Maidment78 Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 I have managed to get permission to start looking for a new gun, I have changed a million nappies, cleaned the house and walked the dog every day for the last year. I was in the shop looking as at first I wanted a nice beretta SP but then my eye was drawn to a AYA #2 that was sat there. I hand a look over it and to be honest it felt great, balance and weight were about right, stock was a little long but that was it. Am I mad in thinking of buying one? Everyone I know uses an OU or semi so there must be a reason for this. Anyone use an SBS for everyday shooting that might be able to offer some advise?? Paul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ91 Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 its all down to personal choice i did use a baikal s/s for all my shooting and got on with it really well i bought a semi auto as i neede something that would take big 3inch steel carts..that reason alone i sold the s/s and really regret it dont buy a gun just because thats what everyone else uses around you if it feels nice and fits go ahead and buy it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ91 Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 just to add my uncle has always used s/s choked quarter and half he shoots everything with it decoys/roosts pigeon, bolting rabbits, wildfowling (inland and shore), driven game and rough shooting he wouldnt have anything but s/s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Kelly Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 My take on this is that it depends entirely on what you are going to do with it. I think a side by side is the perfect choice if you do a lot of walked up shooting, or average high driven shooting. The gun balances much better broken over your arm, reloading is easier as the barrels both have the same aperture to stuff the cartridges into. Also, as they tend to be lighter they are better for carrying from that point too. If you shoot clays or very high pheasants an over and under is probably a better choice. They're heavier, so absorb the recoil better. The narrower sighting plane gives marginally better accuracy - though usually the gun, in whatever configuration, shoots way more accurately than the operator achieves! Pigeon shooting and wild fowling are arguably better suited to a semi auto or pump. They're easier to load in a hide, can generally take heavy steel loads and are utilitarian build, so can be easily fixed and don't rely on such tight tolerances to work well! Myself, I have an old English sleeved side by side non ejector and a browning maxus semi. If I shot more driven I'd probably swap the sxs for an ejector, but I don't so it suits me well. The browning has been excellent for fowling and pigeons, so I'm sorted. As you can probably tell, I'm not a huge ou fan. The semi does well for clay shooting on the rare occasions I shoot clays, so they don't offer me anything. I suppose if you wanted one gun for everything an ou is probably a fair choice, but wouldn't suit me well for anything really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triumphant59 Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 I started shooting in the mid 70's with a Spanish s/s, changed to o/u in the 80's because thats what everyone else did. Continued with o/u for driven game shooting with reasonable success for 30 years until one day about 2 years ago I decided to try an old English sidelock, didn't like the non ejector but I shot really well with it. So I bought a really nice Laurona sidelock ejector (Nicer gun than an AYA No2 and cheaper too)and my SP3 Ltd has sat in the cabinet ever since! Is th No2 28" barrels many where only 26" and how much is it up for? Do you shoot clays or game? Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millrace Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 (edited) well now,,, i have a sp and a no2 at first couldnt really get on with the no2 untill end of last season and then got a few woodcock and couple of good high birds on our last shoot and now to be honest i have it out more than the sp,,,, was out today and went for the sxs as to me for rough shooting it pulls quicker or so it ceems and being lighter as well is a bonus ive used it for everything ducks pheasant woodcock and even fox with no3 shot,,, stone cold charlie!!!!! it will be really what you find best suits you for me it took time but now find the sxs more fun..... just to add they are both 30",, Edited January 21, 2011 by millrace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Duncan Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 Thanks for the answers too chaps, as I'm committed to buying a sxs for my 1st shotgun tomo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 Personally I can't get on with SBS. Fit, hold, weight, swing, everything, .... perhaps I just haven't found the right one, but then again I haven't even looked for years now. Many people like them, great, my life works fine with O/U and Semis! ATB! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartB Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 Thanks for the answers too chaps, as I'm committed to buying a sxs for my 1st shotgun tomo. Go for it. I love my AYA SBS, even though it is a humble 'Yeoman'.It does what it says on the tin! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 Hi, Over the years I've dabbled with OUs but have always gone back to SbS. I'm back there (SbS) now and at my age, I'm not moving away again. Having said that, it all boils down to personal choice as to which you prefer and there's enough of both available to find one that suits. However, if you are tempted toward SbS (unless it's a good few years old, the AyA will probably be OK), there are some older English boxlock non-ejectors kicking about which many people turn there noses up at and as a result represent very good value for money and are often quite affordable, one point to watch. Many of these have 21/2" (65mm) chambers which can be somewhat limiting for a one Gunner: Best to find a 23/4" (70mm) chamber version. Mind you, if you've earnt a few readies and smarty points over the past year, buy two - there's nothing to beat a light short barreled SbS 12 bore in a pigeon hide (again personal preference). Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deputy dog Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 (edited) Stick to what feels right in your hands mate. Don't buy a type of gun just because your friends have one. If you get a SXS and it feels good in all the right depatments and you shoot well with it, then stick to it. The next gun i'll be buying will be a sxs. Hopefully the Fabarm Classis which is corker of a sxs. Single trigger, ejector with multi choke barrels. Though i think i will be saving a bit longer for that one lol. All the best in your search and what ever you buy, i hope you enjoy your shooting with it. :good: ATB DD PS Look on here for good bargins on sxs guns. You should find a decent first gun for the right money. Edited January 22, 2011 by deputy dog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 My 2p. Buy both, life is too short. If you want a good value sbs have a look at myzeneye's one in the sale section. I don't need it, I don't want it and I already have 2 SBS but I am strangely drawn to it. Quite a pretty gun and you can tell it's barely been used. I digress.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muggins. Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 Get down the shop and have a play with the guns that are in your price range, sxs and o/u. Every one of will have a different feel as to the way it carries, shoulders, fires. I have a sxs and a o/u and i have a preference. Good luck in your choice. muggins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vole Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 I take my Baikal sbs when out for a mooch checking the mole traps . Its coming up to lambing so will have BB in the 3/4 choke barrel and 6 in the 1/4 for a lucky fox .I do not take many if any shots on a mooching day so a nice light sbs in its slip on my back is a treat to carry especially as it has 26 in barrels .It gives you nearly as many shots as a 2=1 semi auto and about 2 lb lighter . Why not have a cheapie sbs as a knockabout as well as another ? I think mine cost £50 with a tatty stock which I cleaned up . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RC45 Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 Both! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.