doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com English SxS boxlocks?

I have been sitting on the sidelines now for some time trying to learn about the starting price points for Spainish and Italian guns. Trouble is, I would really like my first 16 gauge English gun and don't know how to start. Will $3000 get me anywhere? What say you? Thanks...

If you don't mind reloading I would recommend a between-the-wars boxlock. They usually weigh just under 6 pounds and are a delight to carry. They would typically have 2-1/2" chambers and be proofed at 1oz. Three thousand ought to be plenty for an extractors and a little engraving. The contemporary British standard load for this gun was 7/8oz.

If you want to shoot Walmart shells the Webley and Scott 700 series would be a great choice. I would shoot the factory 1 ounce 2.5DE load in them. I would expect if you took your time you could find one to fit your budgeted number.

Best,

Mike

I mean the Webley and Scott made in England, not the new ones made in Turkey.

Best,

Mike

Mike is spot on here - a Webley and Scott 700 16 bore should set you back c £1,500 here in the UK so you should be able to pick up a good one in the US within your budget. I have one and it is a smashing little gun from 1957 which still garners praise to this day.

I have two in stock at thet price -unfortunately both 12 bores!

I know of a John Robertson (Boss) 16-bore that would be a similar price.

You should find what you are lookinf for. One of my personal guns is a Webley & Scott 700 from 1957! A good year.

There is a Blanch over on the For Sale section of this board.

Brit 16's are nice, but they'll cost you maybe 25-50% more than an equivalent 12. And you'll find that there are a lot of Brit 12's that will weigh about what American classic 16's weigh. Not trying to steer you away from 16's; just suggesting another option. There are sub-6# Brit 16's out there, and that you cannot do in a 12, unless it's a 2" gun.

Exactly Larry!!
He is incorrectly applying differing standards to an English built gun.

In the majority of cases doubles built in America, Italy, Spain France, Germany; the smaller gauges are always lighter and livelier and carry better than the bigger gauges...except when you're talking about an English built gun.

The English gun is in a league all of its own and a 'Best' quality 12 gauge handles and carries like nothing you have ever handled before or since. If you're interested in an English built gun and that is your main requirement then gauge won't matter at all.

If you look at Burrard's third volume first edition he lists out what the standard loads were for the different British factory shells. Compare it to the standard American loads from that time and:

British 2-1/2" 12ga 1-1/16oz is about equal to American 2-1/2" 16ga 1oz.
British 2-1/2" 16ga 7/8oz equals American 20 gauge 7/8oz.
British 2-1/2" 20 gauge 3/4oz equals American 2-3/4" 28 gauge 3/4oz.
British 2-1/2" 28 gauge 9/16oz about equals American 2-3/4" .410

Best,

Mike

Hi, I have 2 16b Brit guns. A Charles Boswell 2nd Quality and a Webley & Scott Model 500. Both are just wonderful to carry and hunt with. These two are my favorites. They each weigh in at 5lbs 12oz. While light in weight, they are so well balanced they are not whippy at all (to me at least!). I wouldn't trade or sell either of them.

I use only 1oz low pressure loads from RST and New Era Ammunition. These loads kill birds just fine. From Sharpies to wild Pheasants'

I also own 3 light Brit 12's. Great guns, but there is a very special place in my heart for those 16's.

For the money you want to spend, you should be able to find something you'd be happy with.

Here are a couple of site that may have something of interest:

http://www.vintagedoubles.com/index.php

http://www.hillrodandgun.com/invent.php

Good Luck and remember most of the fun is in looking!

All the best!

Greg