sxs vs o/u

S

Super-Dave

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Is the design of an sxs more reliable than the o/u design or is it the other way around?


Which design will be less likely to break in the long term?


Why are there no 3.5" chambered sxs or o/u?
 
American Arms imported a 3.5 inch sxs for a short time. I got to shoot one once and knew why they only imported them for a short time. They would hurt you.
 
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I tend to think Sidelock guns with 2 triggers are the most reliable. I dont think there is really a shred of evidence to point one way or the other though.

Why are there no 3.5" chambered sxs or o/u?
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One line of thinking is that the game hunted with doubles generally is not ducks, geese, and turkey.

I tend to think that it is anyone who wants to buy a good quality double knows that the 3 1/2" chmabering is quite useless as well as any gun in 12 gauge.
 
SXS

Which design will be less likely to break in the long term?
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There is very probably no difference in reliability or durability. The SXS has a longer history and one finds quite old guns that handle and shoot well and are still tight.
Most of my shotguns (5 of 9) are SXSs and four of them are more than 90 years old. They shoot just fine.
Pete
 
Reliability should be the same as far as styles go; however, there are opinions regarding boxlock vs. sidelock - where boxlocks are generally considered less likely to have issues.

As to why no 3.5"? SxS and O/U for the field are generally used for upland hunting - means the guns are lightweight. Firing that type of shell would be murderous on one's shoulder. Consequently, there isn't a market for them.
 
Why no 3.5" in SxS? I do believe there are a few examples, but why they aren't prevalent is pretty simple - they aren't needed. With a small niche market for those that think they need the 12ga diametered 10/8 gauge loads - well, it just isn't worth it.

2-1/2" & 2-5/8" 12ga blackpowder shells have killed everything that has walked, flown, slithered, and crawled on Earth in the last 130 years. Yes, including elephant with foster slugs from the short shells.. Same holds true for 2-3/4" and 3" shells.
 
3.5"?!?

Beretta made the 686 Oynx with 3.5" Chambers, but I don't see it listed any longer. With good reason, the recoil was very punishing.

Technically speaking there is no real reason that either an o/u or sxs should be more reliable than the other, but there is no dispute that o/u's, as a design, are easier to shoot well with than sxs's. I don't say this to pick a fight with sxs lovers[ I've got a couple, and enjoy them also]......but if you look at any of the competitive clay target games, no top competitors use sxs's unless mandated by the rules of the event. The games are all dominated by o/u's and semi-auto's.
 
SxS guns have a greater gape when open, making it a little easier to load fast in tighter quarters like British shooting butts.

As for reliability, better examples of either are superb at functioning for decades.

Super Dave, I'm putting you on short rations. You can only start one "vs" a week.....
 
to me I think the side x side pointed better than an over/under. I had a Browning side x side with 26 inch barrels and single trigger. right close to the top of the list of stupid gun moves was getting rid of that shotgun. especially since I only paid $300 for it and what they go for now used.
 
in the 500-1500 range there are few used possibilities, the best of which might very well be the Ugartechea (Uggie). You might also get lucky and find a Browning BSS or SKB. These will tend to bemore at the upper end of that range. There are some AyA's that are from the 50's and 60's out there that are in that range as are the AyA's made for Sears (a real sleeper, IMO).

Many will recommend the Stevens 311. I have the "better" cousin - the Savage/Fox BSE. While it isn't a bad gun, per se, it is not in the same ballpark as the Uggie or Aya, especially from a weight or balance, or handling aspect
 
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