soreshoulder Posted February 1, 2009 Report Share Posted February 1, 2009 i got a bit of a weird dilema. Firstly i walk out for about 1 - 3 hours everyday after school with the dog and try and shoot whatever i come across. I usually take along my beretta 686 12 bore but since november (when i was 15) i been noticing scratches and just general wear about the gun. I would like to keep my 686 for game shooting and keep it nice for clays and get a gun i can bash and can get muddy nad i shall not worry. Thing is im stuck between 2 guns. Ive been offered a over and under .410 for about i think £150-250 and i quite like the idea of a nice small bore gun and a light gun to carry in the field. Also the dog i take i quite gun shy and the .410 might reduce nosie and make it more enjoyable for both of us and 410 cartridges weigh next to nothing so wont weigh me down but does a .410 really have the power to knock down crows at say 35 - 40 yards? the other option i have been looking at is to save vup (which will take me till the end of march) and buy a semi auto (the hatsan escort) in 12 bore. If you put the pellets in the right place will it kill aswell as a 12 bore? which do you think i should choose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted February 1, 2009 Report Share Posted February 1, 2009 My mate had just got a Hatsan. Well the expression "you get what you pay for" couldn't be more true. It will not cycle less than a 70mm cartridge *regardless*. Cheap and nasty, but there you go - you pays your money you takes your chances. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted February 1, 2009 Report Share Posted February 1, 2009 You need to be a handy shot to carry a .410 for rough shooting. Yes, the pellets will kill as well as a twelve, but you have almost no margin for error. Factor in the cost of .410 ammunition and it makes it for a poor solution. I wouldn't have a Hatsan Escort even if it was given to me. If I was you, I would stick with the Beretta. It is better to have one gun that you shoot consistently well with, than **** about several. Dents and scratches to the timber can be repaired and the blueing can be re-done. Guns like Berettas are made to be worked hard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casts_by_fly Posted February 1, 2009 Report Share Posted February 1, 2009 or, pick up a beater SxS or O/U for rough shooting. A couple have gone through on this board in the last 2 weeks for 150 or less. A nice little boxlock 12 bore choked 1/4 and 1/2 or half and half will do you just fine for rough shooting. That is what I use all the time and I'm out 3-4 days a week in summer. Thanks rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edward Posted February 1, 2009 Report Share Posted February 1, 2009 There are many satisfiyed escort users on here (me bieng one of them) and mine is fantastic it cycles 65mm 21grms to (the heaviest I have put through it) 48grm AAA. And i have had no hiccups what so ever. :good: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted February 1, 2009 Report Share Posted February 1, 2009 Don't buy a .410. They are nice guns but really hold you back on some of the shots you'd take with your 12. If you want a smaller gun see if you can find a 28 bore, they are much better. Escorts are ok. Not that great but they work. I'm not in to semi autos though, they seem to let you down at the worst possible time. Even my Beretta Xtrema used to jam sometimes, and it's a real p*** off when it does! I wouldn't buy an auto. See if you can get hold of a cheap Baikal or Lanber. I'd tend to go for an O/U as it's what you're used to, but if you fancy a change a nice short barrelled side by side would weigh less and look good in the field. If you really want a multi shot consider a pump, at least they cycle when you ask them to! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikee Posted February 1, 2009 Report Share Posted February 1, 2009 its all well and good to buy a cheap knock around gun but if you want it to shoot like your 686 you must consider gun fit, or you will be wasting you money, go to a gun shop and try all the cheap guns and buy the one that fits the best and you'll do better than with the best gun you can afford that dont fit mikee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eagle eyes Posted February 1, 2009 Report Share Posted February 1, 2009 "Fear the man with one gun, he probably knows how to use it" Shooting well with one gun will impress people a lot more than two guns shot badly with no scratches on them. Spend it on cartridges. I could not agree more, over the last year i've been messing about shooting a different gun each time i went out. All seemed like good fits but my shooting was ****. In december i decided i would stick to one gun and my shooting has improved no end. Save your money. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
