wildfowler.250 Posted September 19, 2015 Report Share Posted September 19, 2015 I'm craving some kind of sbs at the moment and,(despite looking at one or two hammer guns) keep coming back to the AYAs. I was wondering if more knowledgable people on here could give me an outline of the different types? As far as I can gather, the yeoman is the basic model, and then the lower the number eg no. 2, the fancier the gun? Where does the XXV fit in? I assume they all have 25" barrels but is that the only difference? I'd be keen to pick up a nice one for around 800-1k mark at some point. Would rather have a nice model of a poorer grade if that makes sense than to fork out a similar amount for say a badly discoloured number 2? Are there many shops that stock a good number of these guns to try fit and so on? I'm sure most gun shops will have one knocking about but that doesn't give you muh comparison ect. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted September 19, 2015 Report Share Posted September 19, 2015 hello, good quality shotguns as i had 3 in the 70/80s my first yeoman was £38 high flat rib then a no 3 low rib then no 4 XXV with high churchill rib lovely gun. depending on the type of rib you like i would go for the XXV boxlock or a good no 2 side lock with concave rib. last a life time if looked after. for that money you should get a good one and have enough to get the stock done if required. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted September 19, 2015 Report Share Posted September 19, 2015 hello, good quality shotguns as i had 3 in the 70/80s my first yeoman was £38 high flat rib then a no 3 low rib then no 4 XXV with high churchill rib lovely gun. depending on the type of rib you like i would go for the XXV boxlock or a good no 2 side lock with concave rib. last a life time if looked after. for that money you should get a good one and have enough to get the stock done if required. note my XXV was a boxlock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted September 19, 2015 Report Share Posted September 19, 2015 The XXV S/L is priced above the No 2 S/L and the B/L version is mid range of these actions. They're based on the old Churchill XXV. One thing to watch out for with these if you shoot more than one gun is the fact that you will miss in front as they're very quick. Changing from the Maxus takes me a good few shots to readjust. Early models had 2 1/2" chambers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted September 19, 2015 Report Share Posted September 19, 2015 (edited) The range is (roughly as there are some changes over the years) and in ascending price order. In addition different barrel lengths are available and self opening on best quality boxlock and No 1. All sidelocks (except Senior/Premier and anniversary) are Holland and Holland clones. All boxlocks Westley Richards clones. Yeoman - both ejector and non-ejector models No 3 - a plain boxlock non ejector No 4 - a plain boxlock ejector XXV boxlock Best quality boxlock Round action boxlock No 2 - nice 2nd quality sidelock XXV sidelock Model 53 sidelock (a medium grade heavy duty 'live pigeon' model) No 2 delux and round actioned variants No 1 Model 56 (a high grade heavy duty 'live pigeon' model) No 1 round action No 1 delux and round action delux Imperial Anniversary (Hammer ejector gun) Senior/Premiere (no longer available and based on Purdey clone self opening action) The have also been a few others (104?, 107?) that were relatively uncommon, plus some single barrelled and O/U configurations Yeomans were in the low hundred pound when new, and Anniversaries are the wrong side of £25K now. Seniors were always very expensive and only about 40 were ever made. Edited September 19, 2015 by JohnfromUK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coldweld Posted September 19, 2015 Report Share Posted September 19, 2015 I have had a Yeoman ejector for 32 years ! it has had two firing pins in that time, It still is the first shotgun I reach for. Has lost some colour hardening and barrels show where my hand hold is BUT its a great gun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
born_2_kill Posted September 19, 2015 Report Share Posted September 19, 2015 For under 1k you'll struggle to pick up a nice No2, therefore I'd look at XXV boxlock or Best quality if you can find one, all lovely guns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savhmr Posted September 19, 2015 Report Share Posted September 19, 2015 Shot an AYA Nr 4 for donkeys years and it was a lovely gun. I'd have another in a heartbeat. Brill wood, great fitting action, lovely balance and a joy to shoot. Decent quality. Hankered after a good Nr2 but the nr4 won't disappoint in the field. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triumphant59 Posted September 19, 2015 Report Share Posted September 19, 2015 A xxv boxlock is a lovely gun but it has 25" barrels. In your price range you might find a No4 delux, better engraving than a standard no4 and 28" barrels. They are quite hard to come by. Other option would be to look for another Spanish gun from the 70's there are plenty of similar quality to AyA and for less money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted September 20, 2015 Report Share Posted September 20, 2015 A xxv boxlock is a lovely gun but it has 25" barrels. In your price range you might find a No4 delux, better engraving than a standard no4 and 28" barrels. They are quite hard to come by. Other option would be to look for another Spanish gun from the 70's there are plenty of similar quality to AyA and for less money. This is very true and other names that I can recall (please excuse and spelling errors) are Arrietta (I believe many Gunmark Sabel guns are by this maker), Union Armeria (later named Grulla), Ignacio