My prejudiced opinion is that they’re the guns to have for quail, doves and ducks. A double gun with two triggers gives you an instant selection of two chokes. Have one set up with interchangeable chokes and a whole new world opens up for you.

Side-by-sides haven’t been made in the U.S. for decades. With their resurgence in popularity some are being made on a custom basis and demand the cost of a car. Ruger has geared up to make the Gold Label shotgun and when they finally start shipping they will retail close to two thousand dollars. Fortunately, we have alternatives available to satisfy our desire for a double.

We might have been using Grandpa’s old double for a doorstop. A search of gun shops and shows can turn up shotguns in a wide spectrum of conditions and prices. Also, due to the super strict gun laws in England and Australia a great many folks are selling out and these arms are making it to our shores. A large percentage of these old guns can be made into great shooters. The variables are the condition of the gun and our budget.

If your lucky enough to find an old English hammer gun that fits your budget your in for a thrill. These old guns were hand built for lighter loads so they are lighter, better balanced and more responsive than modern mass-produced scatterguns. Today’s skeet loads nearly duplicate the charge these guns were built for. If that kind of load is good enough for 100 straight on the skeet field it’s darn well good enough for the sunflower field. There are many more choices of hammerless side-by-sides to be found and some a real diamonds in the rough that will polish quite nicely.

Briley Manufacturing in Houston is the best place I know of to begin our quest. Their fame was built on their interchangeable chokes and tube sets. Some of us have been lucky enough to know they can do any type of gunsmithing known to man. And, if it can’t be repaired or replaced, they can make it…lock, stock and barrel. Recently Briley opened their new retail store and showroom and in addition to the selection of shooting vests, clothing and sporting luggage are racks filled with side-by-sides in various degrees of condition and from makers around the world. Shooters start at around $600 and their average gun is under $1000. Some of these guns have been graced by Briley handiwork, some are as is, and all have been thoroughly inspected. Whether we opt for one of these guns or already have one in our possession there is a world of opportunities available to make them serviceable for the field.

The first step in our pursuit of bringing an old gun up to snuff is to have a competent gunsmith check it out from butt to muzzle to make sure it is safe to shoot or can be made so. Briley’s Chuck Webb says, “The exterior finish is not as important as the integrity of the material inside, especially the bores and chambers.” A couple of safety points to clear some misconceptions. A properly working hammer gun is very safe. You can easily see if it’s cocked. They have a half cock for safety and from full cock the hammer cannot strike the firing pin unless the trigger is held back. Another “old wives tale” is that Damascus barrels will blow apart. When properly made these barrels are not only beautiful, they are strong and safe with the proper loads.

“A gun can be made safe to shoot if it can be brought up to modern standards and dimensions,” says Webb. He adds, “The barrels must be dent free and have no pitting and the chambers will be cut or re-cut to accept 2 ¾-inch shells and modern forcing cones will be honed. The ribs can be made sound again if necessary. The barrels must lock up tightly and seal to the breach. If not, the gun can be welded up, re-cut and refitted to the way it was originally was put together.” These folks will recommend what loads we should shoot in our classic. Take their advice!

In extreme situations the old barrel is in essence “shot to hell.” If it’s worth the cost to your project they can be completely rebarreled. While on the subject of barrels, once your gun is ready for the field you can increase your options with Briley’s tube sets. These insertable tubes give your 12-gauge the ability to shoot 20, 28 and .410-gauge shells.

Many old guns have a broken or missing part. It might be a spring, sear or firing pin. As mentioned above, if Briley doesn’t have or can’t find the part, more than likely they can make it. Again, the first object of this exercise is to make the gun safe and reliable.

After the safety and reliability concerns have been satisfied we can turn our attention to the cosmetics. There are options for blueing barrels and the polishing and plum browning of Damascus barrels is a sight to behold. Receivers can be reblued, but for something really special there is French grey or the beautiful pattern of case coloring.

We may be lucky enough to have a classic with good wood that may only need to be refinished. Cracks can be repaired and checkering can be re-cut if necessary. If we want to go whole hog we can have a gun restocked, but were talking major bucks. How far we go with any project is based on our wants and bank account. There are many wonderful old guns just waiting to hunt again as is or with just a little work. With one flush, one swing and one shot you’ll know it was worth the effort.

The subject can be studied with a copy of Double Shotguns by Steven Dodd Hughes. This book covers the finer points of selecting a gun for restoration and details the steps from start to finish. It’s available from Krause Publications for $34.95 by calling 715-445-2214 or online at www.krause.com.

Briley is located at 1230 Lumpkin in Houston. For information and directions call (800) 331-5718 or go online at www.briley.com.