arjimlad Posted July 7, 2010 Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 My 12b AYA no4 made in 1977, left Spain in 1978 for goodness knows where until I found it in Bristol in 2000... quarter & three quarters choked. It has sling swivel fittings (mostly removed by me & put in a box) and the word "Bayard" on one barrel (a famous French warrior!) but almost all of the colour case hardening is still there. I find it is a great pigeon gun, nice & light to carry about, has been to many game days, never let me down & is the first gun I grab for live shooting. If I was confident of removing the screws without messing up the heads I would strip the varnish & oil finish the wood. However, it ain't broke... I still mainly use the 525 for clays though.. I would never want to be without a side-by-side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickmep Posted July 7, 2010 Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 haven't got one and never used one semi auto's though now theres a real gun my little brother loves them though, its all he uses. couple of right hand yeomans, he's left handed and cant hit a barn door with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viking Posted July 8, 2010 Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 every man should have a sxs, i love mine, i use an old sable for pigeon shooting, and my beretta for game, love them both, it adds to the fun of the day using a sxs i think, not as easy to use but great to use, keep it real. lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pigeon_snIPer Posted July 8, 2010 Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 Smashing. How about adding some pics to go with the write ups. Cheers. /S/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vole Posted July 8, 2010 Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 I like the idea of the single trigger Baikal but this will do for the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigrob Posted July 8, 2010 Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 I use a Alexander Henry that I inherited from my uncle - both barrels are true cylinder which helps with the pigeons - about 4 weeks ao I knocked one down that must have been well over 100mtrs up - when I looked at it closley it had 3 pellets in it - dead chuffed with that - be carefull with hammer shotguns though - it's easy to leave the second hammer cocked and not notice it - Bogrob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve29 Posted July 8, 2010 Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 Good choice SSS, AYAs are smashing guns AYA No2 for me for most of my shooting. Use the Lanber for hide work though as was fed up of taking big chunks out of thr AYA's stock and has looser chokes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBS Posted July 8, 2010 Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 I do all of my shooting with a 1900 Cogswell and Harrison BLE. The gun is a bit like Trigger's Broom in that it has been re-stocked and re-barreled so only the action and fore-end are from 1900. I bought it as it has such a pretty action and knowing that I would need to extend the stock significantly. Being a gun geek I noticed that the address on the barrels didn't stack up with the serial number date and spoke to Cogswell. They confirmed that they re-barreled it in the early 60's and, having measured the barrels, they are exactly as proofed when made. The 1/4 and 3/4 chokes are a great combination for everything The stock is a very plain piece of timber so I don't have any great concerns about it getting scuffed up. I may have it re-stocked one day but for the time being its OK. Oh, and cost of buying the gun and extending the stock was less that the current price of the most basic Beretta OU. Side by sides are fantastic, the past is the future....! G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattslaptop247 Posted July 8, 2010 Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 I have a George Graham of Cockermouth (top in pic)that I purchased a couple of months ago. Haven't had it out yet though. The second one down is a Midland sxs and the 3rd one down in the pic is a belgian 410 sxs with skeleton stock, a bit pitted but still a cracking gun, the bottom 410 is a sigle barrel but I picked it up for a fiver, so worth a mention. I also have a Lofley & co of Brigg hammergun, currently away at UK Gun Repairs having the damascus re-browned. It was made in 1895. When MR Lofley died and the business was carried on by his widow, this is the time mine was made. I bet there's not too many guns out there made by the fairer sex. The pic of the damascus was taken before I sent it away. It should be back in the next couple of weeks so I will post more pics when it is back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattslaptop247 Posted July 8, 2010 Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 damascus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vole Posted July 8, 2010 Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 I have a George Graham of Cockermouth (top in pic)that I purchased a couple of months ago. Haven't had it out yet though. The second one down is a Midland sxs and the 3rd one down in the pic is a belgian 410 sxs with skeleton stock, a bit pitted but still a cracking gun, the bottom 410 is a sigle barrel but I picked it up for a fiver, so worth a mention. I also have a Lofley & co of Brigg hammergun, currently away at UK Gun Repairs having the damascus re-browned. It was made in 1895. When MR Lofley died and the business was carried on by his widow, this is the time mine was made. I bet there's not too many