remy 700 Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Hi at my local ish gunshop there is a rack of £50 side by side shotguns all makes up to a dozen , what should i look for in a pigeon hide gun, make ,chokes etc , many thanks ,oh and the bores are all shiny cheers guys remy 700 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aister Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 if it was me personaly i would be looking for something with quarter and half chokes and a 28" barrel, probably with 3" chambers too, not needed in a pigeon hide but good to have none the less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbo33 Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 (edited) As above, and go for a non ejector, then you wont have to hunt around for spent shells...and it will be cheaper still Aya Yeoman is a good start point although the chokes are often 1/2 and full...which is a bit tight imo for the close birds, but good for the 35 yarders But then the tighter chokes come into their own if you go roost shooting Edited July 13, 2012 by turbo33 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remy 700 Posted July 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Great advice , cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remy 700 Posted July 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Any other makes that are more obscure to look out for , cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 As per turbo won't go wrong with an AyA yeoman or even no3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arjimlad Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Just make sure it fits you well... with that sort of choice I'd be buying on condition and fit rather than age or features. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vole Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 (edited) A clean AYA or Baikal would do nicely . There are other good solid makes too . Check it with some snap caps if you get an ejector . I stick some tape over the primer of snap caps to check the pins strike ok . I would not bother too much over the chokes , you can get them opened if you want but the pattern plates do not look a whole lot different from full to cylinder if you ask me . Edited July 13, 2012 by vole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remy 700 Posted July 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedwards1966 Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 (edited) There aren't really any makes you need to avoid, though some are better than others. AYA seem OK and Baikals are reliable and live forever, but there aren't really any bad ones to worry about. Apart from fit, which is important, make sure they're tight, remove the forend and try to twist the barrels in relation to the stock, it shouldn't really have any play. Make sure it all feels OK, the forend should be tight, make sure the stock isn't cracked and so on. Buy something with 70mm (2 3/4") chambers or longer. Many old SxS guns are 65mm (2 1/2") and it's dangerous to use longer cartridges, but only using short carts can limit your choices dramatically, it's worth paying extra to be able to use any normal cartridge. As to the chokes, they aren't that important. Many SxS guns have 1/4 or 1/2 choke, and a full, but there are obviously many combinations around. Ideally I'd be looking for around 1/4 to 1/2 for pigeons, but it's not that critical. Tighter chokes are good on the long distance birds, but they don't help for close targets. They're also more annoying to clean. Edited July 13, 2012 by bedwards1966 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 For cheap sxs you won't go wrong with wabbitbosher of here have a look on the trade guns for sale,he will keep you right. Most stuff in gun shops at them prices will be about knackered. Figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockers Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 aya sorted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aister Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 (edited) As to the chokes, they aren't that important. Many SxS guns have 1/4 or 1/2 choke, and a full, but there are obviously many combinations around. Ideally I'd be looking for around 1/4 to 1/2 for pigeons, but it's not that critical. Tighter chokes are good on the long distance birds, but they don't help for close targets. They're also more annoying to clean. i would totaly agree with that, IMO i wouldnt buy a gun with really tight chokes unless you are going to have them opened up. with a really open choke you can, to a certain extent, fill up the pattern by using a hevier shell. there is a lot that will disagree with me but this is what i have found after using a couple of guns with no choke. the gun that sticks out in my mind is the solway magnum i had which was choked full and full, ok for flighting geese but for shoting ducks on a night flight it was a clean miss or total destruction. Edited July 13, 2012 by aister Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clakk Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 For cheap sxs you won't go wrong with wabbitbosher of here have a look on the trade guns for sale,he will keep you right. Most stuff in gun shops at them prices will be about knackered. Figgy got a gunmark kestrel sbs 1/4 n 1/2 choke from mr wabbitbosher for 40 quid barrells cleaned up nicely and the stocks nearly done ,ideal hide /rough gun no complaints that man does a good service for all :good: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remy 700 Posted July 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2012 got a gunmark kestrel sbs 1/4 n 1/2 choke from mr wabbitbosher for 40 quid barrells cleaned up nicely and the stocks nearly done ,ideal hide /rough gun no