SxS Shotguns

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VonFireball

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Who makes the better ones?

I'd like to be able to afford a CZ but the Stoeger and the Cimarron are in my price range.

I have looked at the Norinco side by sides and read a bunch of bad reviews on them so I think I may pass on those. Maybe someone has had a different experience.

I'm just hoping someone can give me information.

Should I get the Stoeger or the Cimarron/TTN? Or is the Norinco a decent gun? Any other good recommendations here?
 
I've had great luck with my Stoeger guns. I have an Uplander and a Coach Gun, but the Coach Gun has nicer wood.
 
I know this will come as a HUGE surprise, but if my budget would only allow a Stoeger I would give a serious look at a used Stevens 311. Not to say anything is wrong with the Stoeger, I just think the 311 would hold up better.
 
i have a matte nickle english stock coach gun 12 gauge
by stoeger it shoots fine and its beautiful
 
Thanks for the input.

Basically my budget is 500 bucks absolute maximum.

That leaves me what?? The norinco, stevens, stoeger, cimarron, remington??? Which do I choose and why?

I bought a cimarron model P and it's a nice gun so I was thinking maybe their coach gun. I like the look of the hammers, though it ain't essential to have them as far as I'm concerned.

I looked at some huglus and they are beautiful with the color case hardening but a bit beyond my budget.

I just finished doing a mad amount of digging here on THR for coach gun/SxS threads but the info still seems to be limited.

I'm open to as many suggestions as possible.
 
Okiecruffler wrote:
I know this will come as a HUGE surprise, but if my budget would only allow a Stoeger I would give a serious look at a used Stevens 311. Not to say anything is wrong with the Stoeger, I just think the 311 would hold up better.
Click to expand...

Agree!

VonFireball,
What is this shotgun going to be used for if we may ask?
This will assist us in assisting you.

THR has some CAS (Cowboy Action Shooters) as members, they do share in THR's shotgunning sub-forum.
Many of their CAS discussions are done on more CAS specific forums where they discuss not only what is "legal" for them to use as shotguns, also interact with the various US and Import SxS and the pros and cons of each.

Some of them have shared how they take a bone stock Import and invest more monies getting it to perform as they wish for competition.

THR has Okie for Resident SxS Guru and 311 Afficendo , he like others use 311s and US SxSs for a variety of uses.

Other forums get into SxS in their area, some of these area into the hi-dollar price tag.
 
VonFireball,
What is this shotgun going to be used for if we may ask?
This will assist us in assisting you.
Click to expand...

Home defense and general screwing-around-blasting-stuff nonsense.

I handled a stoeger the other day. It has the 20" barrels so it's pretty handy feeling, though, I've only used pumps and O/U shotguns so my experience is limited.

I wanted to grab a SxS because I can probably extort a pump shotgun off my ol man if I really want one. He has several including an 870 wingmaster, a mossberg 500, a winchester 1897, and some other unknown pump.

I was hoping to requisition that winchester from him at some point in the near future.:D

Problem is, they are all long barreled pieces that aren't too handy in my shoebox home.

I don't know what it is, but I have an eye for classic looking firearms, though I also love the up to date stuff....just that when it comes to buying time I usually go traditional.

Some of them have shared how they take a bone stock Import and invest more monies getting it to perform as they wish for competition.
Click to expand...

I've only read about them polishing the chambers for faster extraction. Are they doing more mods than that?
 
THR has Okie for Resident SxS Guru and 311 Afficendo
Click to expand...

Well, I'll accept the Afficendo label, but there are folks on here with alot more experience with the old SXS's than me, and nicer examples. I collect 311's because I can't afford LC Smiths.

If you want one with stubbed tubes, go with the new imports that are already set up that way. If you want a classy American double at your budget a Fox or Ithica isn't out of the question. Also, tho I'm just starting to educate myself on them, there are some really sexy little Spanish SXS's out there, especially in 20ga.
 
VF,

Learn the correct basic fundamentals of shotguns.
Not being tacky, instead dead serious here.
Lots of folks use a shotgun with a barrel from 26 to 28" , for everything, including serious uses, and always have.
Clay shooters become one with the gun, and not only they can handle the gun, a clay shooter can get a 34" barrel mounted to face smoother and faster than many with a shorter barrel.

That is one reason the 20 ga semi has always been a best kept secret, as skeet shooters can, and have, used that 20 ga 1100, 1400, or 303 ...with a 26" bbl to stop a threat.


