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Posted: 11/16/2009 12:30:24 PM EDT
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Who is the side by side guru, here?
Want to get an inexpensive sxs field gun. Can someone make recommendations? There is a Stevens 311D 20 ga. available locally for $500 I have so little knowledge of sxs shotguns thought that I thought I better educate myself a little. |
| The Stevens is a good solid no frills s x s. I use a 511 in 20 gauge. The twelves are a bit chunky, but they work. Only weak point is the forearm is held on with a simple screw. These can and do work loose over time. I had a bushing installed on mine that cured the problem. |
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Define "inexpensive" CDNN has the CZ Bobwhites for just over $400 right now. The CZs are made by Huglu and are pretty nice guns for the money.
Mossberg has their Silver Reserve (made by Khan) in both O/U and SxS configurations. They are only available with a single select trigger though. |
| Between the stoger and the CZ ( Huglu ) or Mossberg (khan ), I would go with one of the latter two. Decent value for the money and shoot and handle well. The stevens is probably right priced for a 20ga. The 12ga is usually about $200 less. The CZ or mossberg have the advantage of warranty and being currently in production. |
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I have a Stoeger Uplander SxS double trigger 26" barrel and it accepts Winchester chokes. Mine is 12GA but they do come in 20GA. I paid $350 new on sale at Bass Pro. I have shot about 500 rounds through it, all skeet shooting during about 4 or 5 different sessions. No failures of any kind. I have some nicer shotguns but I have really enjoyed this one. |
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Quoted:
A cheap SxS would be a Stoeger. Lots of guys like theirs after a little bit of work (disengaging the auto-safety and honing/polishing the chambers) The Stoeger models don't sound like a value option if work is required out of the box. Accountant Where are these $800 SKB sxs shotguns? The 385/485 are discontinued adn are listing on Gunbroker for over $1500. I am okay with used but what am I looking for? Same question about the brownings? I had my deaelr dealer locate the Mossberg. They are available new for $600-$700 What is wrong with them? CZ's - what are wrong with them? Intended use for the shotgun is upland bird hunting (pheasant and prarie chicken) |
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Quoted: They work absolutely fine out of the box. There just are a few performance enhancers that some like to do with them. All that is required when you take it out of the box is some cleaning (just like any firearm), lube, and ammo.Quoted: A cheap SxS would be a Stoeger. Lots of guys like theirs after a little bit of work (disengaging the auto-safety and honing/polishing the chambers) The Stoeger models don't sound like a value option if work is required out of the box. For example, I am really anal about my shotgun and my dad's shotguns. All of the chambers are polished and have several hundred rounds through them before I consider them good to go. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
A cheap SxS would be a Stoeger. Lots of guys like theirs after a little bit of work (disengaging the auto-safety and honing/polishing the chambers) The Stoeger models don't sound like a value option if work is required out of the box. Accountant Where are these $800 SKB sxs shotguns? The 385/485 are discontinued adn are listing on Gunbroker for over $1500. I am okay with used but what am I looking for? Same question about the brownings? I had my deaelr dealer locate the Mossberg. They are available new for $600-$700 What is wrong with them? CZ's - what are wrong with them? Intended use for the shotgun is upland bird hunting (pheasant and prarie chicken) Mosberg's MSRP is in the mid $600's. Your dealer is ripping you off, they sell for $465 at the Big sporting goods stores here (Sportsmans's Warehouse, Big 5). Some of the early Mossbergs had some firing pin problems, but they got those taken care of (mostly user issues anyway) CZ has two series, the Bobwhite and Ringneck. Bobwhites have European straight stocks and dual triggers, Ringnecks have prince of Wales style stocks and single triggers. One of the guys I go dove hunting with had a brand new Ringneck in 16 gauge. Absolutely gorgeous gun. They cost a lot more than the Bobwhites at around $800 though. 16 gauges will have fixed chokes usually (the Ringneck is IC and Mod), 20 gauges will have choke tubes. Tru-loc makes choke tubes that fit the Huglu (turkish) thread pattern. My Mossberg (O/U not SxS) 
3 more days until the late dove season. |
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Quoted: Quoted: They work absolutely fine out of the box. There just are a few performance enhancers that some like to do with them. All that is required when you take it out of the box is some cleaning (just like any firearm), lube, and ammo.Quoted: A cheap SxS would be a Stoeger. Lots of guys like theirs after a little bit of work (disengaging the auto-safety and honing/polishing the chambers) The Stoeger models don't sound like a value option if work is required out of the box. For example, I am really anal about my shotgun and my dad's shotguns. All of the chambers are polished and have several hundred rounds through them before I consider them good to go. I have never seen the need to disable the automatic safety on a double gun. It is the same feature found on my Beretta 686 and has never caused me a hang-up. I am not one to hail any firearm I have purchaced as the best simply because I chose it. You would do well with any of the options discussed here. However, I will state that my Stoger Uplander has been flawless in function since day one. That is just my personal experience. The most important thing to consider with any shotgun is how it "fits" you. Bird/clay guns are pointed not aimed. Different mfgs use different stock dimensions and a poor match between you and the gun will be frustrating at best. Legnth of pull, comb height and comb legnth can be altered but then you are departing from an economical purchace. What is your level of experience? We are talking economy guns here so custom fitting is really not an option. If you were to shoulder a shotgun in the store would you know what you are looking for in a proper fit? |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: They work absolutely fine out of the box. There just are a few performance enhancers that some like to do with them. All that is required when you take it out of the box is some cleaning (just like any firearm), lube, and ammo.Quoted: A cheap SxS would be a Stoeger. Lots of guys like theirs after a little