Shotgun?

bish789

Well-Known Member
I've got a co-terminous certificate as it was cheaper to do it that way.
Thing is, shotguns have never done a lot for me, but feel I should at least get one.
Doubt i'll ever use it for hunting so don't want to spend loads.
I can get a Baikal 18-10 single barrel 12b for £50.
I don't mind redoing the stock if necessary, and the seller reckons there's no rust or pitting.
Question is, in my position, what would others do?
I know it's my decision but if anyone out there has one of these i'd be interested to hear their thoughts.
 
That single barrel Baikal will last you all your life - and your children's lives! So many of us started with them. Why not push the boat out and get one with two barrels, for, probably, not twice the money. I found the double barrelled model much handier for hitting in fenceposts, paddling canoes, straining wire etc. Go for broke bish. Live high. But most of all, have fun.
Good hunting.
 
I've got a co-terminous certificate as it was cheaper to do it that way.
Thing is, shotguns have never done a lot for me, but feel I should at least get one.
Doubt i'll ever use it for hunting so don't want to spend loads.
I can get a Baikal 18-10 single barrel 12b for £50.
I don't mind redoing the stock if necessary, and the seller reckons there's no rust or pitting.
Question is, in my position, what would others do?
I know it's my decision but if anyone out there has one of these i'd be interested to hear their thoughts.


You get what you pay for, if it is not your thing then keep your cash in the bag.....

Shot guns are much for of a fit thing, you might not have it in you to swing it as I needs to be done.

I enjoy what I do with mine as it fill the whole year as there are far more pigeons, wildfowl, game birds than Deer....

Tim.243
 
A shotgun is always a handy thing to have. Personally speaking, much as though I'd like to spend more time stalking, at least 80% of my shooting is with a shotgun. I'd prefer a double barrel of some description over a single shot. You should probably be able to find a solid Spanish boxlock side by side for £1-200,
 
I use my rifles much more than my shotgun and in fact didn't have one for a couple of years. As Tim said, there is much more quarry for a shotgun that there is deer. So I got one a couple months back, just a 12 bore Essex side by side, and it's great to have one again.
Do I use it a lot? No, but it'll see more use over summer and for the price of the thing it's nice to have in the cabinet.
I'd go for it mate. I'd lean towards a double of some kind personally or a pump action, the latter can be had pretty cheap for good names as they are out of favour.

Make sure it fits nicely and plug away.
 
Thanks all.
If I was really interested 100% I'd by an O/U.
Seen them from about £150, with some RFD's doing them for £100+
I'd do the stock up myself if necessary, and tart it up if needed.
Like stuff not to look too battered and unloved, whilst saving some "battle scars"
 
This begs the question, if you haven't really a use for a shotgun, then why have one? However, I guess you have an occasional use for one. If I was only going to have one, I'd go for something that is a jack of all trades. Which is a double barrel O/U or S/S. That way, you can use it on vermin, pigeons, clays or whatever and can also be called into service should you have the chance of a rough shoot or driven day. As the Tartan Terrier says, there's often a half decent old gun around for not very much, just check in with your local gun shops, there'll likely be a part-ex or two he could do with moving on, which will be cheap especially if it's a non-ejector.
 
My Essex is as you described regards dings and dents and cost £85 from york guns. They have loads of stuff between £50-150.

Thanks jim
i'll have a look in York Guns tomorrow if they're open. Couple of weeks ago they had a Baikal O/U in very good condition for £175
Swillington aren't open until Thursday.
 
I did the same cos it was only an extra tenner and to I've decades of air gun and rifle shooting I've rarely used a scattergun but now have 6 all cheapish for their type and different. Mostly SxS 10,12,20bore a 1876 English gun with Damascus barrels (£400 but bout the only way I was going have a nice English gun)
A no name Belgian folding 410 single barrel and a ruff old savage 12ga pump I was given

Still bottom feeding on any cheap but interesting scatterguns that show up
 
Just get a AYA Yeoman and go play on clays once a year, cheap, shoots well and you can take it out on the rain and now worry. great for squirrels at the end of the pheasant season and you never know you might actually like it.
 
Lots to think about. May buy the Baikal as a starting point and see what happens. York guns second hand options start at £400+, and is much more than I want to pay in case I don't like shotguns after I've shot them.
 
Single barrel Baikal at £50 is overpriced. A good side by side non ejector will be £150 or as low as £100 for a "continental".

Over and under, ejector, as said starts at £250 to £400.

Check stock length if you're tall as cost of that is £75 plus in most cases.
 
You can find Spanish o/u Lanbers etc for £100+ and same as Baikals etc.
Singles are worthless almost.
Wise words. at auctions I have heard of singles going for £5 for more than one gun as a lot. No one wants them. The only exception seems to be smaller bores which are still popular as youngsters starter guns.
get a cheap double or non eject o/u if you want to keep it cheap, someone will always take it off your hands if you decide to get rid.
 
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