Affordable Double-barreled Shotguns

[jwise]

I've always had a special place in my heart for double-barrel shotguns (side by side.) I don't have a lot of money, so I was wondering if you guys knew of a company who makes a decent side-by-side 12ga. for a truly affordable price. I will eventually want two side-by-sides, one ornately decorated, and the other a "coach gun" with an 18" bbl.

The ornately decorated, long barreled, side-by-side will be used to demonstrate the beauty of firearms and be shot very rarely (it will become a family heirloom.) The coach gun will be kept loaded and used to fend off 'goblins.'

Any suggestions? Please include websites.

[PreserveFreedom]

I am not sure of manufacturers off hand, but I know that when I lived inNew Mexico, my dealer used to get in a lot of imports that weren't bad in price at all. Be glad you want a side by side model though. They are extremely inexpensive compared to over/under modles for some reason.

[taco]

For under $250 you can get a Rossi SxS with 18". It even has the rabbit ear hammers. I have one from about 10 years ago and it is good quality shotgun.

[dZ]

i like the Russian Baikals imported by EAA:
http://www.eaacorp.com/firearms/shotguns/izh-mp213/index.html
http://www.eaacorp.com/firearms/shotguns/izh43/index.html

240-700 dollars
http://216.22.162.209/p618.htm#eaamp213c

[ATTICUS]

Here's your goblin getter. Click on IGA coach gun (right side)
$338
http://www.theoutdoorscenter.com/OutDoorCenters_Storefront/asp_StoreFront/FrameSet.asp

[huntsman]

Jwise , you can always find a nice looking wall hanger for a couple a hudred dollars .Not shootable but nice to look at, try auction arms or ask around at Gunshop.com someone should have a old belgium clunker to sell ;) AS for a short barreled gun look for a Stevens 311 R it's there riot gun.

[Good Guy]

This month's American Rifleman has a very good writeup on affordable side-by-side shotguns. If you're not a member, join up and ask that your subscription be started with the August issue. Good article!

[MK11]

I second the IGA coach gun. The Russian stuff looks interesting too. One thing, if you can find one with external hammers, get it. A loaded coach gun with internal hammers is always going to be "cocked & locked," which may not be good for the spring tension over time.

I think the coach gun is a seriously underrated home defense weapon.

[jwise]

Thanks for the advice! Good point about the external hammers. I hadn't really thought about that, but it sure makes sense!

Does IGA or Stevens have a website? I can't seem to get any info on them. The Baikal's look like a good deal.

Keep the info coming!

[Drundel]

Howdy, Jarrell. Time for a new toy eh? You ever get your tactial?

[Ewok_Guy]

Norinco makes an affordable 12ga SxS.

[dick w. holliday]

Most of my double gun experience lately has been involved with cowboy shooting and i see a lot of the foreign doubles giving problems--i guess they are trying to cash in too quick on the fad--seems like the older foreign guns were better--as for the stevens 311's they work fine but the cowboy crowd is buying them all up--i hit all the pawn shops i can and don't see many 311's around..i don't think they are available as new guns any more...i've got an old Savage-Fox model B that my dad gave me as my first shotgun and it is basically a fancy 311 (as far as i'm concerned) but it is in too good of shape to play cowboy with it....Don't want any guns with hammers either.......Dick

[OkieCruffler]

You can't go wrong with a Stevens 311 (I'm abit partial to them since I've got 8), but it takes some hunting to find them. The Savage Foxes are very sweet looking guns for abit more money and abit more hunting to find. I was shooting a friend's IGA coachgun last week and it was alot of fun if you aren't looking for anything too purdy.

[OkieCruffler]

Looks like I spoke too soon. www.gunsamerica.com and
www.auctionarms.com both have several 311's from $200 up. Looks like I've found a place to spend my tax refund check.

[ATTICUS]

Jwise: IGA coach guns are made/imported by Stoeger Industries. I couldn't find a website, but they are fairly common guns and can be found at many gunshops and gunshows.