Side By Side

[Nobby8126 96]

Been decoying over stubble to my air rifle recently, mainly to give the pooch training in retrieving, and having reasonable success. But toying with the idea of getting my SGC and was wondering if a cheap 12 gauge side by side will do the job or should I stop being such a tight twat and dig deeper.

I'm by no means a die hard shooter but do enjoy a few hours out and would never turn down increased bag sizes, difference between a £100 bang or a £500 second hand one gonna make that much difference?

[oxo 442]

I have a Baikal SxS that i paid £150, a Browning o/u and a semi auto, nothing wrong with the SxS at all, but i find i can shoot better with a single sight plane (o/u, semi)

[Denny essex 15]

A gun that fits you reasonably well is an important factor more than what style , as above second hand shotguns can be quite cheap but get someone with some shotgun knowledge to go with you if buying privately, more so if you do not know the important things to look for, from a gun shop you will get their rep and backup if something is not quite right.

Side by side shotguns tend to be lighter than an over and under gun and many semi autos, the lighter the gun the more recoil especially if the gun is not a good fit can be uncomfortable and in a severe case painful to use.

Myself after shooting air rifles for many years could not get on with a side by side and changed to an over and under and semi auto, I was happier with them but still not too good a shot to kill ratio till I had a lesson or few, my problem was mount and trying to aim like a rifle, bad workman blames hi tools etc worth having a lesson or two if you have not used a shotgun before.

Good luck

[Lid 194]

Check your eye dominance too if you don't already know it.

[Nobby8126 96]

Cheers guys going to try a couple on for size today

[johnthebrit 0]

A gun that fits you reasonably well is an important factor more than what style , as above second hand shotguns can be quite cheap but get someone with some shotgun knowledge to go with you if buying privately, more so if you do not know the important things to look for, from a gun shop you will get their rep and backup if something is not quite right.

Side by side shotguns tend to be lighter than an over and under gun and many semi autos, the lighter the gun the more recoil especially if the gun is not a good fit can be uncomfortable and in a severe case painful to use.

Myself after shooting air rifles for many years could not get on with a side by side and changed to an over and under and semi auto, I was happier with them but still not too good a shot to kill ratio till I had a lesson or few, my problem was mount and trying to aim like a rifle, bad workman blames hi tools etc worth having a lesson or two if you have not used a shotgun before.

Good luck

Fully agree and would add that a SxS, especially 26 or 28 inch barrels will swing quicker than an O/U. I personally find it harder to connect with the 2nd barrel with my Browning O/U, when the escaping bird is dodging. then with a SxS.

Also, a less expensive gun means you don't worry so much about a bit of rain/mud/blood getting on it.

Fit is the most important factor.

Good luck!