ShropshireJohn Posted November 20, 2008 Report Share Posted November 20, 2008 (edited) Hi, me here is stuck between the choice of a new shotgun. I'm cack handed so I shoot from my left shoulder.. thus requiring a Left cast gun if I want to shoot properly! I've tracked down a Sabatti (FIAS?) left hander O&U 12guage that is second hand, 5 chokes.. £375 its 60 miles away and I can go and view tommorow night if possible. Today I found out I can get a Left handed Hatsan Escort Semi Auto 12ga in camo for £350 brand new (it spits the empty carts out to the left instead of right) I've got a Side by side 20 guage and I don't get on with the barrel setup, I've shot my dads O&U right handed Baikal IZH and prefer that.. but the Hatsans single barrel is very tempting, and the camo should make it harder for the birds to spot when I'm out on the farm rough shooting. Which is the better choice? Edited November 20, 2008 by ShropshireJohn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markio Posted November 20, 2008 Report Share Posted November 20, 2008 What are you predominantly shooting? Game, pigeons, clays, wildfowl? You mentioned rough shooting, so it's if that ilk then the Escort is a good choice, if there's a chance of Game then the Escort will be frowned upon and for clays the Escort has a hit and miss reaction with users on here with 28grm loads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbald Posted November 20, 2008 Report Share Posted November 20, 2008 If you re rough shooting the Escort is the better choice,I have one which I use more than my Browning as it is easy to use, shoots well and I am not too bothered about any knocks, some on here will slate the Escort but mine has never missed a beat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShropshireJohn Posted November 20, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2008 What are you predominantly shooting? Game, pigeons, clays, wildfowl? You mentioned rough shooting, so it's if that ilk then the Escort is a good choice, if there's a chance of Game then the Escort will be frowned upon and for clays the Escort has a hit and miss reaction with users on here with 28grm loads. I live on a dairy farm with a fair few acres of land which I'm free to roam at my leisure, I've also got permission on the neighbours arable land. So we're mainly talking Rough shooting. The main quarry of which will be Crows, Magpies, Pigeons, the odd Pheasant, Foxs, Rabbits I won't be going on a 'Game Drive' or whatever you call them (where you walk round shooting Pheasants) if I did, I could use my Side by side 20 guage. If you re rough shooting the Escort is the better choice,I have one which I use more than my Browning as it is easy to use, shoots well and I am not too bothered about any knocks, some on here will slate the Escort but mine has never missed a beat. Sounds good, they seem very marmite. Some seem fussy about loads but aslong as I do some research on carts before getting some I should be fine Thanks for your input chaps is it worth getting the Camo over the Synthetic? I do prefer the camo look though.. and is £350 the going rate for a new camo'd Escort? I've also been quoted £300 for the synth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted November 20, 2008 Report Share Posted November 20, 2008 Go for the synthetic one, unless you want to be mistaken for an American. I guarantee you it won't be the colour of your gun that shows you up to a quarry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShropshireJohn Posted November 20, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2008 Go for the synthetic one, unless you want to be mistaken for an American. I guarantee you it won't be the colour of your gun that shows you up to a quarry. I actually prefer the look of the camo the bird thing was just a quick thought when typing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbald Posted November 20, 2008 Report Share Posted November 20, 2008 Mine is synthetic which I prefer but go for the one you like,the prices quoted seem reasonble but as always it pays to shop around,as for carts mine will cycle 28s but I have heard of problems with 24s although I,ve never tried them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted November 20, 2008 Report Share Posted November 20, 2008 Some seem fussy about loads but aslong as I do some research on carts before getting some I should be fine Thanks for your input chaps is it worth getting the Camo over the Synthetic? I do prefer the camo look though.. and is £350 the going rate for a new camo'd Escort? I've also been quoted £300 for the synth. Hatsan recomend minimum 24g 70mm cartridges,but i personally dont go lower than 28g.When you dismantle it,you'll see two small holes in the gas cylinder from the barrel and these have gotta be kept clean for it to cycle properly.Mine jammed on saturday cos i forgot to clean them last time,but after a quick poke with a tiny twig-all was fine.I've stuck 28's,32's and 34's all with no problems. I looked at the camo ones too and they do look good,but decided to play safe with black. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markio Posted November 20, 2008 Report Share Posted November 20, 2008 I live on a dairy farm with a fair few acres of land which I'm free to roam at my leisure, I've also got permission on the neighbours arable land. So we're mainly talking Rough shooting. The main quarry of which will be Crows, Magpies, Pigeons, the odd Pheasant, Foxs, Rabbits I won't be going on a 'Game Drive' or whatever you call them (where you walk round shooting Pheasants) if I did, I could use my Side by side 20 guage. Go for the Escort then i reckon. What more could you want from a rough shooting gun? It's the same reason i bought an Escort pump, cheap enough to chuck about. You have the o/u back up for any thing else. With those two in your cabinet you won't ever find yourself without the right tool for the job. Personally i'd go for the black jobbie, i don't think you dancing about with a black or camo gun will make **** all difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShropshireJohn Posted November 20, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2008 (edited) Thanks chaps, I will pop out tommorow to the shop to take a look at one. 99% sure I'm going to order an Escort in Synthetic EDIT - One more question sorry... do the guns come with a set of chokes? or are these an extra expense? Thanks. Edited November 20, 2008 by ShropshireJohn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hodge911 Posted November 20, 2008 Report Share Posted November 20, 2008 my loacal rfd is going to do me a l/h escort 28" barrel 3" chamber black synthetic [new] for £280 so shop around Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davie mac Posted November 20, 2008 Report Share Posted November 20, 2008 you should get a set of chokes with the gun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShropshireJohn Posted November 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2008 unbelievable. Edgar Brothers have NO stock or Left handed Escorts in any format. So I've got to wait until January Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted November 21, 2008 Report Share Posted November 21, 2008 unbelievable. Edgar Brothers have NO stock or Left handed Escorts in any format. So I've got to wait until January Try ringing round your local gunshops because my nearest always keeps a few Escorts in stock as their popular.I know you're after a sooty,but not everyone is righthanded and someone must keep atleast one in stock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet boy Posted November 21, 2008 Report Share Posted November 21, 2008 My mate just bought an Escort Magnum and it shoots really well-good gun for the price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShropshireJohn Posted November 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2008 Try ringing round your local gunshops because my nearest always keeps a few Escorts in stock as their popular.I know you're after a sooty,but not everyone is righthanded and someone must keep atleast one in stock. I tried on Friday, nobody seems to have any in My local RFD (West Mids shooting ground) said they could get me one new for £300 in January, or I could buy a S/H Fabarm lefty for about £500-600 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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