doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Modern clays SxS

Mark,
I have a Poli pigeon Gun with 32" barrels, Briley chokes, Palm Swell and single trigger. I don't know what you could do to improve that combination. I also have a Model 21 with 30" barrels that handles very similarly and would do the job as well.
Don't beleive that you can get an RBL Sporting Clays 12 ga. anymore. Production run is over, I believe.

I pondered this issue of a sxs clays gun last year about this time and posted the question to this board at least once. I had narrowed my choices down to basically three guns - an RBL 30�, a BSS 30� but with new stock/forend or a Poli. I shot all three at various times and ultimately decided on the Poli and have not been unhappy with this decision. I shoot sporting clays fairly regularly in both competition as well as casually. I currently have a 32� Blaser F3 as my main competition gun but have also shot a Beretta SO4 in competition. With my Poli I can shoot similar scores over the same course and it is great fun to shoot. My gun was imported by Coles and was designed (seemingly) to shoot clays as it has a palm swell, double triggers set at about 3 lbs, Briley thin wall chokes with overbored barrels. The gun has a semi beavertail forend so it is quite trim and the handling dynamics are superb. In my opinion, the RBLs that I have shot feel much less dynamic than this gun but it depends on what you want. This gun is more like a pigeon gun than a heavy �grooved swing� skeet or trap gun (or some sporting clays guns). Overall, I am extremely pleased with the purchase.
As an alternative, I had looked seriously at building a clays gun on a BSS platform using a 30� barreled action. However, with the initial purchase of the gun (1500), stock work (1500 - 2000), barrel work and chokes (600), etc I quickly was over the purchase price of my lightly used Poli Sporting Extra (side plated model). If you can not find a good deal on a Poli, which I think is an outstanding gun for clays or pigeons, then a �home grown� BSS clays gun is probably the best alternative for a nice gun around $3K. SKB also made a nice sxs specifically designed for clays but I like my Poli or the BSS route a bit better.
Have a great time with this as sxs are much more fun to shoot competitively than an O/U. In most events sxs are rare and if you shoot it even reasonably well, those that you shoot with will think you have extraordinary skills.
My thoughts
Z

The best sxs sporting clays shot I have ever personally watched used a BSS. He took a 30' model, had choke tubes installed, had it case hardened and refinished then had a drop dead restock job by Dave Wills in Montgomery. It is a great looking gun and he shoots it well. He may have close to 4 grand in it but I would pay twice that for it if I could shoot it as well as he does. I wish I had a photo to post.

Tyler,

Dave actually is considering building another custom BSS (or any Miroku SXS). He has me on the look out for any good deals on a 20ga. So keep that in mind if you come across a good deal.

Adam

Anna Nicole. Born in 1926. 32" barrels choked IM/IM, 8 lbs even. A little over 38,000 rounds fired since her makeover 3 years ago. Two-time Bo Whoop Championship winner.

A double trigger, extractor, low mileage Fox, similar to Mike Campbell's gun, is my recent maximum effort project for sporting and flyers. I am headed to the stockmaker with $2200 invested. This one is not going to be cheap, but it will be reliable. I will keep the total within reason by being conservative with the engraving.

Bill,

Is this the cross-over stock you've mentioned before? If so, who's doing the work? That would be a fascinating project to follow.

Similar to the BSS line of thinking...the local shop has had a Charles Daly (Beretta mfg.) on the rack for quite a while.
This gun has BTFE, ST, Semi-pistol grip, tight chokes and 30" tubes (2" short of your requirement).
I'd guess it's in the 7 1/2# range (maybe a bit light?). If I were a duck or goose hunter, I'd have snapped it up by now.
This gun is in nice shape and could be had for 800. It would also make a good turkey gun or a "posting" gun for phez.
I think there are lots of good directions you could go with this. A fun project--good luck.
-jim

Hi Mark:

You might consider this German gun. Although made in 1924 it has pretty modern features including a type of beavertail forend:

http://www.safarioutfittersltd.com/EuropeanPage44.htm

Maker: GERMAN "NO NAME"
Model/Action: 1924 DELUXE SCALLOPED BOXLOCK, S/S, SIDECLIPS, HIDDEN CROSS BOLT, BOLSTERED FRAME, COCKING INDICATORS
Engraving: BEAUTIFUL FULL COVERAGE SCROLL, DEEP CUT FENCES
Bore/Caliber: 12GA
Barrel Length: 34" VERY RARE BBL LENGTH
Chamber/Proof: 2 3/4
Chokes: F/F
Rib: STD GAME
Ejectors: YES
Triggers: DBL

Stock: NICELY FIGURED MED-DARK WALNUT, ST/SPLINTER WITH THIN EARS
Dimensions: LOP 14 1/2, 1 1/2, 2 9/16
Weight: 8LBS 7OZ
Scope/Sights: NA
Case: NA
Overall Condition: VERY MINT ORIGINAL CONDITION, 99% CC & BLUE, EXCELLENT BORES!
Reference #: 7-3571
Price: $4,695


Best,

Mike

Oh, one more. Deep River Sporting has a 30" Charles Daly Miroku for sale. It is priced right. Double triggers I beleive. Only issue is it is a little short on the LOP.