Ugartechea (most Parker Hale Spanish guns are by this maker), Martin Ugarteburu. Be aware that there are poor examples around. Some cheap Spanish guns have been imported with very soft metal/poor hardening and don't stand up to long use - gunmakers hate them because due to the softness of the metal, its hard to carry out repairs and adjustments. I don't believe any of the above fall into that category, but some imported and sold as Denton and Kennel in the UK may have done (some Denton and Kennels were OK I believe) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenhunter Posted September 20, 2015 Report Share Posted September 20, 2015 I would have another XXV again any time. Light to carry, very quick to mount and shoot. Don't let the 25" barrels put you off, they have plenty of range if you are a good enough shot. GH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winnie&bezza Posted September 20, 2015 Report Share Posted September 20, 2015 Second that green! Sold a 25 and regret it badly. Beautiful wood on it and took high pigeon and a tall Duck with it so barrel length didn't effect anything bad enough to worry about. The only thing with the shorter barrels was when I did clays and the barrel flip was more than usual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IEH Posted September 20, 2015 Report Share Posted September 20, 2015 I've always thought of AYA guns as being of good quality but I bought a No.4 (new) back in the 80's that was a complete horror, obviously a Friday afternoon gun! Ended up p/xing it against a Beretta 686L game gun in 1986, which I still have to this day and will never sell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted September 20, 2015 Report Share Posted September 20, 2015 I've always thought of AYA guns as being of good quality but I bought a No.4 (new) back in the 80's that was a complete horror, obviously a Friday afternoon gun! This helps to explain what was happening to Spanish gun making about that time: http://www.aya-fineguns.com/website/historia_en.php?kind=Aguirre%20y%20Aranzabal%20desde%201938%20hasta%20nuestros%20dias Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malantone Posted September 20, 2015 Report Share Posted September 20, 2015 For under 1k you'll struggle to pick up a nice No2, therefore I'd look at XXV boxlock or Best quality if you can find one, all lovely guns. http://www.guntrader.co.uk/Guns-For-Sale/AYA_Shotgun_2-Sidelock_For-Sale_150625150548001 4 or 5 for under a grand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoggysreels Posted September 20, 2015 Report Share Posted September 20, 2015 I have had a Yeoman ejector for 32 years ! it has had two firing pins in that time, It still is the first shotgun I reach for. Has lost some colour hardening and barrels show where my hand hold is BUT its a great gun Did you buy it from new? .. Can you recall what you paid for it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwade545 Posted September 20, 2015 Report Share Posted September 20, 2015 i have a aya xxv, lovely gun, light so dont go heavy on the loads, only shot it a few times, just dont get the use out of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milo Posted September 20, 2015 Report Share Posted September 20, 2015 Nothing against AYA, as I really fancied buying a couple, but the two that I have shot recently were both badly off the face which was unexpected as they had not seen much use. I ended up buying a pair of Arrizabalagas which I found were better made than the comparable AYA #1. The AYAs' handling was more to my taste but the quality was not up to snuff for the money. Maybe I was unlucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coldweld Posted September 20, 2015 Report Share Posted September 20, 2015 I did buy it new From Walkers of Trowel, Not sure what I paid But I will have the receipt somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
born_2_kill Posted September 20, 2015 Report Share Posted September 20, 2015 http://www.guntrader.co.uk/Guns-For-Sale/AYA_Shotgun_2-Sidelock_For-Sale_150625150548001 4 or 5 for under a grand. You can buy a DB9 for under 20K, doesn't mean you should. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alycidon Posted September 20, 2015 Report Share Posted September 20, 2015 (edited) I have has a number 2 since 1978. Bit of a safe queen as I started with O/Us in the early 80s and use a 687 for most of my shotgun shooting. In over 30 years it has had one firing pin, thats it. Bear in mind that the number 2 and above are built as lightwieght game guns, 28gr loads are about ideal, Eley Impax could have been built for them. A Edited September 20, 2015 by Alycidon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoggysreels Posted September 20, 2015 Report Share Posted September 20, 2015 As shotgun makers! ... l'd suggest AYA & Baikal probably £ for £ can't be beaten, reliabilty, usability and longevity. Not on refinement but reliabilty wise, l think Beretta/Browning doesn't exceed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Boggy Posted September 21, 2015 Report Share Posted September 21, 2015 I would have another XXV again any time. Light to carry, very quick to mount and shoot.Don't let the 25" barrels put you off, they have plenty of range if you are a good enough shot. Totally agree that the AYA XXV boxlock is a great gun. Had one for years and regret selling it. Now looking for another XXV, once I sell one of my 16 bores to fund it and make room in the cabinet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DazzJo Posted September 21, 2015 Report Share Posted September 21, 2015 Just stick with AYA they are definitely the better SBS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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