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

Agreed with other posts.

You'll find a nice Webly & Scott boxlock, typically the model 700, for a decent price. Westley Richards made a large number of good boxlock guns in all grades too. The 12 gauges are the least expensive because there are so many of them around.

Just do the usual checks of the barrels specs. and proofing. I would reload or buy 7/8 ounce loads. It's easier on the gun and your shoulder.

One thing to consider is barrel length.
As British guns shrink in bore diameter, they often (not always) get shorter in barrel length. 12's are often 28-30", 16's 26-28" and so on.
This is not a hard and fast rule but long barreled small bores usually command higher prices, all other factors being equal. They are often considered easier to shoot targets with and lend themselves to longer crossing and driven shots.
Of course you may be looking for a short barreled gun in which case you are going to find the search a little easier.
One other option is to consider a sleeved gun. Done well this does not ruin the balance of the gun as some would claim and can give you access to an effectively new set of barrels, longer chambers and sensible chokes often for considerably less than gun with original tubes.
Take a look at http://www.heritageguns.co.uk/Cashmore%2016%20BLE/Cashmore%2016%20BLE%20Details.htm.
I am not suggesting that it fits your requirements and it is way over your budget due to its high level of specification, finish and restoration but it might give you food for thought. This gun was a 30"/2 1/2"/12b but built on a very light action. We sleeved it to 30"/2 3/4"/16b which gives it a relatively robust action, long barrels and excellent handling.

Different shooters have differing sensitivity to swing effort. Light weight, short barreled guns typically have low swing efforts. One mans "delight" is another man's "whippy." You have figure this one out for yourself.

The following two guns do not handle the same.

A. Henry BLNE 16 ga, bbls = 28", LOP = 14 5/8", weight = 5.91#, balance = 4 1/2", unmounted swing effort = 1.25, mounted swing effort = 5.91, compactness = 9.90

Ithaca NID Classic Skeet 16ga, bbls = 28", LOP = 15", weight = 6.36#, balance = 3 3/4", unmounted swing = 1.42, mounted swing = 6.24, compactness = 10.17

Be sure you can shoot the weight, balance, and swings likely to be encountered on a Brit 16 bore before you take the jump. Be sure you absolutely want a 16 bore before you pass on a 12 bore Brit BL.

Oxford Gun Company has on offer a gun by S.Wright it is a 12G B.L.E. 28inch barrels, Well figured stock, 15 inch length of pull,weight 6.0 pounds. The gun is pictured on the company web site. Price is 1495 pounds stirling. Wright,s made many,if not all of Churchill,s boxlock guns. I spent time in their works in the 1970,s their quality at that time was excellent.Suggest this is a gun that could well be worthy of your consideration. Otherwise The Webley and Scott 700, or more expensive 701 or 702 would also be good options.

Gary don't let them talk you out of the sixteen. Get an nice Birmingham gun, 5lbs, 12oz, 28" barrels, straight grip, extractors, double triggers. Simple and elegant. Get a MEC reloader and some Cheddite compontents and load 2-1/2" low pressure loads. Whole nother interest by itself.

I don't think you will necessarily shoot it less well than a 6-1/2 lb British 12 bore. But even if you give up 5% or so who cares. Gun fit has a lot more to do with how well I shoot a gun than weight.

Best,

Mike