Double advice?

[chad.vis]

For the past several years Ive hunted with the Bellini M2 and really like the gun, however, I plan to train my dog in the NAVHDA series this year and I believe Ill need a double crack open to run the utility test? Sorry if I'm not using the right terminology here but never owned a double before. Curious on recommendations on what to look for or what to budget for.

 

[Mrben]

I to have a benelli m2, left hand. I don’t shoot it well at all. Every time a bird goes up I instinctively slide my thumb across the top tang to get the safety off. Trouble is it’s down by the trigger guard. Sure messes me up. I hunted 50 years with a Spanish sxs or my win 101. As a lefty those were the best options back then. I just got a new rizzini br110 this fall and would highly recommend that gun. I wouldn’t cheap out get a good one. Once I got mine I never picked up another the rest of the season. You can find some pretty nice used ones on the rack. Cabelas in Mitchell always has a nice selection. The franchi instinct is a really nice choice for the money. I have a 16. I had to send it to a stock expert to get the right hand kink out of it but it was worth it. Like most things in life you get what you pay for. The only reason I bought the benelli was for blocking and I don’t do much blocking anymore. For hunting behind a dog double gun is the only way to go. IMO

 

[benelli-banger]

For the past several years Ive hunted with the Bellini M2 and really like the gun, however, I plan to train my dog in the NAVHDA series this year and I believe Ill need a double crack open to run the utility test? Sorry if I'm not using the right terminology here but never owned a double before. Curious on recommendations on what to look for or what to budget for.

Where are you located? You’re welcome to use one of mine to get a feel for a S x S…thinking a Ugartechea 16 gauge…I’ve got 3 of them, the first S x S I ever purchased is the one I’m thinking of…nothing special, I shoot it as well as any gun I own…you’re welcome to it, be it for a week or a month or the summer…Michael Murphy and sons in Kansas has lots of Uggies in their inventory, I think the bottom has fallen out of the market for some European doubles due to non-toxic shot requirements? I’m in Duluth, Mn. My now retired gunsmith spent a few decades working on very nice (best) European doubles, English in particular…he felt that Uggies were a terrific value…the Spanish basically copied the Brits and produced guns for a 1/10th or less than what Purdey, Boss, etc, cost. Mr Ben has good advice, you may decide to go higher class than my Uggie idea…the Italians make nice guns. Lots of pluses re: O/U’s, I think S x S’s are fun…I shoot both…

 

[birddude]

I to have a benelli m2, left hand. I don’t shoot it well at all. Every time a bird goes up I instinctively slide my thumb across the top tang to get the safety off. Trouble is it’s down by the trigger guard. Sure messes me up. I hunted 50 years with a Spanish sxs or my win 101. As a lefty those were the best options back then. I just got a new rizzini br110 this fall and would highly recommend that gun. I wouldn’t cheap out get a good one. Once I got mine I never picked up another the rest of the season. You can find some pretty nice used ones on the rack. Cabelas in Mitchell always has a nice selection. The franchi instinct is a really nice choice for the money. I have a 16. I had to send it to a stock expert to get the right hand kink out of it but it was worth it. Like most things in life you get what you pay for. The only reason I bought the benelli was for blocking and I don’t do much blocking anymore. For hunting behind a dog double gun is the only way to go. IMO

That's a wide-open question. What's your budget? Stoeger's are close to the bottom of the budget guns. Then lots of Turkish guns. Then the lower end Spanish guns. From there it's going to get expensive. By that I mean around 3k up. If I were you, I wouldn't spend too much on my 1st one. You may hate it. Lots of guys wouldn't touch one. One of my friends dad chuckled when I pulled out my Citori years ago. He said why in the world would anyone hunt with two rounds when you can hunt with 5. I would hit the gun shop trail and handle as many as possible. PS, there is no doubt in my mind that I became a better shot after switching to them double crack opens!