doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com SxS Renaissance - Really?

It’s these opening words of an article about Weatherby’s Orion SxS that I question.

“The American renaissance of side-by-side shotguns is being championed by an unlikely group: millennial upland hunters. More and more, we are seeing men and women in their late 20s, 30s and early 40s chasing grouse, quail, chukar and pheasants with double guns.”

https://shootingsportsman.com/weatherby-orion-sxs/

True, but almost always new guns, not vintage guns. There are exceptions and I have gotten 5 or 6 friends into vintage doubles for hunting, but most seem to want new guns off the rack.

What a bunch of bologna
Maybe shooting sportsman is saying this for Weatherby’s advertising help. Maybe they can say this because some of these guns like the Weatherby’s is selling for less that a beretta automatically or an 11-87

Some people believe that if they see something in print it’s gospel


John Boyd
Of Quality Arms

I've seen a few bragging about their CZ Bob whites like they are vintage English quality.

On the other hand, my father in law would never even consider a used gun of any kind. New was always better. Always.

The market will decide if a Weatherby tradename SxS by Yildiz (one of the better Turkish makers) should be added to:
Huglu Round Body
CZs by Huglu
Tristar by Khan
Akkar Churchill
Dickinson by AKUS
FT6 by Kirici Arms (and maybe action by Howa)

I think Borderbill and I are the only ones using SxSs at Ben Avery; a (very) few more show up during Snow Bird season. I don't believe the marketing hyperbole about the 30- and 40-somethings buying doubles.

Double bologna

Where were the 20, 30 and 40 years old when I was doing this for 46 years on my own and 6 years before this

Tell me how many people you have seen at these ages shooting or owning a sbs

I will maybe give you a few at late 40s

John Boyd

In the last 5 yrs,
Janet - Spanish double of some sort
Kat - American double of some sort
Will - CZ
Tim - LCS
David - 2 Sauers
All under 35 yrs old, one or two under 30.
I am missing a one or two that I can't quite put a finger on, and a couple older than 40.

They can be induced to become interested, but it isn't easy. Money is a factor.

Maybe it’s just the way the barrels are oriented. I see plenty of junior shooters at NSCA registered shoots using Krieghoffs and higher end Berettas and Guerinis. Mom and Dad are footing that bill but the kids want what the big boys shoot and none shoot a SxS.

That is no different than the elderly boomers that shoot for money.

True but at least the Boomers have probably used a SxS and can appreciate them for what they are but the younger ones don’t have that appreciation. When they shoot for score it’s an OU, when they hunt it’s an auto. It’s like someone driving a Model T. SxS are a niche. If there’s to be a SxS renaissance Digweed will have to win a major tournament with one.