bit of work (disengaging the auto-safety and honing/polishing the chambers) The Stoeger models don't sound like a value option if work is required out of the box. For example, I am really anal about my shotgun and my dad's shotguns. All of the chambers are polished and have several hundred rounds through them before I consider them good to go. I have never seen the need to disable the automatic safety on a double gun. It is the same feature found on my Beretta 686 and has never caused me a hang-up. I am not one to hail any firearm I have purchaced as the best simply because I chose it. You would do well with any of the options discussed here. However, I will state that my Stoger Uplander has been flawless in function since day one. That is just my personal experience. The most important thing to consider with any shotgun is how it "fits" you. Bird/clay guns are pointed not aimed. Different mfgs use different stock dimensions and a poor match between you and the gun will be frustrating at best. Legnth of pull, comb height and comb legnth can be altered but then you are departing from an economical purchace. What is your level of experience? We are talking economy guns here so custom fitting is really not an option. If you were to shoulder a shotgun in the store would you know what you are looking for in a proper fit? It all depends on the user. I just like to be able to shoot, unload, reload, shoot, etc without an extra step. SASS and other Cowboy Action Shooters sometimes disengage the auto safety for the same reason, to speed up their times. +1 |
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Quoted: A good point but I believe the OP is looking for a field gun.Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: They work absolutely fine out of the box. There just are a few performance enhancers that some like to do with them. All that is required when you take it out of the box is some cleaning (just like any firearm), lube, and ammo.Quoted: A cheap SxS would be a Stoeger. Lots of guys like theirs after a little bit of work (disengaging the auto-safety and honing/polishing the chambers) The Stoeger models don't sound like a value option if work is required out of the box. For example, I am really anal about my shotgun and my dad's shotguns. All of the chambers are polished and have several hundred rounds through them before I consider them good to go. I have never seen the need to disable the automatic safety on a double gun. It is the same feature found on my Beretta 686 and has never caused me a hang-up. I am not one to hail any firearm I have purchaced as the best simply because I chose it. You would do well with any of the options discussed here. However, I will state that my Stoger Uplander has been flawless in function since day one. That is just my personal experience. The most important thing to consider with any shotgun is how it "fits" you. Bird/clay guns are pointed not aimed. Different mfgs use different stock dimensions and a poor match between you and the gun will be frustrating at best. Legnth of pull, comb height and comb legnth can be altered but then you are departing from an economical purchace. What is your level of experience? We are talking economy guns here so custom fitting is really not an option. If you were to shoulder a shotgun in the store would you know what you are looking for in a proper fit? It all depends on the user. I just like to be able to shoot, unload, reload, shoot, etc without an extra step. SASS and other Cowboy Action Shooters sometimes disengage the auto safety for the same reason, to speed up their times. +1 I certinly understand the need to bypass the auto-safety features when shooting competevely while timed. I would also add that an automaticly engaged safety on a double gun is practicly redundant in nature. Doubles are safe while "broke open" and hot when the action is closed. This is the accepted practice while upland hunting. However, I could forsee the need to reload and fire quickly while shooting waterfowl or doves with a SxS or OU. While upland hunting, reloading and fireing a SxS quickly after the birds have flushed isn't realy necessary as the birds are usually out of range at that point or scattered so widley through your target radius that a third/fourth target is rare to pick-up. All that being said, someone will surely tell you how fast they can push off 4 rounds with their double gun on a Bobwhite flush. |
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Look for an SKB model 100, 200 or 280. These might be listed as Ithaca-SKB. These will all be used guns.
I've owned a lot of different SxS shotguns over the last 30 years, the SKB is the best bet I've found for a combination of price, quality, fit, and weight. I like the Browning BSS a lot too, but they are significantly more expensive, and a bit heavier. |
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Quoted: Look for an SKB model 100, 200 or 280. These might be listed as Ithaca-SKB. These will all be used guns. I've owned a lot of different SxS shotguns over the last 30 years, the SKB is the best bet I've found for a combination of price, quality, fit, and weight. I like the Browning BSS a lot too, but they are significantly more expensive, and a bit heavier. OP- If you do go this route and begin looking at used double guns, please do extinsive research as too what you are buying and what to look for. These are not pump guns. |
| SKB model 100 in 20 gauge is a gun I carry afield more than any other for upland game. Mine is ancient and I haven't had a lick of trouble with it other than trying to get it back from my son who borrows it constantly. I have seen them at Cabelas in Boise in the $700 range and online for less than a grand plenty of times. If mine diappeared for good I would buy another first chance I got. |
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Quoted:
SKB model 100 in 20 gauge is a gun I carry afield more than any other for upland game. Mine is ancient and I haven't had a lick of trouble with it other than trying to get it back from my son who borrows it constantly. I have seen them at Cabelas in Boise in the $700 range and online for less than a grand plenty of times. If mine diappeared for good I would buy another first chance I got. I have a 12 ga SKB 100 that is 26" IC/MOD. I used to have a 30 inch MOD/FULL that I hadn't shot since you had to start shooting steel shot at ducks (a long time ago) and I sold it. I have two other SxS shotguns now, a TTN Armory copy of a Colt 1878 hammer double, and a CZ Durango. The Durango is a pretty cool gun, discontinued I think, it's a 20 inch single trigger coach gun with choke tubes and a color case frame. Gorgeous gun that fits me well and would be a nice upland game gun too. |
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