Zetter Posted July 11, 2015 Report Share Posted July 11, 2015 (edited) Hi All After making a few sales I find myself down to just my clay gun now and fancy something for the forthcoming pigeon flurry come harvest. I was thinking semi auto but am angling towards maybe investing in a side by side as I have never had one. Budget £500 ish any suggestions on what to look for and any pitfalls to watch out for over and above the normal? I tend to favour longer length of pull on shotguns as I have long arms and shoot better with browning and Winchesters with over and unders. I was thinking of looking for a 1/4 and 1/2 ish on the choke but apart from that have never really looked at side by sides before. Cheers Neil Edited July 11, 2015 by Zetter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
born_2_kill Posted July 11, 2015 Report Share Posted July 11, 2015 (edited) AYA #4, nice clean guns but only go up to a 28", your not going to get much of an investment in the SxS category with £500 I have a Silver Hatsan Escort Semi cost £399, you can buy them in any variation you want for under £500, nice and long, pop an open choke on it works well with skeet as well. though you get a little frowned upon ejecting your empty carts over everyone. Edited July 11, 2015 by born_2_kill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zetter Posted July 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2015 Hi mate To be honest I am not bothered investment wise on the SxS I appreciated to get any investment value on them you need to spend a lot. There is an AYA 4 on gun trader at the moment in tidy condition with 26" barrels at cylinder and 1/4 with a nice 15" LOP. I have pinged the dealer a mail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudpatten Posted July 11, 2015 Report Share Posted July 11, 2015 Any number of good condition AYA Yeoman SBS available for less than £200. Use some of the cash residue to get the stock properly fitted. Mechanically very simple and it`ll still be working when all the cheap auto`s have ground to a standstill. I`ve just bought one, had the stock altered and now use it for everything. In my case, all for less than £160! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
born_2_kill Posted July 11, 2015 Report Share Posted July 11, 2015 Might want to give the 26" a try first, had a go with one today and it didn't feel right for me at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zetter Posted July 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2015 I will wander over this week if its still available and have a look at it I think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted July 11, 2015 Report Share Posted July 11, 2015 (edited) Be a tad wary of TC with short barrels. It's fine if you've had a barrel opened up to shoot TC when it's odds on that the barrel will still carry a couple of points, but buying a truly TC barrel, again, it's odds on that it'll shoot more open than you'd probably wish. Edited July 11, 2015 by wymberley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunman Posted July 11, 2015 Report Share Posted July 11, 2015 AyA No 4 is a decent working gun ,solid and reliable . Problem is as with most things a lot have been well used and abused so take your time and check a few . Nothing wrong with 26" barrels and don't let any one else tell you other wise its all down to being able to shoot . Its a fact that they are not the trend at present so you can pick up a best boxlock for the same sort of money . Look out for guns with original colour hardening and stocks that have not been "dun-up" , also advisable to have bore sizes confirmed . Spanish guns do have choke markings stamped but they are "between" sizes so do not automatically correspond to British standard sizes . Another thing to beware of is damaged striker discs if they are best to avoid , older guns vary in a couple of ways from later guns so there can be a problem with some spares such as extractors and ejector kickers should the need ever arise . Please also bear in mind that double trigger guns have different measured LOP than single triggers and most AyA's will have around a 14&3/4" stock measured from the front trigger . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted July 11, 2015 Report Share Posted July 11, 2015 I have a Pollard sidelock you are welcome to borrow if you fancy-I'm just outside MK-Winslow-p.m. me if you like-she's old but bin sleeved and is awaiting restoration but is very serviceable-I've shot clays with her and she's perfectly safe-2 1/2" chambers as per most early English guns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zetter Posted July 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2015 Cheers for the kind offer Bruno this is what I love about Pigeon Watch there are so many generous people who help you out. I have had a go with a few side by sides as the crowd who I shoot clays with have a few between them. So far the only issue I have had is getting my head round two triggers but this is only having a play on the clay ground and I would think actually shooting one regularly would sort that out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackpowder Posted July 12, 2015 Report Share Posted July 12, 2015 Always plenty good British S xS on sale on Gunwatch. Blackpowder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norfolk dumpling Posted July 12, 2015 Report Share Posted July 12, 2015 Picked up a 27in Gunmark (Arrietta made) SBS a few years ago and shot really well with it. Although I've a nice 20g SP the SBS is usually the one I go for first and this was after several OU's. Just something about the old SBS which stirs the soul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Boggy Posted July 12, 2015 Report Share Posted July 12, 2015 As Blackpowder says, plenty of good British SxSs on Gunwatch. See also Guntrader and Gunstar. Don't rule out non ejectors either. Many good ones to be had within your price range. Something special about owning and shooting an English, sorry British gun, also with a non ejector