Withdrawn

[Billy D Goat]

Closed

Edited December 25, 2025 by Billy D Goat

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

You didn't include any "qualifiers" so:  I currently own and operate a 12Ga Pedersoli Wyatt Earp (It ain't cheap). Internally, it is a Rolls Royce.  I also own and operate TWO Pietta 1878 replicas (they ain't cheap), but internally are Rolls Royces.  My preference is for Hammer Doubles.  If the shotgun doesn't have Outside Hammers, they simply aren't interesting to play with.  Your Milage May Vary

[Eyesa Horg]

On the lower end.... I've had excellent luck with mine.

https://forums.sassnet.com/index.php?/topic/396215-fs-two-12ga-stoeger-coach-guns/#comment-4851233

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

I have a Browning SxS, a CZ Sharptail, and a few Stoegers.  My wife has a few SKBs.  The SKBs and the Browning are my favorites.  The CZ is out-of-service because the manufacturer is unable to provide my gunsmith with a replacement firing pin.  The Stoegers work OK but lack the fit and finish of the more expensive shotguns.  However, they are reliable.  Consider buying a shotgun from one of our cowboy gunsmiths.  It will arrive ready for competition.  I recommend buying a backup shotgun when you have funds.  We put many rounds through our guns and sometimes they break.  A piece of lead shot can rebound from a target, landing in the gun and locking it up (it's happened to me twice).

[Prairie Dawg, SASS #50329]

I currently own 3 TTN Hammer Doubles -- Excellent guns, a Pioneer Hammer Double -- Also an excellent shotgun, and a CZ 30" Hammer Double, that I shoot in Cowboy Matches on occasion.  Like Coffinmaker, I love Hammer Doubles.
I've owned SKBs and Browning doubles, and they are fine shotguns -- but no external hammers.........

--Dawg 

[Rye Miles #13621]

I’ve used Stoegers for years with no problems. I have two now. 

[Horace Patootie, SASS #35798]

3 minutes ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

I’ve used Stoegers for years with no problems. I have two now. 

Same here.

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

Billy, is this for cowboy action shooting? Your text says "good" but your title says "best".    Seems to me that the most popular shotgun with the top shooters is the SKB (and some Browning BSS).  They are expensive and need gunsmithing for CAS.  If you don't need the best, Stoegers and Baikals are good, CZ's are better.

[Windy City Kid]

Very happy with my CZ Sharptail

Edited December 15, 2025 by Windy City Kid

[Frontier Lone Rider]

I have had Charles Daileys, Baikals, Ithakas, SKBs, Hulus, AYAs, Winchester, but currently shoot the Stoeger Supreme.  I have several, all ready for competition, plus eight still in the box.  If I miss the target, it is not the shotguns' fault.  I figure I can use the Stoegers in matches and don't worry about dropping or scratching the shotgun.  If it breaks, I just grab another one and still have less invested than having a Browning BSS or SKB.

 

They work for me, but just my 2cents.

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

Normally, I shoot a 97, but I do enjoy using a SxS from time to time.   My preferred one is a 12 gauge with 30" barrels with F/F chokes.   I do have another 12 with 19" barrels with no choke, which was the first SxS I ever owned.   In general, I like longer barrels because I don't miss with them.  Also, they tend to not kick as badly as short barreled ones do.  I also have a 20 gauge with 28" tubes with F/M chokes.   It makes for a nice variation from time to time.  All are fantastic guns that you absolutely can't go wrong with.  All three of them can be summed up with one word.  Once this word is spoken, there is nothing more to say, as they are without a doubt the finest doubles ever made anywhere in the whole wide world.  And, yes, while you can spend a small fortune for one, without too much effort you can find one that is still a good shooter, even if it doesn't look so "great" anymore.  I believe they are the first, last and almost the only name in SxS shotguns.

That name...

Parker. 

Nuff said.

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

A tuned CZ Sharptail. 

