doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Why are SXS's more expensive than O/U's?

A little OU trivia: What was the first mass produced OU to be both designed and made in America?

Remington Model 32?

That's a common opinion, RM--but the 32 is pretty much a ripoff of the French Petrik.

So, the Ruger Red Label? Or the Marlin forgot the model?

We're somewhat missing the point here.

Agreed single triggers and one barrel to look over are the rule in the U.S.

Agreed you will see more purpose built target guns in O/U.

But most guys who like SxSs have the preference for two different reasons. The first, that it is different, has nothing to do with function. The same people often wear mechanical watches and make no apologies for their inaccuracy relative to electronic versions. The second reason is relative to weight and dynamics. To build a 12ga. O/U at the 61/2lb. mark and not use an alloy receiver becomes problematic. A true O/U game gun, new or used, is not going to be any cheaper than the same thing in a SxS.

The SKB by Ithaca? My 20ga is a true game gun. Ooops, not made in America.

O.K., but how does this explain the demise of the sbs in other countries?

And speaking of the missed points, a gunmaker marketing a sbs today would have to compete not only against other brand-new offerings, but also against numerous classic used (or should I say vintage?) guns.

Besides, it's next top impossible to make a balanced 12 gauge 6 1/2 lb. double today, with all that hi-pressure slow-burning-powder ammo.

Marlin 90, from 1937. Savage 420/430 followed shortly thereafter. Just goes to show, OU's have come a LONG ways since then--although the Marlin 90 has some interesting features, like straight line strikers which are not seen on many OU's.

My opinion...
1- much less of them made, so they are more expensive then o/us
2- built better, point better and make for a quicker more accurate shot, target shooters (and I am one) like 0/U/s because you know where the target is coming from, I hunt with a sxs because I do not know, and they have a better sighting plane for quicker shots.
3- they are a hell of a alot sexier, and everyone knows sexier means more money!!

HD, good questions and good points. I suspect that a great deal of the interest in O/Us in other places and the US was a result of post WWII economics and advertising. It was after the war that the SP took off. I started trap shooting in the mid 60's and took it up again in the early 70's. At that time the SP was the only mass market O/U with any real presence. The P guns had just started to appear and there was the occaisonal Ljutic, SO Beretta and Kreighoff. The SPs were considered expensive and the others off the charts. Other than the SO most people perceived the Berettas, correctly or not, as "cheap" Italian guns. The P guns did a lot to change this. Field guns were much the same and the SP was still considered a premium gun. Almost no one even knew what a Woodward or a Boss was. In the 70's the SP went south and Beretta started to make inroads. Browning brought out the Citoris and a number of good Japanese and Italian guns followed. Winchester jumped in a little later with the 101s. All were heavily advertised and the darlings of the shooting rags. Prices were affordable and the economy made them moreso. The SxS was all but forgotten by all but a few. I'm sure that it was much the same in western Europe.

The change cane in the mid 80's. We were out of the recession, there was lots of money around and some goods developed status. This is when the Rolex, European cars, etc. became symbols of sucess. About the same time the price of vintage US guns started to take off closely followed by English guns. The appreciation of dynamics in a field gun took even more time. Though many would hate to admit it, most of the lower grade US vintage doubles were pretty clubby, hence the interest in the Fox, LC, and Parker O frame 16's.

O/Us may dominate the mid to higher end market but the SxSs are obviously making a comeback. It may not be the golden age but it is certainly the rennaisance of the SxS. The choices available today are the broadest since before WWII.