Any recommendations on sxs?

[Z O O R O P A]

exploring 12ga and 20 sxs

not sure i understand why a 20 would be better than a 12 or vice versa much less a 16 etc. perhaps someone can explain that

so far i like the Ruger Gold 12ga and Beretta silver series. Citori's look nice too

any experience?


many thanks!

[Colorado David]

If you are interested in a side-by-side and are willing to be selective in choosing ammunition, then the Birmingham boxlocks are your best value. Many of the Birmingham made and proofed guns were made by he same group of hand craftsmen. Some of these same men did outwork on parts, barrels or actions that made their way into the most expensive London gunmakers' offereings. You can easily buy a British Birmingham gun for equal or less than you would spend finding a Ruger Gold Label. There are a number of sellers in the U.S. that maintain an inventory of these guns. Part of the reward of buying and owning a Birmingham gun is the research. You will learn a lot about proof marks and what they mean in terms of when a gun was made and what load it was intended to shoot. The downside is that you won't be able to buy shells at the discount stores. Many of these guns were chambered for 2 1/2 inch cartridges and for lower pressures, so you will need to feed them the appropriate loads. Fortunately they are readily available in the U.S. from a variety of suppliers. A British gun will be lighter and easier to carry all day and with the lower pressure loads they were built for, will be more comfortable to shoot. If you do buy a Ruger Gold Label, I can't imagine what it would be like to trip the trigger on a 3 inch magnum in that light a gun. I don't know what they were thinking when they made that gun with a 3 inch chamber.

[proto]

There's a lot less drama to firing a 20 ga side-by as compared to a 12 ga (especially a 12 ga semiauto). The 20 is lighter, easier to maneuver through brush, and quicker to get into position. Less recoil means followup shots are quicker and more accurate. But, with less power and less shot, you need finesse as a hunter to stalk up close. And, there are birds the 20 has little hope of bringing down -- so it's kind of a 'right tool for the job' situation.

[Maryland 110]

I have never liked the sight plane on a sxs. I love o/u's. Another thing about sxs is that many of them have double triggers which drives me nuts. I love looking @ them and have a very nice LC Smith but prefer the O/U. I have a friend who fancies himself a very good shot who brought a 410 sxs on a dove hunt in Texas. I thought it was masochism but he hit a few.
We have Purdys, Smiths and Beretta's. If its something big and slow like a pheasant or rabbits a sxs is fine. For doves, grouse, quail I like the point and shoot sight plane of an o/u.

[Haggis]

I have never liked the sight plane on a sxs. I love o/u's.

I'm the exact opposite. I grew up using doubles almost exclusively; old 1890 series Remingtons, L. C. Smiths, Parkers and the newer Berretas. After so much use a double just falls to the shoulder and my eye into the bead like silk. When I use an auto, or an O/U I have to think about sight placement as I shoulder the gun. I guess it's just what you are use to.

I like a 20 or 16 ga. for, plunking, little birds (doves, grouse, pheasants) and bunnies, but use a 12 for ducks, geese, turkeys. Guage is all about the end use and personal prefernce.

[Z O O R O P A]

going to look for a nice beretta 471, Browning, and Ruger

[Ridgewalker]

Me I have and love SxS. My AYA #2 in 2 3/4" 12 ga double trigger will handle most of what I shoot in upland (ie pheasants 1 1/4 oz #5 nickel plated shot; sharptails 1 1/8 oz #6 magnum shot; huns and chuckars 1 1/8 oz #7 1/2 magnum shot; quail and doves 7/8 to 1 oz #7 1/2 or #8) etc.

Rabbits and dusky grouse a 20 ga Fox SxS double trigger cut to 21" cylinder choke loaded with 1 to 1 1/8 oz #4 or #6 shot. Butt heavy, thus it swings on extremely fast for dense forested areas and is great for "snap" shooting.

Turkeys I use a Rem 870 with a 21" barrel with full choke inserts and Bushnell Holosight. It's loaded with 3" mag 1 7/8 oz #5 copper plated shot. This is a very specialty gun.

Ducks usually a semi auto (less recoil) 30" barrel with #5 Kent Tungsten Matrix shot.

Geese again semi auto with #3 Kent Tungsten Matrix shot.

Doves...well for fun I limited out once with a SxS Winchester 21 in .410 within 1 hour of daylight. But I wouldn't recommend a .410 for anything other than snakes.

I also really like pheasant hunting if not walking too far with a Merkel drilling...12x12x.243 under. This is double triggered and choked modified and full. It is about 7 lbs and is great when a coyote comes up out of shotgun range...ie the .243 comes into play.

Me I like double triggers only because they are much easier to decide on which choke to go with. Single selective triggers just don't work as well, nor as fast.

Oh yes and if I feel masochistic or nostalgic and want to carry a heavy gun which absorbs recoil, it is a 1950 LC Smith, "Elsie", SxS 12 ga 2 3/4" loaded with one of the above upland loads.

The 12 gauge is absolutely the most universal shot shell available without a question. If you don't reload, you can buy loads from 7/8 oz to 2 oz (3-3 1/2" loads only). It can be had in not only lead, but soft lead (cheapest loads) to hard high antimony copper or nickel plated, buffered, tungsten matrix, bismuth, steel, Hevi-shot, and who knows what all is out there on any given day. You can get excellent deals in the fall before hunting season starts.

20 gauge runs a close second for availability and cost, but has never been known for the best patterns.

16 gauge is a very good upland shot shell, but is expensive and loads are very limited.

28 gauge is great for doves, quail, rabbits and dusky grouse. Again limited loads. OK for put-and-take early season pheasants and chukars behind a dog.

What ever you get, you'll be happy I'm sure if you only get out and use it as often as possible. It's that time of year!