doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Seeking advice on my first English Double SXS

Sorry to have insulted you, it was not intended, I thought you to be less experienced then you are. You are not to far from Larry Brown, a regular here, not a gun dealer, a good man to know to hunt with and to buy a gun from. I'm a big believer in regular trolling of Cabelas. Their system is such that good guns for very reasonable prices can slip under the radar and on to the used racks. With help from a hound like Larry at your side you and a little patients you can't miss. With any old double it's all about barrels you can wiggle out of almost any mistake but bad barrels will sink you.

No worries - I wasn't insulted... just looking for sound advice.. it comes in various forms.. I'm fine...

Joe - Thanks for the tip on Toby and Heritage as well as the link... very fair prices and some nice guns..Ok, now having read through the Heritage Gun site, I'm beginning to understand why all of you fellas ( and gals) are steering me to dealers instead of auctions...

Thanks Doverham for all of the great suggestions on dealers and the links... The UK dealers really seem to have a nice assortment of guns, but it does look like they move quick. Have you found they negotiate on price? Also, is the import aspect of it a nightmare?

There are bargins out there. If it is investment you are looking for then buy the best that you can afford but if it's a shooter you want then this is what I considered a bargin:



Paid around $1,500 (rough conversion) 20 bore sidelock 2 3/4" chambers, full original colour hardening and with perfectly clean barrels. Brilliant shooter but none too expensive as it was made in Birmingham by the Midland Gun Company and is a non-ejector. If it's a boxlock you would consider then there are some incredible bargins to be had. If you shop around the U.K. dealers where prices are lower then that might be a good option but the downside is that you don't get to try it out first. I would only consider that option in the lower price range then there is less of a risk if you find you don't like it. Chances are though that you would be able to turn a profit stateside anyway. Lagopus.....

MOW - it will depend on the gun obviously, but you should expect to have some room to negotiate. Our British colleagues Lagopus, gunman and Salopian can all provide better color on that point, I am sure.

The import process takes some time (6-8 weeks, maybe a bit longer right now as I heard there is a backlog at ATF). A number of the UK dealers can arrange for export and there are some good importers you can use here in the states to handle this end. Chuck Lutz at TR Imports is one good option - Charles Schneible at British Sporting Arms and Shari Buchanan at Griffin & Howe are also options.

If you want an English toy to shoot released birds with I say go with 2 & 1/2" if want a gun for rough American hunting be sure it's at least a 2 & 3/4"....

http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbt...6811#Post296811

How about this, just find out when Dig and Tobay are going to be at a gunshow closest to your home, go to the bank, hop in your truck and don�t stop till you get there and buy yourself a damn shotgun. Quit worrying about the gauge or this or that as the English build tremendously light, sweet handling, guns in all gauges. Then drive home with your prize.

My advice for you is to find a Great Gunsmith familar with upper Tier British Guns first that you trust, and employ his services to vet any potential purchase. Then when you do find your fine British Gun, you will have a relationship with the Gentleman that will keep it repaired.

I am only half joking about the last part !

While I do not do much in English guns, I can tell a tird when I see one. Why would you want to buy from England when there is no shortage of English guns here. You might have to wait awhile, but if you get one from a state side dealer or person, you can see it and check it out and generally have return inspection periods. When you buy overseas, you on very limited on any kind of recourse.

John Boyd
Quality Arms
Houston, TX