I need a cheaper sxs double

mulespurs · June 9, 2016, 11:59 AM

I need a sxs 12 gauge for pheasants. I plan to follow my shorthair on my riding mule. I want 26" barrels and maybe ejectors. This may get some bumps and dings while muleback. I plan to get off ,then load up and shoot, not shoot off my animal.
I saw a Baikal a while back, What else can I look at under $500?

S_Constitutionist · June 9, 2016, 12:52 PM

Budget doubles are commonly not recommended unless you only plan to hit the field perhaps a few times a year. Imported Turkish guns dominate the O/U and SxS market and I routinely see them fail within a few hundred to a few thousand rounds in my skeet league. You may get lucky, but its rare to see one last much longer than that. If you are ok with that limit, the CZ's seem to be a bit better than the rest.

A quality pump or auto will serve you much better at your price point if you want something that will last.

FITASC · June 9, 2016, 12:58 PM

Turkish guns dominate the low end of SxS and O/Us, not the mid or upper range. A Savage/Stevens used might be in your budget as will older guns from AyA that were sold through Sears

T. O'Heir · June 9, 2016, 01:12 PM

Stoeger, but you really want a 26" barrel when riding? A mule. Geezuz.
Stoeger's MSRP is $549 though. However, Cabela's wants $449.99(ditto for Basspro) for an Uplander. Comes with improved cylinder and modified screw-in choke tubes. Their 20" Coach Gun has fixed chokes at the same price.
Uses Carlson's Winchester, Browning Invector & Mossberg 500 style threads on the tubes. Tubes start at $16.99 each at Cabela's.
http://www.stoegerindustries.com/shotguns

Pahoo · June 9, 2016, 01:13 PM

Quote:

I plan to get off ,then load up and shoot, not shoot off my animal.

Well, you had me worried there, for a moment. Have a BuckSkinner buddy that taught his horse to accept M/L discharges while mounted. Problem is that during a show, the barrel was places over the horses ears. It only took one round and they exchanged places. ......

Take a look at Stoeger when you get a chance. Have to admit that the Turks are a good choice. ....

Be Safe !!!

mete · June 9, 2016, 02:18 PM

Read oldtimers like Elmer Keith.Respect your animal , never shoot across it's ears !!

Creek Henry · June 9, 2016, 06:23 PM

I just bought a Stevens 500 12 ga with fixed chokes from gunbroker for $275. It was made before '89 and possibly never fired. It is a dumptruck of a gun but was in great shape and it shoots very well.

There are a few deals out there but few and far between

dgludwig · June 9, 2016, 07:33 PM

QUOTE: "...Budget doubles are commonly not recommended unless you only plan to hit the field perhaps a few times a year..."

Unfortunate fact of life but true. If I were limited to $500.00 for a shotgun, it would be a pump. Imo, you simply can't buy a new double-barrel shotgun for much under a couple of grand and have one that holds up over time and handles like it should.

Kvon2 · June 9, 2016, 09:34 PM

I have a stoeger Uplander and sadly it's having double firing issues and the safety gets kicked on after the first shot making a follow up impossible unless you manually turn off the safety again.

I've had a great experience with pointer shotguns so far though they do not make a sxs unfortunately

mulespurs · June 9, 2016, 09:41 PM

I reckon that I can ride that mule for longer than I can walk and enjoy my dog better. The mule will just get worth more money by careful use and I am raising more. At 63 years old I would rather take the chance of missing out on a few birds by not walking, but I won't have a heart attack near as easy.
I do plan to have the gun unloaded while mounted and dismount and load after the old dog points
I reckon that I can much easier load and unload a double than a pump, I have owned both.
I reckon that two barrels on a double would be harder to hurt than a pump or semiauto. I do not want to take my Super Black Eagle on a mule.
I don't really want 20" barrels cause I think they would be too blasty.
Test run last season without a gun went really well.

Blindstitch · June 9, 2016, 10:05 PM

I would probably look at a stoeger. But if you can find a used Savage Fox or Stevens 311 they are great utilitarian shotguns. My Fox took 24 pheasants last season and I was very happy.

