SxS Shotgun

[Rastoff]

There are many makers of SxS guns , they're just very expensive so you won't find them in the average gun shop.

I am embarrassed! I didn't see the other thread on this subject, I wish I could delete this now. Anywho, I didn't know Mossberg made one and I think that is going to be my choice since I have a JIC and have been really happy with it. I hope they don't stop making them before April though! I don't have the money right now.

Please don't buy the Mossberg. Mossberg contracts with a company in Turkey for their double barrel guns. Only Stoeger has more problems. Your money is better spent on a decent pump gun.

 

[Cooter Brown]

I'd agree about the Mossberg and Stoeger being ones to avoid. Aside from mechanical problems they have the handling qualities of a 2x4.

Unless you have a specific problem with a gun coming from Turkey, the guns from CZ and the gun that was imported for a while by S&W are perfectly serviceable guns if you want to go new. The Smith gun was finished better and with real charcoal case colors and most had nice wood. After Smith stopped importing them they were brought in under the name "Dickerson" and Cabela's and others were selling them for less that 1K. Damn nice guns for the money. And both the CZ and the Smith/Dickerson are nice handling guns, far above the Stoeger Mossberg. And CZ in particular offers a great warranty.

There are plenty of people giving both the CZ and the Dickerson guns harder use in a year than most people will in a lifetime and they are chugging right along. I know some of those people. I've used my DeHaan (made by the same people that make the CZ) as my rainy day/rough country gun for six seasons (I hunt a lot) and it's never let me down and I certainly don't baby it.

The best deals are the Belgian guild guns. You can get excellent examples for under 2k all day long, but it requires some care and knowledge and searching.

Don't let people convince you that the SxS world is only for the rich man. I ain't rich and neither are the people I hunt with, and most of us use SxS guns. If you do your research there are plenty of options under 2k for a dependable good handling gun.

I think I mentioned it in the other thread, but you should check bbl regulation on any SxS you get.

 

[4330Inroute]

Are you right or left handed? Makes a big difference in a SxS shotgun. Most are set up for a right handed shooter. Pumps and Semi autos are mostly neutral in stock design. I forget the terminology involved but turn the SxS upside down and take a look at the angle the stock takes from the action to the heel. Most are curved to favor a right handed shooter. I have my Dad's Lefever 12ga and I love the feel and balance but I can't hit anything with it because I shoot left handed and it is set up for a right handed person. I thinkk it's called the cant of the stock but I'm not sure. I gave up on having one set up for me because of the cost involved in having the stock (bent) set up for me. I can hit my targets with a factory stock 870 all day for far less money.
Just my 2cents.
I loved the feel of a Ruger gold label but the price quickly out distanced my pocket book.

 

[shouldazagged]

I think the term is "cast", but I may be wrong. You're right about the right- versus left-handed question, although I've owned a couple of very inexpensive doubles that seemed to have neutral cast.

 

[Cooter Brown]

I think the term is "cast", but I may be wrong. You're right about the right- versus left-handed question, although I've owned a couple of very inexpensive doubles that seemed to have neutral cast.

Cast off for righties, cast on for lefties. My SxS guns, O/Us and target autoloader all have some cast off.

Most of the CZs I've seen and the Smith and Dickerson guns I've seen are cast off.

Stocks can be bent (to a limit) up, down, and for cast for not a lot of money. But fitting is a completely different thread! Fortunately most people shoot standard stocks with modern dimensions pretty well.

 

[Rastoff]

Are you right or left handed? Makes a big difference in a SxS shotgun. Most are set up for a right handed shooter.

Well, that depends on the manufacturer. It's a right hand world so, it's true that if a gun has cast, it's usually for a right hand shooter.


We are starting to get into a new world here. Shotgun fit is an art unto itself. Here is a tiny fit terminology primer just so you can have a clue at how difficult it is:

• Cast- The angle of the stock relative to the bore.
• Offset- The position of the comb relative to the bore.
• Cant- The angle of the recoil pad relative to perpendicular to the receiver. Also called Toe In or Toe Out.
• Pitch- Angle of the recoil pad relative to the bore in a vertical plane.
• Drop at Comb- Distance from the top of the rib to the front of the comb.
• Drop at Heel- Distance from the top of the rib to the back of the stock.
• Drop at Monte Carlo- Distance from the top of the rib to the back of the comb at that little cut out part that Monte Carlo stocks have.
• Length of Pull- Distance from the center of the recoil pad to the trigger.

This is just the beginning, there is much more to fitting a shotgun stock. As a lefty I've tried everything to get a shotgun to fit. I found the answer and this was it:

That is a Ljutic Mono Gun ARS with a full custom stock on it. I should take a couple more pics just to show how the stock is cast and canted. If you look closely you can see that the finger grooves are custom because my pinky is curved and that is shown in the stock.

So, be careful. Shotguns can be addicting and often are worse than crack.

 

[4330Inroute]

Sure do learn a lot reading this forum. I'm not the OP but thanks for the information.