Smith & Wesson........finally

Dave Parks

Dave Parks

Well-known member
Well, it taken them 150 years to get around to it, but S&W has announced their entry into the SxS & O/U market as well as an auto in a couple of different versions.

I have not comfirmed it yet, but I imagine all three of the new shotguns are made in Italy for them. This seems to be the new trend since we can't afford to make them here in the U.S. anymore.

This is not the first time S&W tried on the shotgun market, they did it back in the late 1970's and early 1980's.

It will be interesting to see how their new offerings do in field tests and where they fall in price range. For more info here's the S&W website:

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CustomContentDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&content=19338

SW_SHOTGUNS1.jpg


Dave
 
I had a S&W pump riot gun with a 20" barrel and mag extension back in the early 80's..it was a piece of crap compared to my 870. Got it in a gun trade. Those are nice looking doubles. Wonder why the fixed chokes?
 
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those old pumps and autos were JUNK! The dbls look nice though. I wish them the best.

Supposedly a major motivating factor for Smith's recent acquisition of TC is get a hold of TC's barrel shop so they can produce a bolt-action domestically by '09.

I've never understood the rifle segment of the gun market. It seems to me that saturation takes on a whole new meaning when it comes to rifles. When you compare the workmanship and lifespan of a rifle to a modern repeating shotgun there is no comparison. Rifles last forever and don't get shot all that much. I guess there are enough guys that just can't stand to keep that $1000 bucks in the bank every year to justify it.
 
Makes it nice for poor schmucks like me to buy a used 1000 buck rifle for 500 and play with it for a while. Smith used to make bolt action rifles..at least their name was on them...speaking of which..that etched logo and address ruined that SxS for me.
 
Just what the gun world needs...yet ANOTHER ar15 clone. What we really NEED is an affordable 28ga with good wood and metalwork and some 1500fps 28ga. steel loads!
 
S&W's new SxS has the same exact forend tip that is on my CZ 20 ga, Ringneck. I have a hunch that these new O/U's and SxS's are made in Huglu. Turkey the same town that CZ & Kimber has their guns made.

Jeff, the hottest selling gauges in all the new doubles and O/U's are in 20 amd 28 ga. 12's rank about 3rd in sales. Todays upland bird shooters are looking for a smaller gauge and lighter gun to pack around. The new guns coming out including the low priced CZ line are made with frame sizes that match the gauge. Unlike the old Savage 311 SxS that was made on a heavy 12 ga. frame even in their 20 & .410's is a thing of the past. These new guns are not marketed to be an "all around gun" they are made for upland bird shooting and to some extent for Sporting Clays shooting.

Lee, it did not take S&W long to drop that old line of pumps and auto's they made back in the '80's. This new auto is most likely made in Italy.

Jay, as for rifles, they can only hope to re-invent the wheel once in awhile. Either with some new calibers like the Winchester WSM's or the Remington Super Mags. TC tried to re-invent the rifle with giving a million of their break-open single shots to every outdoor writer or TV host to barg about on the Outdoor Channel, etc. I have always been of the opinion that there were about 200 too many calibers offered in about 200 too many styles of guns. The companies have to keep coming up with something new, because you are correct..........they last forever compared to most shotguns.

Dave
 
My copy of Shooting Sportsman magazine arrived this afternoon and later this evening I finally got it out of Judy's hands and got a look at it.

There was a short blurb in it about the new S&W shotguns. I'll quote the last paragraph on page 16.

"How is S&W going to accomplish this? Like some Italian, Spanish and US firms, it is having parts and guns made in Turkey. Unlike others, it is starting fresh, literally, from the ground up. There are two new production plants: one for the automatics and a similar facility for the double guns. Not content to contract with an existing shotgun maker, Smith & Wesson is under exclusive agreement with Turkish partners to manufacture it's guns and guns alone"

So, now we have....The rest of the story!