guns out there made by the fairer sex. The pic of the damascus was taken before I sent it away. It should be back in the next couple of weeks so I will post more pics when it is back. George Graham eh ? I remember looking round their shop on the Lorton road when I was a nipper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlistairB Posted July 8, 2010 Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 I still occasionally use my Parker Hale SBS, bought on my 18th birthday from Joe Wheater in Lincoln. Still shoots really nicely although a little short for me now. So much lighter than my O/U. My dad uses an AYA No 4 which he got new in the early 1960's - it's the only gun he has ever owned and has been used constantly every year since he got it. It's been serviced twice in that time, chokes bored out to 1/4 and 1/2 from 1/2 and 3/4 and never misses a beat. 45 years of military spec gun oil on the stock has made it like a mirror. AB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattslaptop247 Posted July 8, 2010 Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 George Graham eh ? I remember looking round their shop on the Lorton road when I was a nipper. Cracking gun with some really nice wood but I would ideally like to swap it for a hammergun!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricko Posted July 8, 2010 Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 Once a farmer always a farmer... I have always shot sbs. It is in the blood. Mum - smallholder, great shot Grandad - farmer, Henry Monk sbs Gt grandad - farmer Gt gt grandad - farmer etc etc SbS, if i'm going to miss then it has to be sbs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKPoacher Posted July 8, 2010 Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 I've just refused a friend's offer of the gift of a Parker Hale SXS BLNE in almost mint condition. Lovely gun, but I don't need it. The AYA No. 4 is enough for what I do and I can hack the semi-auto round in the hide. He then offered me a Rizzini sideplate multichoke O/U, but I need that even less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSS Posted July 8, 2010 Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 (edited) georgieB, where is the other half to the pair? Looks a nice action like you say Edited July 8, 2010 by SSS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RED BEARD Posted July 8, 2010 Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 i use a parker hale sbs 25" barrels,its got a nice raised rib.i dont hit much with it,but it feels nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBS Posted July 9, 2010 Report Share Posted July 9, 2010 georgieB, where is the other half to the pair? Looks a nice action like you say Hi SSS, I keep an eye out for it but am not looking hard as if I come across it I would have to buy it! It is unlikely that the other gun is anything like my one since the re-barreling work and stock work anyway. That said, would be fun to reunite a pair.... All the best, G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allthegearandnoidea Posted July 9, 2010 Report Share Posted July 9, 2010 I use a sxs, my dad has a couple so was brought up using his. I think aesthetically they are nicer which is why I prefer them. Also they are generally lighter than o&u's which I also prefer. I did have a cheap o&u but couldn't get on with it so sold it after a couple of months. Having said all that, I used to borrow a mates silver pigeon whilst clay shooting and used to get on pretty well with it and if I came across a cheap, decent one I would buy it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berettaman Posted July 11, 2010 Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 When it comes to live quarry i always plump for the williams hammer,its traditional and just feels right,also i dont miss a lot that keeps me happy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bicykillgaz Posted July 11, 2010 Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 just lost my side-by-side virginity and bought a secondhand baikal (cheers neil ) i can't wait to get out with it and see if it feels any different missing with one of these to missing with an o/u Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vole Posted July 11, 2010 Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 just lost my side-by-side virginity and bought a secondhand baikal (cheers neil ) i can't wait to get out with it and see if it feels any different missing with one of these to missing with an o/u A Gentlemans choice,Sir. I use one myself. Nice to have something robust and functional and a bit uncool. Hope you get plenty with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul T Posted July 11, 2010 Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 Hi Chaps With you all the way with the SBS . I fully intended on getting an o/u, but couldn't ignore how natural this one felt or how elegant it looks. I might shoot better with an o/u, who knows, but I just love shooting this gun. It somehow reminds me of my old MGB GT (loved that car!) - there might be better performers out there but to me it's just not what it's about. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bicykillgaz Posted July 11, 2010 Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 A Gentlemans choice,Sir. I use one myself. Nice to have something robust and functional and a bit uncool. Hope you get plenty with it. i love baikals this is my 4th i've had sb .410, sb 12b my .410hushpower and now this side by side, i can't wait to christen it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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