Side by side

[coyote_out]

This has probably been asked before. Looking to buy a 28 gauge side by side. Been looking used. Where should I start with reputable sellers and getting it inspected/verified. Just looking for a gun I can take hunting, not a collectible, but I want it to be safe for use. Any ideas?

 

[VA2MT]

Are you looking for an English style side by side or a Spanish?

 

[coyote_out]

Either. I was looking a couple AYA’s. But I am up anything.

 

[VA2MT]

Wolf Mercantile in Livingston, Mt and Hill Rod and Gun in Bozeman are both good places to look. You can speak with Alex at Wolf and Charlie is the owner at Hill Rod and Gun. Charlie really knows his guns and is an incredible gunsmith. What is your price range? As you know 28ga are bringing a premium right now. An English or Scottish 20ga is gonna weigh the same or less than a 28ga Spanish gun.

 

[naked wombats]

I'm not sure if huglu made sxs as well as o/u but the few of those Turkish guns I've handled are surprisingly nice, and seem to hold up decently. Might be worth looking into.

My buddy has an older ruger red label o/u I've shot extensively but he refuses to part with.

 

[coyote_out]

Wolf Mercantile in Livingston, Mt and Hill Rod and Gun in Bozeman are both good places to look. You can speak with Alex at Wolf and Charlie is the owner at Hill Rod and Gun. Charlie really knows his guns and is an incredible gunsmith. What is your price range? As you know 28ga are bringing a premium right now. An English or Scottish 20ga is gonna weigh the same or less than a 28ga Spanish gun.

Thanks for that info! I have 2k saved right now. Looks like that’s the entry point.

 

[naked wombats]

Also, I know CZ had some SXS offerings in 28ga a while back, could also be an option for a modern double barrel.

 

[VA2MT]

Any particular reason for wanting the 28ga? Are you looking for a lighter gun or just a 28ga ? The reason I ask is you can get an English boxlock sxs in a 12ga that can weigh in the low 6# range where as a lot of the Turkish guns aren’t scaled to the caliber, meaning a lot of them are all built on a 12ga frame thus not giving you the weight savings. Personally I would take an older English gun over any newer sxs. Hope this helps

 

[naked wombats]

a lot of the Turkish guns aren’t scaled to the caliber, meaning a lot of them are all built on a 12ga frame thus not giving you the weight savings.

That's a really good point as well.
I also wouldn't count out a light 20ga with a square load.

 

[coyote_out]

Any particular reason for wanting the 28ga? Are you looking for a lighter gun or just a 28ga ? The reason I ask is you can get an English boxlock sxs in a 12ga that can weigh in the low 6# range where as a lot of the Turkish guns aren’t scaled to the caliber, meaning a lot of them are all built on a 12ga frame thus not giving you the weight savings. Personally I would take an older English gun over any newer sxs. Hope this helps

I hunt 100% with a 20 gauge right now, browning cynergy. I have an auto 28 but I never take it out primarily because I don’t like chasing hulls in chukar country. So I want the weight savings, plus the experience of hunting with a 28.

 

[VA2MT]

That's a really good point as well.
I also wouldn't count out a light 20ga with a square load.

I really think a 20ga with a 7/8oz load is the most enjoyable to shoot and patterns the best. I personally don’t understand shooting a 1 1/4oz 20ga or 1oz 28 ga load. Generally they don’t pattern as well and the recoil is no different than shooting 1oz 12ga.

 

[sndmn11]

I hunt 100% with a 20 gauge right now, browning cynergy. I have an auto 28 but I never take it out primarily because I don’t like chasing hulls in chukar country. So I want the weight savings, plus the experience of hunting with a 28.

I turned in a review for Weatherby's SxS the other day; should be published here in a few weeks.

I wanted the 28ga, but they weren't available in the spring. I'd have no problem using one for what you described.

Thread 'Weatherby Orion SxS 20ga hunt season review enroute'

Aug 15, 2025

I've been having too much fun with my bird-mutt! There's always been a part of me that is attracted to a SxS, so I snagged a loaner. Weatherby sent me a 20ga version or their Orion SxS for a few months. It comes with 5 different Briley extended chokes, skeet, improved cylinder, modified, improved modified, and full. I've killed a few training birds with it in the spring and shot some clays with it, but today I set out to pattern each choke with common loads.

Orion® SxS – Weatherby, Inc.

weatherby.com

I used a V rest in my Wiser Precision Ridge Warden...

• sndmn11
• Replies: 22
• Forum: Firearms

• 

 

[coyote_out]

I turned in a review for Weatherby's SxS the other day; should be published here in a few weeks.

I wanted the 28ga, but they weren't available in the spring. I'd have no problem using one for what you described.

Thread 'Weatherby Orion SxS 20ga hunt season review enroute'

Aug 15, 2025

I've been having too much fun with my bird-mutt! There's always been a part of me that is attracted to a SxS, so I snagged a loaner. Weatherby sent me a 20ga version or their Orion SxS for a few months. It comes with 5 different Briley extended chokes, skeet, improved cylinder, modified, improved modified, and full. I've killed a few training birds with it in the spring and shot some clays with it, but today I set out to pattern each choke with common loads.

Orion® SxS – Weatherby, Inc.

weatherby.com

I used a V rest in my Wiser Precision Ridge Warden...

• sndmn11
• Replies: 22
• Forum: Firearms

• 

It looked the the weight of the 28 was heavy compared to others?

 

[sndmn11]

It looked the the weight of the 28 was heavy compared to others?

It should be less than 6lbs 12oz. They have 6.3lbs listed on the product page, but the ones I saw at their factory in September had well grained wood. Those will be denser and stronger.

My 20ga sample is 6lb 15oz, and they have 6.7lbs on the website.

I'm unsure what SxS comes in under 6lb.

 

[Macintosh]

You might find a used uggie for under 2k. The AOC ones were nicer, not an aya but they handle well enough. I was going to recommend hill rod and gun as well though. You have a couple guns so take your time and find the right one. Theres a solid handful of dealers in the US that focus on guns like that, if you browse around the internet you figure out pretty quickly who they are, and you can just bookmark their websites. Give them a call and tell them what youre looking for, they’ll help you find it.

 

[Macintosh]

Also, its not uncommon for a 28ga to be heavier than a 20 if they are built on the same frame. Same dimensions, but smaller hole down the barrels=more steel.