Bill, I would be delighted to pass on my experience. I call it a poor man's Dickson round action. The sears are on the trigger plate, but not the whole "action", so Kirk called it a quasi round action. Anyone who has worked on it is impressed (including two ACGG members) with the ingenuity, simplicity, and strength: double rifles of fairly stout caliber are built on it with no modification.
It is my only upland gun, and I now have two in 16 ga. I have shot everything except turkeys with it, and will try that shortly. I also shoot targets with it: not in competition, but for fun out at the property as we have two Lincoln throwers.
I love the roundbody in my hand, as my main upland hunting trip of the year is to the Sandhills of Nebraska, which entails a LOT of walking/hiking. That lack of sharp action edges in my hand is really easy to get used to, and appreciated whenever and wherever I carry the gun. Both guns come in at 5lbs14oz, and handle like Ferraris. Great balance between the hands, svelte (I love the lines of the top of the action unbroken by a top lever), points like a kid blaming his brother, and has the retractable sling that comes in VERY handy.
We that love them are fortunate that there is a lot of snooty sneering at things French- means a better selection and less competition. They are still rather scarce this side of the pond, and to get what I wanted I had to bring both of mine over from France. I am looking for my third 16, the highest grade they offered, and have a set of barrels in the white that won't work for the No. 5 I bought them for, but will work on the 314. So I may some day perhaps have the only Ideal in the world with three sets of barrels. They are choked quite tight from the factory, but they pattern beautifully with my 3/4 oz reloads thus the second set of barrels.
As to parts, it is one of the best aspects of owning Ideals- most parts are still readily available- just have to go to the French auction site and convince the seller to let you have it (they can be reluctant to ship international). I've purchased two sets of 16 ga barrels in the white, and there is currently even a 16 ga action in the white up for sale.
I could go on, but I think you get the point. PM me your number if you wish, and I'll answer anything else I can.
Mike
