Husqvarna vs Merkel ? Shotguns

[NW-GSP]

I am wanting to get a sxs for upland bird hunting. Mainly quail, chukar and a little bit of pheasant.
What brand would you recommend? I honestly know nothing about either one so any input would be helpfull

[high country]

What interests you about these two?....both make some fine guns....just curious how you came up with those two.

[NW-GSP]

I was told by a co worker to take a look at a website that specialses in importing older guns and those two brands seem to sell allot on the website and the price is allot better then a new over and under

[actionshooter]

Do you have a link to that website?
 The only Merkel which would be reasonably priced would be a #8.
The rest are pretty pricey.   

[high country]

Do you have a preference on gauge and English vs American style? Early fox sterlingworth and Parker's are always wort a look......if you dig American. A bss is about the toughest SxS besides the win 21.......but the 21 is a pile of scratch.

[high country]

Reasonably priced and side by side......laffin.

[NW-GSP]

I would prefer a 12 or a 20 gauge just due to those gauges being more common. I do not have a preference in style due to honestly not knowing a thing about sxs's

[high country]

What kind of budget are you working with?

[nwwanderer]

You might add SKB to the mix.  Ithaca brought them in for awhile, several grades.

[NW-GSP]

What kind of budget are you working with?

I would like to keep it below $400 but I am not opposed to saving up for a little while also.
I was seeing some Merkel model eights going for $375.

My main thing is that I'm wanting a sxs for upland hunting cause I have looked at the price for over and under shotguns and I'm not willing to dish that kind of money out right now.
Plus old guns have character.

[Stilly bay]

you do realize you will have to shoot soft- nontoxic shot and and possibly vintage low pressure out of these, and that limits your options to some very expensive choices: like classic doubles for around $30 for ten shots, or nice shot at $75 for a box of 25. if you are in an area where you can shoot lead you will only need low pressure loads, although they are a lot cheaper than nontox they are tricky to get ahold of in a pinch and unless you reload you will have to get your shells through the mail which might not be an option for long.

[Stilly bay]

probably don't need low pressure for the merkel, but steel shot would be a no no.

[CP]

Bismuth works great out of classic doubles:

[Stilly bay]

dang look at the forend on that fox!

whats the going rate for bismuth these days? I thought they no longer made shells, and its a reloaders only thing.

you could get a decent Fox 12 gauge for a little more than the husqevarna and merkel. its a great classic american double and its pretty rare to find one that has been shot to death... however always get a competent gunsmith to look over any vintage gun before firing it, there are alot of factors that affect safety

[Pathfinder101]

I inherited an over-under Merkel from my dad, who got it at an auction for a fraction of what it was worth back in the late 60s (at least that's what he told my Mom... ).  Dad died when I was 8 and when I was a teenager I used to hunt grouse, pheasant, quail and ducks with it.  It was a fantastic shooter.  After I left home for the Army Mom had it appraised along with a bunch of other stuff for the insurance company.  We were offered $5,000 for it by the appraiser in 1990.  I cringe now when I think of the places I took that gun when I was 16 and 17  
I have nevery seen a Husquavarna shotgun, but I had a Husky 270 that I hunted with for years and it was a great little reliable shooter. 
Knowing what my rifle was worth, and knowing what our Merkel is worth I can't imagine they are in the same price class...
I have the Merkel now, but I only shoot it at the range.