I saw a Savage BSE in 20 gauge in a shop the other day (SxS). 26" bbls in IC/M choke. Condition was very good (non-orginal finish, but nice oil finish). Overall 90-95% condition. Price was ~ $450 if I remember correctly.

It was tight, and felt good.

I know it's not a Parker, AH Fox or Winchester M21. It's a little clunky, but not bad.

Anyone have any thoughts on the Savage BSE? Any problems with them? Weak points?

I'm just looking for a simple grouse gun, and some informal skeet shooting at a local club. It's all original, except for stock finish. Never had a SxS before, thinking of picking it up.

Feedback sought. Thanks in advance.

I'm not up on current prices, perhaps the side/side groupies have pushed them up, but $450 for a refinished gun sounds high to me.

They are kind of clunky but they are hell for stout. If you want a using gun you could do much worse. OTOH, they certainly don't have the "feel" that Euro doubles do, mostly because of the additional weight.

I brought one new in 1975 shot a lot of game with it. Put it has broke 2 firing pins. I guess I wouldn't buy another one.

I now use a Browning BSS most of the time. Seems tp be a better shotgun. But you well buy twice to three times as much for one.

I've owned the 12 ga version and passed up 3 BSE's as of late. My biggest gripe, especially on the 20 ga, is the overly large forend. A smaller gauge SxS should be sleek, and the Savage/Fox's are not.

Also, I believe you cannot select which barrel fires first. One of the "points" of a SxS is choosing which barrel to take your shot with.

As for the price, $450 is about as good as you can do. The 20's go for a bit more, and for some reason people seem to pay a bit more for the "Fox" name, when in reality it is a Stevens.

I'm a bit weary on refinished guns, because I wonder what else could be "fixed". That said, these guns initially didn't recieve the best treatment as they were part of the "hardware store" gun line and rural people tended to use their guns hard.

If it all checks out and you like it though, there's really not a better buy for the money. I'd take a BSE over that Russian crap that keeps popping up under different names.

If possible , check out the barrel regulation before you lay down the cash .

I had a 12 bore Savage s/b/s years ago . Being a green kid , I didn't figure out at first why I could not hit a pheasant with it .

Finally , I tried some slug loads on a target to be ready for the Ia. deer season . The barrel were pointing off badly right to left , left to right . I then patterned shot loads , and it was just as bad with those . By 30 yards distance , no part of the patterns were even near the aiming point .

Whenever I see some of the side by side "groupies" bragging on those Savages , that crooked shooting old bastard comes right to mind(grin)