Ferret Master Posted August 16, 2006 Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 Hi, I have been looking for a 20 bore O/U shotgun for a while now and I went to Wiltshire Rod and Gun yesterday and had a feel of various guns. Tony was getting a couple of 20 bore Silver Pigeons in today and we should be hopefully going there on Saturday to get me a shotgun. We are leaning towards the Silver Pigeon despite the price as it feels great and I have shot well with one several times before. It also has a brilliant re-sale value as 20 bores are popular at the moment and second hand ones are rare as rocking horse poo. I have heard they are very highly rated and require little cleaning other than the normal as it is impossible due to the design to get dirt in the action. Do many of you have any experience with them and do you rate them? I will be using it for clays and vermin. Please tell me all good and bad as it's going to be a big purchase. Many thanks in advance for any and all replies. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodeer Posted August 16, 2006 Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 Had the 30" Silver Pigeon 3. Didn't like it personally- too light, whippy and shot very high for me. Just purchased a 20g Miroku MK60 Grade 5 30" today, first shots at clays came to 38/50- should be a nice game gun. What price is wilts rod and gun knocking the pigeon out for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted August 16, 2006 Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 I learnt to shoot with a 12 bore pig. I have never shot as well as I did with that gun Its been all down hill since then with the occasional good card. LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted August 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 I think it was just over £900. Depends on multi or not an whether you want fancy woodwork and engraving. Dad thought this was bad enough on the wallet but my 10yr old brother has decided he likes using my air rifles. He now wants a gun as well. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted August 16, 2006 Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 Your dad is a nice bloke FM so help him out and get a paper round will you? LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted August 16, 2006 Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 The Beretta Silver Pigeon model across all the gauges, is an extremely well made and popular gun. I would recommend you get a multichoke, but forget all the fancy engraving and the basic Beretta woodwork is normally excellent . Don't get a gun that is so fancy you are scared to get it wet, dirty, or slightly scratched. Good luck with your purchase. Go and have a look on Guntrader.co.uk for Beretta 20 bores, there are loads of them, some new and some scondhand. Thats a good place to go to compare prices with your local Gunshops offerings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted August 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 I was thinking about a multichoke but I couldn't really justify it at the extra price. 1/4 and 1/2 will kill anything flying at reasonable range and Dad will have a heavily choked 12bore with the BB's in it for the foxes so fixed will do me fine. I have been looking on guntrader for a while now. LB, I'm going to start selling stuff on Ebay starting off with a Fisher Price see-saw. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted August 16, 2006 Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 Ferret Master said: I was thinking about a multichoke but I couldn't really justify it at the extra price. 1/4 and 1/2 will kill anything flying at reasonable range and Dad will have a heavily choked 12bore with the BB's in it for the foxes so fixed will do me fine. I have been looking on guntrader for a while now. LB, I'm going to start selling stuff on Ebay starting off with a Fisher Price see-saw. FM Well let me start the bidding then FM. £5-00 off my tab in the PW arms if you keep it and post a pic on this site every year on your birthday. LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browning Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 FM, I've shot Silver Pigeons for years now, game, vermin and clays, and I can honestly say I have never had a problem of any kind. As long as it fits you go for it! I'm currently looking for a 20g for Mrs Browning, and I will get a Silver Pigeon if it fits her as well as her Silver Pigeon 12g. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 I'm with LB on this one FM your Dad is a top bloke, he runs you around to shooting do's and then buys you tools like that - make sure you look after him As for the gun, for a 20bore I would say go for 28" as they seem to balance better, and don't worry too much about multi chokes, the Silver Pigeon is a very good gun you won't hear many bad words about them. Christ, once you get to grips with that, you will be whooping some *** at the next PW clay shoot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invector Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 I found the barrel selector a bit fiddly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flash Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 good choice FM, i got my first flying game with a 20 silver pig, on a pigeon. nice guns but i preferthe forestock to be a little chunkier, as people may see if they have seen my laurona, the forestock is huge. cheers flash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted August 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Hi, I'm not definitely going to get the Silver Pigeon. As he didn't have any in of the 20 bore range I'm waiting for him to get some in so I can compare it next to the other guns he had, I also like the Lincolns. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deadeye Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 i own 2 687 silver pigeon optima 30 " sporting guns in 12 ga. and 1 30" 20 ga 687 sporting tricked out with briley chokes. i really like these guns. i use them for game and for clays. i say if a 686/687 beretta fits you --- i don't think that you can go wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeboy Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 I've got a SP3 12g with 28" barrels. I love the gun. I have had 2 duff firing pins, both bottom barrel wich were fixed quickly under warrenty but other than that I cant fault it. The only thing is, I paid £1375. for it. It came with a beautifull stock, really nice wood. I've now managed to put a nasty dent in the butt that is going to cost me £150. ish to get repaired ! Leeboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 I shoot a silver pigeon s 28' 12b multi choke i love it .I also shoot a 20b franchi harrier 28' mc lovely gun for walked up days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 If your local gunshop doesn't have the the one you want get the old man to take you to Litts - I am sure he won't mind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted August 18, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 Hi, Does anyone know much about the Lincoln range mainly the O/U Premier in 20 bore? From what I have heard and seen so far they seem like a good gun with multichokes. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobF Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 Rob G said: I shoot a silver pigeon s 28' 12b multi choke i love it .I also shoot a 20b franchi harrier 28' mc lovely gun for walked up days The missus bought a Franchi Harrier earlier this summer. Its a great little gun from the Gunmark stable, on its first outing at clays she got 86/100. It was £600, well worth it. Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPARKIE Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 i shoot a 28inch silver pigeon fixed 1/4 n1/2 choke top gun for the money shoots really well aswell no probs as yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barraboy Posted August 19, 2006 Report Share Posted August 19, 2006 my wife uses a SP 20b 26" fixed choke and she finds it handles very well, ive had a pop myself and its a tasty gun. my own 12b SP4 [30" m/c] handles well too. ive only ever shot beretta so am probably bias. but i find them easy to handle and nice to shhot with, we got hers second hand from bamfords nr. preston. i'd recommend one but each to their own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted August 19, 2006 Report Share Posted August 19, 2006 Ferret Master said: Hi, Does anyone know much about the Lincoln range mainly the O/U Premier in 20 bore? From what I have heard and seen so far they seem like a good gun with multichokes. FM My son has one FM, he has only shot it a few times. IMHO it is a fine gun, I bought it secondhand and to strip it down as it hadn't been looked after very well, and I was very impressed with the build quality. I had Browning Medlist apart the week before that and the Lincoln is a far better made gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted August 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2006 We went to Wiltshire Rod and Gun this morning and left with a Beretta Silver Pigeon S. It took a while for me to make up my mind but I chose the Beretta. The auto safety is very stiff and I really struggle to operate it so me and my Dad have been sitting watching the cricket engaging it and disengaging it. I now have a rather large blister on my thumb. Hopefully it will become easier quickly. It won't stop raining though and I want to go and give it a test drive. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted August 19, 2006 Report Share Posted August 19, 2006 Ferret Master said: The auto safety is very stiff and I really struggle to operate it Thats how it should be m8 safety first. BTW - multi or fixed choke and what size chambers? and tell Mum & Dad they are priceless,you`re a lucky man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted August 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2006 henry d said: Ferret Master said: The auto safety is very stiff and I really struggle to operate it Thats how it should be m8 safety first. BTW - multi or fixed choke and what size chambers? and tell Mum & Dad they are priceless,you`re a lucky man It's a fixed choke. 1/4 and 1/2. It has 3'' chambers and is suitable for steel shot. I haven't stopped smiling yet. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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