[EricB]

I have an Ugartechea 30 12ga that weighs about 6-3/4 lbs. Cost me about $600 a year or two ago. Guns International is your friend.

 

[jfon]

I speak as a SxS user when it comes to birds, but my sporting clays gun (when I'm serious) is an O/U. Someone above mentioned that in general a good O/U is cheaper than a good SxS. Like most things "in general," this is not always true... but I suspect that more often than not it is accurate.

The feel and look of a nice SxS appeals to me, and several times a season I automatically go to the back barrel when a bird flushes well out. Two triggers are more common in a SxS, and for me they are an advantage.

The most important advice, again given above, is to get the gun that fits you and shoots where you look. That should be the prime directive. Good luck, it's a fun hunt!

 

[JNW]

Some people have been asking what kind of upland hunting I’ll be doing and to clarify it will be used for ruffed grouse in very heavy cover

Oh, my. For King Ruff you simply must get a 20 or 28 gauge sxs.

Fabbrica Armi Isidoro Rizzini (F.A.I.R) Iside Tartaruga Gold 28g

Fabbrica Armi Isidoro Rizzini (F.A.I.R) Iside Tartaruga Gold 28g for sale online.

www.gunsinternational.com

I literally can not imagine a better grouse gun.

 

[DoublesForever]

There is no right answer between a SxS and O/U for a first upland bird hunting gun. It comes down to what you like, what you are comfortable shooting and what you can afford.

 

[mms-3]

I always wanted a SXS and when I showed up with one with an English stock and double triggers my friends said I wouldn’t hit anything

I cleaned house that day and haven’t picked up my 686 since

 

[Edm1]

I’m glad no one told me that one was better than the other. First shotgun I ever shot was a SxS. After pumps O/U semis I still like a SxS. Double trigger. If you can shoot you can shoot. At least for me. I’m gonna go SxS for first double. Nothing wrong with an OxU.

 

[MNGunner]

I only own O/Us and going from a semi (or pump) to an O/U had the exact same sight picture. BUT that said, I just shot my friend's SxS 28ga SKB and though it didn't fit me worth a damn, I smoked every clay with it, so I didn't find the SxS took any time for me to adjust to shooting...

 

[R.Brew]

The trick is with either is finding one that fits you or be willing to make mods so it does. Length of pull can sometimes be long on factory sXs,s. That might require some stock surgery. I picked up a 20 Tristar Bristol Silver couple years ago and have fell in love with it after working on buttstock to get my dimensions. From factory L.O.P. was to long and D.A.C. to high. Fixed both to my dimensions. Gun has worked flawlessly. Then again i,ve had to do same on my 20 Citori and Beretta 20. Fit is every thing if you want to hit what you pull up on.

 

[sera]

The greatest live pigeon shooter ever , Billy Perdue, used a SxS.

 

[Cold Iron]

Oh, my. For King Ruff you simply must get a 20 or 28 gauge sxs.

Fabbrica Armi Isidoro Rizzini (F.A.I.R) Iside Tartaruga Gold 28g

Fabbrica Armi Isidoro Rizzini (F.A.I.R) Iside Tartaruga Gold 28g for sale online.

www.gunsinternational.com

I literally can not imagine a better grouse gun.

Right gun, wrong gauge! I know a JNW that used to put on the annual Sweet 16 shoot, people would come from all over the Country to shoot 16 ga. guns. It is where I shot my first Iside and ran the station with it. Knew then that they were something special. In 16 ga.

The basic Iside with DT is a pain when it is cold with gloves, but it works. At least on the front trigger and first shot.

My 28" 16 ga. Iside Prestige Deluxe

and 30" 16 Custom Iside Prestige Deluxe Tartaruga Gold

Are what I took to the Sunset Country of Ontario grouse hunting a few weeks ago. And was a good choice.

Ontario wanton waste law, wait until back back at the cabin to clean them.

FAIR made NEA 500 Over Under from the last Century works as well, I have 28" and 30" bbls. for it. In 16 ga. of course

16 ga. pump guns still work for grouse too. Shot my first grouse with one 50 years ago

Nothing wrong with the new A5 Sweet 16 either, shot my first one at a Sweet 16 shoot also. Browning sent one over to use as a demo gun. I was on the squad that all had one and we were a man short of a full squad and the only ones to not let a bird hit the ground during the flurry.

I have a preference for the SxS Iside for grouse hunting, like most people I shoot them lights out straight out of the box. And grouse prefer to be shot with purple shells, just saying

 

[Wadbuster]

I think both have their advantages. Just depends so much on your use. Sorta like a 30 in bbl on a skb 635 in a duck blind works great but not so good in the thicket hunting woodcock. If you can try both out do it. Also, you'll find European SxS

are a more balanced double than American made. American makers save money by putting smaller gauge barrels on the same frames they use for 12 gauge. 16 gauge barrels on 12 gauge frame isn't a great handling upland gun. They match the frame to the gauge much better. I started with a bolt action Mossberg for upland Hunting in 63, got my first A5 in 75, Remington 1100 in 83 and my first O/U SKB in 97. Than marlin came out with there remake of the L.C. Smith in 20 an 12. They were My first experience with SxS scatter guns and I new I was hooked. I've gone the full hammock, from bolt to SxS. For me, when I head to the fields I always reach for the SxS. My only issue now is which one 😂
My hateful 8. Six 16's a 20, and a 12.
Discover which works best for you and your style of shooting is the adventure.

