Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Todays "good" upland guns?

Who is makeing today's good upland guns? The LC Smith's of tomorrow.
CZ? Smith/Marlin? Who is making the under rated, quality guns?

Good question.

Have a Mossberg o/u .410 bought for my son a few years ago. Its well made, decent trigger and shoots POA to POI. Would consider one in 20g if I needed one.

CZ's are made by Huglu, sold the 20g sxs I had, was very well made for the price, now I believe they are $850+.

Might be the Yildiz, another Turkish gun, for about $500 at Academy. The word seems pretty good....

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewforum.php?f=104

Are you serious? None mentioned in this thread that is for sure.

I've been biting my tongue so hard, it's bleeding!

I was too but the taste of blood set me off. Sorry!

Maybe I should look into a couple that you have mentioned, MCH.
Oh, wait a minute. You haven't actually contributed to this post. So why can't you politely give me an opinion?
If the real answer is "nobody", say it. If there is a maker out there that is making a quality double now that a novice grouse hunter can carry through the Wisconsin woods without breaking the bank, tell me. If you don't want it posted in public, PM me.
Honestly, if I all ready knew this, I wouldn't ask.
If my question was asked in an offensive manner that necessitated these last 3 replies, my apologies.

Well with all honesty I don't know what breaking the bank is to you. Would need to know a price range first. Boy you are thin skinned. Oh and I only posted twice before this post. Let me know what your price range is and I will be more then happy to tell you what may or may not be avilable in that price range.

But you do realize that you mentioned CZ Smith/Marlin and quality. Oh and the L.C. Smith of tomorrow.

CZ to me would be a great beater gun.

The good doubles of yesterday were expensive for their time and unfortunately the same applies today. Actually they are great deals today compared to those mentioned. If in good working order, there is a good chance they will last another lifetime of honest use

Serious Grouse hunting is hard on a shotgun. I'd take an old model 12 in good shape in a 16 or 20 over any cz or the others mentioned.

Quality doubles worth owning, that will take hard use tend to wear on the checkbook and you are better off to bite the bullet once and get it over if a double is what you desire.

MCH just told you the truth, if there was anything out there he would have told you that also.

Other options are the SKB shotguns. There is a wide range of sxs and o/u models. Miroku made some excellent sxs and o/u's.

I prefer a light 20g for grouse, usually a lot of walking, thick cover and fast points to target in cover. The weight and fit are key requirements for me. I have a weatherby Athena sxs 12g (made by someone for weatherby) that is heavier but fits me well, I hit with it, use for doves, pheasant, and grouse.

Also have the Brownings, rugers, Connecticut shotgun, and on....... There are plenty of options.

The OP mentioned LC Smiths so I thought he was interested in sxs.

Mikem2 mentioned some great examples that are available. However the Brownings, Rugers, SKBs and especially the CSM shotguns are a big step above the CZ and Marlin offerings. Both in quality and price.

Beretta makes a well made sxs. I think it is the "Silverhawk." Not crazy expensive and not cheap, but it will last a life time of hard use both in the field and at the range when tuning up for the season.



Then he mentioned Grouse hunting. Glad to have you Docost99.

The image of a hunter following his Dog through a cover with his sxs is a nice picture. Stuff of Burton Spiller and William H. Foster.

Truth of the matter is good Grouse covers are nasty places that are hard on shotguns, Dogs and depending on their age, the hunter in many cases. Rocks, blowdowns, unnoticed holes, jaggers that grab and scratch clothes and equipment, etc take a longtime toll and sometimes in the short time also.

I've busted up two nice sxs in Grouse cover. One a Parker Repo with beautiful wood that I had to jettison during a fall for safety reasons. Cracked the grip clean through. Mashed for-end tips on another.

Today I take shotguns that not only work but were meant to be used hard. Model 12s, 870s and currently a Winchester Model 59 that just may be the most efficient Ruffed Grouse gun ever made.

They are not classic nor expensive, but I wouldn't trade them even up for a CZ, Marlin or the others originally mentioned.


No offense intended. Again just the truth.

