TONY R Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 A question based on casual observations in recent visits to a few gun shops, there seems to be a lot of shooters all ages and no particular type of shooter asking to look at or asking about side by side shotguns. Im not in the trade and it could have been all pure coincidence i suppose, but is this a kind of new trend, a gun shop owner once told me not that many years ago he had to keep turning away people with side by sides even quite nice ones because he just could not move them on. Is there a resurgence in popularity of side by side in the people you know?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodeer Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 Yes. Some big name game shots who don't feel the need to go to 60 yard birds are going back to side by side but generally modern Spanish ones for the 70mm chambers, longer barrels, and single trigger options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 hello, many older shooters started with a S/S like me at 15 and a 410, then the likes of AYAs started to appear in the gun shops at prices most could afford unless you were lucky to own a true english gun. they still have a big following and ownership some even sat in gun cabinets and never used as the O/Us seem to be the most favoured with semi autos and pumps a firm favourite with pigeon shooters. i quite fancy a AYA XXV !!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impala59 Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 (edited) The cheaper ones are still two a penny at Auctions and many a bargain can be had, the top ones at auction a fetching big money still. A chap I met said he buys for export to Middle East almost exclusively. For quality guns I believe that the prices are quite stable. I would advise everyone to go to at least one auction, I found it a real eye-opener and great fun. Project guns can be bought for sometimes as little as £10 (at one auction recently a job lot of 5 single barrels went for £20) Edited June 21, 2016 by impala59 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winnie&bezza Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 (edited) hello, many older shooters started with a S/S like me at 15 and a 410, then the likes of AYAs started to appear in the gun shops at prices most could afford unless you were lucky to own a true english gun. they still have a big following and ownership some even sat in gun cabinets and never used as the O/Us seem to be the most favoured with semi autos and pumps a firm favourite with pigeon shooters. i quite fancy a AYA XXV !!!!!!!! Get one! Everyone who has one loves em and whoever has sold one regrets it including me. I wish I had it back as it was one of the nicest examples I've seen of one. :-( Edited June 21, 2016 by winnie&bezza Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 i quite fancy a AYA XXV !!!!!!!! Get one! Everyone who has one loves em and whoever has sold one regrets it including me. I wish I had it back as it was one of the nicest examples I've seen of one. :-( I got rid of my old boxlock one and regretted for the last 5 years or so. But I have managed to get a sidelock XXV that needed a bit of tlc for a good price. I have finished the woodwork which looks good and just waiting for the barrels to come back from Barrelblacker on here who is re-bluing, sorting a dent in the rib and lapping out the barrels for me. Can not wait to use it this season and a walk around a few hedges before that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElvisThePelvis Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 A question based on casual observations in recent visits to a few gun shops, there seems to be a lot of shooters all ages and no particular type of shooter asking to look at or asking about side by side shotguns. Im not in the trade and it could have been all pure coincidence i suppose, but is this a kind of new trend, a gun shop owner once told me not that many years ago he had to keep turning away people with side by sides even quite nice ones because he just could not move them on. Is there a resurgence in popularity of side by side in the people you know?. I think that there are three main reasons, people who have never had one want one for fun and at the prices you can buy a good AYA no3/4 why not? Secondly possibly in the quest for ever faster cartridges OU guns seem to be heavier than ever and who wants to lug one of those around a field. Lastly, and i my view the most likely, as driven shooting becomes more and more expensive (some of our days this year are over £40 per bird, 200 bird days, not 'high bird' shoots) people are doing more walked up and rough shooting and less driven shooting for which a well fitting sxs is the perfect tool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brixsmaid Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 Interesting, I was in two gun shops localish to me last weekend and both said the bottom had dropped out of the English SxS market and they aren't taking any in PX at the moment or would only offer very low prices as they didn't really want them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 i quite fancy a AYA XXV !!!!!!!! Get one! Everyone who has one loves em and whoever has sold one regrets it including me. I wish I had it back as it was one of the nicest examples I've seen of one. :-( hello, i did have one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winnie&bezza Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 hello, i did have one Oh no! Another member of the numpty club haha. I got rid of my old boxlock one and regretted for the last 5 years or so. But I have managed to get a sidelock XXV that needed a bit of tlc for a good price. I have finished the woodwork which looks good and just waiting for the barrels to come back from Barrelblacker on here who is re-bluing, sorting a dent in the rib and lapping out the barrels for me. Can not wait to use it this season and a walk around a few hedges before that. Yes I had a box lock and if I were to get another I would probably go sidelock. Interesting to see pics when yours is done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 good quality large slow shells for sxs.