Wharf Rat Posted November 23, 2020 Report Share Posted November 23, 2020 I shot a semi most of the time but found a pump much better. Eject empties into the bin (when safe and first/second bird timing allows!), no problems with light loads/subs, easier to clean, lighter and better balanced imho, cost peanuts, loads of mods/accessories (if that's your thing), and they very rarely jam. I cleaned a Mossy 500 that had been used for a couple of years with nowt but the packing grease to lubricate and protect it. Unbelievable amount of crud came out and the mag spring was rusty as hell from salt. Thing still functioned absolutely fine. My father on the other hand finds an old Beretta 303 so perfect, it's his only gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted November 23, 2020 Report Share Posted November 23, 2020 1 hour ago, Houseplant said: I traded in my Miroku for a Browning Maxus. The Miroku was a lovely gun. As a gun, I preferred it, but the Maxus is much better suited to my style of duck shooting. I have just found I have an extra shot to miss with 😬🤣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houseplant Posted November 23, 2020 Report Share Posted November 23, 2020 We're legally limited to 5+1 shots since Christchurch. Maxus takes 4+1. Don't always need that many, but one of the features of where I shoot is that you'll often get a large number of ducks flying over at one time, then nothing for the rest of the day, so I take full advantage of those opportunities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
udderlyoffroad Posted November 23, 2020 Report Share Posted November 23, 2020 It's baffling to a lot of people, but there's something quite...satisfyingly basic about my Hatsan Escort. Component count and engineering is exactly as good as it needs to be, it points ands swings...ok. Built to a price, and as it's a second gen, not too cartridge fussy. It's the complete opposite of a 'nice' gun, but I will take it out in preference to anything else for a wonder round the fields of an evening. When I point it in the right place, I hit stuff with it. They can be had for <£300 new. What more do you need? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DUNKS Posted November 23, 2020 Report Share Posted November 23, 2020 I did try a SA at clays. Had a lovely Beretta. I found the accuracy amazing and I shot it well. Just could not put up with the great clattering crash when it fired and the empties going everywhere That and the pain of cleaning forced me to get rid. The clay ground I use have a magnet stick at every stand. No excuse! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
udderlyoffroad Posted November 23, 2020 Report Share Posted November 23, 2020 1 hour ago, DUNKS said: Just could not put up with the great clattering crash when it fired and the empties going everywhere 12 hours ago, Wharf Rat said: Eject empties into the bin (when safe and first/second bird timing allows!), Brass Deflectors/catchers are standard fare in countries where self-reloading rifles are used on ranges. This avoids hitting your elbow/the shooter in the next lane with hot brass... The SIG 550/StgW90 used by the Swiss army even has a slot for one Seems such a thing does exist for SA shotguns... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted November 23, 2020 Report Share Posted November 23, 2020 Along with pumps they are without doubt the most practical gun in a hide; picking up empties just goes with the job in my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadowchaser Posted November 23, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2020 Some great replies to this thread, thanks. It would appear that there is a lot of semi auto love out there. Sometimes when shooting at a clay ground the empty shell will bounce off the wall/cage side and hit me on the head. Certainly makes it more interesting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
das Posted November 24, 2020 Report Share Posted November 24, 2020 On 22/11/2020 at 19:13, oldypigeonpopper said: Hello, I wish they made one that dropped the empty at your feet🤔😀 Me too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
das Posted November 24, 2020 Report Share Posted November 24, 2020 Gone to a Beretta 400 Xplor from my Beretta 682 Gold E, for clays, why, simply the 2lb in weight. Handles beautifully for me and I don't miss the slight heavy nos of the O/U. Downside, not really for trap as side ejection ( a little bit forward though) can be a bit of a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted November 24, 2020 Report Share Posted November 24, 2020 30 minutes ago, das said: Me too. Hello, I made my walking stick into a picker upper magnet stick 🤔😀 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmm243 Posted November 24, 2020 Report Share Posted November 24, 2020 I do have a soft spot for Remington autos and have various ones for the past 25 years.I had a lovely 1100 which I shot very well with but it never seemed to cycle reliably except with 36gm shells.I tried everything but it would let me down occasionally. I then moved to an 1187 and an 870 pump.I now have a sporting Clay's 1187 which I use for all my decoying and where I have to shoot steel. I find that many men I know are very faithful to a particular make of auto and will never change make although they will change models.It will be up to you to make your choice. My everyday gun is a Charles Lancaster sxs which I got for my 14th birthday so I have had it a while!! I am so used to it it just feels like an extension of my arm.My only issue is that it has Damascus barrels and 2.5" chambers so I am restricted to what I can put through it. I suppose in an ideal world you would only use one gun (and be good with it) but circumstances dictate that I need two,neither I would be without but know that the auto is not an accepted gun on many formal shoots plus it is not as pleasant or as balanced to walk with all day when rough shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadowchaser Posted November 24, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2020 (edited) No I don't think you can beat a SBS for walked up rough shooting, the way the broken gun fits into your arm is very good. If I had to only ever shoot/own one gun in the future it would be a semi auto. But as many people find you do need more than one to cover all aspects. To the guy in NZ I wish we could have 5 + 1 over here on a shotgun licence. Edited November 24, 2020 by Shadowchaser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted November 24, 2020 Report Share Posted November 24, 2020 12 minutes ago, Shadowchaser said: No I don't think you can beat a SBS for walked up rough shooting, the way the broken gun fits into your arm is very good. When shooting walked up game the gun is carried closed with safety on. This rubbish about walking up with a broken gun over your arm comes from clay shooters who never use a safety catch. They