there is less to go wrong. Just my opinion and I'm sure others on here may disagree, or even agree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Bb Posted July 12, 2015 Report Share Posted July 12, 2015 I recently picked up a British, Damascus barrelled, nitro proofed, 2 3/4" chambered hammer gun for under £500. Soon got used to double triggers, I just need to remember to cock it every time! I find extractors somewhat better than ejectors. Took a while for the right one to come along but was worth the wait. Well chuffed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westley Posted July 12, 2015 Report Share Posted July 12, 2015 Cheers for the kind offer Bruno this is what I love about Pigeon Watch there are so many generous people who help you out. I have had a go with a few side by sides as the crowd who I shoot clays with have a few between them. So far the only issue I have had is getting my head round two triggers but this is only having a play on the clay ground and I would think actually shooting one regularly would sort that out. I switch from my double trigger to single trigger guns, no problem. Problems arise with an auto safe on a clay ground, I always forget. Never happens with game or pigeons, just clays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted July 13, 2015 Report Share Posted July 13, 2015 No worries Zetter-did not realise you had already had a bit of experience. The 2 triggers is something you get used to really quickly but there are a few single trigger sxs guns around. As previous members have suggested-consider an English gun-Powys guns have an Arthur Allen that looks nice for the money-you could afford to have the woodwork bought back to its former glory and get her choked to your specs and still spend less than £500-once the work is done the value of the gun is only going one way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay_Russell Posted July 13, 2015 Report Share Posted July 13, 2015 I picked up aya sidelock xxv for 350quid. I was wary of short 25inch barrels but now i find it awesome to shoot with. And its my pigeon and game gun. If ur anywhere near suffolk ur welcome to have a go and see how you get on with short barrels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunman Posted July 13, 2015 Report Share Posted July 13, 2015 If you are looking for an English gun for £500 I would seriously be looking for a non ejector . There a lot of very nice ones around in not to bad original condition that sell far below their true value as they are not popular as considered out of date not having ejectors . As with all guns the barrel condition is the prime consideration but I have seen nice N/E's with Scott spindle levers and rocker safes and nice engraving being offered for under your £500 budget . Basically mid quality guns at rock bottom prices . Ejector guns at £500 or under will probably have been bottom end guns to start with or have had the s***** shot out of them , sort of like buying a 16 year old basic car with 200,000+ mile on the clock . Its fine doing a little cosmetic work but not to take on a restoration project . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebarrels Posted July 13, 2015 Report Share Posted July 13, 2015 Zabala multi choke,single trigger,ejector BB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted July 13, 2015 Report Share Posted July 13, 2015 (edited) Hi mate To be honest I am not bothered investment wise on the SxS I appreciated to get any investment value on them you need to spend a lot. There is an AYA 4 on gun trader at the moment in tidy condition with 26" barrels at cylinder and 1/4 with a nice 15" LOP. I have pinged the dealer a mail that is what i have.................just the jobby for me......dont be put off by the 26" barrell................i think maybe someone will correct me but the AYA 4 comes new as standard with 1/2 and 3/4 choke ....which is just toooo tight....so i had mine reamed out to just tighter than cyl and a 1/4......bang on... if you are flush with sheckles....then take it to a smith and get him to put new firing pins in.....NOT AYA ONES........cause they have a habit of snapping....not often but annoying when it does happen Edited July 13, 2015 by ditchman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunman Posted July 14, 2015 Report Share Posted July 14, 2015 Zabala multi choke,single trigger,ejector BB Very funny . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebarrels Posted July 14, 2015 Report Share Posted July 14, 2015 Very funny . and whats funny ? please enlighten us all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Kelly Posted July 14, 2015 Report Share Posted July 14, 2015 If you want a side by side and choose the zabala, you don't really want a side by side. No grace and simplicity, it's just a cheap O/U built with the barrels the wrong way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zetter Posted July 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2015 Cheers for all the advice guys its been really helpful. I have a day off tomorrow so I will be doing a few miles have a nose at a few guns. Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebarrels Posted July 15, 2015 Report Share Posted July 15, 2015 (edited) If you want a side by side and choose the zabala, you don't really want a side by side. No grace and simplicity, it's just a cheap O/U built with the barrels the wrong way! Yes your correct, No grace and simple However I am not a gun snob But I will tell you this,My Zabala is a working tool which has accounted for many corvids/pigeons/clays over the years,ive put nearly 25k carts through it , and only had to replace the ejector spring Oh and it can hold its own on the clay range The problem with a lot of people,they seem to think buying a top end/expensive gun instantly makes them a crack shot Anyway gotta go, im off out to buy a Ferrari will that make me a racing driver ?? BB Edited July 15, 2015 by Bluebarrels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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