FENDT Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 Hello. I will be looking for a Semi Auto shotgun just for foxs after x mass,I have used a Baikal single Barell for years. We flush the foxs from cover with dogs. So any sugestions would be welcome am not intrested in a cammo covered weapon. I would much prefer wood as to synthetic but could be perswaded. Is there anything I should be looking out for in a second hand weapon wear wise. The single barrel I have has a 30" barell would that be a bit long on a semi Auto? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 Hello. I will be looking for a Semi Auto shotgun just for foxs after x mass,I have used a Baikal single Barell for years. We flush the foxs from cover with dogs. So any sugestions would be welcome am not intrested in a cammo covered weapon. I would much prefer wood as to synthetic but could be perswaded. Is there anything I should be looking out for in a second hand weapon wear wise. The single barrel I have has a 30" barell would that be a bit long on a semi Auto? Thanks. I don't generally see a Shotgun as a fox tool, although there are certainly times they are well suited, but more than that I don't see a single barrel as a fox tool either, so certainly a semi is the road to go. ANY Game semi ( Hatsan ) should do the job, fit and price are important to most people, so shop around! Please do NOT get a Hatsan, especially an early model, even if the price looks a bargain! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 buy a mosberg pump. 3.5" cheaper than an auto. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will 1994 Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 you want a 3" or 3.5" really mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon123 Posted December 30, 2011 Report Share Posted December 30, 2011 ANY Game semi ( Hatsan ) should do the job, fit and price are important to most people, so shop around! Please do NOT get a Hatsan, especially an early model, even if the price looks a bargain! Nowt wrong with a hatsan mate, dought that you have ever owned one. I have one, and it's the old version, which i use for foxes mostly and it cycled flawlessly. Not had any problems what so ever and it's fitted my budget very nicely. Personally wouldn't get a wooden stocked semi for rough shooting as synthetic's can be marked and then simply rubbed away :good: Another good option for you to go for is a Winchester SX3, great gun. :good: It all depends on your budget mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sky gipsy Posted December 30, 2011 Report Share Posted December 30, 2011 (edited) I would second the sx3, but if your budget doesn't stretch that far, an alternative would be an sx2. Malmo guns at lancaster are currently selling one I owned recently (I let it go after buying an sx3 composite with 3.5" chambers more suited to my fowling). It is 3" chambers (RC50 shells for you?), multichoke & nice wooden stock with sling fittings. They are asking £495 for it & I can assure you it worked faultlessly for me. Have a look on their web site or guntrader if interested. Good luck. Edited December 30, 2011 by sky gipsy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted December 30, 2011 Report Share Posted December 30, 2011 Nowt wrong with a hatsan mate, dought that you have ever owned one. I have one, and it's the old version, which i use for foxes mostly and it cycled flawlessly. Not had any problems what so ever and it's fitted my budget very nicely. Personally wouldn't get a wooden stocked semi for rough shooting as synthetic's can be marked and then simply rubbed away :good: Another good option for you to go for is a Winchester SX3, great gun. :good: It all depends on your budget mate I pass comment on experience not hearsay, I bought a new one for my lad and the barrel lasted about half a box of carts and then blew up with me stood next to it! **** engineering and **** quality control! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted January 2, 2012 Report Share Posted January 2, 2012 I don't generally see a Shotgun as a fox tool, although there are certainly times they are well suited, but more than that I don't see a single barrel as a fox tool either, so certainly a semi is the road to go. ANY Game semi ( Hatsan ) should do the job, fit and price are important to most people, so shop around! Please do NOT get a Hatsan, especially an early model, even if the price looks a bargain! They are a darn sight better than rimfires and the only reason someone wouldn't see a single shots as a worthwhile tool is.................. We use the shotgun a lot round here foxing the leathality of a heavy load of lead shot should never be underestimated and for fast moving targets and cover they are the only choice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulpicide Posted January 2, 2012 Report Share Posted January 2, 2012 I have used a shotgun on foxes for over forty years of terrierwork and also with packs of hounds it is a legal requirement in Scotland to use a shotgun or firearm when using dogs to flush foxes. I have been using a baikal s/a for thirty plus years and its still killing them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted January 2, 2012 Report Share Posted January 2, 2012 I don't generally see a Shotgun as a fox tool, although there are certainly times they are well suited, but more than that I don't see a single barrel as a fox tool either, so certainly a semi is the road to go. ANY Game semi ( Hatsan ) should do the job, fit and price are important to most people, so shop around! Please do NOT get a Hatsan, especially an early model, even if the price looks a bargain! They are a darn sight better than rimfires and the only reason someone wouldn't see a single shots as a worthwhile tool is.................. We use the shotgun a lot round here foxing the leathality of a heavy load of lead shot should never be underestimated and for fast moving targets and cover they are the only choice Come on kent the year has only just started, read my post and think about it!! Ho Ho Ho, who said anything about rimfires, and who said shotguns were no good, and a single