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Welcome Kappa.
Let me preface this with - If someone asks me for advice, I don't tell them everything that's wrong.

I am also a sxs person and given the choice I doubt that I would want anything else. That being said, trying to find one that even reasonably regulates both barrels with slugs is chance at best.

There are quite a few sxs out now that are set up specifically for this and they are typically upward of a lb heavier than they should be in most cases. Good to use like a rifle, lousy for bird shooting.

If you wanted to go by way of an OU the options are certainly greater because there are many available with an extra set of barrels.
A nice European rig with both barrels (probably in 16ga) sounds good.
Winchester made theirs in a number of dr and combo chamberings including 7x57 and 7x64.
Although I am not a tremendous fan, the Valmet can cover all bases and can be found with double triggers in an endless variety of combinations and they are a workhorse.
Had a BRNO 301 which was ok as a shotgun (fxf) and a rifle (slugs and 7x57r) - but just ok. Sat in the hands like a brick and it was gone after a few years.

Another option is to have a sxs regulated for slugs, which would also let you use it as a bird gun without loosing its effectiveness. While you are at it, have a second set of barrels put together in something large enough to cover the game you are interested in. (look into the gunsmithing forums)
Although it isn't factory, it would also be cheaper than another higher end piece in the rack.

Mind you I have never hunted anything that could eat me, so the comments above regarding the bolt action 375 or the lever 45-70 could be far more appropriate to your situation.

The single shot is up to you. Nothing better than a light stalking rifle when still hunting whitetails (and I am sure any other ungulates).

Drillings can be tough, as can cape guns due to the way they are balanced, but they do have a certain cool factor.
If I make it out for Sika this year, you can guarantee that with a 6.5 or 7mm and 2 loads of oo buck, range will not be an issue.

Good luck with your decisions, but don't be surprised if you end up with more guns than you already have (and you join the ranks of a number of others posting to or reading this)

Cheers

Tom

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Thanks for the great advice Tom. I understand what you are saying regarding having a SxS regulated for slugs, but would this affect its performance with birdshot? And how much would something like this cost?

I simply do not like the aesthetic or handling characteristics of over/under shotguns.

Also, I don't hunt dangerous game. The worst would be wild boar or rutting moose in close proximity, but even then. I only included bison and bear in there for good measure. While I appreciate the earlier suggestion of a bolt action .375 I think this would be overkill for my needs and possibly to long/heavy for a bush gun.

With that said, I figured for close range/bush type shooting under 75 yards (provided I had the barrels regulated and this didn't affect the birdshot performance) I could utilize a smoothbore shotgun with Brenneke slugs.

I live in Western Canada and I fly fish in very isolated bear dense areas. I'm not one of those paranoid individuals who thinks every bear is out to eat me and only a .600 nitro express will do...

Nonetheless, I would like a good "camp gun" that I can sling around my back when fly fishing (I've had bears hang around, but never become aggressive--I always carry bear spray). I figured slugs in a SxS shotgun would be nice and handy. The other option is to just get an older Marlin 1895 lever gun in 45-70. The advantage of this would of course be larger shot capacity and better range, and while I have no doubt that a 16 gauge slug would be adequate for moose, bear and boar, maybe a workhorse 45-70 would be less hassle and less compromise? And maybe less money...

Regardless, a single shot in 6.5x57 or 7x57 is on the menu, as is a SxS in 16 gauge. This will cover 90% of my game needs and situations. I am also holding on to my .22 LR because everybody should have one.

I'm not at all opposed to another firearm if it makes practical sense (incl. financial).

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I know in Europe prior to the 1980s Brenneke slugs were the mainstay for boar, bear and european bison.
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So the question goes: should I just use a SxS with Brenneke slugs for close quarter/driven hunts (boar, moose, odd bear) or should I get something else entirely?

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I know in Europe prior to the 1980s Brenneke slugs were the mainstay for boar, bear and european bison.
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So the question goes: should I just use a SxS with Brenneke slugs for close quarter/driven hunts (boar, moose, odd bear) or should I get something else entirely?

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Kappa,

let me put a question mark here. Where did you get that information?
Slugs were often used for hunting "behind the iron curtain", simply because most hunters there were not allowed to own a rifle. This was not a matter of preference! The hunters knew the limits in range and penetration, and the use of tracking dogs was common. Bear or bison? E.g. it is told that bears in Romania were reserved to be shot by the dictator Ceausescu, and I bet the farm that this guy had a rifle.

If you go to Germany, Scandinavia, Britain, this is "rifle country". Hunters there will consider slugs on big game for an emergency or backup, but will normally prefer a rifle.

Regards,
fuhrmann

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From reading various historical texts dealing primarily with the [battue] hunting traditions of France, Austria and Germany. I have also talked to hunters in Poland and Germany and my impressions were that rifles are the preferred choice for most types of hunting and shotguns of either the SxS or drilling variety with slugs are still common for driven hunts. If you read my original post, I state explicitly that I am considering slugs for a very limited (I.e. close range/driven) type of hunting.

Re. Count Széchenyi, it was not uncommon for the nobility to have a monopoly on Central Europe's hunting grounds. Whether the hunting parties used shotguns or rifles is mere speculation, but I would wager that both were used.

Battue calibers for the most part of the 20th century seemed to be heavily dominated by drilling/shotguns. However, that may not be the case today.

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+1 for Grenadier IMO

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Hi Mike,

Bear spray's effective range is about 6-8 metres. I've seen it's effectiveness in person and I have also seen footage of a sub 800 pound grizzly sow with cubs full charge turn dead in its tracks after being blasted with it in the face. It's been heavily documeted and studied by at least two well respected universities that its effectiveness is high and with its wide dispersion pattern a better solution than a firearm for 99% of people. It does work, but there are those rare exceptions. In those studies I read there was an instance where the bear was actively stalking some hikers and even though the bear took off after being sprayed once, it returned again. This rarely happens yet I feel better with a gun .

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I like your way of thinking. I have considered the same several times myself. I do most of my shooting with a Paradox gun, and most of what is left over with a .300H&H single shot rifle. My problem is that it is difficult for me let go of other firearms I have -- but I'm working on it.

A single shot as you describe, 6.5x57R or 7x57R for "open prairie, alpine terrain, foothills, etc." sounds great. I wonder, though what the availability of 6.5x57R and 7x57R ammunition is in Canada. If 7x65R is more readily available you might consider that choice.

You suggest a shotgun for birds and small game and then describe a need for a third, heavier gun for "close quarters/heavy bush terrain with shots less than 100 yards". Instead, I would like to suggest a 12 gauge Paradox ball and shot gun to meet both needs.

A 12 gauge Paradox makes an excellent shotgun and can be used for every task you would choose a SxS game gun for. Additionally, the Paradox gun shoots Paradox bullets suitable for any North American big game you are likely to encounter within 100 yards. It shoots a .735 caliber bullet of 740 grains and it is devastating. All you do is insert Paradox cartridges and flip up a rifle sight. Or, flip the rifle sight back down and insert shotgun cartridges. One great advantage of using a Paradox gun is that your shotgun is your big bore rife and your big bore rifle is your shotgun. It carries, handles, and comes up on target the same with standard shotshells as it does with Paradox cartridges. As a result, it is very easy to become adept bringing it to bear on both moving and stationary targets. With a Paradox gun and a single shot rifle you can meet the needs you describe with only two firearms instead of three.

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