Double advice?

chad.vis

chad.vis

Active member
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.
 
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
 
chad.vis said:
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.
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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…
 
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Mrben said:
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
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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!
 
benelli-banger said:
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…
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Thats the best offer Ive had today! Very kind of you BB, I didn't realize you lived all the way up there. Ill probably just buy my own to start and I can trade or give it on to one of my sons if I don't like it.
 
At the gun club was listed a Charles Daily sxs 12 gauge. No info on weight or barrel length. Like new condition from a guy who passed away. $550. I would have bought that in a heartbeat! A cheap Miroku s x s is one I'd rather have than a Turkish one. Of course it sold before I could slap down some cash.
 
benelli-banger said:
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.
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I spent over an hour at Murphy's with a buddy a couple of weeks ago. He developed an itch for an sxs and Murphy has the best inventory around here. However, out of maybe 50+ that we handled, there were definitely not "lots" of Uggies unless they're hidden somewhere. I'm not even sure I remember one, which surprised me a little. There were lots of Zabalas, a handful of Berettas, AYAs, etc. I bought my Ithaca/SKB from Murphy--none of those on hand that day either. My buddy got bit by a pigeon grade Winchester 23 with a straight stock. He bought it about 10 days later.

You're in Duluth, I've always wondered if Puglisi is worth a visit if I'm in the area? I was up there fishing a few years ago and tried to stop in, but they were closed that day.
 
matto said:
I spent over an hour at Murphy's with a buddy a couple of weeks ago. He developed an itch for an sxs and Murphy has the best inventory around here. However, out of maybe 50+ that we handled, there were definitely not "lots" of Uggies unless they're hidden somewhere. I'm not even sure I remember one, which surprised me a little. There were lots of Zabalas, a handful of Berettas, AYAs, etc. I bought my Ithaca/SKB from Murphy--none of those on hand that day either. My buddy got bit by a pigeon grade Winchester 23 with a straight stock. He bought it about 10 days later.

You're in Duluth, I've always wondered if Puglisi is worth a visit if I'm in the area? I was up there fishing a few years ago and tried to stop in, but they were closed that day.
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Pugs doesn’t have as many as they used to…once the old man died, it’s become more defensive vs offensive
 
matto said:
I spent over an hour at Murphy's with a buddy a couple of weeks ago. He developed an itch for an sxs and Murphy has the best inventory around here. However, out of maybe 50+ that we handled, there were definitely not "lots" of Uggies unless they're hidden somewhere. I'm not even sure I remember one, which surprised me a little. There were lots of Zabalas, a handful of Berettas, AYAs, etc. I bought my Ithaca/SKB from Murphy--none of those on hand that day either. My buddy got bit by a pigeon grade Winchester 23 with a straight stock. He bought it about 10 days later.

You're in Duluth, I've always wondered if Puglisi is worth a visit if I'm in the area? I was up there fishing a few years ago and tried to stop in, but they were closed that day.
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Occupied at moment, saw 3 Uggies for $500 on Murphy’s site, slot of AYA and Zabaka’s too
 
Good to know. Maybe they just didn't stand out when we were looking. We handled a lot of guns that day.

What you wrote about the market for Euro guns crashing is resonating. In the run-up my visit to Murphy I was looking at the AYAs shown on Bass Pro's site and the prices were surprisingly low.
 
Bob Peters said:
At the gun club was listed a Charles Daily sxs 12 gauge. No info on weight or barrel length. Like new condition from a guy who passed away. $550. I would have bought that in a heartbeat! A cheap Miroku s x s is one I'd rather have than a Turkish one. Of course it sold before I could slap down some cash.
Click to expand...
Love miroku
 
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