Buy NOTHING, until you have attended a few shoots and done a hands on live fire. 

[Silver Creek Jack]

Hammerless sxs - 12 ga. - SKB - Browning- Stoeger  all excellent cowboy action shotguns. After a good COWBOY gunsmith works them over.

Hammered - 12 ga.- TTN-  CZ- Pedersoli Wyatt Earp

I only us light loads in my match shotguns like the AA light recoil low noise shells. After many thousands of rounds I have yet to break a shotgun and those loads knock down every target I have encountered, if you reload, a load of 12.5 gr. of Perfect Pattern behind a 7/8 oz. load of 7 1/2  shot replicates the AA LNLR.

welcome to the best sport in the world!

[Matthew Duncan]

CZ Sharptail

[Randy Saint Eagle, SASS # 64903]

For a hammerless my choice is an SKB done by Fast Eddie. I also have a CZ Sharptail and it's nice, but I can shoot the SKB faster. I have a Stoeger I did myself and it's shootable but it's a long way from an SKB. I recommend you shoot as many as you can before you buy and decide if you want to spend $450 or $2200 for a shotgun?

 

When I first started shooting Charlie Bowdre told me you win matches with your pistols and lose them with your shotgun.  It took me a few years to realize he was correct.

 

Good Luck!

Randy

[Griff]

Quote

What's the best coach gun?

Plain and simple.  MINE.  It has to be... I picked it out, paid for it and have used it since it was new!   Well, four of 'em anyway, that fifth one... weren't new when it came to be possessed by me.... but otherwise, it fits that same criteria!  A 1919 Riverside Arms side-by-side that I started out with in 1985!  It's still "best"... as in dang near beautiful.  With its extra fancy stock, plume colored receiver and nicely blued barrels, I think it's still gorgeous!  The 26" TTN that has a color cased receiver might argue the point... but it ain't got the fancy wood that old Riverside does.  The two Stoegers are kinda beautiful in their own right... if you value plain looking tools.  The 20" Cimarron 1878 clone is also of that workhorse beauty mold.  One of the original Wild Bunch once told me that if you ain't gonna shoot good, you gotta look good... And since I ain't ever winnin' any beauty contests, I figured my tools should fill that role!  And since ain't any of 'em ever let me down in a match... they seem to fill that works great role also.  

 

BTW, Randy is right... fondle as many as you can before you buy... who knows... you might like a pretty one better'n a go fast one!  I also read far fewer complaints about double trigger guns than I do of the single trigger jobs.  But, a hint... don't stick both fingers in a double trigger job, unless you mean to!

Edited December 14, 2025 by Griff

[Rye Miles #13621]

I have two just like this. Have your gunsmith disable the safety to manual and slick it up so it opens easy. Have fun!
 

 

Edited December 14, 2025 by Rye Miles #13621

[Sgt. Hochbauer, SASS #64409]

I have been shooting a Coyote Capp 87 for the past few seasons. That said my favorite has been a TTN hammered dbl. Sadly the barrels have separated and the cost for repair is more than am willing to pay. I found a basically new Stoeger with  dbl triggers that will likely be coming home with me. It will need some work. Always room for one more.

 

Hochbauer

[Bison Bud]

