For me "best" is a descriptive term for the gun that I have owned that has done it's job the longest/most with the least amount of repairs or breakdowns. With those as my criteria I would have to say that the 20 ga. Beretta 687 SPII Sporting would get the nod. Out of some 50-something doubleguns, rifles, and pistols it is the one that has been used the most, but with no breakdowns at all. It has done high volume shooting in Cordoba Argentina twice, and done domestic duty on Southern doves and quail for 19 years. It has never even hiccuped. The closest it has ever come to needing "maintenance" was having to take a few seconds to scrub the plastic accumulations from the chambers, with a tornado brush while shooting doves in Cordoba, because ejection of empties would become sluggish. No single trigger issues, no spring problems, no striker issues, no ejector problems, no misfires due to gun issues.

I know it's not a S X S, and it's not vintage but, it's just a little petite "tank". Credit where credit is due.

A runoff between a 3rd generation 1923 Parker AAHE special order, a 1917 Fox XE,
and a 1925 Super Fox HE with tight chambers and chokes. The Super Fox is not as heavy as some at 30 inch barrels, but it balances well at 9 pounds. Excellent on geese.
The XE is also 30 inch barrels, with handling like a 16 ga bird gun. Turkey hunting can go from no problem oak and hickory understory to backwater river swamps. Hard to trade in mid-hunt for a Model 12 Heavy Duck gun.
I have probably shot more ducks, dove and turkeys with various Model 12 Winchester shotguns, they are as reliable as the day is long. Still have a few...

My HE Fox would be my 2nd choice, Henderson. Not because it is less reliable ..... it's never failed me once. But, it's not fired nearly the number of rounds the SP II has, hence it gets the nod.

Now, if I had to answer what gun would be the last I'd get rid of, it would be the old 32", 3 inch chambered Super Fox. Without question.

That's probably the real question that should be asked.....

If it came to it, what firearm would be the last one you got rid of.

Good God, I hope it never comes to that though..... :D

It'd probably be my field grade citori, as with that gun I can still hunt everything I hunt today, plus it's fine for shooting clay games too. It can take a pounding.... No need to baby it.

Still a tough question. The answer, for me, depends on a few things.
My health, of course, or even the state of apocalypse we are in at the time.
Do I keep one fine shotgun, or a carbine with a plastic stock that holds a lot ammo.
Might be a bolt action .22 rf rifle, or even a 22 caliber revolver.
I honestly can't say.

When I was just a kid my dad bought me a Stevens 20 gauge, single barrel shotgun. That little shotgun is still at my dad's (he will soon turn 87). It still functions fine, but it sure looks like it has been put thru the wringer. There is no telling the number of squirrels, rabbits, quail, skunks, and other critters that gun has disposed of. I think the last time he shot the gun he was ridding himself of a skunk that was digging in his lawn during the night. He lives on a golf course which adjoins a farm that I hunted quail on for a good number of years. The Stevens has never failed to fire or eject a hull that I know of. The lever that breaks it open is not functioning properly. You have to know the secret to get it to break open. The stock has no finish on it. The case colors and barrel finish have held up well. The cheapest gun I have ever owned is probably the best one I have ever owned.

Does that Stevens 20 have the side opening lever like my first Stevens 20 did?





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Once upon a time I owned a H & H Royal Paradox 12 b- it slipped away
Now a couple of Fox XE's and several Parker's
I have arrived at the SXS party later in life but
still feeling young!

Top lever Dean.

As with any gun cherished for its personal history, I'll bet there's more good "secrets" held in that gun than just the trick to opening it. I'll bet it looks just fine standing next to some of those fine 20s you own, Reggie.

Probably my CH 16 made in 1898. 1 frame. Sold to Dave W. a few years ago. Had damascus barrels and an amazing stock. Probably should have never sold it, but it was choked tighter then I liked and at that point I was moving into the A. H. Fox world.

I’d love a Paradox don’t care if it’s an 8 , 10 , 12 or 16 any would do ! And as long as it’s a decent maker not worried about that either .

In my post on the first page of this thread I mentioned my Win 101 and I realized I have not shot it in some time. So, last evening I got it out and shot 5-stand with it. A walk down memory lane and it did not let me down. I left the range with a big smile on my face.

I love my old Parkers but my Perazzi MX28 is a dream. It weighs 6 pound 4 ounces with 29" long barrels and has factory choke tubes and steel shot okay with 3" chambers, all I shoot are 2 3/4" 3/4 oz. loads for clays and hunting but I am going to buy some 3" non toxic shot so I can hunt decoying ducks this fall. I can hunt everything upland with it except wild roosters that won't hold for my setter, for that I use my model 21 16 gauge.
- Brett

I know how you feel about the MX28. It is a wonderful gun.

I shot a High Tech and that's a gun I could fall in love with easily. Basically I haven't picked up a Perazzi that I didn't like.

As soon as I read this my Dad's model 71 Winchester in 348 came quickly to mind. I can shoot this offhand better than my other rifles. It is almost like he is somehow helping me steady it.....

Now, that’s a best gun.

my 410 stevens my dad gave me at the time I was 10 years old....it was a double barrel hammerless....many of a squirl and rabbit was brought home with it...charlie

My 1967 Browning Superposed Pigeon Grade Trap, FKLT 30" barreled gun with the narrow 8MM vent rib and original Browning factory recoil pad. I bought it used; the stock was completely unaltered from factory specs (incredible for a trap gun!) and was straight as an arrow: 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 x 14 1/4. Incredibly lively gun, easy to move and shot exactly where it looked. I shot it hard on bunker trap (Olympic/International trap) for 10 years then traded it when I stopped competing in registered shoots. If I ever have a chance to buy it back in the same condition I will own it again. What a wonderful gun!

Although I love my Fox 16 Sterly Dlx Ejector 32/26" 2bbl set,
Fox 20 gauge brush and various Parkers.
Its a tossup between Winchester M71 Deluxe Carbine Long Tang 1st year in
amazing condition including sling or
Fox 12-Ga SPE with checkered Butt, single trigger and Special ordered Long Beavertail documented with Letter.
Those 2 may join me in the next life.

For me Matties gun, and most cherished Parker would be 4634 the first 20 ga hammer gun made, gary

well...probably a little different than most. in the late 70's i was spending a lot of time in very remote spots surfing so i bought a stainless Rugar Mini-14 as a "boat gun". it continued to server that purpose for decades. 50 years later i still enjoy taking it to the range. the only watercraft i still own is powered by a paddle. favorite gun today....obviously my Parker.

Not sure on the "best" part but a toss up on the "favorite" category. Either my 26" 0 frame VH 16 or a 20 ga. 21 Winchester made the year I was born. Both IC/MOD, wicked on flushing quail with 7 1/2 and WILL whip up on the early season Teal with a bit of bismuth!

Love my Parkers and my pre-war Winchesters and Colts. This forum has been a great place to read and learn. Like some have said, my safe is like a room full of old friends. My Dad and I spent years enjoying hunting and fishing and so many of my guns bring back special memories of days gone by but still make me smile remembering. Stay close to old friends and enjoy your guns, we may not be getting younger but we can still enjoy a good gun or a few.
'

I am like Mills. It’s the next one. I have been lucky to have owned some nice guns over the years.
A few of my best have been sold, not because I didn’t like them but they helped to finance other more important things going on.
The “next one” I have coming is awaiting customs clearance from Canada. That would be my custom 20 gauge Fox that Chris Dawe built.

My grandfathers 16 ga vh that I had DelGrego restore a number of yrs ago.shot many native grouse, woodcock and pheasant with it growing up. So many memories