Do any of you own a double?

Bullman · 05-08-2012, 12:27

I am a shotgun nut to begin with, so buying a new shotgun is never a problem. I might own a black rifle or two, but when it comes to shotguns I can never have enough.

Along with that itch I have always wanted a double barrel. My dealer just aquired a Sears double barrel that has been cut down for home use. Not only would it scratch my double itch, but the price is right at around 250. This gun would be my travel long gun, something to keep in the motel room at night when we travel, it can be broke down into two pieces for compact transport and it gives me something a little more potent than a pistol for door greetings and such.

So what say you, am I wasting my money. I don't even know why I ask this question because I probably wouldn't listen anyway.

countrygun · 05-08-2012, 13:03

Besides our pumps the wife and I have 2 Norinco 1887 coach guns and an EAA Bounty Hunter (my wife is a big "shortyshottie" fan). Nothing says "get off my porch" better. I am goung to bet the gun in question is hammerless so be sure you know the firing order or if it has a selective safety etc. Doubles sometimes don't get the respect they deserve, but the key is really the operator. With the ammo cuff on one of ours, there aren't too many "shotgun-type" problems I'd hesitate to tackle.

Victoriagotagun · 05-08-2012, 14:19

Do you know who made the Sears SXS your looking at?

Bullman · 05-08-2012, 16:17

It has a double trigger so I don't need to worry about selective or firing order. I don't know who made it for sears, but that was one of the things I was going to look into.

H&K .45 AUTO · 05-08-2012, 16:25

I bought my dad a brand new Chinese coach gun with exposed hammers several years ago at a local gun show as a gift. I got it back a couple years later when he passed away. I haven't fired it, but it will always be part of my collection (at least until it finds its way into my sons safe).

countrygun · 05-08-2012, 16:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bullman

It has a double trigger so I don't need to worry about selective or firing order. I don't know who made it for sears, but that was one of the things I was going to look into.

Cool, a double trigger hammerless has a lot of merit. I am not familiar with the suppliers for sears, but there might be a possibility it is a Savage/Stevens.

michael e · 05-08-2012, 16:28

I have 2, one was my grandfather, other was my dads. I love them, my friends cant hit anything with them.

***jtull7*** · 05-08-2012, 18:25

I would not own a shotgun that is not a side-by-side.

My Browning BSS is one of the prettiest shotguns ever made. English stock, 20 gauge, what could be better? The perfect quail gun.

vettely · 05-08-2012, 22:42

Side by side shot guns are awesome. When I broke out my recently acquired Savage/Stevens coach gun at work, everyone was drawn to it in a big way. The dang thing demands respect, and appears illegally short, but it's not. Option of firing 2 barrels at once or 1 at a time.... Nice.

As posted in the Tac SG thread, this is my bedside go to gun.

BEER · 05-09-2012, 09:00

i've owned a few sxs doubles over the years, all of them cut down to minimum legal length/"coach gun" style. it always seemed that like after a few months someone would make me a rediculous offer so i'd sell them.

they've never been a real big want or need for me so i've never actually searched for one. if i ever decide i actually want one i think i'll look for a cheap o/u to fill the bill. if you think a cut down sxs looks mean just wait until you see the same thing in o/u configuration. if i remember correctly there's a cheap import out there now in that setup called the condor or something.

Ironbutt · 05-09-2012, 09:09

I picked up a Grade III Uggie in 16 Ga, with a 25" barrel, 10 or 12 years ago, that a gun dealer was selling for an estate. The previous owner had a complete set (28, 20, 16, & 12 Ga) custom made with the 25" barrel & "coin" finished receiver instead of the case hardened. I picked it up for $700 & if the rest of them hadn't already been sold, there may have been another divorce in Perry County that year.

http://www.doubleshotguns.com/ugarte...e3boxlock.html

Since I got it, the Browning Citori's, Churchill, & pump guns have stayed in the safe when I go bird hunting.

As a HD/SD gun a pump or semi may be a better choice IMO.

Bullman · 05-09-2012, 16:05

Checked it against a Fjestads book, it is a Stevens.

Tango 1Zero · 05-09-2012, 16:21

I have an early 1930's springfield arms 20 gauge side by side. They didnt put model numbers on them then. Its similar to the 511 but somewhere in the 40's 50's and 60's they made changes to them as they went and added model numbers.
I looked for thirteen years for a barrel for it. I finally found it in CA from a guy that bought it at a estate auction.

Reb 56 · 05-09-2012, 23:12

I've got a Stevens SxS 20 ga with 18.5 barrels, bought it new in 1961. One gun I'd never sell or trade. Just like the way doubles look and handle.

mtnglide · 05-10-2012, 10:27

Have two autos, a bolt and a double. The double is my favorite. Buying another shotgun a waste of money? Are you CRAZY????

Cherokee Slim · 05-10-2012, 12:37

I've always shot & carried pump guns. I had a Remington for a while in Vietnam, and always had an 870 in the patrol car with a pistol grip.

So starting to shoot Cowboy about 2005 I started with a M97 pump. When my three grandkids started CAS three years ago they started with the M97 but before long they wanted to shoot a hammer double. So I got the EMF Hartford Coach gun for the 16 & 15 year old boys and the Stoeger hammerless 410 for my 13 year old grandaughter.

