Pump Action or Semi Auto to hunt the world

[WAB]

I'm not sure what you mean by 'modern' side by sides. The side by side is a classic design that does not lend itself to modernization. The single trigger, beavertail forearm and pistol grip are about as far as it goes in this area but even that is not modernization as these features, although rare, were characteristic of the old live pigeon guns. A friend of mine had an uncle who was quite a famous live pigeon shot. He shot a cross stocked SxS. It is on display in one of the major museums in London. Quite an interesting gun.

If I were buying a SxS today I would go to England, find a solid used Birmingham gun, and do the necessary paperwork to ship it home. If you want to go this route I highly recommend the proprietor of Park Street Guns in St. Albans, Bob Battaglia. Bob always has some solid SxS's at a 'reasonable' price. If you want to stay in the USA, try the Beretta and Merkel offerings. An even better option would be to find out who is importing AYA into the US and look at them. AYA is a classic maker from the Basque region of Spain. Their offerings cover the full range. If you want to step it up a bit, Kevin's and William, Larkin & Moore both have guns made to their specifications. These are going to move you into the $5K zip code if I remember right. I hope this helps.

 

[Scrumbag]

Hi Wab, Am in the UK so thanks for the tip on Park Street guns. My definition of a "modern SxS" would be

Double trigger
Steel proof barrels
Multi chokes (help with steel and non-toxic shot)

 

[WAB]

Hi Wab, Am in the UK so thanks for the tip on Park Street guns. My definition of a "modern SxS" would be

Double trigger
Steel proof barrels
Multi chokes (help with steel and non-toxic shot)

The chokes are going to restrict your options. If you have good barrels in 1/4 and 1/2 or 1/4 and 1/4, you should be set for lead. Steel is another matter altogether. I would consider going with the fixed chokes and spending the money on the shells, bismuth, heavy shot, etc.. IMO the tubed SXS's do not have the balance of a classic British game gun.

 

[Scrumbag]

That's true I suppose. Multi-chokes might be more negotiable as likely to be duck shooting as the heaviest load. If going for geese, more likely to be a specialist.

For walked up pheasant / quail / grouse / partridge type game the shots tend not to be that long. With duck and bismuth /hevi-shot they tend to pattern fairly tight. Also if you want to put slugs in it, you don't mind the open chokes...

 

[BeeMaa]

My choice would be the Beretta 686 O/U 12ga 3" chambers with 26" barrels and multiple chokes (I carry 6 or 7 chokes).
Wife would take the same Beretta 686 O/U in a 20ga 3" chambers...etc
26" swings well for me on flushing and crossing birds and it's easy to carry afield, but most people want longer barrels.
The feel of the Beretta O/U works for me and points naturally for instinctive wing shooting.
Multiple chokes for different game, terrain and loads. Plus they don't really add much weight for travel.
Follow up shot (if needed) would be very close to that of a semi-auto.
O/U shotguns break down to pack small for travel.
Only having two immediate shots gives other hunters a chance as well. Be a courteous hunter.
Avoids the semi-auto legal/not legal issue.
Allows the guide to immediately see that the barrels are open for safety when called for.
Even here in the US there are several pheasant guide services that only allow O/U or SxS.
Mostly the reason is safety, the other reason is they want you to police up your used hulls and not litter the ground with them.

 

[Scrumbag]

All very true BeeMaa!

 

[Paparock94]

I love my first generation Ithaca DeerSlayer III with its fully rifled bull barrel. It is not a gun to go on long walks with but when hunting from a fixed position as I often did trail watching it is perfect (I have considered shorting the barrel to 20").

 

[Scrumbag]

Lovely guns. Ithaca's aren't so common over here. I fondled a one at an auction towards the end of last year but it went for silly money (Was a DU limited edition so I chickened out of the bidding).

In other news, a Winchester M12 take down I bought a while ago finally followed me home today...