Savage99 · June 9, 2016, 10:34 PM

Here is a Ugartechea 12 ga double that's 500.

Search around like this.

I found a nice Ugar 20 ga for less than $500 in a shop.

http://www.gunbroker.com/item/563611429

drobs · June 10, 2016, 07:08 AM

I asked a similar question and got some great responses in this thread:
https://thefiringline.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=573821

My plan is to get a Stoeger SXS Uplander and slick it up. Here's some DIY videos (posted in that thread) on how to do that:

https://youtu.be/FrtBEi1csOA
https://youtu.be/HQPp0aykE4A

Looks pretty easy. Plan is to buy the shotgun in the next year.

Tactical Lever · June 10, 2016, 08:07 AM

Old Savages are made well, or one of the old Rossi guns seem pretty decent, Norinco doubles are pretty rough, and may take a little "light" gunsmithing to work right. Stoeger seem to be alright out of the box, but prolific shooters seem to wear them out. Yildiz get some good reviews and make higher end stuff as well. Baikal makes a good gun "entry level" and high end. I have a Baikal coach gun with hammers that shoots where it's supposed to and seems very tough.

I like having a hammer gun loaded when hunting or walking in a social setting. So the Baikal would be my first pick, and probably best bargain for a new gun. Second would be a used Rossi hammer gun.

If you don't care for hammers, the Savages are nice, and can be found cheap. I had a couple, but for some reason they beat me up a little more than my Baikal.

FITASC · June 10, 2016, 12:45 PM

I'd take that Uggie in a heartbeat

Pahoo · June 10, 2016, 01:22 PM

Quote:

I reckon that I can ride that mule for longer than I can walk and enjoy my dog better.

Before all or most of our Iowa Pheasants, moved to SD, we hunted them behind German Shorthairs and Brits. It was sheer poetry, fun and truly miss it. Now riding a mule, sounds like more fun and you could hunt all day. However, I never have trusted riding anything bigger than myself. I use to ride horses and they always knew what a rookie they had at the reigns. ....

Be Safe !!!

Rob228 · June 10, 2016, 01:24 PM

Every now and then I see a used Ithaca SKB SXS in the used gun rack at Cabelas or on Gunbroker for a little more than 500 (usually 600-700ish). If you're willing to put a little more down, it may be a better choice.

FITASC · June 10, 2016, 06:28 PM

Only thing about those SKB's is that. Like Brownings, they are heavy, especially in the small gauges. Field guns should be light enough to carry all day and handle like a wand - not like a 2x4 with a pig on the end.

Rifletom · June 11, 2016, 10:58 PM

That's funny right there. And true!

Rob228 · June 12, 2016, 10:15 PM

Odd, my dad sold his SKB to put me in diapers and I'm pretty sure he still holds it against me, I figured there had to be some magic in them.

Blindstitch · June 13, 2016, 03:24 AM

Rob how long did it keep you in diapers for?

Rob228 · June 13, 2016, 07:54 AM

He never got that far into the story without staring off into the distance while reminiscing of a time without diapers and with an SKB

Blindstitch · June 13, 2016, 12:53 PM

Nice.

Creek Henry · June 13, 2016, 10:06 PM

Stoeger Longfowler is about _$500.

**Mike Irwin** · June 16, 2016, 01:07 PM

I really wanted a SxS, and I was leaning heavily towards a 28-gauge.

Then, a few years ago, another member here posted really pretty pictures of an older (middle 1950s, I think) Stevens 511 in 20 gauge.

I went out on a limb, asked him if it was for sale, and bought it when he said yes.

I forget exactly what I paid for it, but it was a fraction of what a CZ 20 or 28 gauge SxS would have cost me.

It is, without a doubt, my favorite shotgun.

June 9, 2016, 11:59 AM	#1
mulespurs Senior Member Join Date: February 26, 2012 Posts: 115	I need a cheaper sxs double I need a sxs 12 gauge for pheasants. I plan to follow my shorthair on my riding mule. I want 26" barrels and maybe ejectors. This may get some bumps and dings while muleback. I plan to get off ,then load up and shoot, not shoot off my animal. I saw a Baikal a while back, What else can I look at under $500?