I shoot a pumpgun pretty fast, but those boys have gotten scary fast shooting the coach gun. Even on 6 or 8 shot shotgun stages they can shoot (starting with cocked hammers), then shuck the empties, reload, cock the hammers and do it all over again in a blur. Maybe it's just younger hands but in experienced hands the double shoots fast, and has an extremely ugly "get your attention" look when it's deployed. I have a Mossberg 500 short barrel next to the bed but I keep the coach gun on a gunrack in the center of the house with three sets of loads below it. I wouldn't hesitate to investigate a bump in the night with the coach gun.
Cherokee Slim

vafish · 05-10-2012, 15:27

I've got a savage 311 that someone cut down to 18.5.

Have thought about turning it into a sbs.

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byf43 · 05-13-2012, 09:06

I've got a lot of 870s and a couple of 1100s in my gunsafe, as well as a Beretta Silver Pigeon II.

I used to have a Savage 311 in 12 ga., but, like an idiot, I sold it. (First wife had issues with "If you want another gun, you gotta sell one.") Bovine Scatology!!!

I've been looking at Stoeger Coach Guns and I'd really like to find a Rossi "Overland" in 12 ga., with those bunny-ear hammers.

eracer · 05-13-2012, 09:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtull7

I would not own a shotgun that is not a side-by-side.

My Browning BSS is one of the prettiest shotguns ever made. English stock, 20 gauge, what could be better? The perfect quail gun.

Why side-by-side, and not O/U?

Aesthetic preference, or is there a technical reason?

Nutt51 · 05-13-2012, 09:37

First shotgun I ever had as a young teenage boy was
a Savage/Stevens 311 in 16ga., it was not the fanciest
double, but I have always liked them ever since.
I always wanted a 311R, which was the same gun with
the factory 18.5" barrel, that some police departments used,
but I was never able to find one, and they haven't made them in years.
I never really cared for over and unders, but a SxS double always felt right.
There are some fine doubles still out there, and you could even find a good used one if you looked. Best of luck in your choice.

vettely · 05-13-2012, 09:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nutt51

First shotgun I ever had as a young teenage boy was
a Savage/Stevens 311 in 16ga., it was not the fanciest
double, but I have always liked them ever since.
I always wanted a 311R, which was the same gun with
the factory 18.5" barrel, that some police departments used,
but I was never able to find one, and they haven't made them in years.
I never really cared for over and unders, but a SxS double always felt right.
There are some fine doubles still out there, and you could even find a good used one if you looked. Best of luck in your choice.

I recently acquired a Savage/Stevens 311-R in beautiful shape for $320 from a co-worker. It is a really cool SG. Hopefully I got a fair deal. Even if I didn't this thing is definitely a keeper.

VZ1600 · 05-13-2012, 10:57

I have a pair of O/U Stoeger Condors in 12 gauge. Had them for about 3yrs now and each one has seen at least 10K rounds. Both have been flawless and fun to shoot.

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Cwlongshot · 05-15-2012, 05:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by vettely

I recently acquired a Savage/Stevens 311-R in beautiful shape for $320 from a co-worker. It is a really cool SG. Hopefully I got a fair deal. Even if I didn't this thing is definitely a keeper.

The 311's where damn fine "cheap" guns in there day. Head and shoulders better than the Russian n Spanish crap that's today's "cheapies"

I bought one about 15 years back with a broken stock and very badly rusted muzzles. Looks like some kid broke dads gun them stood it on its muzzle in a darn or wet environment. It was pretty bad when I got it.
I added a thin recoil pad to replace the broken plastic one. I pinned and epoxied the wrist of the stock then refinished it. Lastly chopped the barrels to the same length as the butt and receiver. About 19-20" then filled the rib with devcon aluminum puddy and added a big 3/16" alum bead in the center of the rib.

It's a early sixties 311 Savage 16 ga. It shoots slugs damn good! Patterns #1 buck very well for a cylinder bore too!

I have a second "shortie" I like and b ring even more. It's a much older H&R single shot 12ga. I prefer it for centimental as well as functional reasons. First off its a actual take down gun. Meaning pull one pin and you have two pieces. It also has ejectors instead of extractors of the Savage. It too came to me with a badly rusted n pitted muzzle. Actually about 12 of the 30" tube was pitted. I also chopped this to be same length as butt and receiver. But did not refinish anything. It has zero bluing or case colors left. The Rex appears to be in the "white" but shoots and fu tions perfectly!

CW

ChuteTheMall · 05-15-2012, 06:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by eracer

Why side-by-side, and not O/U?

Aesthetic preference, or is there a technical reason?

SxS is far faster to reload and maintain continuity of fire, just has to open far enough to eject and reload shells while the O/U has to open much wider. Looks badassier too.

Watch cowboy action shooters keep up with the trombone guns:

YouTube (Short URL)

Veedubklown · 05-15-2012, 17:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChuteTheMall

SxS is far faster to reload and maintain continuity of fire, just has to open far enough to eject and reload shells while the O/U has to open much wider. Looks badassier too.

Nuh uh.