Kyrie: My question to you is, which of the Spanish guns would you recommend and which ones would you avoid? Thanks, Buzz
There really isn't an answer to that question. Spanish gun makers make guns that generally fall in a range that runs from light game guns ('carried much, shot little'), through medium game guns (driven game; 'carried little, shot much'), to competition guns (think live pigeon; made to be shot a hundred thousand plus times a year).
The first thing to do when considering a Spanish shotgun is to decide, on that continuum, what kind of gun you want. Next step is to learn the physical and mechanical characteristics of the gun you want so you can recognize your gun when you see it.
Next step is to decide on the level of ornamentation you want. The limit here is your imagination and your wallet.
The maker is largely irrelevant, as they all make the same range of guns. It may be easier to get a specific type of gun from one maker rather than another, because makers do tend to lean toward specific places in the continuum. Purely as examples, Arrieta tends to lean toward light game guns. Grulla tends to lean toward medium game guns. AyA also tends toward light game guns, but catalogs an excellent competition gun (the Mdl 56). But any maker will make a gun to any point on the continuum.
Another approach is to buy a used gun, especially in Spain right now. There are some fabulous deals to be had, given the economic situation in Spain.
But here are some examples of light, medium, and competition guns.
Light game gun by Ascensio Zabala (6.25 pounds, 12 gauge):
Ornamentation is about midrange:
Medium game gun by Martin Ugarteburu (seven and a half pound 12 gauge gun):
Ornamentation is above average, approaching top end:
Live pigeon gun by Victor Sarasqueta (eight plus pound 16 gauge):
Very plain gun:
I bought both the Zabala and the Sarasqueta here in the US, at auction, for under $300 and just under $600, respectively. I bought the Ugarteburu in Spain, for 900 Euro.
When thinking of buying a Spanish shotgun, think like you were buying a golf club. Buy the club that will best do the specific job you have in mind.
Hope this helps some.
