Uplander

[The Boat Doc]

Im thinking of trading my hardly used Franchi 48AL 12 ga. in on a Stoeger Uplander Special 12ga. just wandering about the quality of the Stoeger side by side Ive always wanted a double but could never aford one. MSRP for the uplander is under 400.00 are they worth it.

[Bryce Brodeur]

I would lean towards the over unders myself.

[Graybeard]

If you prefer a SxS to an O/U the Uplander is really a nice gun for the money. My first was a 28 ga. and I have added a 20 ga. also. They do require a bit of work to make them right.

They will be very rough right out of the box. Make sure you clean it up good and then use a mild abrasive in lieu of grease when you put it together. Place this on the hinge pin area and where the fore end metal mates to frame also. I used JB Bore Paste which has an oil base which also served as lube while smoothing things up. I opened and closed it a few hundred times with the JB in there and it smoothed up nice while doing no metal removal only polishing and allowing the surfaces to wear to each other.

In a phone conversation with JD Jones of SSK Industries on a similar subject but related to Thompson Center Contenders he suggested using a cleanser like Old Dutch Cleanser or Comet for this purpose. Just make a water paste of it and use same as above. I'll likely try this the next time I need to do this type job.

If you have some hard arkansas and maybe fine india stones they will be helpful in removing a few burrs you'll no doubt fine in he action area. Or alternately a jeweler's file can be used. Just take off burrs, don't alter any metal geometry.

Once all that's done flush out whatever mild abrasive you've used really well and lube the mating areas well with a good quality grease and put it back together. On my Uplanders that's all that's been needed to make them into nice shooting and dependable guns. I don't think you'll beat them for a lower price SxS.

[Off Center]

Graybeard,
Thanks for the post. I picked up a Stoeger Condor a couple months ago (just couldn't say no to the price). I am thrilled with it's overall performance but its' action was a little rough opening and closing. Tried a couple of your suggestions... breaks nice and smooth now, like night and day, thanks.

[j_matt33]

I may be a little late in posting this but I just got on...if it helps and I am not too late, I have a side-by-side 410 that I use for rabbit and squirrel hunting. Man, I love it! It is so much fun to shoot. At first, when breaking down it was a little stiff. You really had to almost put it over your knee. But that has all changed now...just needed a little break in period. I love mine and I bet you will to.