Well, I started this thread a bit predisposed for the BSS, but I wanted to learn more...and I have. But I suspect the BSS will need to be checked out...if I can find one! Thanks to all who have commented!

https://www.orvis.com/s/used-browning-b ... guns/10499
https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/100889107
https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns- ... _p1_o6.cfm

tp

Simpson has a number of excellent German guns for very reasonable prices. A Merkel with Greener crossbolt would be a good choice but try to find a heavy gun. They will all tend to be choked tighter than one might like for Sporting. I would be tempted to get the nicest/heaviest example and then ship it off to Mike Orlen to have the chokes opened up to IC/LM.

https://simpsonltd.com/shotguns/

I guess I got lucky. I bought a Browning BSS in 1987 for $600. Although a young cop with no money had it bored skeet / skeet and had had an English style recoil pad installed. Then I hunted wild quail 20-35 times a season for 20 years. It was a killing machine. Was a 66% wild quail shooter for many years.

Now shoot it low gun, safety on for skeet just to stay in shape and an occasional sporting clays shoot. It is a beast. Got a 410 SxS Sharptail on the way. I think I will like it

I use a Winchester 23 in 12 gauge and a SKB 280 in 20 gauge for sporting clays.

If it's just for "fun" sporting clays choose any SxS you like.

My wife and I only shoot for fun, shoot light game gun SxS's and have a grand time shooting them. My O/U's mostly sit in the safe and each usually gets taken out just once or twice a year.

One issue with SxS shotguns is that many are stocked with a stock with a much lower comb. Back in the day when these were popular it was common to shoot with a very light cheek weld held lower on the face. If you can adapt to that style of shooting they will work well. However if you mainly shoot modern Sporting O/U shotguns you may have trouble adapting.

Good news is that the CZ Sharp Tail Target is a fully modern shotgun with a modern comb height and a sporting pistol grip stock that fits me to a T. When I first tried out my Sharp Tail it took me a few minutes to realize that you need to ignore the barrels and be very consistent about using the rib when checking alignment when mounting the gun. Once I did that I found the Sharp Tail to shoot to the same point as my Browning Citori Sporting Clays. Ever since then when I want to shoot something different I remind myself to "shoot the Rib, not the Barrel". Other pluses are the single selective trigger and the fact that Briley Companion tubes fitted to my Beretta 686 also fit the CZ and the mechanical trigger works perfectly. Note, my Citori's chambers are too large for the Briley tubes. I also like that it has extractors instead of ejectors, it means I don't have to chase hulls that I missed catching. With the Beretta just about every single round of Skeet I shoot with the 410 tubes I end having to chase 3 or 4 hulls because those light hulls really come zinging out of the chambers.

You should jump on the 30" BSS on GI. They are the most rare BSS and you can go months and months without seeing one for sale.
Jeff

True of many American SxS's but not true of my English or Spanish guns - all of the English and Spanish guns we own or have passed through our hands are stocked with very high combs. In fact, my Joseph Lang hammer gun built in London in 1866 has only 1 1/2" drop at comb and 2 1/4" at heel, which is about the same as my AyA No 2's and Ugartechea, my wife's Grulla and her Ugartechea. These dimensions are also almost identical to my Beretta 687 O/U's.

The most important thing is for the OP to find a good quality gun that fits him and his shooting style regardless of name.

I'm with JNW on the BSS. Mine is an early assembled in Japan gun with a non-selective trigger. I simply had the Full choke barrel opened to match the Mod which happens to be .018" on 12 gauge BSS's. Love it. No thinking, just shoot. They are built to last.

I use a clone of the BSS. It is a Charles Daly Miroku, built in the same factory and to the same specs as a BSS. Mine has 2 triggers (a turn-off for some), 30" barrels and extractors. I had it threaded for screw in chokes and cut in an adjustable comb. I added a Graco adjustable butt plate and Kickeez pad. It's the coolest SxS on my 5 stand field.