Scrummy

 

[Piet-Skiet]

Legalities aside I would choose my berreta a400 above any shotgun. I find myself doing more and more shotgun shooting these days and i just love my a400 having owned pumps,a300,m2 and a Remington 1100 aswel as a s/s and o/u. Would love to get a berreta Silverpigeon 5 one day.

 

[Scrumbag]

There does seem to be something to be said for a 3.5" semi auto...

Maybe need both... oh well

 

[Piet-Skiet]

I have only seen a 3,5 inch shell once and never a 3 inch. We just dont use them in SA. I do use the heavy 42gram gamebore no3 on spurwing geese and want to try a heavy pellet (aaa) this year. We use standard 2 3/4 inch 70mm shells. 34grams of no4 or no3 kills even though gamebirds like guinifowl stone dead.

 

[Philip Glass]

If you were buying one shotgun to hunt the world, what would you buy?

Let's think this is mainly for bird hunting so waterfowl and walked up shooting to high volume doves in Latin America. So, some parameters:

1) Chamber
Let's limit this to a 3" chamber as 3.5" seems relatively rarely used and if you want slug for pigs in the brush or camp gun, there is little a 3" Brenneke Magnum won't deal with. ALso 3.5" in a semi can cut out some of the lighter birdshot loads
2) Barrel length
24"- 26" multichoke and maybe a shorter iron sighted barrel

Semi-auto or pump?

Semi-auto: Faster follow-ups, legally a bit easier (In France for example, pumps are a pain to own), possibly more fragile / tougher to fix "in the bush"

Pump-action: Not so ammo sensitive, Some places legally tougher, easy to maintain and simple to fix

So, which would you go for and what model?

Scrummy

For me pumps are yesterday’s news. I would highly suggest a Beretta or Benelli and I would get the one with 3.5” chamber t add versatility. The Berettas are what I have and love and will be getting more.

 

[Scrumbag]

For me pumps are yesterday’s news. I would highly suggest a Beretta or Benelli and I would get the one with 3.5” chamber t add versatility. The Berettas are what I have and love and will be getting more.

There is something to be said for the gun that can shoot everything... Though I think I'd prefer a Maxus to a Beretta...

 

[spike.t]

Benelli ...got a lovely one with 18 inch barrel and 8 shot mag tube...iron sights and multi choke......perfect for use in uk.....

 

[spike.t]

But for practicality and the legal issues in certain countries.. .a browning or beretta ou or the new benelli ou looks interesting when I looked at couple here in the gun shop....

 

[Scrumbag]

Benelli ...got a lovely one with 18 inch barrel and 8 shot mag tube...iron sights and multi choke......perfect for use in uk.....

I do have a Benelli Supernova pump action with 24" rifle sighted barrel and a mag tube extension...

Also got a Burris FastFireIII (2MOA dot) on a SpeedBead...

 

[spike.t]

I do have a Benelli Supernova pump action with 24" rifle sighted barrel and a mag tube extension...

Also got a Burris FastFireIII (2MOA dot) on a SpeedBead...

Had one of those but sold it long time ago..my one is m1 super 90 I think it's model designation is....had long time . Great semi auto with the short barrel....after one missfeed when first got it ...think as was new it's never failed to feed again....and I am not greatest at that cleaning thing.......

 

[Scrumbag]

Yeah, cleaning is not always fun...

 

[Piet-Skiet]

Especially if it is a rem 1100 with all those sharp corners in the receiver. That gun has been properly blooded both on doves and my own. I am running a torture test on the A400. So far i am at 400 rounds without cleaning. Going to the freestate next month for a week of dove and pigeon shooting. They claim 10 000 rounds without cleaning. Want too see if 2000 can be done with zero maintance

 

[Scrumbag]

Especially if it is a rem 1100 with all those sharp corners in the receiver. That gun has been properly blooded both on doves and my own. I am running a torture test on the A400. So far i am at 400 rounds without cleaning. Going to the freestate next month for a week of dove and pigeon shooting. They claim 10 000 rounds without cleaning. Want too see if 2000 can be done with zero maintance

Blimey! Brave quote...