barrel is a heap of doings for foxes as MANY who use them need a second shot to finish the job, especially if they run anything like a decent load in it, as it will also take your shoulder off! Have you ever tried a single barrel 12g shotgun with a heavy load, and your opinion was? I have just given my lad my Baikel single barrel, as it hasn't been used for about 2.5 years. If I had a job to shoot a load of moving foxes at my feet then the odds are I would use a 12g semi with a decent load, but the rifles get FAR more use! happy new year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet boy Posted January 2, 2012 Report Share Posted January 2, 2012 Another vote for the brilliant Winchester SX3.Mine has the 30" barrel and it shoots really good and cycles extremely fast!! If you want something that's a bit cheaper I'd recommend the Hatsan Escort!My mate has the Escort and it's good value for money too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomm Posted January 3, 2012 Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 I don't generally see a Shotgun as a fox tool, although there are certainly times they are well suited, but more than that I don't see a single barrel as a fox tool either, so certainly a semi is the road to go. ANY Game semi ( Hatsan ) should do the job, fit and price are important to most people, so shop around! Please do NOT get a Hatsan, especially an early model, even if the price looks a bargain! i to have a 3.5 magnum hatsan and its fine, cycles 28g up to 50 easily never tried bigger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted January 3, 2012 Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 i to have a 3.5 magnum hatsan and its fine, cycles 28g up to 50 easily never tried bigger Ha Ha, we all wondered who had the one that worked! Make the most of it, your time will come! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedwards1966 Posted January 3, 2012 Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 Ha Ha, we all wondered who had the one that worked! Make the most of it, your time will come! I think that's rather unfair. I have an escort pump, and can't fault it. People say they are poor quality in every way, but I have found everything tight and positive, well designed and generally solid, great value for the money. My dad also has a Hatsan, a semi, and has had no problems with it whatsoever, I'm not saying there haven't been any bad ones but a lot of what I hear seems to be from the brother of a mate who's uncle met a chap in the pub who's mate heard about a nephew who's gun blew up, probably due to abusing it because it was cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phaedra1106 Posted January 3, 2012 Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 I have 3 Hatsans, 2 semis and an O/U, oldest semi is coming up to 5yrs old and has had 6500+ shells through it, no problems at all apart from not liking Hull Comp-X which are too short to cycle properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winterwolf Posted January 3, 2012 Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 (edited) No problems with mine ... But weirdly a guy at the range today asked me if I had any problems with mine, as he had one and said his was complete **** which jammed all he time. He was using 65mm shells and didnt try anything else, people who buy the newer ones (cant comment on the earlier models) should be recommended which cart size to use when they buy it ... I know I was told to use 70mm (I use 67mm wish no issues). @Fendt If you got the cash get a nice gun.. If your on a budget go for a Hatsan. Dont let the Hatsan bashers put you off... from what I can tell theres a few people who slag them off, most likely the earlier models... But 20 for everyone of them who have had ****** all issues... What won me over was the 3 year warrenty on a nice cheap gun ... If it ****s up (over 1200 shots now) then I'll be chasing for a refund or replacement ... no big worry for me. A lot harder with a used gun to do that obviously. Edited January 3, 2012 by Winterwolf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazzthompson Posted January 3, 2012 Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 I can only recommend what I've used, and that's a hatsan escort . Ive used it every weekend now for last 2 months and have only had 1 problem due to me not cleaning the piston well enough. all for £350. Fully recommend . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paddywack12 Posted January 3, 2012 Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 Another vote for a Hatsan here Although only had it 5 months I have had no trouble with it at all and it shoots straight When I brought it I was told to put heavy loads 32g through it for 1st 1000 rounds to bed everything in. This seems to have worked ok. For the price and 3 year guarentee you wont find a better semi IMO You will find more people praising Hatsans than knocking them these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted January 3, 2012 Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 Come on kent the year has only just started, read my post and think about it!! Ho Ho Ho, who said anything about rimfires, and who said shotguns were no good, and a single barrel is a heap of doings for foxes as MANY who use them need a second shot to finish the job, especially if they run anything like a decent load in it, as it will also take your shoulder off! Have you ever tried a single barrel 12g shotgun with a heavy load, and your opinion was? I have just given my lad my Baikel single barrel, as it hasn't been used for about 2.5 years. If I had a job to shoot a load of moving foxes at my feet then the odds are I would use a 12g semi with a decent load, but the rifles get FAR more use! happy new year. Yes i have i used to be very active indeed on fox control twenty or so years ago and carried an old BSA single hammer gun when checking the wires every day, it was light and i didn't give a hoot about leaving it on the wet grass etc i dont know how many that gun killed but they would make a big old pile stacked up. Today i still keep a AYA cosmos single for similar