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New 2 trigger SxS are almost as rare as stick shift trucks.

I was originally thinking $3-400, which would put me in the Savage 311 budget. However, after looking what another $400 would buy I'm thinking I'd have to spend $7-800 minimum to get something I really liked. Those Ugartechea's that R_H_Clark posted look pretty nice. I'll have to stew on it for a little bit since I'm not a real serious bird hunter.

Thanks everyone for your responses. You've given me some things to read into.

Nice gun, but comes only with single triggers. If steel shot capability is not required, I'd get a Fox Sterlingworth. A 12 gauge would be at the upper end of your (revised) budget. A 20 would be considerably more, but much nicer carrying; no small consideration in a grouse and/or pheasant gun.

I shot a SXS uggie with double triggers as a teen for my first bird gun and for many years afterward. Several years ago I decided I had to have a Beretta O/U. I never did get use to a single trigger. I never could get off a second shot because I could never find the second trigger. I was fine when I was thinking about it but in the field I would hunt for the second trigger every time. On a long shot I hunted for the back trigger and every second shot,so I missed every long shot and every second shot with that beautiful little single trigger O/U.

Your best bet is if you can find a good used one like the ones listed.
Around 30 years ago I got a 1961 Beretta Silverhawk for $175. It was/is in kind of rough condition but I've hunted and shot the heck out of it.

If you can't find a good used one in your price range there are some new ones to look at.
CZ are probably what I would look at getting. I think they are Huglu.
Academy Sports sells a Huglu sxs shotgun they branded "Yildiz".
Stoeger also sells a budget sxs.
Sometimes Charles Daly has sxs shotguns made by various manufacturers.

I started with a pump gun and that's all I ever used for many years. It's use became so ingrained and subconscious, it took me awhile to get used to the sxs. The first few times I used it, I kept trying to pump the damn thing between shots. I haven't used the sxs now in a few years and have gone back to my preferred pump guns exclusively. If I switched back to the double now, I'd probably be trying to pump it for that second shot again.

I really like the 3rd fastener Ugartechea's. They were called the best of the workingman's SXS for years. I've bought them for $500. Cabela's might even take a $100 less if you make an offer. I've negotiated with them before. Ask to speak to the gun room manager for whichever location the gun is in and make an offer. It needs to be more of an I'll pay this right now,than an will you take $$$ for it. Either works but ask all your questions before the offer and be committed to buy when you offer.

You can likely find a used one even cheaper at Gunbroker or maybe even any used dealer. I've had good experience with Cabela's in returning a SXS that had been altered and possibly unsafe. The issue only appeared after 30 days and only with some ammo but they still returned all my money after the issue was verified.To me that was worth paying an extra $100. No guarantee though as to how they would handle anything. I would just rather deal with reputable dealers than individuals even if the price is a little more. I look at it as insurance.

Point being,take some time,educate yourself as to what is considered quality,and start looking. You might find a real jewel for no more than $50-$100 more than your initial $400 budget

Just for fun,here's my latest find. A really nice 12 ga Merkel from the 80's. 28" fixed chokes.IC and M. Sorry for the bad picture.

The Suhl built German guns can be found or good prices.

Merkel obviously, but look or Simson, Sauer, Fortuna, and I;m sure there are one or two others I'm missing.

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I would consider the Browning BSS or Ithaca / SKB 200 the 870 of SXS.
No double triggers on these two.
Here`s a good deal.
https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...2430/browning-b-ss-12-gauge#Post13192430

Single trigger, no barrel selector. Defeats the whole reason for being of a double.

Browse the Cabela's gun library and check out some of the classic Spanish side by sides. They are nice looking a good value.

http://gun.home.cyberverse.com/

Sorry I forgot before.

Try here . . . https://www.757arms.com/c-4-sxs.aspx

Karl's a good guy to deal with. Bought a Simson SxS 12ga from Karl a while back and converted it to a 450/400 NE double rifle.

Very nice! I have not found anything in a Cabela's gun room even close to reasonably priced, though. And I go in fairly often.

A Lefever Nitro Special is a good gun but you need to check for excessive wear before making a purchase. They are in a class about like the Stevens 311 to me but maybe a little less clubby.

Looking at this site, the OP has several options under $1k and alot under $1500.
If I could convince myself I would use a double, this would have me buying a Merklel.
But, I really don't use the shotguns I have.

Savage 311, Rugged, clunky and handles like a 2x4. Sounds like an 870 to me.

12 or 13 years ago I was looking for the same type of shot gun for rabbit hunting. I bought a new Stoeger Uplander in 28 ga. It became my favorite bunny gun. It's a no frills double gun with 2 triggers. I used it 2 to 3 times a week rabbit hunting in the winter and occasionally I take it to the skeet range. Mine has fixed chokes but I think the new ones have choke tubes. After years of rough use it's holding up fine and still locks up as tight as it was when it was new. It's just a sample of 1 but I'm quite happy with mine.
https://www.stoegerindustries.com/uplander-field-shotgun

Lee

There are many more American made SxSs than what's been brought up. How about Remingtons, Lefevers, Ithacas, or L.C.Smiths just to name a few. I have Parkers, Lefevers, and a dozen or so Remingtons. They all have double triggers. Buying used doubles is more like a crap shoot if you don't know what to look for. Dangle the barrels with you finger under the under-lug and tap them with a quarter up and down the barrel. Somewhere around the middle it should sound like a bell ringing. This will tell you the ribs are tight against the barrels. See if you can wiggle the barrels up and down or sideways when it's closed. If tight it's "on face." Put a couple of empties in the chambers, close the gun and pull the triggers. Are the trigger pulls ok and did you hear the firing pins hit the empty shells ? Look at the muzzle and see if the barrels are touching. This is a good indication the barrels haven't been cut which would remove the chokes. Not bad if you want a grouse gun and a good bargaining point to lower the cost. Check for cracks around the sidelocks or receiver. L. C. Smiths are known for this. These items should get you around most problems with older doubles. I probably shouldn't say it, but Damascus barrel guns are safe to shoot. All my doubles have Damascus barrels except three 1894 Remington trap guns. I reload and keep the pressures under 9000psi, more for respect for the 100+ year old wood in the stocks than for the barrels. If you're interested, the Parker web site [ www.parkergun.org ] in their reloading forum has many safe loads for the old SxSs. RST and a couple of other shell manufactures also make low pressure loads. Good luck. Paul