Halesowen Kid Posted May 4, 2020 Report Share Posted May 4, 2020 Hi each and everyone, After some 50+ plus years I have the opportunity again to do a little pigeon and crow control on farm land. So when the police start granting new shotgun licences again I looking to buy a used side by side 12 bore (say an AYA?) for the job in hand. What can you recommend to me in the questions below? 1. Make of gun 2. Barrel length 3. Choke sizes for the prey mentioned. 4. Cartridge shot and load size Thank you in anticipation. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob85 Posted May 4, 2020 Report Share Posted May 4, 2020 (edited) If you're buying a side by side you won't want to be putting real heavy cartridges through it unless you want to be beat to bits. I would look at an aya yeoman or a No4 which is really the ejector version. Choked 1/4 and 1/2 so you can shoot lead and standard pressure steel loads. 28inch barrels on it should be good for all round shooting. I love my yeoman and can't recommend them enough if you want a solid no frills gun that will last. And you can pick them up for peanuts these days. My cartridges are usually a 30 gram 5 or 6 shot in lead for crows and pigeons depending on how they are being shot. Decoyed pigeons I will also use 28gram 7s Edited May 4, 2020 by Rob85 Damn autocorrect Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halesowen Kid Posted May 4, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2020 Thank you Rob for your swift reply....👏 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave at kelton Posted May 4, 2020 Report Share Posted May 4, 2020 21 minutes ago, Rob85 said: If you're buying a side by side you won't want to be putting real heavy cartridges through it unless you want to be beat to bits. I would look at an aya yeoman or a No4 which is really the ejector version. Choked 1/4 and 1/2 so you can shoot lead and standard pressure steel loads. 28inch barrels on it should be good for all round shooting. I love my yeoman and can't recommend them enough if you want a solid no frills gun that will last. And you can pick them up for peanuts these days. My cartridges are usually a 30 gram 5 or 6 shot in lead for crows and pigeons depending on how they are being shot. Decoyed pigeons I will also use 28gram 7s Nothing that can be added in terms of spec. You can pick up a Yeoman now cheap as chips and for the shooting you are doing may find an ejector a pain as you are in a hide so I would not bother looking at the No 4. Auction sites like a Holts have these in numbers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted May 4, 2020 Report Share Posted May 4, 2020 (edited) hello, yes a nice yeoman/number 3/number 4 can be purchased at very good prices, i would suggest open chokes rather than the usual half and full, back in days gone by i had all mine reamed out to improved and 3/4 choke and used eley grand prix impax or 30g 6s, if i had one today i would use 28g 7.5s like my light O/U Edited May 4, 2020 by oldypigeonpopper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokersmith Posted May 4, 2020 Report Share Posted May 4, 2020 Spend half a day searching the forum and you'll find pages of opinions on these topics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halesowen Kid Posted May 4, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2020 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halesowen Kid Posted May 4, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2020 12 minutes ago, oldypigeonpopper said: hello, yes a nice yeoman/number 3/number 4 can be purchased at very good prices, i would suggest open chokes rather than the usual half and full, back in days gone by i had all mine reamed out to improved and 3/4 choke and used eley grand prix impax or 30g 6s, if i had one today i would use 28g 7.5s like my light O/U Thanks for your reply, but what is meant in your term "Open Chokes"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snow white Posted May 4, 2020 Report Share Posted May 4, 2020 Just sold aya num 4 £50 wanted it out of cabinet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halesowen Kid Posted May 4, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2020 😭 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted May 4, 2020 Report Share Posted May 4, 2020 19 minutes ago, Halesowen Kid said: Thanks for your reply, but what is meant in your term "Open Chokes"? hello, Open chokes more suitable for game/pigeon shooting at normal ranges 25 to 40 yards, most spanish guns came with half/full back in the 1970s 1980s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B725 Posted May 4, 2020 Report Share Posted May 4, 2020 I only ever use 1/4 and 1/2 choke for all my shooting never needed to tighten them up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted May 4, 2020 Report Share Posted May 4, 2020 All above very good advice and yes, I would go for improved in both barrels personally, but find yourslf a nice Yeoman and go from there. Try it out shoot it a bit and then decide if you need different choking. Gun fit is one of the most important things to look at, much more important than what chokes you have in it. Does it feel right as that then gives you confidence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centrepin Posted May 4, 2020 Report Share Posted May 4, 2020 AYA in my local shop £35. No idea of model. Sure was non ejector. (Was before lockdown) Dealer says he can't get rid of them fast enough and is not buying in anymore. He had some other SBS from £10 up. Does seem a shame. Should be able to get a decent gun for fair money and some shoulder protection if planning on busy days with 30 gram plus. In a small hide I don't like ejectors but my son does. Everyone has their own idea of what's right and wrong. Chokes are the absolute least of your worries, or should be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmboy91 Posted May 5, 2020 Report Share Posted May 5, 2020 14 hours ago, Centrepin said: AYA in my local shop £35. No idea of model. Sure was non ejector. (Was before lockdown) Dealer says he can't get rid of them fast enough and is not buying in anymore. He had some other SBS from £10 up. Does seem a shame. Have a similar thing in my local, picked my no4 up cheap because he can't shift SxS's. Looking forward to the lockdown being over because he did have a 20b, nothing special, can't even remember what make it was but something that could be tarted up and enjoyed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halesowen Kid Posted May 5, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2020 15 minutes ago, Farmboy91 said: Have a similar thing in my local, picked my no4 up cheap because he can't shift SxS's. Looking forward to the lockdown being over because he did have a 20b, nothing special, can't even remember what make it was but something that could be tarted up and enjoyed. 👍 16 minutes ago, Farmboy91 said: Have a similar thing in my local, picked my no4 up cheap because he can't shift SxS's. Looking forward to the lockdown being over because he did have a 20b, nothing special, can't even remember what make it was but something that could be tarted up and enjoyed. 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbiep Posted May 15, 2020 Report Share Posted May 15, 2020 Absolutely any gun, with any length of barrel, with any choke, pushing out 28-30g of No 5 or 6 shot, will do the job perfectly out to 40 yards or so. I'd want to ask the farmer if he's got any problem with plastic wads, or if he wants fibre only using. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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