Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Which SxS to buy?

If you are already in the 3-4000 range look for a good used AyA or Arrieta in 12 or 16 ga. They come up relatively frequently if you look for them. Fox Hollow, Woodcock Hill, etc would be a good place to start. Also look at old Webley Scotts. They are very well made and can be had for very reasonable prices. The beauty of any of these used guns is that they all hold or increase in value over time so if you find that you do not like them, they can be swapped out with little loss of your starting principle to try something else.

As the others have said it is really important to put your hands on and if possible shoot your prospective purchase. The feel between the hands is a subtle thing and very subjective. Find what feels good and puts some rounds down the range. Best way to tell if it is the gun for you.

I can't compete with the 5k crowd, but I have a nice grade 2 bss that is reliable as the day is long and is only gonna be worth more $$. I tend to hunt with a standard bss or my favorite a 100yo belgian guild gun. it may not have the fancy name on it, but it handles like and extension of my arm and puts birds on the ground like that is its job. I resently cleaned house at a sporting clays event with it and it drew a crowd.....everyone loves an old 16!

Big Bear, to be blunt, you need to (at least to yourself, since it's really NOMDB--none of my damn business) define what you mean by "high quality," and therefore what price range you're in. "High quality/price" means little, since to a Stevens 311 or Baikal owner, an SKB 100 might well seem high quality. To an owner of a "Best Quality" English Birmingham double, it would have to be a Purdey or an H&H "Royal". And so on: $750 to $75,000.

That said, I like field grade guns that are nice enough to be proud of and cheap enough that if I fall when hunting (yeah, that happens) and ding the gun, it won't ruin the trip.

My favorites in that regard are used Bernardelli boxlocks with or without sideplates ("Roma 3" grade and up, "San Uberto 3" and up), AyA "Matador" and other field grades (but DON'T get one with a single trigger), 1950s to 1970s Beretta "Silver Hawks" (plainer and different action from present model), Antonio Zoli "Silver Hawks" (same name, very different gun--a sleeper), Browning BSS (kinda heavy--good duck and turkey), and the above-mentioned SKB or "Ithaca" doubles by Sakaba in Japan (they NEVER break--the Toyota truck of doubles).

With some serious searching, you should be able to find a nice double for under $1K among those, and put a couple of bills into any fixing up that it needs. I have or have had all of these and found them all nice looking and well-functioning SxSs. All of them but the Zolis and the Japanese guns were made in 16, but those will be harder to find since fewer were made and 16-lovers are a stingy and long-lived (I hope) lot.

Just MY preferences and pocketbook. I have more expensive doubles, but both of them came from family; I couldn't have purchased them on my own dime.

If you are interested in hammer guns like Shrapnell's beauty, you need to seriously study whether you are willing to learn to use one. If so, I'd reccommend looking around for a used Bernardelli "Italia." I have a 1930s version in 16 that I got in the Piemonte area of Italy back when importing guns was no big deal. She is the love of my life (WHAT is it about Italians, anyway; they can make a burp gun sexy! See Beretta Model 12.).

Just my opinions; everybody's got one like.....you know.

I like the old (A.H.) fox sterlingworth. A very well made sxs, but are getting harder to find in good condition: This one sports 30" tubes and has fixed mod and full choke.



This one turned 100 this year.

Please don't confuse the fox model B or stevens 311 with it though. They share the same name (Fox), but are completely different animals:

The one on the top is a Fox model b made in the 50's (I believe) and the one on the bottom is my Fox sterlingworth that handles like a dream. It's about perfect for upland game, but has also taken many turkey:

I didn't mention field grade American guns because they usually need at least some fixing, and are usually not shootable with steel, which is a major, and growing, issue in many areas.

But there isn't anything quite as nice as a nice Ansley Fox if you can find one priced someplace in our galaxy!

True. It's hard to explain until you've actually used one in the field. They're quick, light, fast handling and point like an extension of your arm. Mine was suposedly fitted to my great grandfather (don't know exactly what my grandfather meant, maybe the stock was bent and lop was adjusted??). He shot left handed as I do and the thing fits me like a glove. It's been in the family for a long time and one day, I'll pass it down to my grandkids. BSA.

Forgot to mention that there are Bernardelli SxSs that were imported by Stoegers that are called "Gamecock" and "Gamecock Deluxe." They are often good buys; basically a San Uberto boxlock with plain extractors and a Roma 3 with ejectors. Don't think any were 16s, just magnum 20s and regular 12s.

