Side by Sides Are Not Dead

[Gary Laudermilch]

Son and grandson collected their limit today - with sxs's. Not Parkers though, a
20 ga Browning BSS factory choked skt&skt and a 20 ga SKB ic/mod.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Nice, Ohio opens up tomorrow, will carry a Gh 16 damascus. Going to be hot and lots of ticks

[Greg Baehman]

You've obviously have been a big influence on their gun of choice, Gary. From past postings, it's been apparent that you're a proponent of open chokes -- that 20 ga. B/SS factory choked SK/SK has got to be one rare bird.

[Gary Laudermilch]

To make it even rarer it has 28" barrels.

[charlie cleveland]

looks like a family thing too me.....thanks gramps.......charlie

[Gary Laudermilch]

Harry, it is my son's gun. I'll see if I can get him to take a few.

[Gary Laudermilch]

Here are the photos. Not the best but I think they serve the purpose. In case you cannot make it out they are marked **S The chart is from Browning. The ckokes measure ,005 in both barrels.

[Matt Buckley]

That is very interesting Gary. I have studied BSS models over time and have never seen one for sale factory choked like this. I wonder if it could have been a special order gun. I love those open chokes. With modern ammo I don’t think it is a handicap at all to have open chokes and I know it makes me a better shooter.

[Gary Laudermilch]

What we were told by Browning is that it is a first year (1973) production gun and that there were less than 200 made in this configuration. The serial number sequence does not match the numbering convention of later guns. He bought it 10 years ago in unfired condition for what he thought would be a good grouse gun. So it has been shot quite a bit since then for everything from sporting clays, doves, pheasants, and grouse/woodcock.

[Larry Stauch]

A very rare bird indeed!:shock:

[David C Porter]

Looks like the "*" (hand engraved) was added to the left barrel & "S" to both barrels. It looks to be originally a Mod, full barrel. The "*" looks to be hand engraved & not stamped & doesn't match the other "*".

[Tom Flanigan]

I've always believed that flush dogs, such as the labs and springers, were the best pheasant dogs. Running cock birds are no problem for them. I've never hunted pheasants with a flush dog because I prefer pointing dogs, even though they are not as efficient on pheasants. One of golden retrievers I bought had been trained as a flush dog. But I never used him on pheasants, just ducks and geese.