reasons in the safe as for kick well you dont feel it at the time, its no good when your likely to encounter multiple opertunities in one go (such as early season with the hounds) but i have found no real disadvantage with finishing shots as mostly if they aint stone dead they are well down and your only helping them on thier way(often rushing these mercy shots is a mistake anyway as they are easy to mess up if you dont have a cool head) If you dont get them with your first shot on the leg you wont get them with your umpteenth as 95% will be lost due to range not poor shooting As for rifles your showing a wee bit of ignorance there towards the nature of others ground. You simply dont get many opertunities in the big bracken beds here with a rifle and you wont be allowed out with the hounds with one and just try shooting with terriers with a rifle. We dont all shoot stupid townie foxes in back gardens you know. Yes i carry a Semi Auto super magnum most times but they also have thier drawbacks, like noisy initial load up and difficulty in showing safe to other guns. Lack of recoil aint an issue foxing as you aint gonna let that many go in a day or maybee us up Northerners are just made a little rougher and tougher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted January 3, 2012 Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 I don't generally see a Shotgun as a fox tool, although there are certainly times they are well suited, but more than that I don't see a single barrel as a fox tool either, so certainly a semi is the road to go. ANY Game semi ( Hatsan ) should do the job, fit and price are important to most people, so shop around! Please do NOT get a Hatsan, especially an early model, even if the price looks a bargain! Yes i have i used to be very active indeed on fox control twenty or so years ago and carried an old BSA single hammer gun when checking the wires every day, it was light and i didn't give a hoot about leaving it on the wet grass etc i dont know how many that gun killed but they would make a big old pile stacked up. Today i still keep a AYA cosmos single for similar reasons in the safe as for kick well you dont feel it at the time, its no good when your likely to encounter multiple opertunities in one go (such as early season with the hounds) but i have found no real disadvantage with finishing shots as mostly if they aint stone dead they are well down and your only helping them on thier way(often rushing these mercy shots is a mistake anyway as they are easy to mess up if you dont have a cool head) If you dont get them with your first shot on the leg you wont get them with your umpteenth as 95% will be lost due to range not poor shooting As for rifles your showing a wee bit of ignorance there towards the nature of others ground. I highlighted it again for you, I guess you missed it the last time! You simply dont get many opertunities in the big bracken beds here with a rifle and you wont be allowed out with the hounds with one and just try shooting with terriers with a rifle. We dont all shoot stupid townie foxes in back gardens you know. Yes i carry a Semi Auto super magnum most times but they also have thier drawbacks, like noisy initial load up and difficulty in showing safe to other guns. Lack of recoil aint an issue foxing as you aint gonna let that many go in a day or maybee us up Northerners are just made a little rougher and tougher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
escortmagnum999 Posted January 3, 2012 Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 i bought a hatsan to use when foxing. It gets bashed about and covered in soil but it dosnt matter! Mine was an ex demo, best 300 quid iv spent.43g 3's sail thru it no problem. Just my opinion but i wouldnt be buying a decent gun to ruin it your ratching about foxing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayano3 Posted January 3, 2012 Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 Well I wont get involved in the Hatsan debate as no.1 I have never used one and as far as I am aware nobody I know uses one so I wont comment. What I will say is that on an earlier post it was suggested that a good option would be a Winchester SX2. I have been using one of these since last August on coastal fowling and on Monday we had a small and friendly Clay Shoot on the farm. I have used 3 1/2 Remington Nitros etc in the gun and on Sunday I was using Eley First 28g 7 1/2's and its never missed a beat, never jammed or not ejected anything. (I was a bit worried as someone had suggested it may not cycle 1oz loads). Its well balanced for a 30" barrel gun, and although heavier than many other Auto's its fine to handle. It also comes in wood as requested by the original poster. £495 is a good price if the gun is in very good condition and you know the history of the said gun. I have traditionally shot with a side by side's (Hence my name) and have tried O/U's and other Autos in the past but the SX2 is the first non-side by side I have shot well with. Therefore my vote would go to the Winchester SX2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sx3 clay breaker Posted January 3, 2012 Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 Sx3 all the way livery gun very pointae soft recoil with 3 and 1/2 mags Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adymorris Posted January 3, 2012 Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 I've got an original escort magnum several years ago, several thousand carts later still going strong, just converted it to section 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FENDT Posted January 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 Hello All. I have been looking at the Hatsan Escort, Winchester sx3 and a nice clean Baikal s/a. The Baikal was the best fit followed by the hatsan but I did like the feel of the Wichester. The amount of secondhand guns in shops is something else or mabey I havent been gun shopping in a while. By this day next week I hope to be sorted. So thanks for all the Info and replys. Fendt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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