Looking for a new SXS. What's available?

Tango said:
I'd look at the Upland Gun Company SxS's, made in Italy. Their Zeus model starts at $2500, though you're probably going to be in for $3K by the time you spec it up. The real beauty of the UGC shotguns is that they'll build the stock to your dimensions, which in my opinion, is the most critical factor when it comes to shooting a shotgun well. I had a UGC Venus model 28ga built 2 years ago and it's excellent. My favorite upland shotgun. Due to the personalized fit and barrel length, it's the shotgun I shoot best. They offer live fire, pattern plate fittings across the country to really dial in your dimensions. It's a super enjoyable process and the resulting gun is wonderful to shoot. A properly fit 28ga with longer barrels is an absolute joy to hunt with. The fitting process will be a real eye opener as well. It's unbelievable what a properly fit stock will do for your shooting. The UGC owner is a great guy as well.

Shop - Upland Gun Company

uplandguncompany.com uplandguncompany.com

rookhawk's advice on an English boxlock is also good and something to consider, though I've had trouble lately finding good service on them when they need gunsmith work. He's right about the CZ's, Turkish, Russian etc stuff........avoid it all. It's crude trouble waiting to bite you.
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THIS is what I've been looking for.

The custom features that can be added are perfect.

Additional barrel sets
Choice of receiver finish
Choice of gauge
Choice of wood grade
Choice of rib style
Choice of barrel length

Several base models starting around $2,400.

Having the gun fitted is by far the best part. I'm 6'3" and weigh 220, so being tall and thin, most shotguns are a bit short, and I tend to need more drop, as I have a long neck. A 20ga with an additional 28ga barrel set is tempting, but would put me well over my budget. :love:
 
My vote would go for a Browning B S/S Sporter 20ga. They can be had in the price range you're looking for. These are very nice, durable shotguns, straight grip with the barrel selector behind the trigger guard. They were manufactured up until 1986 but still available (used but sometimes as new) if you're patient and search for one.
 
rookhawk said:
Gross stuff you don't want to own.

The whole point of a SxS is how easy they carry and how lively they shoot due to perfect balance and light weight. Modern, new SxS in your price range will be hideous, missing those goals entirely. Options like CZs, Turkish stuff, Russian stuff, just horrible and way inferior to an O/U Ruger or Beretta.

Then you threw the loop into the equation that it has to be a 20 or 28 gauge, so you want the most expensive gauges as well.

If it were me, I'd get a really nice Vintage english boxlock 12-bore that weights a mere 6.5lbs with 28-30" barrels and has 2.5" chambers. That will run you $2500 for a really good one and would have a brand-new equivalent replacement cost of about $60,000. Once you change that up and say "No, I want a 20 gauge instead!" then you're dropping $7000 for the same exact gun, or $14,000+ if that same gun was a 28 gauge.

You might be able to find a so-so used Spanish gun in 20 gauge for your pricepoint. It will be heavy, but it will be better than any of the new choices, but vastly inferior to the british 12 bore boxlocks I recommended.
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What brands and age trade for that in a 12ga
 
There is a plethora of sxs shotguns that are good and inexpensive. Contrary opinions will abound though. Google new SxS shotgun manufacturers and go from there. If used, let your pocketbook and online critiques be your guide.
 
There are many great British/Birmingham options in 12 or 20 at your price point. Incredible quality and value. A couple years ago I bought a nice Wilkes 20B for under $2500 and last year I picked up a Halliday 2”12 bore also under that cost. A Spectacular little gun that weighs only 5# 5oz after I had a small buffalo horn extension added.

Good luck with your search— Plenty of deals out there!


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I have 100 acres of my farm in a licensed quail preserve. I only conduct hunts for customers and friends. I have a very good friend who duck hunts a lot and is a really good shot with his 12 gauge, which is the only shotgun he owns. When he centers a bird there is nothing left to eat so I bought him reduced 12 gauge shells that are a 20 gauge load. Win-win, he gets to shoot his favorite gun and we can still have dinner.

I almost bought a Parallelo at SEWE last year in 28 gauge but I think it was more in the $8,000 range.

You might want to call Mid-South Guns in Wagram NC. He has a few thousand used guns on the wall and many side by sides. Prices range anywhere from $1,000 to $100,000. You can get a old Parker there in 16 gauge for less than $2500.
 
KEC said:
My vote would go for a Browning B S/S Sporter 20ga. They can be had in the price range you're looking for. These are very nice, durable shotguns, straight grip with the barrel selector behind the trigger guard. They were manufactured up until 1986 but still available (used but sometimes as new) if you're patient and search for one.
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I had thought of the Browning and the Weatherby SXS shotguns. I believe both are or were built by Moroku and were great guns for the price. The Brownings that I had seen were all very high gloss blue and high gloss walnut.
 
skydiver386 said:
THIS is what I've been looking for.

The custom features that can be added are perfect.

Additional barrel sets
Choice of receiver finish
Choice of gauge
Choice of wood grade
Choice of rib style
Choice of barrel length

Several base models starting around $2,400.

Having the gun fitted is by far the best part. I'm 6'3" and weigh 220, so being tall and thin, most shotguns are a bit short, and I tend to need more drop, as I have a long neck. A 20ga with an additional 28ga barrel set is tempting, but would put me well over my budget. :love:
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It's so much fun spec'ing a gun to your taste and having it fit you properly. I'm the other end of the size spectrum, 5'7" and 140. Nothing off the rack is going to fit shooters like us properly. Many great guns out there, but unless they fit....... Once you experience how 1/8" someplace on the stock can affect your pattern's impact, you'll be sold on a bespoke stock. Del Whitman is their #1 stock fitter, great guy to work with if you can get to one of their sessions. I saved $ and sold gear I wasn't using until I had the money for what I really wanted. No regrets
 
Take a look at CSMC. If you can stretch your budget a little bit, you could end up with a dandy used SxS. I also know that there is some wiggle room in the pricing.
 
skydiver386 said:
I've looked at them on Beretta's website, but wasn't sure if they brought them into the States.
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I have the 12 and 20. Excellent value and a wonderful gun. The 28 is built on the 20 frame. For that I went with the Fausti DEA. Short fast SXS are excellent shooters and loads of fun
 
I purchased a Thomas Bland from Carl Russell in Hatfield House, UK. Beautiful example of a working Birmingham Boxlock with 30” tubes and 2 3/4” chambers. It was well inside your price range once imported.
 
In the past couple years I have bought TWO classic English box lock 20 bore guns. Neither of them cost over $2500. No crappy trade guns, either… a John Robertson and a Henry Atkin. These are far better guns than anything available new even at twice the price.
 
I am in the process of learning about double barrel shotguns. I picked up a Miroku 500 double barrel. Supposedly they are the equivalent of a Browning SxS. I have handled a few really nice guns at Griffen and Howe so I know there are a lot of fine guns out there but they are unjustifiably exspensive to me. This Miroku will need to work for now.
 
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