First off, don't get completely hung up on purchasing a "Coach Gun" from the get go.  I personally think you have to pay a premium for this moniker in the retail market, but they are indeed popular due to their shorter barrels and cowboy authenticity.  However, one can still be quite effective with much longer barrels and there are many used SXS's on the market that could save some money and still maintain a high level of quality.  You can always cut one down if you really feel the need anyway.  I personally settled on 24" barrels and my main match gun is a double trigger Baikal that started as a 28" field gun.  I did very little to mine other than replace the cocking lugs with a set of Papa Dave's to get it to open all the way up and hone the chambers to get the shells to come out easily.  They do start out quite stiff, but use and a bit of smoothing here and there loosens one up quite nicely.  I mainly wanted to get back behind the chokes by cutting it, as I shot a 28" Charles Daly for years, that I couldn't bring myself to cut, and never once had trouble navigating obstacles etc. with this gun.  Anyway, at least to me the key features needed are reliability, smooth function, durability, and for many the authenticity thing is a big deal and the exterior hammered guns are indeed popular.  Frankly, it's too bad that they can't import the Baikal (Russian) shotguns anymore as they were built like a tank and at least in my opinion, were about the best bang for the bucks out there (I think I initially paid less than $300.00 for mine).  You might still be able to find a used one somewhere, but good luck there.  Otherwise, at least take a look at the used market as there are a lot of fine guns out there to be had at reasonable prices, and quality was pretty much a standard feature in these older guns.  All in all, welcome to the fray and I wish you luck in finding a good SXS for this game!

Edited December 14, 2025 by Bison Bud

[Texas Maverick]

On 12/13/2025 at 3:17 PM, Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971 said:

I have a Browning SxS, a CZ Sharptail, and a few Stoegers.  My wife has a few SKBs.  The SKBs and the Browning are my favorites.  The CZ is out-of-service because the manufacturer is unable to provide my gunsmith with a replacement firing pin.  The Stoegers work OK but lack the fit and finish of the more expensive shotguns.  However, they are reliable.  Consider buying a shotgun from one of our cowboy gunsmiths.  It will arrive ready for competition.  I recommend buying a backup shotgun when you have funds.  We put many rounds through our guns and sometimes they break.  A piece of lead shot can rebound from a target, landing in the gun and locking it up (it's happened to me twice).

Might check with Griner Gunworks for your CZ. He replaces the firepin setup on the CZ's if I understand correctly. I have 2 of his tuned shotguns and they work great. He might be able to get your CZ up and running again.

 

TM

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

32 minutes ago, Texas Maverick said:

Might check with Griner Gunworks for your CZ. He replaces the firepin setup on the CZ's if I understand correctly. I have 2 of his tuned shotguns and they work great. He might be able to get your CZ up and running again.

 

TM

I am planning to stop at Mr. Griner's shop on my way to Utah State this coming summer.  I have a second CZ I just purchased to hand to him.  He'll get the Sharptail at the same time if needed.  

[Texas Maverick]

22 minutes ago, Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971 said:

I am planning to stop at Mr. Griner's shop on my way to Utah State this coming summer.  I have a second CZ I just purchased to hand to him.  He'll get the Sharptail at the same time if needed.  

I am sure he will treat you right. I like both of the ones I got from him and he has always been available to answer any questions I have.

 

TM

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

You might as well ask blonde brunette or redhead.You're gonna get a different answer from every single cowboy that answers the question.

Best inexpensive shotgun.You can get for the game in my opinion is a Stoeger sxs 12g

[SouthwestShooter]

Get a Johnny Meadows SKB.  You'll never need another one. 

[Tall John]

I had a Stoeger supreme with a single trigger.  I was able to slick it up, disable the safety, add new SS firing pins myself.  It worked great until it didn’t.  The internal parts on the Stoegers don’t meet tight tolerances and so there is a history with many that will fire one barrel and then open.  I bought 4 identical replacement parts and they all had different tolerances.  Fortunately one worked perfectly and the gun is in use today!

 

I now use an SKB100 with a beavertail forearm because I have large hands and the splinter-tail forearm was too small for my grip.  I carry a refurbished and slicked ‘97 as my backup.

 

so take the advice many have given.  Unless you want to buy and sell a lot of guns til you figure it out.  Buy ammo and go to local matches and shoot everything you can before you buy!

[Rance - SASS # 54090]

Well.. My wife and I have been shooting 2 Stoegers 12 gauge since 2003..

I disabled the auto safety and polished the chambers myself on each..

They are the uplander double triggered with removable choke models..

l installed improved cylinder chokes..

and I replaced the firing pins maybe 9-10 years back..

