Double Barrel Hunters

R

roy reali

New member
I am thinking of getting a side-by-side for upland hunting. Probably one in 20 gauge. Does anyone here use a double barrel shotgun for bird hunting? Which brand and which gauge? What would you recommend?
 
Stevens/Savage 311'smostly 12 but I'm about to replace my old 20, or maybe get a wood stock to repalce the plastic on my 16. Anyway you go, there's something almost spiritual about birding with a SXS.
 
I've used a couple Browning field grades; one in 12 and one in 20. I've also used a Winchester 23 pigeon XTR. All were wonderful to point. The 23 was exceptional in fit and finish.
 
I've got an Ithaca/SKB Model 200-E in 20 ga. It's pretty durned sweet to pack and shoot. You can find them for around a grand.

Mine has 28" bbls choked mod and full. I wish they were imp and mod for what I do with it. jd
 
I use my grandfathers Parker Trojan grade doubles. They were the bottom of the line Parkers at that time. My parents used them, I used them, my children used them and my grandkids will use them. They don't make them like that these days.
 
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If you can, try a used Uggie in 20......not quite as good as the AyA in the base model, but still more svelte than the typical Stevens or Fox/Savage
 
I'm not a SXS guy / I use O/U's in the field 12, 20 or 28ga depending on what I'm doing.....

my field guns, sporting and skeet guns are the same gun - Browning Citori, XS Skeet model, with adj comb and 30" barrels. My 20ga, 28ga and .410 guns are all built on a 20ga receiver / so they weigh and feel the same...
 
I use a 20ga o/u Browning upland with the 24" tubes for Partridge. I run the bottom barrel cyl wit 7 1/2 shot for my first shot most of the time, and the top tube with 6 shot for my second shot most of the time. I can pick which one first. But the second shot there out alittle farther and thicker cover for the 6 shot in the top barrel which also makes it more in line with the bead. I love the looks of the side by side's but I am not has good with them. Lots of folks swear by them. I am running the top imp forgot to mention it.
 
If I am walking fence rows I have an 1928 Ithaca that I like. If I am hunting brush and briar in the timber edges I have an Ithaca/SKB in 20 that I really like to carry.
 
Read McIntosh's book "Best Guns"

I prefer doubles.I like the aesthetics.I particularly like being able to render them comfortable by just breaking them.No need to cycle rounds through,and it is obvious to those around you things are safe.


Youmight enjoy "The Double Gun Journal" magazine.
 
I personally wouldn't part with my newer Stevens and Stoeger 12ga's. But nearest and dearest is my pre-war Stevens 16ga. I agree with OkieCruffler- there's just something nearly spiritual about hunting sith a sxs.
 
I do NOT get all misty eyed, warmnfuzzy about hunting with a SxS.

I do note, however, that a couple of the better HUNTING shotguns in my past had barrels so aligned.

As a pragmatist, I go with what works. Some SxS shotguns, at least, work very,very well in the uplands and over dogs.

And it has little to do with price. A couple of the great ones in my backtrail were 311s. Another, a no name French boxlock. None would bring more than $300 in today's market.
 
I use a 12 gauge double. That said, I like it, but I don't HAVE to hunt with a double.

Stoeger Uplander. Good gun. Far better than my mediocre shotgun skills.

Good quality in my opinion for being relatively "cheap" shotguns.
 
Whichever way you go, a decent 20 gauge SxS should weigh right about 6 pounds. many of the very inexpensive ones weight closer to 7 or more.

The gun needs to FIT - cast seems to play more of a role with SxS than almost any other type of shotgun, along with drop, pitch, etc. - but when you find one that does fit - it will swing like it has its own radar to the target.........;)
 
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