This configuration constitutes the ideal early season grouse/pheasant gun, IMO. I recently bought the side lock version of the same gun. Like Brybenn, I'd pay $1000 for it, but I'm kinda turned off by that inch and a quarter length-of-pull.
AYA value
- Thread starter Grouser
- Start date
I find it strange that we turn our noses up at barrels that are about 4 or 5 inches shorter than the current trend on a very well made and attractive gun and then discuss in several threads which Turkish or Chinese coach gun is best...LOL
Falconflyer
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Side by sides with double triggers are only cool to a small demographic anymore.
I suppose you are right. Could always saw it down to 18.5" and paint it flat black. That would open up a whole new market.
Agreed, but the OP likely isn't asking for $350 like the huglu or Norinco is.
Thank you all for your opinions . I shot 2 rounds of low gun skeet with it on Sunday (when I say low gun I mean low -- belt level parallel with the ground as I do with all clay games. Anyway I shot a 47 with it so Ill be keeping it. What I read about the raised rib and barrel configuration the 25 " were unnoticed. s to comparing it to CZ and Huglu, --- had both and they are simply not in the same league. Cheers, John
...and that couldn't be more strange even if it was Turdo's idea. When I see a single trigger on a gun offered for sale, even on a gun configured exactly the way I want otherwise, I immediately look elsewhere. I own 25 shotguns presently. Only 2 are single triggered - both of those are competition guns.
Same with pistol grip stocks. I'm only interested in straight stocked guns, except for competition guns (both competition guns are pistol grips). I would stick to straight stocks even on competition guns, but good luck finding one.
Falconflyer
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I have both double and single triggers, my competition guns as well as over and under hunting guns are all pistol grip with single triggers but most of my side by sides are double trigger with straight stocks. I have a couple of pistol grip double trigger side by side jobs but I do think that if you have double triggers then you should have a straight stock, I'm not a fan of pistol gripped double triggers. And I can switch from a single to a double trigger without too much trouble.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
I have a gorgeous AYA #1 that has only one thing wrong with it - it is fitted with a single trigger. In my opinion a traditional double should have fixed chokes, standard length chambers and double triggers. A minority opinion but based on a fair bit of experience. I once owned an AYA XXV sidelock similar to the one discussed here except with the more expensive sidelocks. I used it with no complaints for a few years, and sold it for $2350. I also prefer longer barrels but didn't find the 25" barrels a handicap on the XXV, Churchill was right about his tapered rib and short barrels, at least for close range upland birds.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
Pretty sure the tapered, raised rib was just a marketing gimmick, but I liked it on the one I had.
As I understand it, the rib idea is about perspective. The view down the sight picture of the average side by side is of two round tubes getting narrower and narrower towards the bead. Between the two barrels is the rib (also appearing to narrow towards the bead). Most of us are familiar with the standard rib - roughly 1/2 an inch wide. These ribs are wider at the top (down the sight plane), and thinner below where they are soldered to the barrels.
Robert Churchill's inverted rib is flipped over so the wide part is soldered to the barrels and the narrow side becomes the sight plane. His idea was that the narrower rib would have the effect of making the barrels appear longer and make it look similar to the prevailing designs of the day, and thus more instinctive and less weird feeling to have the shorter barrels.
I acquired my XXV side lock during the winter, so I have yet to shoot it to see if this works. I'll be a bit surprised if it makes much of a difference.
I've had a few Spanish side by sides including AYA with the 25" barrels and Churchill rib, and I shoot my guns - some more than others. The only one I currently own is a 20 gauge original EJ Churchill Regal XXV from 1959 and I have two of his books, one of which details the Churchill shooting system. It is a form of quick instinctive snap shooting, never pre mounted, that does not adapt well to longer, heavier barrelled guns or to the more deliberate shooting style favoured by most shooters today. These light centre weighted XXV guns, well made by any good maker are wonderfully effective on game birds but the shooting style must be learned and practiced to be effective. They do not respond well to the more deliberate style most of us use on a sporting clays or skeet range.
I do not shoot any competition, but what i do it would be ideal, other than the LOP????
Before i moved my shooting was at magpies and pigeons, skunks in the yard, and this was the type I used, or a IBA custom skeet gun I picked up on a trade one time, and regret selling.
I like short barrels for that kind of thing.
Great gun and as someone said, a full picture would be nice
Before i moved my shooting was at magpies and pigeons, skunks in the yard, and this was the type I used, or a IBA custom skeet gun I picked up on a trade one time, and regret selling.
I like short barrels for that kind of thing.
Great gun and as someone said, a full picture would be nice
