Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Only one side by side!

Straight grips and splinter forends are un-American.

But I'm really serious.

I do like double triggers, however.

I like double triggers also. Especially hunting doves..you can select the tighter or more open choke in an instant.

Also I like the ejectors while hunting doves but I like the extractor guns while quail hunting.

Aya's 4/53 models in 12 guage, used , are sometimes fairly reasonable.

Mule Deer's comments are right on about the guages. You can get some very light loads for the 12ga. that are very comfortable to shoot.

However, I did have an old 12ga. that would double on me every now and then...instant migraine ...(grin)

I like two trigger side by sides; I have a Fox Sterlingworth 12ga and will soon have a Sauer 16ga.

My next will be a 28 ga. but for your first SxS I believe a 20ga. would be a better choice. I really like the Spanish shotguns from one of the top makers. The least expensive would probably be Ugartechea, as has been mentioned. I have a Grulla and it is my pride and joy. I have seen some great values on the used market lately. The sidelocks will usually be more money than the boxlock guns, as a general rule. Ugartechea builds some truly beautiful guns. All of the top Spanish makers build some very high end SxSs. Wood and engraving will dictate price in most cases. If possible, try to handle and shoot the gun before you make your decision. Fit is critical with wing shooting. There are several first rate dealers that focus on used SxSs. The best buys however, are usually from individuals. You will have a wonderful experience hunting with a nice, light, well balanced SxS. Double triggers take some practice, but stay with them on the gun you buy. I would consider Garbi, AYA, Grulla, Arrieta, Ugartechea and Arizabalaga. (spelling?) It simply depends on how much you wiil spend. Good Luck

maybe the small gauge Ugaretcheas are more svelte, but the 12 gauge DU gun I won in a raffle is a club. I just keep it around because nobody wants to buy it from me.

a nice late LC Smith, a Fox or a second tier Brit double (which usually have the same action, anyway) would be a more attractive choice to me.

I've got a FabArms, and it's a pretty good shotgun. Not the cachet of a name like Beretta, but it's a good gun. Phoney side plates and all.

Thanks for the info.

I could like a 28 or 16, or both.

Here's the nicest SXS you could still afford. The Purdeys and H&H guns are out of the question. This is a Westley Richards 10 bore, twice as good as any 20 and less than $10,000.00. A bit over your budget and maybe a bit heavy at 12 1/2 pounds, but it would be one of the nicest guns in the field...

I've got a hankering for a Merkel 147SL in 20 or 28ga, but make do with a stackbarrel 12 bore.

Merkel's are nice also, same pard that had the aforementioned shotguns had a 16 gauge Merkel. One will never accuse the Germans of under engineering something.....

I can like my W.C. Scott, but I do need a 28.

A Westley Richards Hammer Gun!
You Suck!!!
Ingwe

This is a good place to start looking:


http://www.williamlarkinmoore.com/inventory.asp

mother load of nice doubles



http://gunroom.shootingsportsman.com/search/results/1

A Merkel 1620 would do very nicely. Pitty the cost nearly doubled over the last few years.

My Beretta 470 Silver Hawk in 20 ga

I've been sorting through several SxS guns over the last couple of years and recently have settled on an Ugartechea falcon 28 as my upland hunter. It's still new to me, but it carries and shoots like a dream. This is one of the older American Import Guns from the 60's and 70's and I think they are one of the better values on the used market right now. I picked up the 28 for $725 and nice clean 20 ga versions can regularly be found for less on gunbroker etc.

Weagle

I have owned several side by sides, and I guess my favorites, which I had shot extensively, and have found to be very good are;

Winchester 23 pigion grade 12ga with pistol grip and 28 inch barrels bored full and modified

Winchester 23 pigion grade, 12ga straight grip and 25 inch barrels, bored improved cylinder and improved modifed. This gun is probably my favorite.

J.P. Sauer Royal 12ga, double trigger, bored improved cylinder and extra full. This gun is pretty much a tie for my favorite.

L.C. Smith Field grade, 12ga double trigger, bored full and modifed. 30 inch barrels. This is also a very fine shooting gun.

Another gun, I sometimes miss is a CZ 28ga Bob White. This gun was a pure joy to carry in field, and killed like lightening, up to about 30yds, but I found out that it didn't work that good when you are trying to backup someone who misses, but boy was it fast to shoulder and make quick close kills. I finally sold it, because I was wanting to scrape up money for a Winchester model 71, that and I had read of lots of people having firing pin breakage problems with the CZ's, but I never had any problems in the 500 rounds or so that I shot through it.

Here I thought that when you where on an upland trip you bought your buddies extra shots so they could shoot backup.