Now I know some folks, including ladies that use SxS for serious use and they went with a Bakail , back some years ago.
The Bounty Hunter and one barrel is 45-70 and the other is 12 bore.
They have a business setting and that combo was determined to work best in that setting.
These gals can flat shoot a shotgun, and this set up fits a niche, real well.

CAS folks often fit the gun to them, and staying within what is allowed , tweak the fit , speed of loading, extraction and loading, trigger and the like.


Okie,
Yes I know others get into the SxS more than you, I thought of that after I posted.
Still while you share with us about the 311, you have assisted those with other SxS.

Heck it was you that shared some links to assist some folks years back.
John BT is another that assists.
We have others as well around here.
 
I got a SXS for the........

........same reason as you, post stamp sized home with a lot of twists and turns (and general large bore blasting :D). The receivers on pumps make them considerably longer, even with 18.5 barrels, I do have a Mossy and a Maverick. So I did some shopping around and came up with the Spartan ( Baikals imported by Remington). The changeable chokes make it adaptable for other uses as well. I went with the hammer type because I wanted to keep it loaded and uncocked till I needed it. I have no children at home anymore. It ran me $425 and that was about 2 years ago. The hammerless run far cheaper. Very stout and well made shotgun. My gunsmith was impressed with it. I had a Limbsaver put on mine, it came with a steel buttplate. A 6.5 lb 12 gauge gets a little rough on the shoulder.;)
 
there are some really sexy little Spanish SXS's out there, especially in 20ga.
Click to expand...

That is the only shotgun in my house, a Zabala. Bought it used a few years ago. I no longer keep it behind the bedroom door (short AR now), but it is fully capable of such duty.

We will probably get another 20 guage, but a youth model, soon, either a pump or semi, as our daughter will want to start shooting clays with us, and that is the size and type of shotgun my wife prefers as well.
 
A good SxS is one of the most underrated firearms today IMO (besides CZ pistols). I have fired a nickel plated Stoeger 12 gauge and let me tell you it was a joy to shoot, I had the girlfriend try it out with some very light loads and she thoroughly enjoyed it also.

Even though they are made in Brazil, Stoeger actually produces some fine quality shotguns, I am trying to purchase one as soon as I can find one in stock somewhere.

I would honestly stay away from Norinco, they are a Chinese government entity that has had numerous shady dealings in the past (trying to sell shoulder fired missles to US agents posing as arms smugglers for urban gangs, etc.). It's your money, but just realize you are supporting the communists buying Norinco.
 
I have had numerous side by sides throughout my long and less than illustrious adventure, and I am now in the process of divesting myself of a lot of "stuff". One that I am getting rid of, and that was a most pleasant surprise, is a Stoeger Uplander S x S in 20 gauge with 26" barrels and extractors. I bought it for SASS, because I didn't want to treat a 'good' gun rough, and then a burst blood vessel in my right eye ended that before it really got started. But, in the meantime I carried that Stoeger around the farm just to familiarize myself with it. I killed dove, quail, and crows as well with that as anything ever. I liked the way it handled and shot. Not a featherweight, but a solid little gun IMHO.
 
KevininPa wrote:
I went with the hammer type because I wanted to keep it loaded and uncocked till I needed it.
Click to expand...

Kevin, I was thinking the same way (and still would like a hammered Spartan) but here is what I do with the hammerless version: I had a concern over keeping a hammerless double loaded and also some safety concerns relying on the safety. One solution was to keep the chambers loaded but the gun cracked open. This would prevent accidental discharge but did not solve the issue of cocked hammers. I found something that works on the Spartan for general storage of the shotgun but still keeping it in a fairly high readiness mode. I got the idea from the Beretta Silver Hawk manual. I use a couple of snap caps and drop the hammers. Then I remove the forearm. Then breaking the barrels open, I replace the snap caps with live shells and close the action, which remains uncocked due to the lack of a forearm. Replace the forearm and the shotgun has two loaded chambers but the hammers are uncocked. The Spartan coach gun has rebounding internal hammers so the firing pins are nowhere near the primers. Making the gun ready to fire requires a quick breaking of the action, closing it, and snicking off the safety. Completely as easy and fast as thumb-cocking two hammers and perhaps easier as it requires a gross motor function rather than the finer action of thumb-cocking. Were I to feel that danger was for some reason more imminent, I would not hesitate to leave the action cocked, but for general day-to-day use, this method seems to work for me and is much faster than simply having shells nearby the unloaded shotgun. If I am missing something important here about why this shouldn't be done, I would appreciate the feedback. Also, this doesn't seem to work on some Stoegers I have tried it on. Once the hammers are dropped on a Stoeger, it seemed very hard to get the forearm to go back on. Not sure why.
 
