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my browning XS feather 28 gauge wearing a pair of 30's

Yes!!!! They are sweet.

So with all the references to doubles, I gottta ask. If a guy wanted to keep it under 1K or better yet 750ish, would would be a quality SXS or O/U to pursue?

Ah!!!! It is a slippery slope you are looking down on, but one that can bring more than a few great times.

The Urgartechea is a great shotgun in a box lock. The Grade 1 starts out more than what you are looking to spend, but used is another story. And there is a lifetime of solid use in one of these. Bookmark "Lion Country Supply" and keep checking their used ones and eventually one will show up. Not sure if you would prefer a straight stock or not, and they take a bit of getting used to. They may make them with a pistol grip, but Im not sure. LCS could answer that question for you.

Friend bought one a few years back. Has used it hard and shoots it better than good on Grouse.

http://www.doubleshotguns.com/ugartecheagrade1boxlock1.html

As stated above, the SXS will always be lighter.
I started with a SXS, owned some pumps, auto's and OU's over the years, but now that I'm slowing down I do 90% of my hunting with a Merkel 20ga (26" tubes).
I still have a 16ga Rizzini OU that fits me like a glove and weighs nothing but the Merkel's stolen my heart.




Honorable mention for the Rizzini.


Good luck.
Hope you find "the one".

Nice. I've only handled a couple Merkel's, but they are a really fine shotgun and would make a solid lifetime upland shotgun.

My 16 Gauge BRNO sidelock. Can't do single triggers nor short barrels on a SxS.

I like the double triggers on my old ELSIE too, but the selector being located on the Merkel's trigger is similar in function and it keeps me from looking down my nose at others.

I have a new Beretta Sliver Hawk 20 ga that fits me very well. This shotgun is New in the Box or Case. I haven't decide if i want to hunt with it as of today , it is the New Production Silver Hawk. You are right i love quality shotguns. One SXS that didn't cost me more a Grand is my CZ Ringneck in 16 ga. It fits me about as good as any shotgun i have. It is deadly on Ringneck's in South Dakota . My opinion the CZ Ringneck is the best buy in a mid priced SXS today. Two coyotes with my Elsie 16 ga while squirrel hunting .

She's my huckleberry:

The CZ's a great pieces as are Ugartechea's and the Dickinson's (once S&W's) that Cabelas sells. If one is OK with single triggers the Ithaca/SKB is a fine piece as well. I had a Bernadelli 28 gauge but it had 25" barrels and I could not shoot it well so down the road it went.

Field Grade, That Merkel is one fine shotgun.. When I was involved with doubles, I looked over a couple.. But never made the plunge.. It was one I really wanted but never had.. Now it will be pump guns for the rest of my days.. Always like to see those guns..

Gary, what would that be? From up on the hill it looks to fit the description of long and lean.

My CZ Ringneck in 16 ga has 28 inch barrels

Ive always liked CZ rifles, quality arms albeit heavy. Any other deciding factors between the ringneck and bobwhite, besides the triggers and grip? Thinking a 20 w/28" barrels might be nice. Gonna have to hold one.

Thanks WCH,,,,, it's one sweet gun for sure.
Over engineered like everything the Germans do but still lite enough for an old geezer to carry all day.
Like Battue said, "it would easily render a guy a lifetime (or two) of service".

I really like the "Prince of Wales" grip on the Ringneck better than the Straight with the Single Trigger. If i could change anything on the Ringneck i would add Auto Ejectors

an old H&R 16g that was my grandfathers. been hunting the king of upland birds with it for 30 years, hell i only get one shot anyway.

Ya, but when that second or third Bird busts out a second later is when the fun really starts.

Once had 7 comeout one at a time and all open shooting. Reached in my pocket for more shells and was having a hard time getting them into the chamber. It wasn't until too late that I noticed I was trying to shoot a bic lighter.

Very true.. When I shot doubles, the second and third birds always waited until I had missed a shot and broke my double to reload.. Then beautiful straight a ways!!!!!