RE: Side by Side shotguns
My apology...you asked for side by sides and I answered over/under.....sorry...
I owned a couple side X sides from Brazil...a 20 and a 410 and both were not to my liking.....
The older Stevens you suggested might be a fine gun.....I too want a single trigger...
I own a matched pair of Side X Sides from SKB...a 12 3" and a 28 Ga both in sporting clays models and they are superb guns. I also had a 12 Ga model 23 from Winchester that I gave to a kid graduating from college...it was also a superb shotgun.
Other than a few used guns.....Stevens...I know of no fine side X sides for under $1,000.....the same goes for Over/unders!!!!!!!