Learn the correct basic fundamentals of shotguns.
Click to expand...

Are you saying that you are challenging me to an afternoon of clays?

No, seriously though. I've shot skeet, been to a real sporting clays club, and done plenty of afternoon clay games.

I'm no shotty genius, but I do pretty well.

No, I can't hit those 50 cent piece sized clays that go screaming by after I have to make two other shots first.:D

But yeah, I get your message.

I went with the hammer type because I wanted to keep it loaded and uncocked till I needed it.
Click to expand...

Can someone explain this more to me?

Why can't I keep a hammerless stoeger loaded safely at nighttime? Is it because it's cocked when loaded? I ain't really getting this.
 
SXS's with internal hammers........

.......cock every time the breech is opened and closed (for example-every time it's opened to load). So if you load it before it's put away, it is in a loaded and cocked state. External hammer SXS's aren't cocked until you pull the hammers back manually.
 
Gary A

I already have the hammer gun, but I think I'll try that snap-cap thing with a Western Arms (Ithaca made store brand) SXS that I have. Thanks for the tip.
 
I am a dedicated CAS shooter as well as a long time shotgunner. I have both a Stoeger and a TTN 1878. In my opinion there is no better way to go than the TTN. It has, of course, external hammers which is all to the good. The gun is very robust. It will take up to 3" magnum loads. And it is a heavy little gun but the weight soaks up recoil very effectively.

The CZ shotgun is very pretty but is not in the same class with the TTN for a using gun.

For serious CAS use the TTN needs a few minor tweaks, but for a HD gun, it is ready to go out of the box.
 
have both a Stoeger and a TTN 1878. In my opinion there is no better way to go than the TTN.
Click to expand...

Can you clue me in to what precisely makes that TTN better? Not trying to be a wise guy, just wondering. Obviously, if you are shooting CAS you are puttin that baby through it's paces. I'm interested to know what makes it the better choice.

See, there isn't very much info out there on the SxS shotguns so I'd like this thread to keep going so it's there for other people who get interested.
 
See, there isn't very much info out there on the SxS shotguns so I'd like this thread to keep going so it's there for other people who get interested.

there's plenty of threads and lots of folks like me who look at a shotgun as more than some plastic POS used to blow holes in someone.but prefer the more subtle qualities that a nice sidelock possesses...

(wish I knew how to "quote" a poster here - haven't heard from the mods, maybe someone can tell me??)
 
oneounceload - just select what you want to quote, right click and pick copy. Hit the "post reply" button and click on that little text balloon up top in the tools and paste the selected text between the quote marks. Hope that's clear.

Hope that's clear
Click to expand...
 
oneounceload - just select what you want to quote, right click and pick copy. Hit the "post reply" button and click on that little text balloon up top in the tools and paste the selected text between the quote marks. Hope that's clear.

Quote:
Hope that's clear
Click to expand...

testing testing...
 
there's plenty of threads.......
Click to expand...


Yeah, and the number of responses are limited.

I checked em already. That is why I started this one.

I'm really hopin to hear about why that TTN is the better selection vs the stoeger from owlhoot. He shoots CAS so I'm sure he has his reasons.
 
Gary A,,,,just thought i would post this,,and i have never done it with a loaded gun BUT,,,it will let the hammers down and you don't have to take the gun apart,,,,if,,,and it will only work with double triggers,,,,so with the gun open,,,,pull both triggers and close the gun,,it will let the hammers down,,you don't need to take the forearm off or anything else,,open the gun,,pull the triggers to the rear(both at the same time),,and close the gun,,,,hammers will be down

i was just sitting here reading and thought i would toss this out,,so on the Stoeger that my wife used for cowboy,,you can't get the forearm back on with the hammers down with out a fight,,so that is how i let the hammers down on that gun,,,but it will work on any DB i believe with double triggers,,,and possibly a hammer less single

give it a try(unloaded) and see if it will work on your DB

ocharry
 
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