June 9, 2016, 12:58 PM	#3
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,446	Turkish guns dominate the low end of SxS and O/Us, not the mid or upper range. A Savage/Stevens used might be in your budget as will older guns from AyA that were sold through Sears __________________ "I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only so long as) individual citizens give it a 'temporary license to exist'—in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy, you own the government—it doesn't own you."- Frank Zappa

June 9, 2016, 01:12 PM	#4
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Stoeger, but you really want a 26" barrel when riding? A mule. Geezuz. Stoeger's MSRP is $549 though. However, Cabela's wants $449.99(ditto for Basspro) for an Uplander. Comes with improved cylinder and modified screw-in choke tubes. Their 20" Coach Gun has fixed chokes at the same price. Uses Carlson's Winchester, Browning Invector & Mossberg 500 style threads on the tubes. Tubes start at $16.99 each at Cabela's. http://www.stoegerindustries.com/shotguns __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

June 9, 2016, 02:18 PM	#6
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	Read oldtimers like Elmer Keith.Respect your animal , never shoot across it's ears !! __________________ And Watson , bring your revolver !

June 9, 2016, 07:33 PM	#8
dgludwig Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2005 Location: North central Ohio Posts: 7,486	QUOTE: "...Budget doubles are commonly not recommended unless you only plan to hit the field perhaps a few times a year..." Unfortunate fact of life but true. If I were limited to $500.00 for a shotgun, it would be a pump. Imo, you simply can't buy a new double-barrel shotgun for much under a couple of grand and have one that holds up over time and handles like it should. __________________ ONLY AN ARMED PEOPLE CAN BE TRULY FREE ; ONLY AN UNARMED PEOPLE CAN EVER BE ENSLAVED ...Aristotle NRA Benefactor Life Member

June 9, 2016, 12:52 PM	#2
S_Constitutionist Senior Member Join Date: April 21, 2009 Posts: 325	Budget doubles are commonly not recommended unless you only plan to hit the field perhaps a few times a year. Imported Turkish guns dominate the O/U and SxS market and I routinely see them fail within a few hundred to a few thousand rounds in my skeet league. You may get lucky, but its rare to see one last much longer than that. If you are ok with that limit, the CZ's seem to be a bit better than the rest. A quality pump or auto will serve you much better at your price point if you want something that will last.

June 9, 2016, 06:23 PM	#7
Creek Henry Senior Member Join Date: October 23, 2009 Location: Dallas Posts: 514	I just bought a Stevens 500 12 ga with fixed chokes from gunbroker for $275. It was made before '89 and possibly never fired. It is a dumptruck of a gun but was in great shape and it shoots very well. There are a few deals out there but few and far between

June 9, 2016, 09:34 PM	#9
Kvon2 Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2016 Posts: 757	I have a stoeger Uplander and sadly it's having double firing issues and the safety gets kicked on after the first shot making a follow up impossible unless you manually turn off the safety again. I've had a great experience with pointer shotguns so far though they do not make a sxs unfortunately

June 9, 2016, 09:41 PM	#10
mulespurs Senior Member Join Date: February 26, 2012 Posts: 115	I reckon I reckon that I can ride that mule for longer than I can walk and enjoy my dog better. The mule will just get worth more money by careful use and I am raising more. At 63 years old I would rather take the chance of missing out on a few birds by not walking, but I won't have a heart attack near as easy. I do plan to have the gun unloaded while mounted and dismount and load after the old dog points I reckon that I can much easier load and unload a double than a pump, I have owned both. I reckon that two barrels on a double would be harder to hurt than a pump or semiauto. I do not want to take my Super Black Eagle on a mule. I don't really want 20" barrels cause I think they would be too blasty. Test run last season without a gun went really well.

June 9, 2016, 10:05 PM	#11
Blindstitch Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2013 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 2,693	I would probably look at a stoeger. But if you can find a used Savage Fox or Stevens 311 they are great utilitarian shotguns. My Fox took 24 pheasants last season and I was very happy.