Dave
 


Dave,regarding the S&W article in Shooting sportsman Mag,I found it interesting that the trigger pulls on the test guns were where they should be,ie around 4lbs.I have two shotguns by De Haan,which are made at the same plant in Turkey as the CZ.The guns are great,Ihave the SO2 SxS in 20 and 28 Ga.The only trouple ,for me,was the trigger pulls were far to heavy and I had to have them adjusted to four pounds otherwise I started to flinch on the skeet field.These guns are great value,compared to the competition.I would want more weight for waterfowl.The advantages with these guns,they have screw in chokes,rated for steel,cromed inside and out,they come in left hand configuration including the top lever,SST,semi BT,pad,palm swell,etc.All this for around $800.
I like them so much,I ordered ahigh grade SGr cs in 12 Ga w/30in Brls,up graded wood and stock dementions to my specs,matte finished barrels and it still comes in hundreds less than the S&W ofers.Check out De Haan.O/U are even less expensive,also w/left hand configuration.
 

Seems to me I remember seeing a reference to some high speed 28 ga loads. Could have been BP load data and components - don't remember. That load with 6's or 7's would be fun for teal.
 
Pete, 1300fps is the fastest loading I have seen for a 28..it was 3/4 oz lead. I'd like to know if anyone has done any steel loads for the 28. A load of 6's at 1300 in the black duck hole would get you a pluck-able duck every time.
 
Lee, I worked up a 5/8ths load of heavy shot useing longshot powder and chedite hulls and primers and a federal wad. It was mylar wrapped with felt disc in the base and a overshot card. It chrono'd at 1500 fps out of my ruger 28. I loaded it in heavy 9's and heavy 7.5's. It performed admirably on preserve pheasants. the 9's killed 1 rooster out to a paced 42 yards. A possible down side was it patterned out at modified choke performance through a cyl. bore. I also loaded some impact tungsten matrix useing the BP sg28 wad that performedgreat. However since the only way to get impact was to cut it out of factory shells that was a no goer. It may take me a while but I can probobly find the data if your interested.
 
How you measuring pressure? I'm thinking the same volume of steel to lead would make for a lighter load..and less pressure..am I all wet? I think loading hevi would cost more than buying Bismuth. Mark Rongers and Tom reder load bismuth for their 28's..I just wish a shell manufacturer would come out with some steel.
 
Lee, If you're not into reloading (especially getting set-up for .28 ga. reloading) buying loaded Bismouth ammo (if you can find them) for your .28 would be the easiest.

As for a manufacturer making steel .28's, it will probably never happen. There is just not enough .28's being used for duck hunting at this time to creat a profitable market for a steel shot cartridge. If it was not for the recent increase in the use of .28's for Sporting Clays shooting I would probably be buying my .28 ammo from out of State thru Cabela's or Midway

Dave.
 
Dave, I reload 28 ga target loads and farm pheasant loads. With all the hub-bub the last decade or so about lead shot..and lead sinkers and a lot of places going non lead for hunting or target..it would seem there would be SOME interest by the ammo makers.
 
Maybe you should try some of this shot. Nice Shot It looks like the perfect lead replacement...well other then the cost.

I'm not sure what it would cost for tin shot to be produced, I'm sure less then bismuth and more then steel, but it would seem to fit a niche. Almost the same weight as steel but can be used with lead components. For a .410 or 28ga it would make a good dove, woodcock, snipe and maybe even close duck load. Have heard it was used on some timbered land in Europe, won't ruin a chain saw.
I remember reading that it was OK'd here but I have never seen any on a USA site.

Tim
 
I did not know you reloaded 28's. For what little duck hunting I would do with my 28, I think I'd reload with Bismouth. With such small amounts used with a 28 a plastic jug of #5's or #6's would load plenty of shells. And you already know my opinion of steel shot.....IT SUCKS!

Eventually, when they make us shoot nothing but non-lead shot everywhere for everything. I will probably move someplace where it's not required, Mexico, Argentina or CHINA for Mandarin Orange Tea ducks?

Dave
 
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