Side-by-side for shooting clays?

[bigbearbear]

Just curious, why is it that I seldom see people use side-by-side shotguns for shooting clays? Are there any disadvantages?

[Kodemonkey]

2 different sight planes. There is a reason you see so many over unders being used competitively. No reason you can't use a side by side for fun though. It might make it harder for doubles IMHO.

[POLICESTATE]

I don't care, I just bought one anyway!

[tamalpias]

I'd love to buy one for nostalgia sake and the cool factor when hunting .

[Thefeeder]

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None that I can see exept few have interchangable chokes ...sxs are just not popular


I ran into some guys that shoot Merkels and Berettas at Birds Landing

[mjsweims]

I used to use my SXS's for trap. Got my first 50 straight with one of them. Both of them are hunting guns and too light and whippy for clay sports, but great for shooting live birds and carrying in the field.
I've switched to a BT99 for trap singles and handicaps and a Citori GTi for trap doubles and 5 stand. Heavier guns but better suited for games.

[fennecfrank]

I have a Dickinson Arms sidelock in 20 gauge:



Sometimes, I use it to shoot sporting clays. It's fun. However, I don't enjoy shooting it as much as the over-under's. SXS's have much smaller forends. I do not have a firm grip with SXS's.

SXS's are used mainly in the field, you don't see anyone compete with a SXS. If you like hunting, I don't see why not using a SXS to practice in sporting clay.

[Walking Fire]

Because Elmer Fudd uses one...

[lengninjhi]

There is a reason you see so many over unders being used competitively. No reason you can't use a side by side for fun though. It might make it harder for doubles IMHO.

[midlife]

Much more common in England. I think they work better for trap with rising clays than other clay sports. Saw guy this week shooting side by side at trap range. He was shooting well.

Also saw two guys with mossberg 500s. Short barrels. Kicking ***.

[bjl333]

I do! If the barrels bothers you then you're doing it wrong!

[twinpalms1]

It's the wizard, not the wand mate. That said, field guns are light & will kick you more than a target gun. The best gun is the gun you shoot well. I got a Rem 870 Wingmaster with fixed full chokes for my 13th birthday & by 16, there wasn't a single Perazzi owner at my club that could beat me at 27 yard trap.

[SunsetIE]

Much more common in England. I think they work better for trap with rising clays than other clay sports. Saw guy this week shooting side by side at trap range. He was shooting well.

Also saw two guys with mossberg 500s. Short barrels. Kicking ***.

All about how you use it! I took my H/D 870 down to Raahauges to shoot sporting clays a couple weeks, everybody that saw me looked at me like I was retarded, or crazy using a 18.5" barrel. Hit more far birds than my buddy who was using a 28" 870 wingmaster


I used to shoot alot of trap at Triple B 5-6 years ago, the only guys I ever saw with SxS were usually about 105 years old and had "been using this shotgun since I was knee high to a worm". Tons of 1100/1187 and O/Us though.

[Newshooter]

SXS don't share the popularity here like they do in Europe. They are also usually cost prohibitive for most shooters. A quality S&S is going to run a LOT more than your typical shotgun, especially an 870. The Stoeger coach gun that Big5 can't be compared to a quality SXS either.

There are still many SXS events and we have a world champion SXS sporting clay shooter who is in nor-cal. Don't tell him a SXS is "just for fun" he has some of the nicest Parker shotguns I have ever seen and he shoots them WELL.