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SxS Doubles


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Both of the above are fine choices.  The Stoeger is about $500 and the CZ is closer to $1000, so whichever fits your definition of affordable would be a good choice.  I started with a Stoeger, slicked it up myself, it was easy to do.  When I found a SKB I traded the old double trigger Stoeger for a single trigger Stoeger, and still use it most of the time for practice.  You'll probably see more Stoegers than any other SXS at most matches.  The CZ is a much nicer shotgun, but I have heard that they are a little harder to tune.  I don't have any personal experience with the CZ, but I see quite a few of them at the matches I go to.

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Someone once opined that we, as cowboy shooters, spend all our money on revolvers, rifles and tuning them to run as quickly as possible, leaving the shotgun to almost an after thought.  While I don't run either the pistols or rifle as fast as they could run, I love a well-tuned pistol and smooth operating rifle, yet... guilty as charged, I've run the same Stoeger double trigger shotgun since 1986.  In the meantime, I've had a second Stoeger, and two TTNs, one off which became inoperable as it would open to near 90º, plus a 2nd Stoeger that's pretty much been a safe queen.  I still have and rarely run the shotgun I started with, a 1919 built Riverside Arms hammer double w/two triggers.  (Think Stevens 311 and you'll be right).  I've rebuilt it twice, it still doesn't open all the way without manual assist, but it's still better looking than either Stoeger, and runs a close 2nd to the one safe-queen TTN.  At one time, after practicing techniques taught me by some early fast shotgun shooters in this game, I got to where I could run 6 shots from the Stoeger in under 6 seconds.  Would that I still could.  

IMG_0941.thumb.jpg.f6c53f6f7fbef80ebb25ccf5feb21116.jpg

While there's something to be said for running a good looking shotgun, til far more fun to run one that is easier to operate.  

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more or less order of cost and quality. 
I tried a sharptail, just did not care for it. 
 

any shotgun you get will have to be turned by a CAS knowledgeable gunsmith. Shotgun typically last gun to get tuned, should be first! 
 

 

Stoeger 500-600

baikail 600-700 (hard to find) 

sharptail 1000 +

SKB 1500-3000. (With it in my opinion)

 

when I got an SKB my times went down. It just loads easier, points better, lighter. I rarely have a shotgun makeup. I just point and shoot. 

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Griff is right about the old shotguns looking a lot better than the Stoeger. Yet the Stoeger seems to be the most popular double if you get a good one. I have found a the best of both worlds by taking a decent Stoeger and reshaping and refinishing the wood. I took the offending "wings" off the beavertail forend and slimmed it down to a more splinter-like shape. Then, took a lot of bulk out of the butt, narrowing the comb and rounding the bottom of the pistol grip while softening the tight radius of the grip curve. I was even able to keep the checkering on the pistol grip. With a good stain and finish it looks much more pleasing to my eye.

 

An interesting exercise though it rarely comes out of the safe as I shoot classic cowboy using an older Rossi hammer gun that received the same stock rework as well as some metal patina.

 

Don't know why I brought all this up.

Rev. Chase

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Browning BSS.  More expensive up front, to be sure, and a bit heavier than most, but you'll have to buy only one.  I've seen a number of shooters go through several shotgun upgrades, looking for something dependable.  They spent way more than I spent for the Browning.  In ten years now, I have never had one malfunction.  

 

SKB would probably be my next choice, followed by Baikal.  The Baikal seems to be a Russian made Browning knock-off.  Nice, lightweight  gun, if you can get parts. 

Edited by Dusty Devil Dale
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Ken Griner at Griner Gun Works has a completely tuned CZ Sharptail for around $1450. I upgraded to his shotgun a little over a year ago after shooting my Stoeger for 5 years. Like stated above the Stoeger is probably the most used in that price range. 

 

TM

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I shot a double trigger Stoeger and a TTN for several years until I lucked into my first SKB. I sent it to on of the SKB gunsmiths and I've never looked back. Charlie Bowdre told me when I started Cowboy shooting "You win matches with your pistols and lose matches with your shotgun!" It took me several years to understand what he was telling me. The shotgun is the only gun we use that starts out unloaded and has to be loaded on the clock and the double is the only gun we use that has to have the shells ejected on the clock (at least sometimes) that has no mechanical means to do so.   You can waste a lot of time with a shotgun that isn't properly tuned and fitted to you.

 

Just my opinion.

Randy

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