complaints that man does a good service for all :good: Yes I have a rifle from the bosher its been a1 , I will keep an eye for a bargain like yours , thanks for the helpfull replies all above Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wabbitbosher Posted August 23, 2012 Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 (edited) For cheap sxs you won't go wrong with wabbitbosher of here have a look on the trade guns for sale,he will keep you right. Most stuff in gun shops at them prices will be about knackered. Figgy got a gunmark kestrel sbs 1/4 n 1/2 choke from mr wabbitbosher for 40 quid barrells cleaned up nicely and the stocks nearly done ,ideal hide /rough gun no complaints that man does a good service for all :good: Yes I have a rifle from the bosher its been a1 , I will keep an eye for a bargain like yours , thanks for the helpfull replies all above Thank you All for the recomendations , i've just had New stock of budget side by sides in , i will be listing LOADS on tuesday ! Watch this space (well the Trade for Sale space) for WHOPPER Bargains Edited August 23, 2012 by wabbitbosher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougall Posted August 23, 2012 Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 for £50 I would go for the best conditioned barrels...you can't get too brand fussy at that budget........£50 is so cheap for what it is I would think some of the guns racked were close to scrap...(obviously they will be within proof to be for sale) but I would think condition wise most are pretty poor..I think I would look to spend at least a tank of petrol on a rough gun not half a tank!..if a gunshop is elling for £50 I guess that means they got the guns for @£20 each...I would be wary at those levels.? atb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerettaSV10 Posted August 23, 2012 Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 I think I would wait to see what wabbitbosher puts up next week, he always get good reviews about what he sells, I have no personal experiance of buying off him, just seen his good reputation on here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted August 23, 2012 Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 i`d seriously recomend a gunmark kestrel. i`ve been after a tidy one myself. as for the posts of "get one that fits", just buy one and make it fit. sxs usually are short in the LOP, and dont even bother putting the stock in the crook of the elbow and saying its ok. the only way to see if it fits is to shoulder it. some use shoulder pads but that looses the feel of a gun sometimes. my merkel is a real short stock, as they are ment to e re-stocked and fitted, its easy to add length, its hard to take it away (for fitting purposes) as for chokes, leave them be. you are not missing the birds because of the .5mm restriction at the end of the gun. these over choked light guns are designed to run game loads, traditional loads are slower, wouldnt even entertain black gold etc in a light gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted August 23, 2012 Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 http://www.guntrader.co.uk/Guns-For-Sale/Gunmark_Shotgun_Kestrel_For-Sale_120428180556392 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedwards1966 Posted August 23, 2012 Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 for £50 I would go for the best conditioned barrels...you can't get too brand fussy at that budget........£50 is so cheap for what it is I would think some of the guns racked were close to scrap...(obviously they will be within proof to be for sale) but I would think condition wise most are pretty poor..I think I would look to spend at least a tank of petrol on a rough gun not half a tank!..if a gunshop is elling for £50 I guess that means they got the guns for @£20 each...I would be wary at those levels.? atb. While for £50 you aren't likely to get something in mint, unused condition, provided there isn't any serious pitting or major play in the action, it'll safely go bang and do the job as well as something costing £500. It may not be as nice, but still functional and possibly with many years life in it. Also, the good thing about something that's already had a few bangs, scrapes and dents is you don't worry about adding any more as much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
labstaff Posted August 24, 2012 Report Share Posted August 24, 2012 I would go for an AYA if available. Out of curiosity, which shop is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul T Posted August 24, 2012 Report Share Posted August 24, 2012 Here's some pointers for you: Make sure the gun is tight whether close or open - try and twist the barrels on the action and check for looseness. Does it open and close easily without excessive pressure on the top lever? Check the barrels for dinks and the faces for any out of the ordinary marks. Take it apart and check for any other signs of mis-use or messing about e.g. knackered screw heads, funny welds in the bottom lump, cracked stock or forend etc? Check it's nitro proof! Stick some caps in and check the triggers break smooth. If it's an ejector (I'd doubt it for 50 notes) make sure they both work. Actually an ejector is no worse than a semi-auto - you just get used to spitting your empties into the side of the hide net with a SxS or O/U. I wouldn't worry about chokes either - I have one gun choked full & 3/4 so I just shoot the birds further out I've always bought second hand and been very happy. My last was an ex-Bosher gun and I'm really chuffed with it. It's up to you, but personally I'd wait and see what Mick lists on Tuesday. I'll be having a sneaky look myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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