Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Is a good SXS still a viable option?

I haven't done any bird hunting in about 20 years.I've got children getting interested now and would like to get back into bird hunting myself as well.

I am wondering about the regulations now involving non lead shot and if an old SXS can be used just as easily as a newer crome lined gun.I'm not up on all the different kinds of shot or what has to be used in an older gun or even if lead is excluded for other than ducks.

I would like to get another nice SXS and just want to make sure it can be used just as well as a newer gun designed for alternative shot.I have a warm place in my heart for the old SXS but not to just keep in the safe.

The SXS is still a viable option, sure!
I shoot vintage SXS guns as well as a new pedersoli hammer double with has screw in chokes and chrome lined barrels, for those that like that stuff for waterfowl hunting.:>)
Cat

Thanks
Is lead still used a lot for upland birds or do most places regulate against it? Is it cost effective to shoot non-lead shot that is safe in a good older SXS? About all I know about it is that you shouldn't use steel in a gun not designed for it.

I thought lead had been done away with for ducks and geese but I have a nice camo, crome lined Beretta ES-100 Pintail for that application.

Up here in Canada we still use lead for upland.
Cat

Non-toxic shot has to be used in federal waterfowl production areas, and many states have their own requirements. It's not only the game you're hunting, it's where you're hunting.

Non-toxic shot is required for all waterfowl hunting no matter where you are

Most all places I hunt (Kansas and Missouri) for upland birds lead is fine. There's a few public areas that are non-toxic only, and as was mentioned, waterfowl is non-tox everywhere.

There is a lot of non-lead shot available for using in even the older double guns. It just costs more than lead or steel shot.

Unless you're shooting hundreds of rounds, the extra cost of a good non-toxic load isn't prohibitive. Certainly not enough to sway you from using a good side by side, if you've got one. How many rounds do you usually fire at upland game in the course of a season anyway?

LOL...the cost of old double friendly ammo will make you a Much better shot very soon.

Over time, I think non-toxic shot will be required for all hunting...maybe for all shooting. Look for this move under the current dictatorship. They have nothing to stop them now, except for the next two years of a Republican Congress and filibusterers in the Senate. If/when the liberals control all branches of government two years hence, you'll see draconian regulations, and all of us will be shooting very expensive ammo. Excise taxes and high transportation costs will drive up costs to a point we will shoot less and less.

So, get that double and enjoy it while you have the opportunity. Be comfortable in knowing everyone will be shooting expensive non-toxic ammo. There might even be great new developments in shot that will make it barrel friendly for your double if all shot has to meet government standards.

A side by side double is very ergonomic: if God had intended for us to use over/unders he would have installed our eyeballs vertically instead of horizontally, or only given us one eye ball if we were meant to shoot single barrels.

All I shoot are SxS's, so yes they are viable.

Just spent the day hunting dcks on the WA coast with a little 20ga CZ Bobwhite. Works just fine with steel.. My upland gun is a Darne 12ga shooting ITX NT handloads. I've been shooting sxs since the 1950's they are always good choice.

Lord, I hope old SxS's are viable.

I got hung up on my double barrels so bad, I liquidated my pumps.

Nice!
Got any pix of that baby?

So, lead is still good to go for upland then?

In most parts of the country, yes.

where you at in WA?

Up here in Canada we still use lead for upland.