Fox 12 Gauge BST SxS - Worth buying?

B

BenBelly

New member
I've been looking for an inexpensive 12 or 16 G Side x Side. Today I saw a Fox BST 12 Gauge in good condition. Chokes were Mod & Full which was a little dissapointing but I'm still thinking about giving it a try.

I found no serial numbers, is that unusual? Price was $500.

Any thoughts about this gun?
 
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I'm sure it will go bang and swat stuff when pointed correctly.

The price is not out of the park but w/o knowing condition?????

I would not choose a B Fox but if it makes you smile then any concerns over triggers and crudeness and all else fall by the wayside.

The chokes would appear swell enough for pheasant and I do not know re the serial numbers.

Picking a scattergun involves a lot of looking and thinking.
We all have different requirements and limits and each person's needs and desires are as important as another.
It is tho, easy to jump too quickly.
I know, I also am searching for a two-row.
Good luck....it's many months 'till season begins again....'course, guess it is still in swing in places.
 
I had a Fox BSE 20ga. I liked the gun, it did need to have a new hammer spring on the barrel that always fired first. It would occasionally not set the shell off. Still, over all it was a nice gun. I prefer the BSE myself. I like ejector guns with single trigger.
 
Do you think it would be difficult to get parts or, worst case, find a gunsmith to work on an old gun like this Savage/Fox BST? If I use it for a while anything can happen. I see a problem already, the top lever of this gun points pretty far to the left. My first thought was it might need a spring but if it needs more... is it practical to fix?

The seller already told me he would take 20% off the price but I'm looking for a relatively cheap gun to get the feel of a SxS. I don't want to fall into a money pit.
 
Lever pretty far to the left is never a sign of good things to come. Older SxS's can indeed be money pits. (don't ask me how I know) Tightening one up can cost well over half the price of that gun. Personally, I'd keep shopping. It's winter, so enjoy the gun hunt. While you're looking and learning you can hopefully scratch together a little more money and that will start to open up the candidate field a lot.
 
May I suggest you look at www.757arms.com and browse their selection. You can pick up a nice, older Merkel M8 for not many more dollars. Quality should be excellent, built like a tank, yet still fairly light and very shootable. My experience with this company has been very good. Choke opening to your preferences is easy and not expensive.

BobM
 
Bob M said:
May I suggest you look at www.757arms.com and browse their selection. You can pick up a nice, older Merkel M8 for not many more dollars. Quality should be excellent, built like a tank, yet still fairly light and very shootable. My experience with this company has been very good. Choke opening to your preferences is easy and not expensive.

BobM
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Nice web site, Bob. Thank heavens i didn't know about it back in my SxS buying heyday. :)
 
Good input, I’ll pass on this Fox B ST, and find a much better gun. Bob M, the site you recommend is excellent. Thanks
 
I wouldn't have believed there were that many nice Simson or Husqvarna shotguns left in the world! Both good and solid, Simson made some "best" guns. Simson and Merkel all high quality. Be aware steel shot is out, however. Will need to use bismuth, or nice shot, in areas where no-tox is required. Even though the bores may be chrome lined.
 
Some folks might look down on a GDR built Merkel and comment that quality control was poor during that time, but my experience has been all good. I have bought two 12s and a 16 and could not be more pleased.

My opinion is that they are build well and built to last. If you can live with extractors, fixed chokes, and 2 3/4 chambers in your 12ga. (all of which I don't mind in a field gun) they are a real bargain over most of today's offerings. Mine have seen a lot of use on informal claybirds, and hammered much feathered game; most of it waterfowl. The little 16 bore is a constant companion on the farm and in the field taking care of varmints, gamebirds, turkey, and the occasional deer. I like em!

BobM
 
To any knowledgable shotgunner it's the "new" Merkels that are questionable, the GDR guns, or earlier are what you look for. Only issues I know of is they didn't fill pores on the wood, as we are accustomed to. Metalurgically they are first rate, nicely balanced, and sturdy. I like the germanic engraving on the higher grades though it I have heard others complain about it, that it doesn't have the delicacy of english scroll, it's real, it's cut by hand, and it's artisitc. In any case a hand built gun, made the old school way. Same with Simson. Early Charles Daley guns pre and post war are similar.
 
BenBelly said:
Good input, I’ll pass on this Fox B ST, and find a much better gun. Bob M, the site you recommend is excellent. Thanks
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I'd look at that Miruko on that site. They made the Winchester 23 and the Browning sxs. Not my gun style wise with pistol grip and swivels, but thay must have made it for someone.
 
Uncle Buck said:
I'd look at that Miruko on that site. They made the Winchester 23 and the Browning sxs. Not my gun style wise with pistol grip and swivels, but thay must have made it for someone.
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The Winchester 101's and 23's were made by Nikko in Japan

The Browning Citori, BPS, late A5's, BSS's(some assembled in Korea) and a few others were and are built by Miroku Firearms in Japan.

Two different company's.
 
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