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TONY R Posted June 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 good quality large slow shells for sxs.... Agree in principal, yet in my Union Armera Side Lock i use Impax always have, but i do use heavier loads in my AYA no 4 26 inch it likes One of my 32 gram gordon system reloads. It what they like and if they fit you right felt recoil is not that big a deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin55 Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 (edited) I like old English sxs a lot. Prices affected by; the proposed lead ban, 2 1/2 chambers and stricter proof house rules (someone in the trade told me) http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/22751/lot/106/ Under £50 with a case I'm currently about to p/ex (hopefully) my Arietta Crown Sabel for another wonderful hammer gun from the 1870s K Edited June 21, 2016 by kevin55 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAB1954 Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 good quality large slow shells for sxs.... Yes, for the traditional light SxS but for modern 7lbs plus SxS shoot any load you want without excessive recoil. I have SxS with 3 inch chamber and shoot any 3 inch load I want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 Me too, But my game gun is preferable with slower loads 36g subs, 42g subs et . Heck of a lot of #2 in a one n aff ounces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panoma1 Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 I think the resurgence in demand (if there is one) is more driven by price! A reasonable quality light English SBS can be had for peanuts presently! But I also think that as a game gun the O/U is in comparison, expensive, slow, heavy and uncomfortable to carry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burnsy1 Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 I bought an AYA no 4 this year as my first shotgun. I'd looked at several over and unders, but just didn't like the balance of them,they just seemed to cumbersome. The no4 fits perfectly and has hit everything I have pointed it towards, couldn't be more pleased. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matone Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 Acquired a 26" Aya *4 a while ago,it`s a perfect decoying gun with 24-28g cartridges .I know some think heavier,bigger,better in cartridges but the traditional recipe works as well today as it has for the last hundred odd years ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
button Posted June 22, 2016 Report Share Posted June 22, 2016 Get my new XXV sidelock this week. I'm like a kid waiting for Christmas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
masmiffy Posted June 22, 2016 Report Share Posted June 22, 2016 (edited) Recently bought a s/s sidelock ejector for a great price off Mick Volkes. Looks pretty good, I have used it and can hit things with it so it may well get used on shoot days instead of a 30" barrelled o/u. Edited June 22, 2016 by masmiffy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winnie&bezza Posted June 22, 2016 Report Share Posted June 22, 2016 Get my new XXV sidelock this week. I'm like a kid waiting for Christmas! Pics please! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted June 22, 2016 Report Share Posted June 22, 2016 The quietening of the lead ban fears might be making an impact with this renewed interested in the old English SxS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodeer Posted June 22, 2016 Report Share Posted June 22, 2016 The quietening of the lead ban fears might be making an impact with this renewed interested in the old English SxS Serious game shots aren't buying the English stuff, is all Spanish generally. Bit heavier, longer barrels, easy to Teague choke, shoots 30/32g reasonably comfortably, single trigger option and also a matched pair costs 12K+ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fizzbangwhallop Posted June 22, 2016 Report Share Posted June 22, 2016 (edited) Mine.... Sidelock XXV Edited June 22, 2016 by fizzbangwhallop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panoma1 Posted June 22, 2016 Report Share Posted June 22, 2016 Serious game shots aren't buying the English stuff, is all Spanish generally. Bit heavier, longer barrels, easy to Teague choke, shoots 30/32g reasonably comfortably, single trigger option and also a matched pair costs 12K+ Very few of the Serious game shots I know, myself included......use a Spanish made SBS gun!.......I confess to no experience with and have never seen in use one (or a pair?) of the very top priced Spanish SLE's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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