Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Rabbit ear SXS shotguns? What's available?

Besides the cheap Stoeger 'coach guns,' what external-hammer side X side shotguns are available?

Even on the used market?



THANKS!

On the used market everything is available (eventually), price being the major discriminator of choice.

Ditto. (Or you can spring for a new Beretta double hammer gun. Get your order in early because supposedly there's a long lead time. Oh yeah, have a sackful of $20 gold pieces handy too!)

I picked up an Italian Bernardelli 12ga Brescia hammer gun awhile back, and its a real nice piece of work. Light as a 20ga and pleasant to shoot if you stay away from the heavy loads. I see them for sale quite often in the $900 to $1100 range.

Thanks! And for actually posting something specific [and even helpful! ] a fellow can research. I was looking for 'models' of external hammer guns and will look up the Brescia!

here's a link to a few at Gunsinternational

Siace
http://www.gunsinternational.com/Siace-Shotguns.cfm?cat_id=783

Husquvarna
http://www.gunsinternational.com/Husqvarna-Shotguns.cfm?cat_id=777

Bernedelli also makes a higher grade hammer shotgun called the Italia

erich

Thank you too, Erich.

I picked up a W. C. Scott Bogardus Club Gun in a 12 gauge.

Highly decorated but a cracked stock.

It really shoots great though!

http://s1203.photobucket.com/albums/bb385/hemisboats/1884%20Scott/

You might want to look at the Famar's "Castore" model also.

http://www.famars.com/

erich

I could be wrong but I don't think he is looking for a shotgun that requires a second mortgage.

well he asked about the most open ended questions... so besides the M700 what bolt guns are out there?? Even used bolts guns would be okay....


There are literally thousands of options....

Purdey made lots of hammer guns... so did Stevens...

Yeah, I had the same thought, Beautiful works of art, but not what I need for an occasional trip to the pigeon parlor for a dose of humble. The Bernardelli works on the 16 yard trap, and the little 16ga Simpson Suhl Spezial with mod&mod makes me work on the skeet range. Add to that a Antonio Zoli 20ga Empire 3" mag(eewwh), and I still didnt spend what one of those wonderful works of art would have set me back.

someone with a mossberg and two remmys could say the same about my SXS stable, out shoot me at the range, and still have $$$ left over for a Benelli and we both go home happy. Me not so much if I got whupped with a mossy....

I'm a big lover of cheap shotguns. I have a 5100 made for Sears, a JC Higgins, that's fine and in great shape for $225. It's 16 ga.

For hammer shotguns, try Simpson, Ltd. They have lots of hammer Husqvarna shotguns in various conditions for various prices, most of which have pitted but servicable barrels.

That is a cool site! Amazing what's out there isn't it?

I figured when he referred to the Stoeger as "Cheap" he was looking something more high end, I did include the Huskys. I have L.C. Smith and Stevens Hammer 12ga.

erich

I got my start in the hammergun world with the Husqvarna Model 20's & 17's built on the Lefaucheux (underlever) action. Stout, good handling guns with 2 1/2 inch chambers & usually choked full & fuller. They have plenty of metal for a good gunsmith to lengthen the chambers. Simpson's stock of Huskys has been well picked over , but there are usually some on Gunbroker. Once you get use to the underlever action their nice inexpensive guns.

How many shotgunners are aware of ANY external hammer guns besides the HEAVY [and CHEAP] Stoener's!!??

Thanks EVERYONE for your input and even your sarcasm.

I'm most interested (depending how far I pursue this) in SXS's in the $800 - $2,000 range.

By the way,
besides them dirty-ott-six M700's, what OTHER bolt-rifles are out there!? And with what sizes of booletts? Whats good for dears?

Indeed, EVERYONE, thanks for your posts.

And Greyphase, thanks for the pics as well as your post. Cheers.

Stubble-D
hit wrong button.

Nice SxS!

There is everything available from junk to Purdey, it just depends on what you want and how much you want to spend. I have concluded life is too short to hunt with an ugly gun and have chosen middle of the road guns.

I have a Colt 1878 and a Birmingham made Hume side lever. both are engraved, both are tight and both work very well. I use them more for Cowboy action than hunting, but they can serve well under either condition.

After you start looking at good hammer guns, you appreciate the craftsmanship of the gun-making art as they have side locks and graceful lines on the hammers. Cheaper shotguns work, but just don't have the look...













[img]http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee202/bridgershooters/109_0911.jpg[/img]

I have a 16 guage Bernardelli Italia made in the 1930s that I was able to import back in the late 1960s after having used it in Europe (the "former Yugoslavia"). One of my favorite guns to use when hunting over a pointer. But if you have never hunted with a hammer gun, you need to ask yourself "Why do I want a hammer gun?" It is very different from a hammerless gun with a safety catch, and can be very slow when you are getting used to it. Fine over a pointer, not so fine when hunting with a flushing dog or alone.

Look for a used Husky and be prepared to have at least one barrel rechoked or tubes fitted. Most are choked really tight. Simson Ltd. had a raft of them the last time I looked. Most also need short European shells, so find one with American length chambers if you are planning on shooting it a lot.

Partly because of the Euro versus dollar issue, Italian hammer doubles, never cheap, are sky high right now. I'm going to the Fausti factory in a couple of weeks, and will probably just be able to drool....not order.