Joined the club...

[Tanks]

I blame @Red Leg .

Just bought it today. AyA NO. 2 12GA Side-Lock Ejector, improved modified choke on both barrels. 2 3/4", double articulated triggers. 30" barrel.

With CA 10 day waiting period going about 18 days nowadays should have it towards the end of the month. They will use the time to adjust the stock to my LOP and also install a new recoil pad.

 

[Red Leg]

I may or may not be a bad influence But a truly fine double will indeed start one on the road to perdition. And I appreciate the company! They are, I am afraid, every bit as addictive as fine rifles. An AYA #2 is one of the truly great guns, and this one is in magnificent shape. Congratulations for acquiring a truly special thing.

 

[sierraone]

Congratulations Tanks. You are correct in that Red Leg is and has been a great influence on many of us especially with English and European double guns.

 

[Major Khan]

Welcome to the club , Tanks . The madness begins from here .

My " Old Belgian " .

@Panther Shooter 's German GECO .

@Kawshik Rahman 's Westley Richards .

My friend , Riaz Sharrif's W W Greener " Empire " .

A fine side by side shot gun just makes like all the more better .

Mine has been giving me more than 61 years of faithful service ... And shall hopefully continue to function in " Apple Pie Order " ... always .

 

[cpr0312]

Congrats on the new addition!

 

[Ray B]

especially with English and European double guns.

But don't limit yourself to just the English & European guns- there are some really nice American guns setting around the country in closets and on used gun racks.

 

[Major Khan]

But don't limit yourself to just the English & European guns- there are some really nice American guns setting around the country in closets and on used gun racks.

I agree , Sir .
> Savage / Fox
> Stevens
> Remington Spartan
> Remington Model 1889
> Winchester Model 21

My late friend , Forest Ranger Pachabdi Gazi ( Who has single handedly dispatched 61 man eating royal Bengal tigers in Bangladesh ) used to own a 10 Bore Remington Model 1889 exposed hammer side by side shot gun . His son owns it now .

 

[Tucketed]

@Tanks nice going. I just picked up a Pedro Arrizabalaga 20 bore this week. I have a Merkel 12 but this is my first Spanish lady. If you haven’t read “Spanish Best” by Terry Wieland it’s a nice read on gun making and makers.

 

[Ray B]

It's not from Europe, it doesn't have engraved side plates and the wood isn't spectacular But the piles of birds that have dropped to it's calling have had no complaints. But I agree, the SxS club is a great one.

 

[crs]

Major Khan,
Thank you for remembering some American made guns. I have only three Parker shotguns and need no more.
I have shot this damascus barrelled 20 gauge on a 28 frame since my dad gave it to me as a teenager. It was made in the year 1900 and hunted hard by one of his lady friends. When she passed, he picked it up for my two brothers and me. Due to the gun being small and them being tall, I lucked out and was the only one to shoot it. This is the fastest handling 20 that I have ever handled and it has taken many quail and dove.

When I had the guntightened some years ago, I decided to clean but not refinish the old dented and scratched stock alone as many of those dents are memories for me.

My current two Parker shooters are called Parker Reproductions and made in Japan by a fine gun maker. They are look alike DHE 20 ga and DHE 12 ga and below is a picture of the 20 in a Kansas grain field:


Needless to say, there guns came in good leather cases with all the accessories and are well cared for and hunted as often as possible. I told Red Leg that these were my training guns for my double rifles!

 

[Saul]

AyA is a great manufacturer. You will be very pleased.

 

[Petey J]

Beautiful piece.
I love my side by sides. My current favorite in my collection is a Savage Fox Model B 16 gauge. It is my go to upland gun, and I've used it for spring clays, trap, 5- stand.

Also have a Savage Fox B in 12 gauge, Winchester 24 12 gauge and an Acme Arms hammer double with Belgian Damascus Barrels.

 

[Saul]

Beautiful piece.
I love my side by sides. My current favorite in my collection is a Savage Fox Model B 16 gauge. It is my go to upland gun, and I've used it for spring clays, trap, 5- stand.

Also have a Savage Fox B in 12 gauge, Winchester 24 12 gauge and an Acme Arms hammer double with Belgian Damascus Barrels. View attachment 349446View attachment 349447

A man after my own heart. I have spend a considerable amount on various side by sides, but I always find that my Fox Model B 12 gauge tags along when going to the range.

 

[Tanks]

... I told Red Leg that these were my training guns for my double rifles!

Actually, I bought the Aya because @Red Leg told me that it would be a good training gun for double rifles.

Already bought 1,000 rounds of #8. Picking the firearm up next week then to the range. I made an appointment with a local pro for a half day session as it has been decades since I last fired more than a few rounds with a SxS shotgun.

 

[Red Leg]

Actually, I bought the Aya because @Red Leg told me that it would be a good training gun for double rifles.

Already bought 1,000 rounds of #8. Picking the firearm up next week then to the range. I made an appointment with a local pro for a half day session as it has been decades since I last fired more than a few rounds with a SxS shotgun.

Great decision. Wish more would do that. It is just as easy to pick up correct habits as bad ones. Assume this gentleman is a SxS pro. Bit of a different gun handling skill set than an OU.

 

[dan donnelly]

Beautiful gun Tanks. I love doubles and bird hunting

 

[Petey J]

Does anybody have a Dickinson SXS? Any thoughts on them? I don't know much about them, but like the looks of a few I saw recently. How are they on price? Anybody have one in 16 ga.?

 

[ms86]

Beautiful gun! You could even shoot Spred-R loads through one of the barrels and it would make a lovely gun for upland birds. Certainly will bust clays with the rest of them. I recommend RST shells if its an older gun.

I own a Henry Atkin Best Sidelock in 12 Bore (our Gauge). It's a 6.5 lb gun that will definitely get your attention when you shoot, even with low-pressure RST shells. But for a gun in the field that points and handles like a dream, look no further than Best-quality English or European guns. I have heard the Spanish guns shoot like fine English doubles at a fraction of the price. You made an excellent purchasing decision.

 

[BB416]

Love the doubles!
I have a beat up Parker VH 12 ga from 1905 that was my go to gun for many years,
An LC Smith field grade in 16 ga from 1924 that is choked very tightly and an Ithaca SxS in 20 ga that is old and beat up. I have t shot any of them is years (except the Parker which went to Africa with me a few years ago) since I got my first English gun.
Have a sleeved Mortimer from 1894 in 12 bore that is beautiful and shoots very well. More recently I found a 1921 Westley Richards Drop lock in 12 bore With 2 sets of barrels. Love everything about it except the single selectable trigger. My most recent addition is another Westley Richards in 28 bore that is my current quail/dove/clays gun. It is a 1980s vintage.
Both the English 12 bores shoot 2 1/2 Inch shells, which I usually get from rst. I may start to reload for it. I do reload for the 28.

 

[Tanks]

Great decision. Wish more would do that. It is just as easy to pick up correct habits as bad ones. Assume this gentleman is a SxS pro. Bit of a different gun handling skill set than an OU.

Had the two hours of training today. Not only had fun, but learned a lot, shot about 200 shells. I have him booked for the next 8 weeks every Friday 10-12. Will probably end up shooting close to 2,000 shells by the time I leave for Africa, so that should get me dialed in with the mechanics. He was making micro adjustments during the time of our lesson.

If I keep having fun I might actually keep shooting clays after Africa. Just what I need, another addiction.