doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com New sxs advice

I am humbled by the wealth of knowledge here, so I come to you all with a new situation for me- I don't know what gun I would like to buy! Funny isn't it? Let me explain. I know a fair bit and have owned a number of sxs's in the $200-$1200 range, my best to date is the J.P. Clabourgh SLE I have in the safe now. But my wife shocked me today by suggesting that if I sold the Clabourgh, an M1A, and use another $1000 she will let me spend, I would have about $4000 to spend on a double of my dreams. Talk about floored! Only thing is, I don't know much of anything regarding doubles worth that much. I have drooled over the pages of magazines and such, but never thought I would be able to own for for decades to come. So I come asking advice- with the below info, what brands would you suggest I research?

$4000 budget (might sell another gun if the double was absolutly perfect, but would prefer to spend no more then 4000)

12 gauge

Prince of Wales grip

Shoot modern ammo preferably, at a minimum 2.75" chambers for light reloads

And preferably a hammer

Nice wood would be a bonus too

I love the looks of the AyA #2, but it looks like they are only English grips. And its not a hammer, which would be my absolute ideal. I recently read about Beretta's 400 series hammer guns from the early 50's but can not findany for sale anywhere so I don't know availability/ price.

What about a sleeved English double? Can they shoot modern loads? I have read a lot about English doubles, and realize that name is often not a total indicator as to quality, and that my pet light loads will shoot out of damascus 2.75" chambers (I've fired close to 1000 out of old doubles). So a 2.75" chambered old English gun would certainly be a consideration for me, sleeved or not.

Am I asking for the impossible? Like I said, I'm a novice to this price point of doubles, so thank you very much for any and all advice! And if I'm crazy, just say so lol

Not impossible at all. Look to the Italians. If you look around you can find a very nice Italian hammer gun that will digest anything you feel like pulling the triggers on. In that price range you should be able to find a Bernardelli, or one of the lesser known names that they, or other firms, produced. I have owned a San Giorgio, which I have been told was made by Bernardelli, for several years, and shoot it in S x S hammer gun events, with over-the-counter loads. It's as safe with them as an 870 Remmy. Mine was made in 1973.

What you want is out there. I'm sure others will suggest some other options, too.

Some sleeved Brit guns have had chambers lengthened and have been reproofed at 2 3/4". That'd be one possibility. You might have to look a bit to find one with hammers, however.

Bernardelli made some decent hammerguns, well within your price range. They're modern so no problem with chamber length.

Here's the details on mine, from a post by the previous owner several years ago.



Good luck with your search. SRH

The way things are going on in this country and the world you may want to keep the M1A. It may prove to be more useful down the road. Sort of like a fire extinguisher.

Sounds like you may be looking for one of the old Live Pigeon Hammer Trap Guns. Most had longer chambers and were sturdily built and almost always stand re-proof for nitro. Not for sale but I have a 30 inch Damascus nitro 2 3/4" chambered hammer trap gun with half pistol grip by W.J.Jeffery. They are out there. Half the fun is in the hunt so good luck. Leave enough over for some flowers for the wife.

A sleeved gun would be cheaper and almost certainly nitro proofed for modern ammo. Lagopus.....

Thanks! I've been looking more into the Italian doubles and they sure are beautiful! A ton of new names to me too, and that's just from what I've found so far on gunbroker and gunsamerica! Besides the ones named above, are there others I should be particularly searching for?

Also, besides gb/ga/guns international, are there other good sights to watch? and here of course

And tanky, there are others in the safe that will work better then the M1A if God forbid they are needed.

gunsamerica is also a good place to shop...

it is the oldest internet based guns for sale web site, going back as far as 1997, before many of us even had a pc...

That's what he meant by "ga", ed................. gb - (Gunbroker), ga - (GunsAmerica), etc.

What's the matter, can't decipher writing that is not in all "caps"?

SRH

I apologize, I should have spelled them out. Gunbroker is my go to for all guns, with guns international and gunsamerica coming in close behind

This one caught my eye, it's a waterfowl/pigeon gun with a beautiful stock, but the stock is a Monte Carlo. I understand that is to essentially have it shoot higher then it looks so that the target is always fully in sight, correct? All my shotguns have been straight combed, only some rifles have had Monte Carlo stocks.
http://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-fo...6134AF5DBE1C8AC