The hardest of these decent foriegn doubles to find for a reasonable price are Berettas and Brownings--dealers think they can get the sky for them because of the name recognition. Sadly, they often do....move on and keep lookin' n--none of these guns are luxury items.

Since we've broken the ceiling in discussion to include the Model 21, assuming that we're talking CSMC, I'd suggest a used Piotti over the 21, such as this one:

http://www.williamlarkinmoore.com/product_details.asp?id=2293

I would never buy a Piotti over a Model 21 CSMS or Winchester. Though I would rather have a Winchester over the CSMC.

If you're not into names that will make most of your friends envious, German side-by-sides are a very good value. A Sauer or Merkel can be found for half of what an English gun will cost with the same features, balance, etc. and they tend to be even tougher.

The Gun Library at Cabela's in Bise has this 16 ga Winchester 24 for $700:

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Winchester-Model-24-16-Gauge/1128781.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fgun-library-boise-gun-library%2Fwinchester%2F_%2FN-1103643%2B4294966925%2FNe-4294966925%3FWTz_st%3DGuidedNav%26WTz_stype%3DGNU

I got to look at that Bernadelli that's still at the East Hartford Cabelas Gun Library. Its a nice one with an excellent finish. The price is $599.

I liked the fit of it. I did not get it as I am using the Bernadelli that I just bought last year.

They said its not listed on their website.

Give them a call, ask for a picture, make an offer.

The guys in the E.Hartford Cabela's gun library are well less then desirable to say the least. Cabela's prices are very spotty and hit or miss there in E.H. Sometimes they have things totally under priced (not often) and most of the time way over priced. If you are in the CT area there are some very good shops for side by sides from the Hartford area all within 2 hours drive and a couple within 1 hour. Of course one of the largest Gun rooms around is 25 minutes down the road @ CSMC.

As I said I looked at the Bernadelli 12ga SXS today. Joe is one of the clerks there in the E. Hartford Gun Library and I know him pretty well. I have bought a rifle from them.

Joe and I looked that SXS over. He took off the beavertail forend and barrels for me. We looked the proofs and ga markings over to try to determine the chokes. It was not certain to us. Our best estimate is M&F.

The stock has good figure with only minimal wear. The boxlock receiver has sharp clear case color with light 'engraving'. The barrels in particular have a very fine blue with a solid rib. There is a slight mark that I saw near the end of a barrel. No dents were visible to me.

Since I have been buying guns around here for over 50 years and I have even worked in the plant where CSMF is I would say that I like Cabelas a lot.

Cabelas EH

Really????? Are you joking????? You and he together couldn't figure out a simple thing as to what chokes the barrels are????? I rest my case as to the quality of the employees at Cabela's EH. As to you working in the old Stanly factory so didn't a lot of others what does that have to do with anything?

As much as I don't like the attitude at Hoffmans I would rather deal with them then Cabela's though they don't really deal in side by sides. Cabela's would be my very last choice anywhere in the CT area. With Eurochasse, Robin Hollow, BSA, Safari Outfitters, CSMC, Orvis Sandanona, and a few smaller shops there are to many better choices in the area.

I should have said that I have been in the CT Shotgun Mfg plant since Stanley moved out. I handled the new RBL there when it first came out.

Since you seem to know some of the dealers in CT why don't you stop by Cabelas and look at that Bernadelli? Perhaps you can determine the chokes if indeed they are marked.

You mentioned that Hoffmans does not have doubles??

I bought a very nice Ugartechea there a couple of years ago. Its a 20 ga and has 24" barrels, double triggers and a straight grip. What a sweet gun.

A man who lived very well had a favorite saying:

"Never get so mad that you can't go back for your hat."

The Winchester Mod 23 in 20 ga if you can find one is hard to beat. I have Two LC Smith , one in 12 ga and one in 16 ga , CZ Ringneck in 16 ga, Beretta Silver Hawk in 20 ga, Muriko in 12 ga before Browning starting putting their name on them , Bernardelli Premier Gamecock in 12 ga . I screwed up and sold my Mod 23 Winchester. I love SXS'S

That is not what I said. They have them, they don't deal in a lot of that stuff (Doubles).

Yes I know the dealers in this area pretty well. I know who I can trust and who not to turn my back on. If you have been in the area for as long as you say then you should remember Mr. Banville he owned a shop on Main St. in Manchester. Mr. Jobes owned the shop on Burnside Ave in EH. I can't recall the mans name that owned the short lived Wilderness Connections on Main St. in EH. Yeah I have been around a while. As for the chokes a quick measurement will tell you exactly what they are choked. Of course you should know this and how to do it seeing you worked for Tony on the RBL line.

Who is Mad????