Recomend a good coach gun...

M

mellow_c

New member
Hello folks. I'd like some recommendations for a good 12 gauge double barrel side by side coach style shotgun. I was thinking I'd like something with external hammers, but I could do without.

I dont know whats out there. I'm not concerned about price. Cheap is good, but I'd like quality and durability as well. Thanks! :)
 
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From my limited experience I will tell you what to avoid.

The Stoeger "double defense" is a sorry excuse for a shotgun covered with a layer of black paint. The one example I have handled had just about every thing go wrong with it that could go wrong in one day. The stock got loose, both barrels would fire unexpectedly. One of those stupid rails fell off of it... Please don't buy one of these.
 
The "hammer double" shotguns are cool but slower to operate if you are interested in cowboy action shooting (which you should be).

There is a category in SASS called Classic Cowboy which requires a hammered double or lever action shotgun.

The best deal going (price and quality) in a hammerless coach gun is the Baikal which just recently became available again. Here's a good source: http://ultona.110mb.com/Shotguns.htm

A hammered Baikal is also available but the price is higher. Here it is on the importer's website: http://www.eaacorp.com/pdfs/guns/BaikalMP220F.pdf

At the top of Rezac's shotgun page you'll see a thumbnail photo of a reproduction of an 1878 Colt hammer double. Rezac must be out of them but here's a photo on Taylor & Company's website:http://www.taylorsfirearms.com/products/cfCoachGun.tpl

The 1878s have a good reputation with cowboy shooters. They have a nice classic look.
 
Had a Stoeger Nickel Coachgun for about 4 years, approx 500 rounds without a hiccup. Sold it to get a winch for my jeep. Replaced it with a Stoeger Condor Outback, which has about 200 rounds through it, no problems.
 
I have two of the stoeger Double defense one 12 one 20. The stock and rails are fine although IMO the rails are pointless, especially the top one. The 12 gauge misfires about 1 in 5 shots; the 20 has been flawless. I would stay away from the Double Defense. I removed the fluorescent bead sight; A coach gun hardly requires a sight and a fluorescent one:rolleyes:

(edit)Well so much for flawless; took the 20 out today and it fired both barrels at once. I was shooting from the hip, thankfully and it did make a most satisfying mess of the target.:D
 
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Crunchy Frog... The link you put up for the hammerless Baikal didnt work... I'd like to know more about that. The fact that the hammers will slow you down is really a pretty big "issue" when I think about it. I'd like to shoot a double coach gun quickly, and hammers just wont allow that without a LOT of practice.

On the other hand, hammers are still neat. and That CZ was a fine looking Coach gun. Something I'd be proud to buy and own for the rest of my days!!!

Thanks so much for the posts everyone!
 
It looks like Phil J. Rezac's website is down temporarily. There was a notation on his home page saying he was having issues with his web host. Try the link again or Google his name. He also sells his guns on Gunbroker and on GunsAmerica but I don't see any of his ads posted today.

The importer is EAA; you can access GunGenie from its website and perhaps find a local dealer. Here is EAA's website: http://www.eaacorp.com/

These guns were imported at one time as the Remington Spartan, later as the EAA Bounty Hunter II. Now they are just sold under Baikal if you want to search GunBroker or whatever. MSRP is in the low $300s so you might be able to get one at about $300-ish. They were not imported for a while and just recently became available again and may be a little hard to find.

Personally I'd take this over a Stoeger any day. It's less expensive than a Stoeger to boot.

I have a CZ rifle that I like and agree that the CZ hammer coach is a nice looking gun but they are really stiff out of the box. Now most all shotguns need some tweaking to get them to "run" right for CAS but the CZs are tighter out of the box than the TNN 1878. I've not handled the hammered Baikal to compare it. The CZ is considerably more expensive than the other two.

For CAS the drawback of the CZ is the locking tab (whatever it's called) that protudes between the chambers. The Baikals, Stoegers, TNN and others have a flat breech face and are much easier to load quickly.

