Recommendations on SxS?

[dsayer]

Hey all,

I think this summer's purchase is going to be a side by side shotgun. I might be open to other smoothbore options if they would work well for my intended use, which is primarily bird hunting.

Couple of criteria for my uses:
1) less than $1000
2) something that can be effective for turkey and upland game (maybe waterfowl, but I haven't hunted ducks/geese for many years)
3) doesn't have to really shine here, but would be fun to take this to the skeet range where my step dad is a member just to see their faces (they already think I'm crazy for using a pump action shotgun for skeet)
4) open to either used or new, but I'm only really familiar with Pederosoli in this price range for new. Are there others I should consider?
5) shooting PRBs is a low priority for me with this gun.

I wish to site would let me link to GunBroker to show you all a few I'm watching. There's a Pederosoli in 20 gauge with a starting bid of $495, a Navy Arms 12 gauge with a buy now option of $500, and a CVA that was built from a kit but never fired and needs a little work. Plus there are a few Pederosoli options in 12 gauge.

Would appreciate any thoughts and advice on my search. Thanks in advance!
:hatsoff:

 

[robinsroost]

Dsayer, I have the Pedersoli 20ga SBS and I like it fine. It feels good in the hand and points well. It is bored Ic and Mod which works for most upland game, lncluding rabbits and squirrels, and can be loaded for turkeys as well. Keep yer powder dry..........robin :grin:

 

[stubshaft]

I have a Pedersoli 12 ga. SXS with chrome bores and interchangeable chokes. It made most of my other shotguns safe queens.

 

[dsayer]

Thanks for the replies on Pederosoli shotguns!

Interchangeable chokes, eh?? That's intriguing. Was that a custom job or did it come from the factory like that? I've only seen fixed chokes, with mod/full seeming to be the popily option on the new models.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Interchangeable chokes, eh??

Yep. It is what the original mountain men used. :shocked2: :rotf:
Seriously, if you get a sxs get only open/cylinder bores. Choked bores are impossible to load properly with wads. Yes, I'll get zinged for that but fact is, you cannot load a 12 ga. wad into a 14 ga. bore. One of the happiest days of my shooting life was when I sold my Ped sxs supposedly 12 ga. but, in reality was a 14 ga.
Want happy smoothie shooting? Get a flint fowler with only one barrel.

 

[dsayer]

The 20 gauge I'm looking at has cylinder bores, which is my preference.
I've heard this from others and I hear the Skychief Special is optimized for cylinder bores as well.

I may consider a Fowler but must admit I'm still a bit terrified of flinters... :redface:

Any more specific recommendations on where to find such a gun that might fall in my price range? Really can't go after a high-end custom sort of gun right now.

 

[THBailey]

I like my Pedersoli's. I have an older 10ga fixed choke without chrome bores, a 12ga "multichokes" with chrome bores, and most recently I picked up a 20ga fixed choke with chrome bores. I have taken turkey and waterfowl with the 10 and 12. Tragically I have yet to shoot the 20 since picking it up a couple of months ago, but it does swing a bit sweeter than the other two. Can't wait for dove season this September.

I don't think they made the "multichokes" for very long. As mentioned above it is a pain to get wads through the choke so I load with the IC chokes in the gun. Even at that there is a bit of a shoulder where the choke tube meets the bore that also catches the wads a bit. I do most of my shooting with the IC, but when I feel the need for a full choke I swap the tube in after loading. Finding additional Pedersoli tubes is mission impossible, but Winchester and Mossberg 500 tubes screw into mine, and the Carlson choke tube data shows them as inter-changable thread patterns.

 

[ZUG]

I have the Navy Arms (Pietta) SXS 12 gauge (no chokes) and love it. I also have a Pedersoli 10 gauge (also no chokes) and love that also but it's heavy compared to the Navy Arms. I use the 12 for upland game and the 10 for ducks, geese, turkey. :thumbsup: :v

 

[sheba]

I have one of the Pedersoli baker shotguns and like it a lot.It has back action locks fixed chokes modified and improved cylinder.It also has a single trigger which if both hammers are cocked fires the left barrel first.The single trigger comes in handy for hunting in cold weather when using gloves.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Interchangeable chokes, eh??

