Anyone here shoot one of these sideXsides? (sumbuddy who know ) I'm thinking of trying one in a 12 ga. I've owned a couple of Merkels 147 in a 12ga but I just didn't seem to "click" with that gun. Shot it for several years and did ok with it after awhile but ended up selling it. Trying to decide on another side by side. Suggestions??

Those older Berettas can be a good deal in the used market. Pretty good guns.

What is your price range for a SxS?

Lots of stuff out there in the $1000-3000 range, really depends on guage, style and makers. Looking for American or European?

Price range.. Probably $1000-$3000...trying to keep it around $2000 actually.
I've owned.. old Ithaca 20ga, Win. mod 24 16ga, Francotte knock about 12ga, Sauer royal 12 ga, and a couple of Merkels in 147E 12ga. One of the Merkels was a straight gripped gun with full and modified chokes. I just couldn't handle it.
I have a friend that has a Mod. 21 winchester and shot some skeet with it and I liked that gun real well. But...those are getting a little out of my price range.
I like both..American and European. I'm pretty sure I like 28" barrels, PG and splinter forends.

I have a Beretta Silver Hawk and a Winchester 23. The Winchester fits me better and is in your price range. And had I bought the Winchester first. I would have not bought the Beretta. I saw one on one of the auction sites for under 2K A friend got a 12 ga 23 for 1200 on a Cowboy Shoot site. Hope this helps. You might look at a Browning BSS. I am trying to get one but have not handled one to see how it fits me.

I have the Browning Bss in 12ga. It is an OK gun, a bit heavy and feels a bit clumsy. I had a Win 23 in 20ga. Now, that gun fit me and I shot great with it, but, alas, I sold it. I would love to have that gun back.

I've handled a couple of Brownings and just didn't care for them. Can't say I've shot one enough to really try it though. I guess it's all how a shotgun fits ...I had a friend who has shot a 16ga. Mod. 24 Win for years...he is absolutely the best wingshooter I've ever seen. I tried it but it just don't fit.

I will look at the 23's a little closer. I was noticing them on the auction sights and they are priced sorta right.

Sendero:
I happen to own two Beretta 626's. One in 12 bore and the other in 20. I started shooting these guns back in the 80's because I am one of those unfortunite people that have a left dominant eye but never learned to shoot left handed. The wider sight plane of the SXS helps to "pull" my brain to the right side.
I like both guns, they shoot well and are nice and light to cary but that does translates to greater recoil when hunting pheasents in Iowa where you need a bit more of a load than grouse hunting here in Wisconsin. The stocks are cut a little short for me but since they come from the factory with a butt plate I opted to add a nice rubber recoil pad. That lenghtened the stock and reduced the pain enough.
My versions are the older version in the blue finish....I'm not a big fan of the matt black guns.
Bottom line is they are well built, pretty, shoot well and have been trouble free for some 20 years. The only problem (read complaint) is that the 12ga. has developed a small amount of oil staining around the reciever. This is due to my own neglect in keeping any oil from running down to the stock while in storage but I would have liked to see the wood sealed a little bit better at the reciever mating surfaces.

good luck and shoot straight...........Baddog

Yes, I know what your talking about...recoil and all.. I had a pad added to my Merkel 12 ga. and it did help somewhat. I shot some of the Walmart winchester 7/8 oz. loads for dove but used Remington sure shot 1 1/8oz for quail. I can sure tell the difference in the heavier loads.

I guess the sear on the back trigger of my Francotte was worn because it doubled on me twice.....instant headache!!!!! It only did it with heavy loads and when I was shooting, pretty much straight up. I think my body didn't give enough, shooting up, and with the heavy loads jarred the second sear off. Sorta of like holding the butt against something solid.

I was just reading an article that said the perfect weight for a shotgun was 96 times the shot weight. In other words a 16ga. shooting 1 oz. loads should weigh 6 lb. with a 12 weighing 7 1/2 lb. However it doesn't make sense using the 28 ga. loads etc.

I just saw a Beretta 626 advertised in 12ga. They state the weight as 6 1/4lb. I think that must be a mistake. Most 12's I see weigh about 6 lb. 8 oz.

Thanks for the response Baddog...now I need to decide on a 12 or 20.......

So many guns...so little time!!!

Sendero:

My vote would be the 20ga. Without a doubt a much classier gun, better balanced and a real pleasure to shoot. Again, if I'm "meat hunting" in Iowa for big wild pheasenst then I turn to the old tried and true Rem. 870 or 1100 in 12ga.. But they are heavier (especially the 1100) to carry all day but I train pointing dogs and a lot of the time I'm setting my gun down in the dirt to make a correction on one of the dogs. Not a good idea to mess up a $1000.00 to $2000.00 gun in the mud.

Baddog

Sendero - SXS's are my favorite shotguns. I have a Bernadelli Roma 12ga that weighs 6 3/4 pounds. It is chambered for 2 3/4 inch only and with a 1 oz or 1 1/8 oz load is a pleasure to shoot. I also have a Browning BSS Sproter in a 26" 20 ga that is nice and light; and a couple of Aya's, one a 16ga and the other a 20ga. I think Aya's are the best bargains on the used market. I believe you have "broke-the-code" on handling; it is the fit, ie. comb height, drop at the heel, and length of pull. The SXS double can be a club if it doesn't fit the shooter well or it can be a "dream" gun if it does. I like my light doubles with light loads, but want a heavy shotgun for my goose and turkey hunts in a different action. I agree that the 12ga Brownings are too heavy (for my tastes, anyhow) and I've handled the Beretta Silver Hawks in the 12 and 20's that I really like (though I don't care for "inertia" triggers on any double, regardless of brand). The Merkles are really fine looking guns (I've never shot one). I'm glad to see the SXS's coming back; maybe the demand will cause more competition, which should drive the price down. An inexpensive alternative SXS brand (considering fit) would be the Remington Spartan line (formerly Baakail of Russia). Metal work is pretty good (in a somewhat less refined manner) and the wood is Turkish Walnut with better than "Stoeger" fit. They function reliably and shoot quite well. I have one in a 28ga that is very "lively" on doves and wears a single selective trigger and auto ejectors. My two cents - Mags

Also keep your eyes peeled for "Webley & Scott" SxS. They can be had for under 3K and are really nice when they haven't been messed with.

I have a little 700 model and it rivals anything out there in it's price range.

English guns are cool as well!!

Jeff

Mags, ..I looked at a couple of Bernadelli's last week. One was a boxlock 12 ga. Plain looking but handled well and seemed to be about the right weight for a 12 and reasonably priced. I think about $1500. The other was a Roma in 28ga. I think the price was $2500 for the Roma. It was a nice looking piece.

Here's another site I found:

Uggie

These guns seem to be a good value.....???

I like double triggers on SXS shotguns for dove hunting (at least I think this helps , dove hunting can really make a person humble ) for picking the more open or tighter choke. Works real well for me. The single triggers work good on quail as most of the shots are first one close then the next further away. My single trigger Merkel was death on quail with IC and Mod. chokes. I can take or leave the ejectors but I like the ejectors for dove when they start coming in fast.

Jeff, I've seen quite a few Webleys around but have never tried one....I'll take another closer look. What gauge is yours?