Side by Side for upland hunting...

[bscruz]

I have hunted Pheasant a couple of times already with my trusty old Winchester 1300. I have been looking to jump into a SxS for the traditional/nostalgic value, I'd be getting it this summer so I can practice on clays for a couple of months before the fall/winter Pheasant season...

so, how many of you have hunted (or shot clays) with a side by side and was there much of a learning curve vs a single barrel shotgun?

I know it's more personal preference to go SxS vs O/U and many add an SxS to their collection for the "traditional" value of it for upland hunting... I haven't shot an over/under yet, but I can rent one at the ProShop at Triple B to give it a try. I just don't know anybody that has a SxS or any place that rents them - so I'm looking for some people's experience.

I'm looking at a CZ Ringneck or Mossberg Silver Reserve side by side. both around the $1K range - there is the Stoeger and USSG side by sides for about half the price, but have read about reliability issues with those guns - anybody got feedback on any of these?

[Thefeeder]

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I have known many hunters who used SXS for upland game.
Also see shooters at Birds landing with SXS's shooting clays with them.

They are fun and swing very well


With SXS's and O/U's you get what you pay for.

Take a look at the Browning SXS for a good value

[epic1856]

I have a Stoeger 28 g SxS. I actually find it harder to shoot. It weighs less and has a shorter barrel so my swing is very erratic. This is due to the 28 g, my guess that if its a 12 g it will probably be fine and shoots great.

[bscruz]

can you still get a new Browning Side by Side out there?

[bscruz]

Epic - have you ever had any reliability issues with your Stoeger?

[epic1856]

Epic - have you ever had any reliability issues with your Stoeger?

nope, goes bang everytime I pull the trigger. I will say that it is a low end shotgun. I bought the gun sight unseen and when I held it for the first time it felt "cheap" to me. I would not buy new would be my recommendation. I bought new since I wanted a sub gauge shotgun. shouldnt have issues getting a used one.

For hunting I would recommend buying used. Your going to to scratch, bump it against trees and get blood on it.

[Moonshine]

I prefer over/under but in my opinion the side x side vs over/under debate is the same as the 26 vs 28 inch debate... More of a personal preference than a performance argument.

[ElvenSoul]

Check out Baikal

[Thefeeder]

can you still get a new Browning Side by Side out there?

Last made in 1987.....I just did a search and the prices have gone way up...may be out of the OP's price range at this point.

[NapalmCheese]

I shoot a 1928 Lefever Nitro Special at clays and hopefully at ducks this upcoming season. For me it swings well, mounts well, and the wide sight plane but lack of bright fiber optic bead provide a great combination of knowing something is in your periphery but not taking your focus off the bird. The exaggerated drop at comb changes my cheek weld to a corner of mouth weld, which is very much like shooting my bow and is very comfortable. That large drop at comb makes it feel as though I can see better (I really can't, but I feel less 'clausterphobic') than with a 'tight to face' cheek weld.

I don't own any really nice SxS shotguns but have handled a couple of nice ones, the Parkers and the older A.H. Foxes, the older Lefevers (not the Nitro Specials), etc., they feel nice. Not chunky, very thin in the wrist and splinter fore-end, svelte even for a 12 gauge. Those would be wonderful to hunt with.

Are the modern, affordable SxS shotguns all kind of chunky like the Steven's 311s?

[DirtyDave]

I have a Mossberg 20ga SxS and I LOVE IT. Super light and fast, great for long hikes hunting chukar and quail. Screw in chokes are a big plus too. I have several shotguns, but haven't touched them since I got my SxS

[tpuig]

You can find a Browning BSS for sale once in a while. Really nice guns, but not too common. IIRC there was one listed for sale here recently. Another rare one is the Ruger Gold Label. Good luck finding one for under $3k.

I take a different gun into the field every time I go out for pheasant. Ranging from a Win 97 and Browning BPS pump to a few different SxS's, like a Win Mod 24 or Steven/Savage 311. Also a couple O/U and single shots.

So, yes, you can hunt successfully with anything, just use the basic shooting skills. One caveat, watch wet fingers on a double trigger gun. You can get an unpleasant surprise if you finger slips and you pull both triggers... ;-)

Take look for older doubles, they are out there and usually go unnoticed and for a good price unless a particularly rare model. There is sort of an entry level of about $400-500 for a decent older US made gun, then they jump into the stratosphere in terms of quality and price.