decent cheep side by side 12 GA shot gun?

D

Deja vu

New member
Can any one recomend a cheep SXS 12GA shot gun? I do have 2 stipulations. It needs to be able to take steel and it needs to be able to take 3 1/2 in rounds.

This will be a goose/turkey hunting gun and my grandfather all ways gives me crap about my pump gun. :o

p.s. I am not a fan of OU shot guns... call it personal preference.
 
I would of suggested Stoger but I think they only take 3" shells, why is your grandfather giving you crap about your pump? Are you out shooting him?:D
 
Doyle nailed it.
I'm with you on the appeal of side by side shotguns. But reality is the OUs have the market.
You might get half-way lucky at a big gun show but it won't be a 3 1/2".
 
Why do you need 3 1/2 inch shells? Turkeys have been killed for years with 2 /34 and even 2 1/2 inch shells. Your best bet if you just have to have 3 1/2 inches is get a Stoeger and gave the chambers lengthened.
 
I like 3 1/2 inch bullets cause that is what I use in my pump and I would like to keep it as close to what I am use to as possible. I know that even a 2 3/4 inch rounds will kill turkeys and Geese but I am trying to keep as much the same as possible.

if 3 1/2 inch are not available then Ill go with the next best thing... any that shoot 3 inch and can take steel? Still no OUs please.
 
SxS

Look at the Baikal IZH-43, if you can find one. EAA might be importing them. I bought one fifteen or twenty years ago. Steel and 3" capable.
I have no complaints about the gun. I have shot Trap with it and hunted grouse. It works just fine. Weighs about 7lbs. 4oz.
If you want the longer shells in a SXS, you'll have to look for a 10 ga.
Pete
 
If you're serious about it .... Beretta makes some entry level SXS's in their field models ...that I understand can be ordered in 3 1/2" chambers...

http://www.berettausa.com/products/471-silver-hawk-pistol-grip-beaver-tail-fore-end/

They list for $ 3,850 / and I've seen an occasional one around for about
$3,500 .../ but I'm not a big fan of SXS's ( because they have so much drop at the comb - and length of pull is very short on most of them / so I can't shoot them ).

Browning made a SXS from 1978 thru 1987 called the BSS ....and there are quite a few of them around used / mostly fixed chokes. They're a well built gun as well. A good clean one is probably going to cost you around $ 2,000 / and I've seen them as high as $5,000 for very nice examples.

Good SXS's are expensive to mfg ...and none of the cheap Turkish or Russian imports are decent guns, in my opinion ( and are a big time waste of money ) ..and they're prone to all kinds of issues ( barrels not hitting to the same point of impact, etc ).

But in all seriousness ...I doubt your grandfather wants you to spend $ 4,000 on a gun ...he's just needling you .../ but like I said, if you're serious and want to hunt with a SXS --- and it fits you well ....no reason not to try and find a Beretta or a Browning ..../and if you take care of it - they will probably go up in value.
 
yeah no way I am spending that kind of money. I was thinking some thing in the 200-400 range.

Yeah its all good natured any way
 
Savage 311

The old Savage 311's were USA made working guns and many of the later models came w/ 3" chambers. I am looking for one myself, full and full with 28" bbls for a lighter turkey gun than my pump. You should be able to find one easy on a used gun rack in the price range you mention. Be picky, many were worked and beat to death, but there are plenty of good ones still out there.

I have a Baikal coach gun, and it is not regulated at all, one bbl is close to point of aim, the other is way off.

Personally, I think the 3.5/12ga is the proverbial answer to a question nobody asked, at least with lead shot, which as a turkey hunter, is all that I am concerned with. With the improvement in wads and loads, a current 3" steel shell or non lead shell should do fine for ducks and geese don't ya think?
 
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