realtreedave Posted February 1, 2009 Report Share Posted February 1, 2009 your gun is a tool for the job.it is inevitable it is going to take some wear and tear.im not saying abuse it,but dont stick it on a pedastle and idolize it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted February 1, 2009 Report Share Posted February 1, 2009 some good advice there, stick to the one and learn how look after it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markio Posted February 1, 2009 Report Share Posted February 1, 2009 Ignore the escort negativity, some people love em, some don't. The expression you're looking for is "You get what you can afford to pay for". I went through the same thoughts as you, wanted a half decent gun to keep about for a while and something else cheaper that could take some stick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taz24 Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 Ignore the escort negativity, some people love em, some don't. The expression you're looking for is "You get what you can afford to pay for". I went through the same thoughts as you, wanted a half decent gun to keep about for a while and something else cheaper that could take some stick. I agree with you fully. I shoot with a plastic Hatson and I love it. It cost £200 and was 6 months old it is still covered by a 3 year warentee. It does fire all types of carts. I have seen more expensive so called good named guns jam while being used. Do not let the anti Hatsan snobbery put you off owning one. As for the 410 you will kill at 40 mtrs but you do have to be more accurate. Cheers taz. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
throdgrain Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 Apologies for always banging the same old drum, but have you thought of getting a pump action instead of a Hatsan? You could buy a second hand Mossberg for £200 or less, it will be much more reliable than a cheap semi-auto and do exactly the same job, and more than likely it will be more reliable too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
realtreedave Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 whats wrong with a plain single barel shotgun.mate of mine has an old cooey[bought for about £50].he uses it for rough shooting,when he needs a beating stick he just unloads it,ive even seen him using it on clays holding the spare round in his teeth.most embaresing for the lads with brownings and beretas when he outshoots them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheepshed Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 Don't buy a .410. They are nice guns but really hold you back on some of the shots you'd take with your 12. If you want a smaller gun see if you can find a 28 bore, they are much better. I use a .410, a very nice Yildiz A4. I find this suits me perfectly for a mooch around on a summers evening with the cocker spaniel, flushing rabbits from the bracken and brambles around the farm. It's light to carry and I find it easy to shoot - guess it must fit me well. With 3" subsonics No 6's it works well out to about 25 yards and is noticeabely quieter in that there isn't the supersonic crack that echoes round the valley. You do need to remember that it's only a .410 though - it won't ever perform like a 12g or 20g; it does a different job and needs a different style of shooting and a different attitude. I view it as going for a walk with a gun, rather than going out shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 Baldrick and Fister have given you the best advice. Stick with your Beretta, you will be a much better shot for it and therefore enjoy your shooting so much more. Save the money you would have spent an a knock about gun and dip into it once in a while to have your Beretta tarted up if needs must. There are some cracking shots that shoot with us who's guns are showing signs of use to say the least. Blueing almost non existent and wood in need of some love but boy can they shoot...............why because they have used the gun for the past 40 odd years. Best option is to buy a pair and keep one for best !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogfox Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 dont bother getting a second gun, use the one and master it, spend the money on a .22 or 12g ammo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 (edited) Take a look at the Beretta 303 semi-auto's on gun trader, same price range as the escort but is by far a better gun and wont jam up on you OR Previous advice given ''stick to one gun'' is very good advice, save up a bit more and buy another 686, used /second hand for rough shooting. Edited February 2, 2009 by chrispti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 (edited) A double .410 is a great gun in the right circumstances but will cost a fortune in shells if you want to get anywhere near the performance of a 12-you will need 3inch shells which cost a kings ransom.If you just fancy another gun (dont we all most of the time?) shop around on guntrader for a used 20 or even (my favourite) a 16g-you might even try a s/s for a change? Edited February 3, 2009 by bruno22rf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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