silver pigeon 3 Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 (edited) I have just returned from a spur of the moment trip to my local Marsh, and first gun out of the cabinet was the old spanish SxS, and as the plan was to decoy a couple of splashes i thought that will do fine and i was going to be using TMX in 5's. I normally take the Hatsan semi out on the marsh as it is a good workhorse. Anyway to cut a long story short there was a good flight of teal right on dark and the ols SxS is so easy to mount and get on the birds, especially when you are snap shooting in the near dark! I managed a nice brace for 3 shots, but honestly think if i had the Semi i would of been lucky to get a shot off in time. So the question is, in the off season i was planning on getting rid of the Hatsan and getting either a Extrema/Maxus or an SX3, but i am now wondering if i should go for a SxS for fowling, and if i do decide this what is out there that is HP Steel proofed has a minimum 3" camber but even better 3.5" and still fits in the £900 - £1500 bracket. Your words of wisdom are very much welcomed Edited December 27, 2011 by silver pigeon 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tam Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 Extrema 2 :good: never failed to cycle (except hull fibre 21g ) shot the fastest of Teal with it Mines is 26" barels but I would probably have went for 24" Shot most Geese & Ducke with 1/4 choke got 1/2 in now but think I will change it back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 Silver hawk? Perhaps an AYA or 2? Yildiz? Fausti? Browning do 3.5" fowling OU not seen a 3.5" SxS my self Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon 3 Posted December 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 Tam, do you think the short barrel on the semi makes it easier, my Hatsan is 28" and i do find it a bit unwieldy, but the better semis do seem to point better. Is there any down side to a shorter barrel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tam Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 I think it's a personal preference my O/U's are 28" & the Extrema with the 26" barrel is slightly longer. The kick-off is great, recoil doesn't bother me but when I have been shooting the semi for a while & go back to O/U I really notice it & do a couple of rounds of clays with 24g's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tam Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 ps, I shoot mostly 3 1/2 loads on foreshore - Winchester Drylocks #3's, Mirage BB's & Gamebore #1's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon 3 Posted December 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 Thanks Tam, I am thinking the 3.5" chamber would be an advantage. Especially with the steel loads Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodcock1 Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 If I had to choose only one gun for all shooting it would be my 24" benelli. Its the same length and a little lighter than my 28"sxs I suppose a 24" extrema 2 would be even better with the 3 1/2 chamber. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildfowler12 Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 (edited) I've never come across a 3 1/2' sxs that's proofed to 1370bar (bar the Webley's)? Have you thought about a pump? I was never interested in a pump until I tried a friends benelli. Shortly after I bought a 3 1/2' Supernova in Max4 camo and it has been my second favourite gun since!! Never ever had a reliability problem, cycles plenty fast enough and doesn't spit shells particularly far... If you did go for a pump, remember the length will be much longer than an o/u and longer still than an auto. I use a 26' barrel and the gun is still longer than my 28' beretta a3202. Edited December 28, 2011 by Wildfowler12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon 3 Posted December 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 Cheers guys for your input, Don't know about the pump idea its just another thing to think about. But like anything with practice it would become easier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildfowler12 Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 (edited) It took me 2 outings to get used to it (kept forgetting to pump it), but I have no trouble with it now. I can use the pump on the marsh on Friday, O/U on pheasants on Saturday and semi on the clays on Sunday. And I never forget to pump or knock the safety off etc. It just takes a couple of shots to get used to. Edited December 27, 2011 by Wildfowler12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniel Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 i fancy an urika 2 synthetic really like beretta guns and as you know i have an escort for on the marsh myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tam Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 Thanks Tam, I am thinking the 3.5" chamber would be an advantage. Especially with the steel loads Yep 3 1/2 is the way to go for steel & an Extrema will cycle everything else Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon 3 Posted December 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 Sounds like i should go with my head then and get a semi, i will keep the SxS for using every now and then when the mood takes me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted December 28, 2011 Report Share Posted December 28, 2011 I've never come across a 3 1/2' sxs that's proofed to 1370bar? Have you thought about a pump? I was never interested in a pump until I tried a friends benelli. Shortly after I bought a 3 1/2' Supernova in Max4 camo and it has been my second favourite gun since!! Never ever had a reliability problem, cycles plenty fast enough and doesn't spit shells particularly far... If you did go for a pump, remember the length will be much longer than an o/u and longer still than an auto. I use a 26' barrel and the gun is still longer than my 28' beretta a3202. They do exist, my mate shoots with one a multi choke aswell. I like s/sides but i think the OP should try a better balaced auto before you make the jump. Remember the saying though "beware of the man with one gun as he probebly knows how to use it" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon123 Posted December 28, 2011 Report Share Posted December 28, 2011 Go for the SX3 if it fit's you well mate. Fantastic gun and a great fowler :good: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aister Posted December 28, 2011 Report Share Posted December 28, 2011 there is a zabala 3 1\2" side by side on guntrader for £350. it says in the info that if you pull the back trigger first it will put off both barrels for maximum effect :o .i was out shooting geese with a friend who has this same gun and the pulled the back trigger first by mistake, talk about maximum effect, two 3 1\2" 2 1\4oz lead shells put him on his back and the trigger guard dug a piece out of his finger . the next move he made was to put the gun to a gunsmith and have it sorted so it couldnt happen again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted December 28, 2011 Report Share Posted December 28, 2011 there is a zabala 3 1\2" side by side on guntrader for £350. it says in the info that if you pull the back trigger first it will put off both barrels for maximum effect :o .i was out shooting geese with a friend who has this same gun and the pulled the back trigger first by mistake, talk about maximum effect, two 3 1\2" 2 1\4oz lead shells put him on his back and the trigger guard dug a piece out of his finger . the next move he made was to put the gun to a gunsmith and have it sorted so it couldnt happen again Yeah maximum effect when you tell someone else thats how its done 4 1/2 oz of lead through a sub 10lb gun :o Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuncanB525 Posted December 30, 2011 Report Share Posted December 30, 2011 I would go for ither a maxus or beretta 28" or 30" because long barrels are more pointable Hopes this helps. Duncan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted December 30, 2011 Report Share Posted December 30, 2011 I like the look of that Zabala but I'm 99% sure Zabala guns aren't steel proofed which is what put me off. It's only in Swindon - if you buy it can I have a go?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted December 30, 2011 Report Share Posted December 30, 2011 Xtrema2, most reliable, softest felt recoil and least cartridge fussy auto available Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted December 31, 2011 Report Share Posted December 31, 2011 i would say get a pump, nova or mossberg. then just practice, i can shoot pump quite fast and hit targets.... plus, it will fire and eject anything. no feed problems, jams,gas port to jam up, easily made safe.. i like the fact it has a feed block and easily unloaded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudpatten Posted December 31, 2011 Report Share Posted December 31, 2011 Benelli SBE2. One of the finest fowling gun ever made, apart from the Benelli Super Nova pump which IS the finest. Although as Chrispti so rightly says, the Beretta Xtrema 2 is the most reliable, softest felt recoil and least cartridge fussy auto available. It`s SO good that Beretta STOPPED MAKING IT! Buy the best,buy a Benelli.Both of the above models are still in production and likely to be for the forseeable future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted December 31, 2011 Report Share Posted December 31, 2011 Although as Chrispti so rightly says, the Beretta Xtrema 2 is the most reliable, softest felt recoil and least cartridge fussy auto available. THEY STOPPED MAKING THEM Taken over by the 400 series Benelli . . . . . may as well get a 10b SbS, they kick less Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpk Posted December 31, 2011 Report Share Posted December 31, 2011 Taken over by the 400 series Benelli . . . . . may as well get a 10b SbS, they kick less I think hand holding a punt gun would be less on the shoulder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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