They are in the lower priced end of the SxS’s..

If I had no money worries.. I’d probably go with SKB’s.. mechanical triggers..

Just sayin’.. I’m a happy camper..

[Doc Moses]

Ultimately you will buy more than one.  Very few of us are using our original equipment. Therefore...buy a Stoeger.  They are cheap, and just work.  Slick it up yourself.  (I watched videos and did as instructed.  I am a violin teacher by trade, not handy.  If I can do it anyone can.) They do not cost enough to justify sending to a Smith.  Then when you figure out what you really like, you have a serviceable, paid for back-up.  (I have an 1887 I shoot now but my back up Stoeger, my 1st sxs I slicked up myself, is ready to go.)  like a lot of people you may end up staying with your Stoeger.  You can also go to the classifieds and do a WTB post for a Stoeger and get one already ready to shoot at a great price.  That's my advice.  I wish I had know this when I started!

[Rye Miles #13621]

On 12/13/2025 at 2:12 PM, Billy D Goat said:

Iam new here and just wanted to say hi . Iam trying to find a good coach gun. I'm looking for recommendations for a shotgun. This is gonna be going to my gunsmith so I'm gonna have for a while.
 

thanks 

There’s a Stoeger on the SASS Classified here for $375, it’s by Hungry Holler. He’s a good dude! Check it out!

[watab kid]

On 12/14/2025 at 7:23 AM, Rye Miles #13621 said:

I have two just like this. Have your gunsmith disable the safety to manual and slick it up so it opens easy. Have fun!
 

 

this is what i did to start , im still shooting it 20+ years in , i have a few others but much like JWs greeners , it just feels right all the time , 

[Billy D Goat]

Well I guess I went a different way . I ended up buying a ICA Winchester 1987 trench gun clone . I do thanks you guys for all the info 

[Rance - SASS # 54090]

4 hours ago, Billy D Goat said:

Well I guess I went a different way . I ended up buying a ICA Winchester 1987 trench gun clone . I do thanks you guys for all the info 

Good luck on yer choice..

Always heard ya need 3 of ‘em..

one to shoot.. one fer backup.. and one in for repairs ..

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

7 hours ago, Billy D Goat said:

Well I guess I went a different way . I ended up buying a ICA Winchester 1987 trench gun clone . I do thanks you guys for all the info 

You didn't answer if this is for CAS.  Since you are also looking for a good cross draw rig, it sounds like it is.  And in that case, you messed up, as the trench gun version of the '97 is not SASS-legal except for Wild Bunch.

[Captain Bill Burt]

Fast Eddie SKBs set the standard for competitive CAS shotguns.

[Billy D Goat]

On 12/13/2025 at 5:04 PM, Abilene, SASS # 27489 said:

Billy, is this for cowboy action shooting? Your text says "good" but your title says "best".    Seems to me that the most popular shotgun with the top shooters is the SKB (and some Browning BSS).  They are expensive and need gunsmithing for CAS.  If you don't need the best, Stoegers and Baikals are good, CZ's are better.

Yeah these will be for cas 

[Longfoot]

On 12/14/2025 at 10:06 AM, Colorado Coffinmaker said:

 

You didn't include any "qualifiers" so:  I currently own and operate a 12Ga Pedersoli Wyatt Earp (It ain't cheap). Internally, it is a Rolls Royce.  I also own and operate TWO Pietta 1878 replicas (they ain't cheap), but internally are Rolls Royces.  My preference is for Hammer Doubles.  If the shotgun doesn't have Outside Hammers, they simply aren't interesting to play with.  Your Milage May Vary

Coffinmaker,

 

Will your Pedersoli open/close with the hammers cocked?

 

I've got a old, unbranded, Liege, Belgium that will.  But, many of the hammer doubles I've looked at have a top lever that interferes with cocked hammers.  And/or, they don't hold the top lever open when broken and you have to hold the lever to close.