Since I can't afford a Brit double rifle, I decided I could have a nice double shotgun. There are some bargains around in boxlocks, and I found an Army Navy 12 bore made in 1898. Mechanically it's fine, though it will need rejointing at some point. I had the stock refinished by Briley's wood restorer,and he did a great job. It points well, is light, and brought down the first dove I pointed it at. A keeper. Bob

I love them!!!!

I learned to bird hunt with an old Stevens 311 too.
I just got a beautiful French "guild" gun SxS and its lovely thing. Looking forward to seein how she does on birds this season

My pheasant gun, a $475 pawnshop Beretta:

I like SXS's. I am still looking for a deal on a nice 20 ga with 28" barrels. I have a old stevens made in the 40's with a custom walnut stock now. Looking for something nicer. Ive been searching for a deal on a 20 ga 28" AYA,Bereta,JP Sauer,Arita, ugartachea.

I like the splinter forend and english style (no pistol grip) guns. I carry a shotgun every afternoon while running my GSPs.


I have 2 nice old Beretta special O/U . But I my interests have changed to carrying the classic SXS.

Real shotguns have two barrels the best ones have them side by side.
The only time I shoot my pump any more is for crows or waterfowl all my upland hunting is done with SxS's. I cut my teeth on a Win model 12 a great pump gun. But a good double handles so much better.

shrike:

Shame on you for omitting to mention such fine American doubles as L.C.Smith, Lefevre, Fox -and never to be forgotten,(at this point let's all bow our heads in tribute) the Parker!

At 74, I can ignore those critics of the double.(In my time, we said "double" and we meant a shotgun with barrels that were side by side. An over and under was a ill begotten attempt to satisfy those people who wanted a "single sight plane" because they had either forgotten or never learned that a shotgun is pointed and not aimed - and I never had any problems pointing two fingers at anything. Doesn't everyone?

I'm glad that someone else is holding aloft the torch for the double!

Shrike:

The best reason for carrying a double in the field is because it is so comfortable in all ways. You can easily break open the gun (and render it harmless)in less than seconds - and return it to being a killing weapon as quickly. I learned from experts never to trust a manual safety. (Meet bird hunters, stand around and chat and then walk on) In duck hunting, I never had that really frustrating stiffness of the O&U when you have to reload and push down to get a shell in the bottom barrel. Sounds like nothing. Not to me when I could take two shells from a jacket pocket and drop them in to the double. That split second meant whether I got off a shot at another duck confused and swinging back over the blind. Use an auto or pump for those occasions? Sorry, I was raised by a father who remembered the market hunters and considered pump shotguns to be a market hunter's weapon. A gentleman used a double in hunting (and my father's definition of a gentleman hunter had nothing to do with wearing a jacket and tie or how much money you had)

I have 16 20 ga sxs shotguns.My favorite is my Winchester 20 ga model 24 sxs .I can hit like a lazer with that gun.I shot 123 of 125 skeets with it.Thats the best I have ever done with a sxs.I think the are classic,shorter , lighterand easier to shoot fast than any auto or pump shotgun.I love having that safety on top where I can shoot fast hit birds on the wind.

I achieved contentment when my 20 ga. LC came back from the smith, reblued, re-case hardened, glass bedded, and the stock refinished.

I achieved happiness when I realized that I could turn the barrels from FxFuller to Skeet by simply using a Polywad spreader insert in my loads. Saved the gun from the Grim Reamer, and she is going hunting this Fall.

But, I only achieved bliss when my pup started holding point and showed me what grouse hunting is really all about. JMO, Dutch.

I have given up the pumps and autos in favor of the double gun. My target gun is an O/U and I have one other one but when its time to load the dogs and go gunnig its a SXS that I slip into a case. They just feel better and seem to ballance better than any other gun. I'm fond of Parkers and shoot several but also use a M21 and several LC Smiths. Someday I'll find a Parker trap gun with 30" vent rib bbls and have sub guage tubes installed and shhot skeet with it.
When it comes to shotguns the bbls should be side by side it was the way they were meant to be.

Still use the same BSS sidelock that I have had for years. Not english but not far off the mark.

I have a couple of O/U 12 gauges but prefer my doubles. One is a Sauer in 16 ga and the other is a newly aquired Beretta 471 in 20 ga. I find sxs to be trimmer, lighter, and more pointable. They also look better IMO! I dont' know, something is just more classic with them! Just as I prefer a Mauser 98 action over newer constructions such as the Blaser etc....

Erik D.

On the reccomendation of a friend who's really into classic SxS's I recently purchased and restored a 16ga Fox Sterlingworth. What a sweet gun! These were not built on 12ga frames, they were built on 20ga frames, light as a feather, and so easy to swing! The gun was made in 1913 and I'll tell you what, the craftmanship that went into these guns makes modern production guns look almost amateur.

Craigster,

Congradulations. Those old Fox Sterlinworth are fine guns for the price. I think they are one of the best deals in classic American SxSs. I agree with you, the craftmanship in those old guns beats the hell out of the new ones.

Chasseur,

I agree wholeheartedly, I think it's some of the best money I've ever spent!

fla3006,
You must have a nose for them, what with the other collection of fine guns you own. That shotgun is a gem.

The day I find a Parker 20, IC & M that I can afford, my other shotguns will start collecting dust. Shoot a Beretta 686 for clays, but only because I think it is more durable, and know it is heavier. Others include an Ithaca NID 12, and a recently acquired Whistler .410 that weighs 4#-6.

Thank you Chic, that's a real compliment coming from a top notch smith like yourself. I've literally been trading and messing with guns since I was a kid, for almost 50 years now, so I've had a lot of practice! Fine custom guns are what really turn me on though. That Beretta was a particularly good deal. I used to find lots of undervalued guns in pawnshops but not many anymore.