Yep. It is what the original mountain men used. :shocked2: :rotf:
Seriously, if you get a sxs get only open/cylinder bores. Choked bores are impossible to load properly with wads. Yes, I'll get zinged for that but fact is, you cannot load a 12 ga. wad into a 14 ga. bore. One of the happiest days of my shooting life was when I sold my Ped sxs supposedly 12 ga. but, in reality was a 14 ga.
Want happy smoothie shooting? Get a flint fowler with only one barrel.

You have far more flexibility of use with the cylinder bore. Various shot cups can tighten the groups as well as the Skychief loading procedure.

A good shot cup is easily formed with 1" wide cross strips cut from the brown paper bag that used to be so common at our grocery stores. 20 lb computer paper works too.

I have what is referred to as a West (St. Louis) County Special from the 1970's when local builders were trying to come up with something that would give them insight to the performance of an 18th century fowler. Not sure what the builder was thinking of, but he used a full choke 12 gauge shotgun barrel. 0.729 bore choked to 0.700 at the muzzle. You can get 12 gauge wads through the choke and everything practically falls to the breech after it clears the choke. It does perform about like a full choked shotgun.

Not sure where that leaves you in the search for a sxs, but I do think that you are on the right track thinking of the Pedersoli 20 gauge bore cylinder by cylinder.

 

[stubshaft]

It came like that from the factory. I can even use Rem-Chokes in it. Truth be told it can be a pain to load with a tighter choke.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I might be open to other smoothbore options if they would work well for my intended use, which is primarily bird hunting.

Couple of criteria for my uses:
1) less than $1000
2) something that can be effective for turkey and upland game (maybe waterfowl, but I haven't hunted ducks/geese for many years)
3) doesn't have to really shine here, but would be fun to take this to the skeet range where my step dad is a member just to see their faces (they already think I'm crazy for using a pump action shotgun for skeet)
4) open to either used or new, but I'm only really familiar with Pederosoli in this price range for new. Are there others I should consider?
5) shooting PRBs is a low priority for me with this gun.

Maybe we can narrow down some of your wants, plus understand some the information you've been given so far.

First, what do you expect from performance of this gun? Are you experienced with modern 20 and 12 gauge shotguns? I ask this as one reply claimed

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I might be open to other smoothbore options if they would work well for my intended use, which is primarily bird hunting.

Couple of criteria for my uses:
1) less than $1000
2) something that can be effective for turkey and upland game (maybe waterfowl, but I haven't hunted ducks/geese for many years)
3) doesn't have to really shine here, but would be fun to take this to the skeet range where my step dad is a member just to see their faces (they already think I'm crazy for using a pump action shotgun for skeet)
4) open to either used or new, but I'm only really familiar with Pederosoli in this price range for new. Are there others I should consider?
5) shooting PRBs is a low priority for me with this gun.

Maybe we can narrow down some of your wants, plus understand some the information you've been given so far.

First, what do you expect from performance of this gun? Are you experienced with modern 20 and 12 gauge shotguns?

I ask this as one reply claimed " You have far more flexibility of use with the cylinder bore. Various shot cups can tighten the groups as well as the Skychief loading procedure "..., well if that was true, then why did they start putting choke into barrels? :shocked2: While to those of us who use cylinder bore guns, WE see improvement with the shot cups and other loadings, however.... as per my first question, IF you're looking for pattern ranges similar to modern 20's and 12's, then you are going to need a choked barrel (imho)....assuming you don't succumb to the temptation that some of us with cylinder bores have, which is overloading the barrels with shot. :shake:

Fear not...., Pedersoli actually has several options. The Classic Standard 20 is excellent for upland birds and small game, and has a cylinder bore right barrel, and a modified choke left barrel, so the left barrel will work for turkey as well as for shots on pheasants and squirrels at a distance.

