The_Engineer

That is gun pornography.

Arguably I'd take Blackpowder's gun 😆. I've been fortunate enough to shoot one and they are the definition of elegance and it handled like a grouse gun. Please post pictures @Blackpowder ! I will settle for my rizzini side by side.... for now.

In the factory there are stocks and action blanks that were not for Rizzini models. The place is packed with incredible technology and craftsmen. The stocks are made (read: finished) by Essevierre and the engraving is lazered then chased out by the team at Bottega giovanelli who take about 20hrs on each action, depending on sidelock or boxloxk etc. There is a great write up of the factory tour you are invited to go on for free here: https://honesberieshooting.server-02.dehosting.co.uk/rizzini-factory-visit/ It's worth noting that even on base models you can go on the tour for free, but you WILL be tempted to have a stock made to measure and then fitted by arguably the best in the business, upgrade the wood and who could resist having your initials hidden in the gun engraving for the equivalent of £50?!

Well, after a few years of using my aya hammer and leaving a pristine Browning 725 grade 5 sat in the safe, I've taken the plunge. I traded the browning in and bought a Rizzini BR552 custom fitted and to my specification. Loving it thus far and I must say, the build quality for the price is outstanding. You can customise pretty much everything with Rizzini: they are even making me a set of 20ga barrels and forend to fit on this 12ga 😳.

Thanks @arjimlad. Now all I need is another to make a pair 😆

Aya making it as a live Pigeon style would certainly explain the wide rib, stock and 3" chambers on mine. I cant imagine there are many Boswell's left in good condition. Have you shared any pictures on this thread of it? Would love to see it.

As the season is over for driven pheasant I'm starting to look back on the past season. I scaled back my driven shooting to just do mainly smaller bag days this year, as for me the day is less and less about the bag and more about the chaps I shoot with and the enjoyment of the day, the health of the birds and making sure they are used for meat afterwards. Ive been fortunatate to have days at some top shoots with bags >250, but the pics below are from my favourite day. A small local shoot in Wales where the bag varies, but the stunning scenery, quality of birds and fantastic team of guns and beaters is always top quality. Thought I'd share some pics.

Hi, that certainly looks similar. Thank you for the information. It makes me think that you would struggle to beat some of the side by sides on offer for value for money. This is my first side by side and I'm really getting on with it, to the point I'm wondering if it might be time to change my 725 for something more sleek... Maybe after I've saved up 😃 Hi Button, I've messaged you. I will call the gun room tomorrow as he has a corner of his safe room crammed with less fashionable (to the current market) guns like the hammer gun, so you never know. I will report back if he has anything similar.

Afternoon all. Love seeing all the side by sides in this thread. It's taken me 15 years to buy my first and I picked up this AYA hammer after seeing it in a local gunsmiths 'gentlemans corner'. It's 3" chambered and been well looked after. I've no idea what model it is so if anyone knows please say. The pics are prior to me cleaning it up thoroughly and I've managed to get rid of the unsightly wood oil stains on the action. I've taken it on some smaller driven days this season and have had some fun on the clays with it. Shoots like a dream and I've come to the conclusion a side by side is just a more.... elegant thing.

It leaves people looking to renew in a very difficult position though if the police now take the stance that with no report they won't issue a new licence. An update from BASC would be good.

Caught the last 10 mins of the story. It seems the police force are freely ignoring the home office guidance and making up the rules as they fancy. I noticed a chap from the CA was on for comment but didn't see anyone from BASC, weren't BASC taking this further last year??

Hopefully there is no 'war' on our sport, just feels that way due to the very vocal people who would rather we didn't have guns and would rather we didn't use them to shoot some pheasant for the table or foxes to spare the chicken roost. Either way let's hope BASC and the like improve the image of field sports in the public's eye.... This is my first season with a peg on a local small syndicate with 60 to 80 bird bags (I'm usually a clay shooter) and whilst I've thoroughly enjoyed it, there have been one or two guests who are purely concerned with downing as many birds as possible and those gents tend to also go on the huge bag shoots. I've been on a couple of days where the bag was over 250 and I prefer our shoot: small, friendly and the birds are taken to eat. The comaradery and social aspect of the guns, beaters and the dogs working the land and enjoying the beautiful countryside is what it's about for me. I've also been able to win some skeptical/anti hunting friends and co-workers round with a free duck or pheasant and chat about how it is about as free range as you can get. Id be gutted if my new found passion for field sports is taken away due to it being banned through idiots and greed.

I have a grade 5 725 sporter and have had no issues whatsoever with it. It has been used in all weathers.

I have just finished the farce of moving house and having the relevant address details altered on my SGC with Cheshire. First they wanted my original before they would send in the replacement (no - I need it to buy carts etc) BASC helped me out with this - thanks again BASC NW. Then they sent out the replacement but t was missing one of my guns Then I got a call saying they would only send it out after inspecting the new cabinet (fine, no problem with that) Then a new (Correct) one just arrived in the post Still not heard from the FAO about a visit to inspect the cabinet. Good luck to all dealing with them

Always helpful and friendly in McAvoys.