Some yesterdays:







Some todays:

You guys would have to admit that someone coming into the SxS world green would have an tough time finding a gem from yesteryear without getting taken to the cleaners. I can look in the books and read all about it, but without years of experience of seeing doubles and handling doubles, it becomes a bit overwelming. And then, all the grade variations..... I haven't even mentioned any manufacturer...Sterlingworth? Parker? Smith? Ithaca? And don't get me started on who made what for whom.... How many shows would I need to drive to in order to find such a beauty? Being here in Northern WI, there really are not many double guns at local shows. And in order to know what I want in one of these classic doubles, how many would I need to handle...20? 50? 100? This stuff is impossible for a rookie to know.
To my feeble brain it would be far easier to buy something new. Something solid. Something classy. Under $1500. Something that I can go to a known location and hold the thing and see how it fits and comes up. I'm looking for a 20ga for the lighter weight and 26"-28" barrels. Lighter in the forarm than a Fox B. Chokes would be nice, but if not, then Imp/full. Single trigger. 14.5 LOP.
It will not see much use. Maybe 6-8 outings/year for grouse in the fall. Maybe 10 rounds of trap/skeet per year, but I doubt it.
I currently have Winchester pump guns (no Model 12) and a Remington auto in 12ga. I can and have carried them for grouse. But a double just seems to have a little more class.
There it is. If no such thing exists, fine. If you have an idea, PM me. If you have one to show me, I'll certainly look.
Thanks for your help!

A great example. Save up some extra dollars and you will have something that will last a lifetime.

http://www.gunsamerica.com/96444775...xS/Beretta_471_Silverhawk_20_Gauge_2.htm

They made a 470 series that is a little less. Same shotgun, just without some of the fluff.

Not much is impossible and the journey is part of the fun.

Beats a CZ and Marlin to hell and back.

Another example:

http://www.gunsinternational.com/Beretta-Silverhawk.cfm?gun_id=100222199

Brian,

Aside from the elites above I can enjoy a SXS 20 ga size double that's well enough made with having a big name brand.

When we come across such a perfect gun then we should be ready to buy. Until then I am using these guns. Thus I am answering to show an alternative way.

When a decent handling Bernadelli 20ga SXS showed up at a local shop my gunsmith thought that about $800 for one was a bargain so I bought it and have done really well on pheasants here in CT.

Then when I read that Ugartechea made some decent doubles and I saw one with the right chokes and only 24" barrels in like new condition I grabbed it. The price was only $400. As I said it was like new. This was at a local dealer also however the internet is a great place to find a certain gun as well.



The Bernadelli is on the left and you can see its had some wear. Both are sweet.

I will admit though that I passed on a Sauer 20 ga at a local shop and now its gone. He has a similar 12 ga but those are too big for me once I got a 16 ga or now a 20.

I got the Ugartechea and its here by me now. Sure it has a small ding under one barrel but its not a dent. The stock its plain but it has the double triggers that I want.

Its barrels measure 24.5" and it weighs 5#, 9 oz. What a sweet gun to carry.

Nice.

I always like to factor in ease of repair and parts replacement if and when something happens. Beretta is a slam dunk in that regard. You pay a little more up front, however if some of the others go down you just may pay a lot more later. I.E. Replacing a stock on a Beretta is pretty straight forward. No so much with some of the Spanish brands.

Not knocking the current Spanish offerings in any way. They are a great shotgun and will probably escalate in price as the years roll on.

Ok, sure but I have a back up 20 right here for a total of $1,200 into two guns and I like them both.

Are you so positive that a Beretta will stand up and or get fixed so well and fast? Better than a Bernadelli?

I do regret letting that Sauer slip by however it might not be as reliable as your Berettas.

Only you know.

The number of Beretta certified smiths here in the USA-who actually have, or have access to parts- will outnumber those who work on Bernadelli by a number I can't even begin to estimate. Beretta also has a USA home office in Maryland that can be of assistance. Bernadelli?

And I would bet that on the whole service and repair will be faster and easier. I've been through that experience with Renato Gamba. A great shotgun, but when a locking lug is worn out from use or a top lever spring goes ping, then the aggravation sets in. Of course if I lived in Italy, probably not.

Which Bernadelli you talking about? There are at least two. P. and V. and maybe a third.

battue,

My mistake in taking you off of ignore.

Goodbye.