badgerman Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 hello there, i'm 19 and have been decoying now for about 2 years with my older brother. bag's have been mixed but i thoroughly enjoy the days out. i'm now lookin to get myself my own shotgun that will mainly be used for pigeons and quite regularly too. i've got about £300 to spend and i've been lookin at some semi-auto hatsan escort mossy oak cammo's which look rather nice. i was wondering though if people round here think semi'-auto's are any good or any better than your usual double barrel for decoying etc. and furthermore any experience with the aforementioned model? any help much appreciated. bob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 Welcome Bob, Try doing a search for Hatsan's on the forum, the search button is up the top right of your screen. Ther have been few discussions about them, and they seem quite highly rated for the money, LG being one of their fans. Whether a semi is any better then an over/under would depend how you shoot with either of them, pigeon shooting is quite demanding so you need to be able to shoot well and consistantly - so whichever of the 2 you can do that with would be the best for you. Auto's give that extra shot, and can be easier to reload in a hide, will soak up a bit more recoil as well. O/U's will only give you 2 shots but have less to go wrong and won't be fussy about cartridges, some say they are safer as you can claerly see they are unloaded, but you can buy a 'flag' for an auto to show it is clear... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 If buying the CAMO version be SURE to assemble the gun tighten down the cap propperly and try twisting the barrel and stock. ANY play don't buy it. I went to look at one that would move about 2mm They should be nice and tollerant with perhaps a HINT of movement at most but if it flaps about like a fish leave well be I went with the Black as i tried 3 of the camo ones and all were loose Other than that nothing else to warn you about. Buy new as you get a good 3 year warranty keep it 2 years and sell it on with 12 month warranty still remaining and buy a new one LG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 (edited) Get the semi for pigeons. I have had mine less than a week but can confirm that it *is* the most fun you can have with your clothes on. I just wish I had an FAC so I could have a 10 shotter. Someone told me that if you buy the Escort 3 1/2" magnum you can get 4 carts in it. Anyone had a go? Erm what I meant to say was "anyone who had had a go would be breaking the law and I would be obliged to report you, it's not big and it's not clever". Thanks LG Edited April 28, 2006 by Mungler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 No you can't LG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 (edited) no you cant dont worry they try it befor it gos Edited April 28, 2006 by mossy835 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Wildfowler Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 (edited) **** if you leave one floating! Edited April 29, 2006 by Wildfowler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh fox Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 (edited) Baikal Mp 153 and Remington spartan 453 can float shells too. Edited April 28, 2006 by marsh fox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 mungler,o and what a good boy you are, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 Camo 3 1/2" Escort Magnum next on the list for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sutty Posted April 29, 2006 Report Share Posted April 29, 2006 Fella's After reading these posts and having a semi auto in mind as a next purchase? i happened upon my local gunshop! (as you do) to my horror an Escort was forced upon me in Mossy Oak break up Camo, 28" barrel etc etc (new)£325. (no movement on barrel etc, thanks LG) So if you dont hear from me soon i can probrably be found in the River Humber, with a pair of scissors in my temple. (got to get it into the cabinet afore said Lady gets in from work) Regards Sutty Ps. "wedding ring for sale" used once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted April 29, 2006 Report Share Posted April 29, 2006 Fella's After reading these posts and having a semi auto in mind as a next purchase? i happened upon my local gunshop! (as you do) to my horror an Escort was forced upon me in Mossy Oak break up Camo, 28" barrel etc etc (new)£325. (no movement on barrel etc, thanks LG) So if you dont hear from me soon i can probrably be found in the River Humber, with a pair of scissors in my temple. (got to get it into the cabinet afore said Lady gets in from work) Regards Sutty Ps. "wedding ring for sale" used once. Very good I know how that one goes. £325 for the cammo was a bargain - role reversal, just explain to her how much money you saved by not buying the Benelli. Job done. Anyways, if she leaves you turn her wardrobe into a big gun cabinet. Mung Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted April 29, 2006 Report Share Posted April 29, 2006 Fella's After reading these posts and having a semi auto in mind as a next purchase? i happened upon my local gunshop! (as you do) to my horror an Escort was forced upon me in Mossy Oak break up Camo, 28" barrel etc etc (new)£325. (no movement on barrel etc, thanks LG) So if you dont hear from me soon i can probrably be found in the River Humber, with a pair of scissors in my temple. (got to get it into the cabinet afore said Lady gets in from work) Regards Sutty Ps. "wedding ring for sale" used once. Just set your beaver on her LG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Wildfowler Posted April 29, 2006 Report Share Posted April 29, 2006 just explain to her how much money you saved by not buying the Benelli. Now you are talking! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sutty Posted April 30, 2006 Report Share Posted April 30, 2006 Well i told her, Sat down to tea , discussed the days events and like a true Yorkshire man i just came straight out with it, no problem. The Doc said the casts can come off in a few weeks and the stitches will disolve on their own. Regards Sutty :o PS. the pepper pot came out ok, without surgery Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badgerman Posted April 30, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2006 many thanks for the advice guys, having looked at the options i'm still unsure, being quite a tall bloke i think escort stock's might be a bit short, beretta's seem a bit pricey. i'll have to have a think about this one. badger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sutty Posted April 30, 2006 Report Share Posted April 30, 2006 Badgerman. What about going for the Escort and having the stock extended, it will still prob work out cheeper than the Berretta. and you still end up with a new gun?, although not sure if it would void the warranty, i expect so? Just a thought. Cheers Sutty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badgerman Posted April 30, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2006 it is a thought cos i like the look of the escort and its one of the guns you can get in cammo or just synthetic quite easily and still quite cheap, but i have no idea how much stock extensions on escorts would cost, anyone got any thoughts on that? plus i don't think they hold their value very well so i don't want to put more money into a gun that's already losing a lot of worth. since looking around i've upped my budget to about £400. Badger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sutty Posted April 30, 2006 Report Share Posted April 30, 2006 (edited) Badgerman, For the budget you have you will pick up a very nice O/U, go down to your local gun dealer and shoulder a few. or get the dealer to put a removable extender on the Escort and try it before you buy? They cost in the region of £20/ 25 for a decent one. Cheers Sutty Edited April 30, 2006 by sutty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badgerman Posted April 30, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2006 thing is i've got a couple of beretta 686's i can use which have always been great for my purposes but as i'm doing so much decoying and planning to do a lot more over the summer (3 months off from uni), i thought a semi-auto would be a nice touch. been shooting since i was pretty young it's just i don't know much about semi-auto's, hence the investigating. i don't even know if it will be an advantage in the hide yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flytie Posted May 2, 2006 Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 I started off pigeon shooting with a single barrel greener gp, and loved it! Have then used everything from illsley x 12g, aya no4 x 12g, aya o/u x 12g, some strange spanish gun that began with a u again o/u in 12g, beretta 20g and now use a beretta 12g. All of the guns fitted me, apart from the Illsley, and I have enjoyed shooting with all of them, again apart from the Illsley! I have shot with people that used their game guns to great effect, with folks that used a variety of old semis (mainly remi's and franchi's), again equally as well and people that use their sporters. Try a gun, any gun that fits you it dosn't matter how little it costs as long as it is sound. Have a lesson or a session on clays and find out if you can shoot straight with it. If you can bliss!!! If not find out why, which a competent gunsmith or coach will tell you. He will check your gun fit and technique and sort you out. Then get out and shoot some pigeons Ft Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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