June 9, 2016, 10:34 PM	#12
Savage99 Senior Member Join Date: May 17, 2004 Posts: 567	Here is a Ugartechea 12 ga double that's 500. Search around like this. I found a nice Ugar 20 ga for less than $500 in a shop. http://www.gunbroker.com/item/563611429

June 10, 2016, 07:08 AM	#13
drobs Senior Member Join Date: July 17, 2015 Location: South Central MO / Africa Posts: 1,111	I asked a similar question and got some great responses in this thread: https://thefiringline.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=573821 My plan is to get a Stoeger SXS Uplander and slick it up. Here's some DIY videos (posted in that thread) on how to do that: https://youtu.be/FrtBEi1csOA https://youtu.be/HQPp0aykE4A Looks pretty easy. Plan is to buy the shotgun in the next year. __________________ NRA Life Member

June 10, 2016, 08:07 AM	#14
Tactical Lever Member Join Date: June 9, 2016 Location: God's Country NW Posts: 27	Old Savages are made well, or one of the old Rossi guns seem pretty decent, Norinco doubles are pretty rough, and may take a little "light" gunsmithing to work right. Stoeger seem to be alright out of the box, but prolific shooters seem to wear them out. Yildiz get some good reviews and make higher end stuff as well. Baikal makes a good gun "entry level" and high end. I have a Baikal coach gun with hammers that shoots where it's supposed to and seems very tough. I like having a hammer gun loaded when hunting or walking in a social setting. So the Baikal would be my first pick, and probably best bargain for a new gun. Second would be a used Rossi hammer gun. If you don't care for hammers, the Savages are nice, and can be found cheap. I had a couple, but for some reason they beat me up a little more than my Baikal.

June 10, 2016, 12:45 PM	#15
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,446	I'd take that Uggie in a heartbeat __________________ "I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only so long as) individual citizens give it a 'temporary license to exist'—in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy, you own the government—it doesn't own you."- Frank Zappa

June 10, 2016, 01:24 PM	#17
Rob228 Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2010 Location: Hampstead NC Posts: 1,450	Every now and then I see a used Ithaca SKB SXS in the used gun rack at Cabelas or on Gunbroker for a little more than 500 (usually 600-700ish). If you're willing to put a little more down, it may be a better choice.

June 10, 2016, 06:28 PM	#18
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,446	Only thing about those SKB's is that. Like Brownings, they are heavy, especially in the small gauges. Field guns should be light enough to carry all day and handle like a wand - not like a 2x4 with a pig on the end. __________________ "I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only so long as) individual citizens give it a 'temporary license to exist'—in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy, you own the government—it doesn't own you."- Frank Zappa

June 11, 2016, 10:58 PM	#19
Rifletom Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2011 Location: So-Cal Posts: 789	That's funny right there. And true!

June 12, 2016, 10:15 PM	#20
Rob228 Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2010 Location: Hampstead NC Posts: 1,450	Odd, my dad sold his SKB to put me in diapers and I'm pretty sure he still holds it against me, I figured there had to be some magic in them.

June 13, 2016, 03:24 AM	#21
Blindstitch Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2013 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 2,693	Rob how long did it keep you in diapers for?

June 13, 2016, 07:54 AM	#22
Rob228 Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2010 Location: Hampstead NC Posts: 1,450	He never got that far into the story without staring off into the distance while reminiscing of a time without diapers and with an SKB

June 13, 2016, 12:53 PM	#23
Blindstitch Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2013 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 2,693	Nice.

June 13, 2016, 10:06 PM	#24
Creek Henry Senior Member Join Date: October 23, 2009 Location: Dallas Posts: 514	Stoeger Longfowler is about _$500.

June 16, 2016, 01:07 PM	#25
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,389	I really wanted a SxS, and I was leaning heavily towards a 28-gauge. Then, a few years ago, another member here posted really pretty pictures of an older (middle 1950s, I think) Stevens 511 in 20 gauge. I went out on a limb, asked him if it was for sale, and bought it when he said yes. I forget exactly what I paid for it, but it was a fraction of what a CZ 20 or 28 gauge SxS would have cost me. It is, without a doubt, my favorite shotgun. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.