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!