doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Custom SxS Project

Fellow Addicts:

My name is Jeff Welker and I have spent my entire life chasing quail and shooting dove in Arizona. For some reason, this fine forum had escaped my search engine until last week.

Currently, I'm contemplating having a custom SxS built using a solid low grade "donor" gun as the cornerstone. Have any forum members pursued such a project? If yes, please share your experiences (pro/con), suggestions, and photos.

Much appreciated;

PS - I'm also considering another custom project involving a Model 12 Sweet 16; however, as a newbie to the forum I wanted to make sure the proprieties were maintained at all times.

You will find such a project a fun and rewarding experience---if you choose top-notch experienced craftsmen. Start out with a sound quality gun with good barrels for the basis and have a definite plan. Your project will go smoother and end up exceeding your expectations if you and your chosen craftsmen communicate well together as a team. Be patient. Good luck!

Here's a link to my 20-ga. Fox Sterlingworth project that was completed last year:
http://www.foxcollectors.com/My%20Forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1057

I sincerely appreciate your sharing the info and photos of your custom Fox - what a great project. I hope to hear more from others on the forum about their experiences.

Take Care;

What size of gun do you expect to be the center of your project? Do you want your project gun to be highly decorated or just stocked to your dimensions so you can be more successful in your shooting? What make of gun attracts you? Any that do not particularly attract you? Answer these questions and we will get started.

Eightbore:

I'm a 16 gauge addict and very much want a gun stocked to my dimensions so I can enjoy greater success with my dove and quail pursuits. I like the heavy scroll engraving on bamboozler's Fox; however, I'm not into gold. I'm a tall/large shooter and prefer barrels in the 28" to 30" range - a shootgun just seems to track smoother for me with longer barrels. Also, most of the quail chasing I do in AZ is in open areas.

Like many, I'm attracted to the Fox. It reminds me very much of an associates Westley Richards box lock that I drooled over - but I prefer American sxs. Parkers are also nice. For whatever reason, I'm not a fan of the Model 21 - no offense intended.

An ejector gun would be an expensive base gun in 16 gauge. If ejectors are not an important factor, either the Parker or the Fox would be a good gun to start with. Let us know whether ejectors are an important option on your gun and we will continue to comment.

I do all my own reloading and picking up ejected shells is often a literal pain in the backside. With that in mind, extractors handing me the spent hulls might be nice; however, I've only shot guns with ejectors so I don't completely understand the downside to extractors. As I've gotten older, reloading and getting off another 2 shots quickly has lost its attraction. Heck, with my M-12 I only load 2 at a time. I've found that when I'm loading and shooting that quickly, I'm doing alot of missing.

I'll need some input and help with this ejector vs. extractor question.

Since empties should NEVER be left on the ground when hunting (if you don't reload, they are trash and last a LONG time) extractors are fine. Ejectors are probably a remnant of British driven bird shooting with a loader. All my guns have them (it's not easy to buy a modern gun with extractors) and I just hold my hand over the breech when I open the gun. Also, with extractors, there are no ejector hammers to cock so the gun will close more easily.
Joe

Jeff

Just my two cents worth but on ejectors vs. extractors it's not if the ejectors break but when. Extractors are just simpler to deal with and on an older gun they don't cost near as much on the original purchase proce.

Regards, Gordon

Joe:

I appreciate the comments. I do pick-up all my empties - thus the back pain. I've tried holding my hand over the breech and can't get it coordinated. I'm trying to follow the rest of the flushing covey with one eye and watch the ejecting hulls with the other. I usually get one of the empties missing my hand and hitting me in the face. I've always fantasized about extractors; however, never had a chance to try them on a hunting gun. I also like the notion of easier closing.

Thanks.