I enjoy my Stoeger Uplander 12 gauge and am actually considering getting a 20 gauge version of it. Great utility shotgun for the money.