seem to think it is safe, but do not recognise that if the gun will accidentally discharge at any point it will be when they slam it shut in a hurry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerry78 Posted November 24, 2020 Report Share Posted November 24, 2020 To be honest I prefer S/A over O/U any day of the week but my favourite is a S/S shotgun to me they represent field shooting in its true form Now this is only my opinion The O/U just doesn’t look right to me Always been drawn to a S/S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted November 24, 2020 Report Share Posted November 24, 2020 3 minutes ago, Gerry78 said: To be honest I prefer S/A over O/U any day of the week but my favourite is a S/S shotgun to me they represent field shooting in its true form Now this is only my opinion The O/U just doesn’t look right to me Always been drawn to a S/S Totally agree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmm243 Posted November 24, 2020 Report Share Posted November 24, 2020 My brother used to bring a work colleague up home for about 3 seasons in a row,his ambition was to shoot his first woodcock.Snipe and woodcock are 90% of my game shooting so I knew I could offer him the chance to shoot one but he insisted on walking with his very hard to close O/U open all the time.In those three years I don't think he ever got a shot off at a bird despite being told to carry his gun closed and on safe pointing at the ground.Most of those days would have seen 30 /40 birds risen so he had plenty of opportunity. He just could not get the gun closed and mounted before the bird was iur of range.Eventually I got him to stand at the end of a small planting while I drove it out with the dogs and he got his bird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerry78 Posted November 24, 2020 Report Share Posted November 24, 2020 13 minutes ago, London Best said: Totally agree. Advice London Best I’m thinking of adding a aya no2 sidelock to my cabinet in the new year 2nd hand I’m a working man lol What’s your opinion on them If u don’t mind answering 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted November 24, 2020 Report Share Posted November 24, 2020 Just now, Gerry78 said: Advice London Best I’m thinking of adding a aya no2 sidelock to my cabinet in the new year 2nd hand I’m a working man lol What’s your opinion on them If u don’t mind answering 👍 An excellent choice, sir. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted November 24, 2020 Report Share Posted November 24, 2020 41 minutes ago, London Best said: When shooting walked up game the gun is carried closed with safety on. This rubbish about walking up with a broken gun over your arm comes from clay shooters who never use a safety catch. They seem to think it is safe, but do not recognise that if the gun will accidentally discharge at any point it will be when they slam it shut in a hurry. Good grief, that’s just absolute rubbish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalkedUp Posted November 24, 2020 Report Share Posted November 24, 2020 (edited) 19 minutes ago, Scully said: Good grief, that’s just absolute rubbish. A game keeper at a trial insisted that us guns carried the guns closed, up and on safe as he has seen too many dogs shot whilst closing the barrels. Was an interesting experience for me. Shot the first two partridge whilst concentrating. Missed the third chance due to relaxing and forgetting the safety. Then wiped another gun’s eye for the 4th chance. Then had an easy one, and a very fast bird that sprung whilst reloading as the dog when to get the bird’s fallen mate, but I realised that was probably in contravention of our instruction as the gun was “closed” during the heat of the moment. I can see both points and now do both systems depending upon terrain, footing and proximity (dogs and people). Edited November 24, 2020 by WalkedUp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadowchaser Posted November 24, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2020 1 hour ago, London Best said: When shooting walked up game the gun is carried closed with safety on. This rubbish about walking up with a broken gun over your arm comes from clay shooters who never use a safety catch. They seem to think it is safe, but do not recognise that if the gun will accidentally discharge at any point it will be when they slam it shut in a hurry. I was referring more specifically to the general walking you do on such a day. The SBS fits more snuggly in the crook of the elbow than an O/U. I'm sure you find it so? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltings Posted November 25, 2020 Report Share Posted November 25, 2020 (edited) 3 hours ago, Shadowchaser said: I was referring more specifically to the general walking you do on such a day. The SBS fits more snuggly in the crook of the elbow than an O/U. I'm sure you find it so? i always walk gun up safety on walked up driven gun up on hip up wildfowling laid on the marsh safety on no one else about pigeon shooting hide safety on with others take it in turns to shoot hammer gun barrels up thumb across both hammers to cock and the same to de cock in reverse i shoot all sorts of guns a greedy gun is dangerous you can only kill someone once a friend gamekeeper steve on blacklooms est on the hill grouse shooting walked up was shot with both barrels by a greedy gun his game bag saved his life lowest pellet in his knee highest broke a tooth on meds for the rest of his life whatever keeps everyone safe works we all want a good day and go home safe despite the weapon of choice greed is a killer Edited November 25, 2020 by Saltings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terence Posted November 25, 2020 Report Share Posted November 25, 2020 On 22/11/2020 at 19:21, Shadowchaser said: It was either Beretta or Remington that came out with a semi auto that ejected the shells through the carrier section. It must be a good 8 - 10 years ago. I remember reading about it in Sporting Gun. The idea never took off. Remington 105cti had one about 10 tears ago lovely gun but was not reliable with 28g cartridges they where made to use 32g 70mm cartridges tried all the cartridges i could in 28 g if it would have worked with 28 would have been a keeper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted November 25, 2020 Report Share Posted November 25, 2020 10 hours ago, Shadowchaser said: I was referring more specifically to the general walking you do on such a day. The SBS fits more snuggly in the crook of the elbow than an O/U. I'm sure you find it so? Yes, very much so. The 1 1/2 - 2 lb weight difference helps too. 11 hours ago, WalkedUp said: Missed the third chance due to relaxing and forgetting the safety. You don’t forget the safety when you have only ever had an auto-safe as it is part of the gun mount. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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