this should get interesting

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brybenn

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Which company makes the best sxs for the money when it comes to Spanish and Italian sxs guns? I'm not looking for Holland and Holland status but a well built beautiful light fast handling sxs that you would be proud to own and pass down.
AYA
Airretta
Fausti
Rizzini
Grulla
Uggy
The list goes on and gets much harder to spell
All gauges considered but mostly 28 ga and 410
 
For the money, in my opinion, Ugartechea side lock. I have one, and it is not as nice as my friends Arrieta or AyA, but has all the same features, dimensions and handling characteristics at a much better price point.
 
I have checked out Ugarchea, Grulla, Rizzini and AYA, and I prefer AYA for value for my money. I actually just had a new 28 gauge number 2 round body built, and I am waiting for it to arrive from Spain. I already have a number 2 round body in 20 gauge that I purchased used, and it is well made, and a pleasure to shoot. I like Grulla, perhaps even more, but the higher price turned me away.I decided against Ugarchea, because I absolutely refuse to deal with Bilozir again, after past experiences. I felt that Rizzini was a noticeable step down compared to AYA.
 
dilly said:
AyA number 2 round body is a beautiful gun...not as inexpensive as they once were.
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I paid well under half the price of a new one for my 20 gauge number 2 round body in 98% condition. Since I ordered the 28gauge, the price has gone up considerably, but my gun was paid for, so the price was locked down. Prophet River actually has some nice number 2 shotguns in stock. They also have some nice Grullas, but I couldn't justify the cost. And seeing your avatar, I will be using my AYA as I hunt over my Drahthaar.
 
stubblejumper said:
I paid well under half the price of a new one for my 20 gauge number 2 round body in 98% condition. Since I ordered the 28gauge, the price has gone up considerably, but my gun was paid for, so the price was locked down. Prophet River actually has some nice number 2 shotguns in stock. They also have some nice Grullas, but I couldn't justify the cost. And seeing your avatar, I will be using my AYA as I hunt over my Drahthaar.
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We have a 410 and a 28 in a No 2, both are very nice but the little 410 is 'sweet'!

http://store.prophetriver.com/aya-n...finish-english-scroll-engraving-initial-oval/
 
The AYA's I have owned all had plugs in the stocks where they were balanced and then checkered, he Ugartecheas have no such plugs.
They are finished then the stocks are taken off and balanced from the front of the stock. The result is a perfectly clean checkering job on the butt stock.
That is one reason why I prefer the Ugartecheas over the AYA's.
However, some of the upper model Rizzinis and Beretta side locks are also very incredibly well made.
Cat
 
I was fortunate enough to go to Eibar twice with a friend in the gun business. I got to know some of the makers and while they appear to be independent there is also a great deal of cooperation among them. For example they jointly own the forge that makes the frames and barrels and are all part of government-sponsored apprenticeship programs.

AyA and Ugartechea are both larger makes with a broader product line. I've never quite felt their best guns always matched up against those from the smaller makers when looking at examples of each at the same time.

The smaller makers such as Grulla, Garbi and Arrieta make only sidelocks and are more often producing custom work. They produce fewer guns, can be more selective on who they hire and their products generally are slightly nicer. Among the three smaller makers I don't think there is anything to distinguish one over the other when comparing guns of the same price range.
 
Eibar gunmakers are all very small manufacturers now, down to making hundreds of guns per year, not thousands.
AyA is a shadow of its former self.
With rising costs for hand work they have all abandoned any modestly priced products. They are essentially custom gunmakers now.
 
I was stupid enough to be in Eibar before I got interested in guns. What a wasted opportunity! Despite my smart ass comment above, I would echo Claybuster's comments and personally I would lean toward Grulla.
 
Has anyone owned or shot a Ferlach? I've only seen their rifles but i've seen pics of their shotguns. I know they are austrian.
I'm thinking about downsizing a lot on everything I own and just buy a few nice higher end quality guns. That 410 prophet has and the Grulla 28 are what got me thinking about it actually
 
brybenn said:
Has anyone owned or shot a Ferlach? I've only seen their rifles but i've seen pics of their shotguns. I know they are austrian.
I'm thinking about downsizing a lot on everything I own and just buy a few nice higher end quality guns. That 410 prophet has and the Grulla 28 are what got me thinking about it actually
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The Grulla windsor grade has a piece of walnut from NZ that we send them. the old silverfinish and the black walnut really look outstanding in person... :)
 
brybenn said:
Has anyone owned or shot a Ferlach? I've only seen their rifles but i've seen pics of their shotguns. I know they are austrian.
I'm thinking about downsizing a lot on everything I own and just buy a few nice higher end quality guns. That 410 prophet has and the Grulla 28 are what got me thinking about it actually
Click to expand...

Ferlach is a town in Austria, not a gun making firm. A Ferlach rifle or shotgun is one made by one of the many craftsmen who live there. It is the home of gunmaking in Austria and the site of the national proof house.
 
Prophet River said:
The Grulla windsor grade has a piece of walnut from NZ that we send them. the old silverfinish and the black walnut really look outstanding in person... :)
Click to expand...

It is a beautiful gun, and it fits me perfectly, but now that I am retired, it isn't in my price range. If I win the lottery, it would be among my first purchases. However, until then, the AYA at less than half the price will just have to do.
 
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