The Pedersoli Classic Standard is probably more what you're looking for, as it's in 12 gauge, and is also CYL/MOD for the barrels. So the gun will give you all that the 20 will harvest, plus the left barrel will then give you some success on ducks..., and perhaps close shots on geese...though you're probably limited to bismuth for waterfowl, since it's not made to be a dedicated waterfowl piece. The 12 gauge will also probably be easier for you to break clay birds at the skeet range. :grin:

The above mentioned "standard" 12 or 20, having a cylinder bore right barrel, will shoot round ball if you want to go for deer. :wink:

Now Pedersoli does offer a 10 gauge "Waterfowl" piece, but I don't think that's what you'd be after..., and it's probably out of the price range, and they also offer a "Slug" shotgun in 12 gauge with both barrels CYL/CYL and a rear sight..., so that will please the cylinder-bore-purists...though the maker envisioned it as a double round ball gun.

As for loading wads being difficult, well, one doesn't necessarily need to use a fiber, or hard card wad. I do quite well with my Pedersoli 20, using a crushed newsprint wad, or wad of tow, with "cartridge" of shot (shot contained in a newsprint roll, still closed) loaded on top. Such an arrangement is also very fast on reloads, so works very well on skeet ranges, and while hunting, when you're with folks with modern guns :wink:

If you have your eye on a Pedersoli SxS in 12 guage, that is probably right-up-your-alley for what you want regarding versatility. Double check with the seller if you can on the model, so you're sure of the barrel chokes, and if it's within your price range you should seriously consider getting it (imho).

It's true I agree a flintlock trade gun, which is cylinder bore, or a Mortimer would be more fun..., they are probably too pricey for what you want, and a bit less versatile I think, than the Classic in 12 gauge.


LD

 

[Feltwad]

Forget about those cheap reproes buy yourself an original British made sxs it will not loose money if you want to sell.
Feltwad

 

[Rifleman1776]

Truth be told it can be a pain to load with a tighter choke.

Not exactly a news flash. :grin:

 

[Darkgael]

I have a Navy Arms 12 gauge SXS....Cyl/Cyl.
Nice gun. Well balanced. Easy to carry.
That being said, I have a Mike Brooks 16 gauge Fowler....that is the gun that I carry now. The SXS stays home more often than not.
Pete

 

[FiremanBrad]

My Pedersoli 12 has factory screw ins.
I ordered an extra modified and xtra full when I bought it, way back when.

 

[FiremanBrad]

My Pedersoli 12 has factory screw ins.
I ordered an extra modified and xtra full when I bought it, way back when.

 

[dsayer]

Thanks Dave. Lots to go through here.

RE: expectations. :hmm: I'd like this gun to be able to serve as my primary hunting shotgun but with a greater emphasis on shooting pheasants and grouse sized game than turkey. I can justify a dedicated turkey gun if that's the best approach. However, if I could get a reasonable pattern out to say 35 (40??) yards, I'd be tickled pink with that for turkey hunting.

RE: experience with modern shotguns. Yes, lots of experience with modern shotguns. I'm not necessarily expecting that type of performance from a muzzleloading shotgun, but it will, by default, be the standard by which I judge performance since it is by only experience from which to draw.

RE: chokes. I actually came to this thread this morning to ask about this. There just be a driving force behind all these muzzleloading shotgun being fitted with choked bores, right? I was also going to ask more about loading wads because that does seem problematic. If you've got a full choke, do you try to ram a 12 gauge wad through the choke and risk damaging the wad or use a wad that fits the choke (14 gauge?) but then wouldn't be tight on the shot? :idunno: Seems the former is the lesser of two evils... Would be interested to hear more about how you and others approach this.

I do really like the Pederosoli Classic Standard. Cabela's has these with mod/full chokes right now. I thought that might be good for my purposes (assuming this loading dilemma can be solved). They had one in the bargain cave last week. Wonder if it's still there... :hmm:

Thanks again to everyone for chiming in on this. :bow:

 

[Britsmoothy]

Any choked muzzleloader can a joy to use (wad wise) by simply replacing a solid wad for a few thin O/S cards fed in edge ways past the choking.

B.