Big 5's Double Barreled Shotgun

[Henry47]

Does anyone know anything about this? I've always wanted a double barreled shotgun. Any pro/cons? Honest opinions? What about the manufacturer Interstate? How's their reputation?

[bwiese]

I suspect that's really a Norinco. Somehow the Chinese co. renamed itself sufficiently to allow for US importation (since Norinco is banned).

Double-bbl 'coach guns' are cool/useful for the cowboy action crowd. For utility I prefer an over-under.

[Henry47]

I suspect that's really a Norinco. Somehow the Chinese co. renamed itself sufficiently to allow for US importation (since Norinco is banned).

Double-bbl 'coach guns' are cool/useful for the cowboy action crowd. For utility I prefer an over-under.

i'm new to the world of shotguns. What benefits does the over/under have over side by side? What makes it "better"?

[Gnote]

Personally I like the over-under because of the single trigger and the slimmer width if the gun.

[glen avon]

but O/Us are more difficult, and thus more expensive to build. that's why the cost more. certainly nothing wrong with them, though.

detrrmine what you will be using it for and buy accordingly. most hunting is with O/Us, I think because they are slimmer and also easier to shoot b/c the barrels are stacked.

some prefer to hunt with SxSs, they like the wider sight plane.

if you always wanted what they had on the stagecoach, that's a SxS and none other,

[ivanimal]

Overall legth of a side by side or over under, is less than a pump or auto making it eisiear to swing. I like over unders because of the sight plane. Having shot a pump gun since I was a kid, I am used to it .

[dhl]

Well, nothing clear's out a hallway quite like a SxS. That haveing been said, my only concern about this particular SxS would be the quality. Most Norinco products have been well made and quite reliable from my experience.

[glen avon]

I wish I had the same low threshold for quality that could give similar rave reviews about something made by the Chinese military industrial complex.

maybe you can ask a Korean war or Vietnam War vet about the quality of weapons they faced.

[audiogeek]

I have one of these. It wasn't purchased from Big5, but it is the same one they sell. Quality is not bad, I've never run into any problems. Hurts like hell to fire from the shoulder.

Honestly, unless you are into the cowboy scene, I'd look at getting an 870 or something similar. Mine was a gift, something that I never would have bought for myself. I usually take it with me when I go to the range. After a day of shooting pistols and rifles, I use the shotgun to finish off all of the melons and fruit that are left over. I always fire from the hip. I do wish that I had an 870 instead.

[HillBilly]

In all honesty, I don't see this shotgun being good at anything.

I think this one was designed as a cowboy action type peice, hence the coach gun moniker, but unless you are into that, it's short barrels are not much use for clays or hunting. Also not the best thing for defense, and those external hammers are known to have issues (safety and otherwise) on some older shotguns, but I would think there has to be some safety standards there. Still, External hammers are a pass for me unless it is a collector piece.

So unless these go on sale for 100.00 or less, I would say pass IMO.

[James R.]

I think that's the same one my father has, he shoots in SASS Cowboy Action. It's not a bad shotgun, but he did have to put in some hours working on it to get shells to eject (there's a pin which pushes up) and fall out by tipping the barrel up. Before then they were kinda prone to sticking a bit so he polished the chambers and made some modifications to the ejector. Works great now...

Regards,

James R.

[NeoWeird]

I was under the impression that a good majority of the cheaper double barrel shotguns coming into the states were Russian made. For example, from what I have heard, Baikal was originally made in Russia until it was contracted by Remington to make their new cheap line of shotguns under the Spartan name. I wouldn't be surprised if Interstate was just a contracted Winchester, Savage, Marlin, etc. under a different name.

ETA: I could easily be wrong though.

[James R.]

I was under the impression that a good majority of the cheaper double barrel shotguns coming into the states were Russian made. For example, from what I have heard, Baikal was originally made in Russia until it was contracted by Remington to make their new cheap line of shotguns under the Spartan name. I wouldn't be surprised if Interstate was just a contracted Winchester, Savage, Marlin, etc. under a different name.

ETA: I could easily be wrong though.

The Interstate ones are ChiCom.

Regards,

James R.

[NeoWeird]

The Interstate ones are ChiCom.

Regards,

James R.

Good to know for a fact.

[HillBilly]

thats not to say there aren't some sweet non-italian imports coming in though...those turkish CZ's make me all warm and tingly.