Upland Side by Side

[pickardjw]

Went out for opening day here in NE OR. Most of the guys I was with were running side by sides. Several Fox's in the group. I borrowed a 20ga semi-auto. It was light which was nice but I'm sold on getting a side by side. Love the way they swing and point.

Budget under $1k, preferably under $800. Happy to buy used on gunbroker to get a better value. Any suggestions on what to look for? Barrel length suggestions?

I don't hunt a ton of upland, no dog. Might use it duck hunting for fun. Just an excuse to add a gun to the safe.

[baldopepper]

Personally have an old  uggie 20.gauge Double.  Not a real well known gun (real enthusiasts know them) but I love it.  One of those guns that just seems to float to your shoulder and follows target easily.  I shoot it better than any gun I've owned. Not the cheapest, but you might find one in your price range.  Check em out online.
 

[pickardjw]

Personally have an old  uggie 20.gauge Double.  Not a real well known gun (real enthusiasts know them) but I love it.  One of those guns that just seems to float to your shoulder and follows target easily.  I shoot it better than any gun I've owned. Not the cheapest, but you might find one in your price range.  Check em out online.
 

“Uggie” is the brand or is that a typo/auto-correct?

[baldopepper]

Actual name is Ugartachea but commonly referred to as Uggies.  You'll find info online under uggies.

[wadu1]

The Weatherby Orion is not bad, I picked one up this spring. Sportsmans Wearhouse has them for under 1K. They are made in Turkey with Weatherby's design, warranty is handled by Briley in Texas.
https://weatherby.com/store/orion-sxs/

[pickardjw]

Actual name is Ugartachea but commonly referred to as Uggies.  You'll find info online under uggies.

Ahh gotcha, thanks for the recommendation.

The Weatherby Orion is not bad, I picked one up this spring. Sportsmans Wearhouse has them for under 1K. They are made in Turkey with Weatherby's design, warranty is handled by Briley in Texas.
https://weatherby.com/store/orion-sxs/

I handled one of the Orion's in Sportsmans yesterday. Seemed nice enough.

What's the general consensus on single vs double triggers? My gut says there might be more of a learning curve with the double.

[wadu1]

Don't let double triggers bother you. In some ways they are better, less parts to go wrong. I have both in my stable of SXS doesn't bother me. If you are going with the classic look then check out some of the older ones. To name a few, Uggie's, AYA, SKB/Ithica Savage/Fox may be found in your budget. I would also read up on what to look for in specific SXS, Box lock over Side locks and how to ring the barrels to check solder joints.

[Lalo]

I love classic doubles, but with non-toxic restrictions a modern gun is better. Not sure about OR, but WA is becoming harder to hunt without steel shot.

[CP]

Yeah, double triggers are fine, but I find myself pulling the same trigger twice sometimes.  That doesn’t work too well.  But I love bringing the old double out every now and then.

[CP]

Sorry about the "upland" ducks.  How about some grouse instead?

[follow maggie]

I have a Weatherby Orion that bought in 2001. It’s a good gun. It has lots of rounds & lots of hunting through it & I still use it in he first 1/2 of the season. I like short barrels in an upland gun, 26”-28”. They’re easier to get around on a fast flushing bird.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Had a chance to buy some SxS from the factory in Turkey when I was deployed there, kick myself every time I think about it.🤯

[Utah]

CZ Bobwhite Gen 2

[jackson7]

SKB are nice guns. single trigger, can shoot steel. Will not break the bank. weight is another thing to consider.

[GWP]

Used can be good if you check them out. I have had two that the barrels were separating. It was costly to have them re-regulated and re-soldered. Both were tighter fixed choke someone was shooting steel (I presume) out of.
I sold off my single trigger ones. I much prefer the double triggers, but some like it the other way around.
One older model to be cautious about is the Winchester Model 24 ‘round action’, as the shell extractor is spring actuated, not mechanical. If the springs have gotten weaker the empty may stick and you will need to drop a weight down the barrel to pop it out.
One of my favorite SxS’s though, particularly in 16ga.
Any of them in 16 gauge are always a temptation for me.
Good luck!

[boneaddict]

I use an over under, but I sure do like the classic look of a SxS, and yes Oregon is also going mostly steel or non tox

[Badhabit]

Browning BSS or SKB 100 or 200 should be in your price range.

[John B]

CZ Bobwhite Gen 2

This is probably your best bet at $1k price point. If you plan to take it duck hunting look at the All Terrain. It's ceracoated and has rare earth magnets to hold your shells in if loading in a blind

[BD1]

I bought a CZ Ringneck in 20 guage from a member on here. I love it. I would ask on some hunting websites. Some people buy them and for whatever reason decide to get rid of . Mine is the single trigger.

[wadu1]

I picked up a nice L.C. Smith this year for $700. Downside it was made in 1925, they did not offer 2 3/4" until 1935 so my gun has 2 1/2 chambers, not a big deal for me, I can load for them. For hunting I would be loading Bismuth were nontoxic is required.

[GWP]

I just posted up an auction of 7+ lbs of #6 Bismuth on 16ga Society to help support that site. Lots of good 16 gauge info over there.
Loves me some 16ga SxS, but any of them are fun.

[SeaRun1]

I have the Sportsman’s Warehouse CZ Bobwhite Gen 2.  It is the same as regular the G2 butis faux color case hardened.  20 gauge swings nice and is 6.5 pounds.  Wood is ok not great.

SR1

[salish]

I love classic doubles, but with non-toxic restrictions a modern gun is better. Not sure about OR, but WA is becoming harder to hunt without steel shot.

I was concerned about the same thing. I shoot 16ga in several of my upland guns, including an LC Smith sxs. I grew weary of being concerned about hunting several areas in one trip, where there are non-tox requirements. I decided to buy a case of non-tox shells from BOSS and they have proven to work very well for me. It wasn't an easy decision because I'm on a pretty strict budget and they're pretty expensive. But I'm glad I did. I can travel anywhere and hunt without worry. I still have a lot of lead shells to use up, but I can't pick and choose specific areas to hunt for that. By the way, I hunt with all vintage guns, none of which will handle steel.

[jetjockey]

Don’t do it.  Trust me.  This is a rabbit hole you will not return from.  Ask me how I know!   Also, don’t go cheap, and don’t go Turkish.  RST will be your new friends, and you can never have just one.