 

[sera]

If shooting light loads I see no difference, but speed up the FPS's and you'll want to shoot an O/U.

The recoil pulse w/ hot loads is easier to manage w/ an O/U.

 

[David Lee Valdina]

A lot of SxS guns have double triggers. That makes for a better field gun as one barrel is usually choked tight and one choked less, so you have an instant selection on the bird, which may get up close or further away. I much prefer my SxS guns for hunting. And I will use and like most anything at sporting clays but as I do not like screw in chokes and the clays can be in close or further out, the SxS with different chokes and 2 triggers is a good thing to shoot. One last point, those guns are really two guns in one, so if you have a mechanical breakdown with one barrel, the other can keep on shooting.

 

[reich1900]

I see a lot of opinions so I guess I might as well chime in too. I hunted on Long Island small game years ago with a Richland 410 SXS and l really liked the gun but now only shoot trap once a week. I have four guns that I shoot all 12 ga. A Browning O/U 1967 Superposed, an Ithica model 37pump, another Ithica model 51 semi auto and a German Greifeld SXS. I shoot well with each but a little better with the Browning because I shoot it more often. I find it doesn't make a difference which gun I shoot if I practice with each for a while. What make the most difference is which ammo you use, that should always be the same. I like Remington Game load 1290 fps. If you stick with the same quality ammo and shoot enough it wouldn't make much difference which gun you use, you will get used to it and shoot well. So, buy what you like and fits you the best and practice as much as you can.

 

[Buck2018]

While good gun fit is important with any shotgun, it is particularly important when shooting a SxS. If one has any tendency at all of seeing or orienting the bead, or end of the barrel(s) to hit game or targets, the single sighting plane of an O/U(pump, auto) may be easier to consistently hit the mark…..particularly with the longer, or more technical shots. …Why O/U’s dominate with Sporting Clays. The SxS shooter generally does not consciously see the barrels….Only the target. It takes a lot of practice and commitment to master and trust ones instinctive abilities, with careful attention to shooting form. For very fast shooting in tight cover, a well fitted, short, light SxS in the hands of a seasoned, instinctive shooter is a “magic wand”. IMO

 

[Cooperdisciple]

The greatest live pigeon shooter ever , Billy Perdue, used a SxS.

I have a feeling not many here shoot flyers, but SXS's are still commonly used. I bought a pre-owned Purdy live bird gun for a song because no one was interested.

 

[JNW]

I have a feeling not many here shoot flyers, but SXS's are still commonly used. I bought a pre-owned Purdy live bird gun for a song because no one was interested.

Pics, please. Nothing better than a Purdey sxs pigeon gun. Unless it’s a Fabbri o/u.

 

[oneounceload]

The greatest live pigeon shooter ever , Billy Perdue, used a SxS.

I remember seeing an article some years ago about a gent from Portugal who won the Portugal Cup several times and he also preferred to use a Purdey SxS

 

[sera]

I think Billie shot a Purdey and then a Fabbri. Today you don't see too may live bird shooters using a SxS. The hot shells used in pigeons really makes the recoil impulse of a O/U more comfortable to shoot.

 

[Pine Creek/Dave]

Augieoutdoors,
If you want to become a traditional Grouse & Woodcock hunter IMO you should purchase a fine sub gauge SXS double gun, to hunt with. Having been raised in a Fly Fishing/Grouse hunting family, I was raised and taught with SXS double guns. Sub Gauge Classic American and Best Euro double guns, cost some serious money in pristine condition. Once you own one and hunt with it, you will probably only use your O/U guns for shooting some kind of Clays. I recommend a fine L.C. Smith 16 or 20 gauge double gun when Grouse hunting, nothing finer for gunning Grouse & Woodcock. A nice Fox A grade with an upgraded stock is also a fantastic Grouse gun,
LeFever made some fantastic Grouse guns also. If your budge is not very high I recommend a modern SXS CZ Bob White G2, 28 gauge or a Bristol Silver 28 gauge for hunting Grouse & Woodcock. Both are Mid level quality guns, at entry level prices, we own them both. The Huglu 200A, 28 is a quality bird gun also. I would 1st purchase a Classic American or Euro SXS double gun and purchase one of the modern Turkish SXS double guns as a back up. If you have the budget, I like the Repro Parker and Fox double guns also. These guns are costing serious money however. If you can find one, J.P. Sauer made a 16 gauge Grouse gun on a 20 gauge frame, back in the 1800's, one of the finest Grouse guns ever made, we use ours quite a bit.

If you have the money on GI right now there is a L.C. Smith #5 20 Gauge SXS double gun for sale, they just lowered the asking price to $18,000, one of the finest American Classic SXS double gun ever made. The #5 gun looks to be in almost pristine condition, a steal at $18,000.

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man