Stoeger Coach Gun
Stoeger Industries · Shotgun · In Production · 2000
Also known as: Coach Gun, Stoeger SxS Coach Gun
Overview
The Stoeger Coach Gun is a side-by-side double-barrel break-action shotgun built in Brazil by E.R. Amantino in Veranópolis and imported and marketed by Stoeger Industries in the United States. Available in 12 gauge, 20 gauge, and .410 bore with 20-inch barrels and 3-inch chambers, the Coach Gun preserves the classic short-barreled stagecoach-guard configuration that earned the type its name in the American Old West. Internal hammers, an automatic tang safety, double or single trigger options, screw-in choke tubes (Improved Cylinder and Modified included), an A-grade satin-finished walnut stock, and a brass bead front sight combine for a no-frills, fast-handling shotgun favored for cowboy action competition, home defense, and informal upland hunting. The Coach Gun was the top-selling side-by-side shotgun on Gunbroker.com for five consecutive years through 2020, demonstrating that traditional double-gun simplicity still has a strong market against modern repeating designs.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 2948 g (104.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 927 mm (36.50") |
| Barrel Length | 508 mm (20.00") |
| Action Type | Break Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Double Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 2 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Effective Range | 35 m (38 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | None |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 12 Gauge · primary — also known as 12 ga, 12 bore
- 20 Gauge — also known as 20 ga, 20 bore
- .410 Bore — also known as .410, 36 gauge
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Break Action Double Barrel
- Safety mechanisms: Automatic Tang Safety
- Features: Side By Side Double Barrel, Break Open Action, Internal Hammers, Double Trigger Optional, Single Trigger Optional, Screw In Choke Tubes, Improved Cylinder Choke, Modified Choke, Brass Bead Front Sight, A Grade Walnut Stock, English Or Pistol Grip, Extractor
Variants
- Stoeger Coach Gun Supreme — Premium
- Stoeger Coach Gun Double Defense — Tactical
- Stoeger Coach Gun Nickel — Polished Nickel
Service history
Operators
- United States Civilian Market · adopted 2000
- Cowboy Action Shooting Competitors
Production
Production years: 2000-present
Best-selling side-by-side shotgun on Gunbroker.com for five consecutive years through 2020; exact figures not published
Origin
Country of origin: Brazil
Notes
The Coach Gun is manufactured by Brazilian gunmaker E.R. Amantino, which has been part of the Beretta Holding portfolio since Stoeger Industries (also Beretta-owned) acquired distribution rights. The 20-inch barrel was historically chosen because it was easier to swing inside the close confines of a stagecoach driver's box. Single-trigger versions are not available in .410 bore. The Coach Gun Supreme adds nicer wood, a polished nickel finish option, and additional choke tubes; the Double Defense variant is configured for home defense with a fixed Improved Cylinder choke, a fiber-optic front sight, and a tactical Picatinny rail. Weight ranges from 6.3 lbs (.410) to 6.5 lbs (12 ga).
Background
The coach gun's stubby twin barrels were standardized at around 18-20 inches in the 19th century because Wells Fargo guards needed a weapon that could be swung from one hip to the other inside the cramped jolting box of a stagecoach without snagging on doors or harnesses. Stoeger's modern Brazilian-built revival kept the same dimensions essentially unchanged for cowboy action shooters who wanted authentic Old West firepower without paying collector prices for a real 1880s Stagecoach Express gun.