decent cheep side by side 12 GA shot gun?

Deja vu · May 3, 2011, 07:43 AM

Can any one recomend a cheep SXS 12GA shot gun? I do have 2 stipulations. It needs to be able to take steel and it needs to be able to take 3 1/2 in rounds.

This will be a goose/turkey hunting gun and my grandfather all ways gives me crap about my pump gun.

p.s. I am not a fan of OU shot guns... call it personal preference.

smee78 · May 3, 2011, 08:44 AM

I would of suggested Stoger but I think they only take 3" shells, why is your grandfather giving you crap about your pump? Are you out shooting him?

Doyle · May 3, 2011, 09:25 AM

You'll be hard pressed to find ANY 12 ga SxS that takes 3 1/2" shells - cheap or otherwise.

Rifleman1776 · May 3, 2011, 12:13 PM

Doyle nailed it.
I'm with you on the appeal of side by side shotguns. But reality is the OUs have the market.
You might get half-way lucky at a big gun show but it won't be a 3 1/2".

Hawg Haggen · May 3, 2011, 12:42 PM

Why do you need 3 1/2 inch shells? Turkeys have been killed for years with 2 /34 and even 2 1/2 inch shells. Your best bet if you just have to have 3 1/2 inches is get a Stoeger and gave the chambers lengthened.

Deja vu · May 3, 2011, 04:08 PM

I like 3 1/2 inch bullets cause that is what I use in my pump and I would like to keep it as close to what I am use to as possible. I know that even a 2 3/4 inch rounds will kill turkeys and Geese but I am trying to keep as much the same as possible.

if 3 1/2 inch are not available then Ill go with the next best thing... any that shoot 3 inch and can take steel? Still no OUs please.

darkgael · May 4, 2011, 07:52 AM

Look at the Baikal IZH-43, if you can find one. EAA might be importing them. I bought one fifteen or twenty years ago. Steel and 3" capable.
I have no complaints about the gun. I have shot Trap with it and hunted grouse. It works just fine. Weighs about 7lbs. 4oz.
If you want the longer shells in a SXS, you'll have to look for a 10 ga.
Pete

johnbt · May 4, 2011, 10:29 AM

American Arms made a 3.5" SxS.

http://www.auctionarms.com/closed/di...temnum=7784932

BigJimP · May 4, 2011, 04:53 PM

If you're serious about it .... Beretta makes some entry level SXS's in their field models ...that I understand can be ordered in 3 1/2" chambers...

http://www.berettausa.com/products/4...tail-fore-end/

They list for $ 3,850 / and I've seen an occasional one around for about
$3,500 .../ but I'm not a big fan of SXS's ( because they have so much drop at the comb - and length of pull is very short on most of them / so I can't shoot them ).

Browning made a SXS from 1978 thru 1987 called the BSS ....and there are quite a few of them around used / mostly fixed chokes. They're a well built gun as well. A good clean one is probably going to cost you around $ 2,000 / and I've seen them as high as $5,000 for very nice examples.

Good SXS's are expensive to mfg ...and none of the cheap Turkish or Russian imports are decent guns, in my opinion ( and are a big time waste of money ) ..and they're prone to all kinds of issues ( barrels not hitting to the same point of impact, etc ).

But in all seriousness ...I doubt your grandfather wants you to spend $ 4,000 on a gun ...he's just needling you .../ but like I said, if you're serious and want to hunt with a SXS --- and it fits you well ....no reason not to try and find a Beretta or a Browning ..../and if you take care of it - they will probably go up in value.

Deja vu · May 4, 2011, 09:28 PM

yeah no way I am spending that kind of money. I was thinking some thing in the 200-400 range.

Yeah its all good natured any way

bamaranger · May 8, 2011, 02:11 AM

The old Savage 311's were USA made working guns and many of the later models came w/ 3" chambers. I am looking for one myself, full and full with 28" bbls for a lighter turkey gun than my pump. You should be able to find one easy on a used gun rack in the price range you mention. Be picky, many were worked and beat to death, but there are plenty of good ones still out there.

I have a Baikal coach gun, and it is not regulated at all, one bbl is close to point of aim, the other is way off.

Personally, I think the 3.5/12ga is the proverbial answer to a question nobody asked, at least with lead shot, which as a turkey hunter, is all that I am concerned with. With the improvement in wads and loads, a current 3" steel shell or non lead shell should do fine for ducks and geese don't ya think?

Al57 · May 10, 2011, 04:47 PM

Deja Vu, you have a pm.