The most coveted hammerless doubles in CAS are the SKB and the Browning BSS. These are single trigger guns. Both are discontinued so you are talking big bucks ($1500 perhaps) to find one and get it set up.

There is a cowboy on the SASS Wire who bought a Yildiz single trigger double from Academy Sports and is sending it to one of the cowboy gunsmiths (Goatneck Clem) to have it cut down and slicked up. The Yildiz is a Turkish shotgun (as is the CZ which is made by Huglu) with pretty nice finish and it's a single trigger design. Academy sells them for less than $500 so this might end up being a good midpriced choice.

The Baikals and TNNs are double trigger models. Those are mechanically simpler and therefore less expensive than a single trigger design. A double trigger gun can be fired quickly with a little practice.

I am no expert, just been shooting CAS for a little over a year. Feel free to send me a PM if you want more info.
 
That should be enough to get my by for now. I'm not looking to buy anytime soon, so I should be able to look around based on what I've gotten here.

Thanks alot for the posts!

I'll be sure to PM ya if I have any other questions Crunch:)

As for CAS... yeah, I'd love to do it... and I've thought about it. but just like reloading, I dont have time. I've got too many hobbies as it is.

Thats not to say I dont dress up like a cowboy every great once in a while and take out a lever gun and a single action revolver or two;)
 
Personal Defense magazine...

While killing time in my local metro area's big B&N location, I read through the latest copy of Personal Defense. I bought the 2010 issue and it's worth the $$$. They have a few updates/tech news about 12ga home protection shotguns. I don't recall the model names but a few were high tech & had 1913 rails, white lights, coatings, rubber stocks, etc.
A side by side 12ga is not my 1st pick but it could "ride the river" as some US Border Patrol agents & sheriff deputies used to say... ;).

ClydeFrog
 
I've had a Stoeger Coach gun for about 4 years. Not one hiccup in all that time, sometimes have fired 100 rounds at a time. The blued finish is great, and has mildly figured wood, quite nice. For a cheap shotgun a very nice piece....
 
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Those models with the double triggers are fine; stay away from the Double Defense. It is their latest SXS and they are poorly made. I have not read one positive review of them; except on their web site:D
 
I'd have to go with the recommendation on the Baikal Bounty Hunter II. I have several and they are all great and built like tanks. The plus side on the 20Ga is that the way they are layed up they will shoot the inexpensive foster style slugs, both barrels, to the same point of aim. Yes they realy will. I have two set up as poor mans double rifles and both will keep Winchester 3/4OZ 1600fps slugs in a four inch group R&L at 60yds.
 
Here's what you might want to take a serious look at:

SV100278.jpg


It's a Stoeger Supreme 12g, nickle plated and it goes bang every time I pull the trigger(s).

SV100280.jpg


and it's cool looking. :)
 
How is the JW 2000

I see a lot about different guns, but what about the JW 2000? Are they any good? Almost everywhere I look on the WEB that sells them seem to be "out of stock". Are they made by Norinco? Price sure is right.
 
Let me say that I wasn't intending to bash the Stoeger or people who own them. Some of my best friends are Stoeger [owners]!

Seriously the Stoegers are very popular in CAS. If they were junk they would not be.

I was just expressing my opinion that given the choice between the Baikal and the Stoeger I would take the latter.
 
Do any of these guns automatically eject the shells when you open the action after firing? Or do you have to pull them out with your hand?

I like the looks of the Baikal Bounty Hunter II, but mostly all the ones I see on the net are 20" barrels. I'd like something shorter. I was thinking with it being a "coach gun" the shorter the better.

But it looks like even the CZ has a 20 inch barrel. hmmmm....
 
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The Rossi and Norinco external hammer coach guns are both
good to go. The Rossi is higher quality and costs more.
Also, both are only available in the used gun market.
 
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