doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Modern clays SxS

The other day, a friend and I were talking about modern SxSs for sporting clays. This got me thinking about what's currently available.

I don't have any interest in an RBL, a Merkel or putting choke tubes into a Win. M-21. This narrows the field quite a bit to modern Spanish or Italian guns.

Here are the requirements we came up with for a clays gun: It should be heavy and durable, 32" barrels, flush choke tubes, double triggers, nice wood and overall good looks, splinter fore arm, PoW grip, modern long dimensions, flat pigeon rib, etc.

We think that they can probably be made "reasonably" by some of the Continental makers: Poli, Fausti, AyA, etc.

Any opinions of these or other manufacturers and models would be welcome.

Fausti makes a very good SxS, their higher grade guns are excellant!!!

Take another look at the RBL. Great value for what it'll be used for. And you could get the adjustable comb. It'll beat anything comparable in price you're going to get from Europe.

I hear that they just changed management at Fausti USA. Don't know how this may effect service/warranty work in the States. May be no problem. I do like the looks of their guns.

Mark if you have ruled out the RBL entirely, Fausti has changed things around and are backing up their guns. They made a big mistake relying on others to do the warranty work for them, not any more.

Mark,

AYA has a dedicated pigeon shotgun that matches your description, the Model 56. Somehow expensive in my view (EU 11650), but not far from its equivalent O&U of similar pedigree and purpose, like the Perazzi and Kemen. I own an AYA model 53 which is a compromise between a field and a ring shotgun (EU 6077); currently it is my pigeon gun. It can be customised with a flat file, pistol grip and 32" barrels.

Regards

Steve Barnett currently has a 34" Poli and there is a 32" AYA 56 at Fieldsport. My vote would be the Poli, I have gotten the chance to handle a few and they all feel great between the hands.

Actually , anything of quality and durable that fits you is an excellent gun. The old Browning BSS is excellent for a hammerless and of course the choices go up from there. I won the Texas State Side x Side event in 2010 with my 1910 Vintage
Cashmore Hammergun. It fits well and is a 32 in bbl ex Pigeon
gun.
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Yes I also wanted to say the BSS. There was a 30" on Gunbroker not to long ago. Also how about a WinchesterHeavy Duck? They had 30" barrels and can take a pounding.

I looked at the AyA 56. It would fit the bill. A new one is pricey, the used one at Fieldsport may have been made at at time when AyA was having metal hardening problems. I already have vintage pigeon guns, just wanted something modern. If I mentioned modifying a Mod 21 on this board, I'd get crucified, besides I'm not enthusiastic about their handling characteristics.