May 3, 2011, 07:43 AM	#1
Deja vu Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2010 Location: Border of Idaho & Montana Posts: 1,751	decent cheep side by side 12 GA shot gun? Can any one recomend a cheep SXS 12GA shot gun? I do have 2 stipulations. It needs to be able to take steel and it needs to be able to take 3 1/2 in rounds. This will be a goose/turkey hunting gun and my grandfather all ways gives me crap about my pump gun. p.s. I am not a fan of OU shot guns... call it personal preference. __________________ Shot placement is everything! I would rather take a round of 50BMG to the foot than a 22short to the base of the skull. all 21 of my guns are 45/70 govt 357 mag, 22 or 12 ga... I believe in keeping it simple

May 3, 2011, 08:44 AM	#2
smee78 Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 650	I would of suggested Stoger but I think they only take 3" shells, why is your grandfather giving you crap about your pump? Are you out shooting him? __________________ We know exactly where one cow with Mad-cow-disease is located, among the millions and millions of cows in America, but we haven't got a clue where thousands of illegal immigrants and terrorists are

May 3, 2011, 12:42 PM	#5
Hawg Haggen Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 10,245	Why do you need 3 1/2 inch shells? Turkeys have been killed for years with 2 /34 and even 2 1/2 inch shells. Your best bet if you just have to have 3 1/2 inches is get a Stoeger and gave the chambers lengthened. __________________ http://blackpowdertimes.com/index.php

May 3, 2011, 04:08 PM	#6
Deja vu Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2010 Location: Border of Idaho & Montana Posts: 1,751	I like 3 1/2 inch bullets cause that is what I use in my pump and I would like to keep it as close to what I am use to as possible. I know that even a 2 3/4 inch rounds will kill turkeys and Geese but I am trying to keep as much the same as possible. if 3 1/2 inch are not available then Ill go with the next best thing... any that shoot 3 inch and can take steel? Still no OUs please. __________________ Shot placement is everything! I would rather take a round of 50BMG to the foot than a 22short to the base of the skull. all 21 of my guns are 45/70 govt 357 mag, 22 or 12 ga... I believe in keeping it simple

May 4, 2011, 07:52 AM	#7
darkgael Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2006 Location: Homes in Brooklyn, NY and in Pennsylvania. Posts: 3,986	SxS Look at the Baikal IZH-43, if you can find one. EAA might be importing them. I bought one fifteen or twenty years ago. Steel and 3" capable. I have no complaints about the gun. I have shot Trap with it and hunted grouse. It works just fine. Weighs about 7lbs. 4oz. If you want the longer shells in a SXS, you'll have to look for a 10 ga. Pete __________________ "Only hunting and mountain climbing are sports. The rest are just games." - R.Ruark NRA Life Member

May 3, 2011, 09:25 AM	#3
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Bradenton, Fl Posts: 4,131	You'll be hard pressed to find ANY 12 ga SxS that takes 3 1/2" shells - cheap or otherwise.

May 3, 2011, 12:13 PM	#4
Rifleman1776 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 2,841	Doyle nailed it. I'm with you on the appeal of side by side shotguns. But reality is the OUs have the market. You might get half-way lucky at a big gun show but it won't be a 3 1/2".

May 4, 2011, 10:29 AM	#8
johnbt Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 1999 Location: Richmond, Virginia USA Posts: 6,005	American Arms made a 3.5" SxS. http://www.auctionarms.com/closed/di...temnum=7784932

May 4, 2011, 04:53 PM	#9
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 9,963	If you're serious about it .... Beretta makes some entry level SXS's in their field models ...that I understand can be ordered in 3 1/2" chambers... http://www.berettausa.com/products/4...tail-fore-end/ They list for $ 3,850 / and I've seen an occasional one around for about $3,500 .../ but I'm not a big fan of SXS's ( because they have so much drop at the comb - and length of pull is very short on most of them / so I can't shoot them ). Browning made a SXS from 1978 thru 1987 called the BSS ....and there are quite a few of them around used / mostly fixed chokes. They're a well built gun as well. A good clean one is probably going to cost you around $ 2,000 / and I've seen them as high as $5,000 for very nice examples. Good SXS's are expensive to mfg ...and none of the cheap Turkish or Russian imports are decent guns, in my opinion ( and are a big time waste of money ) ..and they're prone to all kinds of issues ( barrels not hitting to the same point of impact, etc ). But in all seriousness ...I doubt your grandfather wants you to spend $ 4,000 on a gun ...he's just needling you .../ but like I said, if you're serious and want to hunt with a SXS --- and it fits you well ....no reason not to try and find a Beretta or a Browning ..../and if you take care of it - they will probably go up in value.

May 4, 2011, 09:28 PM	#10
Deja vu Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2010 Location: Border of Idaho & Montana Posts: 1,751	yeah no way I am spending that kind of money. I was thinking some thing in the 200-400 range. Yeah its all good natured any way __________________ Shot placement is everything! I would rather take a round of 50BMG to the foot than a 22short to the base of the skull. all 21 of my guns are 45/70 govt 357 mag, 22 or 12 ga... I believe in keeping it simple

May 8, 2011, 02:11 AM	#11
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 3,640	Savage 311 The old Savage 311's were USA made working guns and many of the later models came w/ 3" chambers. I am looking for one myself, full and full with 28" bbls for a lighter turkey gun than my pump. You should be able to find one easy on a used gun rack in the price range you mention. Be picky, many were worked and beat to death, but there are plenty of good ones still out there. I have a Baikal coach gun, and it is not regulated at all, one bbl is close to point of aim, the other is way off. Personally, I think the 3.5/12ga is the proverbial answer to a question nobody asked, at least with lead shot, which as a turkey hunter, is all that I am concerned with. With the improvement in wads and loads, a current 3" steel shell or non lead shell should do fine for ducks and geese don't ya think?

May 10, 2011, 04:47 PM	#12
Al57 Member Join Date: December 5, 2006 Location: Nebraska Posts: 67	Deja Vu, you have a pm.