CBL

I tried some of the wool wadded cartridges last season (1 box!), and in the 38g load if memory serves, they kicked the hell out of me on an end of season driven day. I use a moderate weight 12 bore O/U - 7lbs 8oz - and which is well fitted to me, but I found them just too much and actually unpleasant. Not again. The normal Black Gold on the other hand are superb cartridges and I am interested in trying the Dark Storms this season.

Couldn't agree more

Great post and really sums up the wider perspective of wildfowling. Can't remember a time I have gone to the marsh with a goal of a big bag - much more about being out there, (generally with a good friend) and on the marsh when so few are around, and enjoying the sights and sounds that a flight has to offer. A shot is always a special occasion and even more so if it brings something to hand. For me, my most memorable red letter day has to my first pinkfoot to my 8 bore using black powder. It looked as if the flight was entirely over and we walked off the marsh (after a stunning frosty and sunny morning) to see skeins upon skeins of pinks in the morning light pouring along the coastal edge. We were fortunate that a few came our way and the big 8 with 2oz of Bismuth brought to hand a very tall goose I will never forget. Over decoys - a memorable evening decoying wigeon when (again using the 8 bore) I restricted myself to only birds 30yrds or more away. I remember it clearly because of the incredible showing of wigeon but also for the constant laughter which erupted every time a cloud of black powder smoke covered us post-shot. I think I was fortunate enough to end the evening with 5 wigeon which remains my best decoy showing on the marsh, but not memorable for the number alone.

Make that 78 Teal - just paid up and looking forward to it. Am based in Rutland so just in the Southern segment by a few miles

I use Bismuth (which I buy in 3lb tubs @ around £160 a time) and generally 2 oz loads, so go on the basis of of c.£6 a shot :( Ultimately it depends on how often you are on the marsh - if you are flighting 3-4 times a week, it could get seriously expensive, but I regrettably only have 8-10 times out a year so each visit is very special, and the cost of say 35-50 cartridges a season very manageable therefore.

Another from the South (just!) likely to sign up this evening - need to stop wavering!

I spent the best part of 3 years looking hard for a decent double eight which was both a pleasure to own for the long term, but also usable on the foreshore numerous times during the season. Going to auctions revealed quite a few guns, but a real lack of quality with a lot of poor examples which then, surprise surprise, turned up on the market 6 mths later done up cosmetically (not that this is necessarily a bad thing if the underlying quality is ultimately there). One of the challenges also was that very few gunsmiths or auction houses have the capacity to properly measure barrel thicknesses, so there remains the risk to the amateur of buying something with thin walls, overbored chambers or potentially hidden ring bulges. A lot of these old guns regrettably had a hard life decades ago! I ultimately sourced my double eight through a friend who is an RFD/vintage gun seller and who I had alerted to my interest some time earlier. When he was out and about and aware of my criteria, it was then a question of moving fast as there was an occasion when a dealer gazumped me on a double Greener with literally a few hours to spare before I saw it. I now use the 8 around a dozen times a year, in all weathers, and whilst I am fastidious about cleaning her, I much prefer to use black powder . I also have no qualms about crouching in creeks and getting the gun coated in mud if a pinkfoot or wigeon is on the agenda!

Or go for a Boxall and Edmiston?

Ditto - years of use here and no complaints.

If ever in France, try the factory itself - v significant discounts if you time it right......

Well balanced, not whippy, but equally not too labourious on the swing (i.e. never felt muzzle heavy). If memory serves, the gun weighed > 8lbs, but did not feel unduly heavy or like a lump which is unlike some comparable O/U sporters/trap guns I have seen used out in the field.

3rd full season of using my pride and joy on the marsh - accounting for some memorable wigeon and one special pre-Christmas Pinkfoot. Special memories. http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=209493&page=1 CBL

Quality of chambers (pitting etc) - lots of big bores had suffered badly over the years from poor care given their use on the marsh Thickness of barrels - I always looked for at least 55 thou+ on an 8 bore but others look for more Evidence of ring bulges from overloads - also loose barrels on the face. Evidence of undue "cleaning up" - i.e. badly done case colour hardening, poorly cut re-chequering Cut-down barrels = no choke Replacement hammers which do not fit. The list goes on, but after 4 yrs of looking for one several years back, I got to see a lot of poor examples, esp at auctions. There are gems out there, especially if cared for (and used) privately. Also some really good, friendly enthusiasts willing to offer help and advice, esp on wildfowling forum.

I would echo CosmicBlues comments re the HPX. Although I did not ultimately go ahead with a purchase (going a different direction in terms of gun), I did meet John Jeffries a couple of times and tried the gun (33" game model) extensively. It, and the service John offered, were impressive, and anyone considering a Perazzi should seriously look at the HPX.

Agreed on this. If you want to try a lot of different cartridges before settling on one or two preferred brands, JC's allows you to do this to a really significant degree. They also have stack loads of different 16 bore cartridges which I have yet to find any gunshop match. From my experience, a number of shops (especially in/around London) have really limited stock and go anything outside the "norm", and you can't get it. William Powell online also recommended on cartridges - although they don't deliver currently which is a bit of a pain.