Who Shoots an XXV shotgun?

Savage 110 Carbon Tactical - Unmatched Precision - Viking Arms
TringSaint said:
Ah, so that’s why my hearing is buggered!
Click to expand...
Ah! I had a client in Paris once who early on said to me that she was deaf in the left ear and could I stand to her right when I spoke to her. A nice lady in her sixties or so with an Ulster accent. "Did you do a lot of shooting with sub machine guns I asked?" "No, no, no," she said. And then relented and revealed that she'd been a weapons instructor for the RUC for some twenty years before retirement. It's always almost a "tell" left ear deafness for having been a long term shooter of short barrelled shoulder weapons.
 
That's a nice looking gun at Holts. I should think it would suit a smaller chap better than a large gent. At least that's who seem to have them (and similar guns) in my humble experience. Although assuming you can get used to it, they aren't as heavy as your usual Beretta or Browning, so for walked-up days, where there's more walking than shooting they are ideal. Or perhaps for someone who is maybe getting on in years. I've seen one used on high birds and the shorter barrels and 2 1/2" chambers don't seem to be a great disadvantage though.
 
Just a word of warning last stock I had extended, in wood, cost me £175 "in the trade" and raising barrel dents isn't cheap plus if it has been shot with the dent in place for a while the metal there may be quite thin. With the impending imposition of steel shot I'd steer clear of any gun that needs work on the barrels as there are, simply, so many that don't need work that you can easily pass on those that do. Plus Southam's catalogue is due any day now.
 
Pedro said:
Or perhaps for someone who is maybe getting on in years. I've seen one used on high birds and the shorter barrels and 2 1/2" chambers don't seem to be a great disadvantage though.
Click to expand...
My late father shot nothing else but his 2 1/2" chamber Henry Clarke 12 bore (it was a twelfth birthday present from his father to him in 1919) in his early days to late middle age and used latterly 1 1/8 ounce of Sellier and Bellot Mark II English #5. He never felt handicapped at either Woburn or Kedleston.
 
I have an aya 25 sidelock 20 bore, I love it as does almost everyone who picks it up, however that doesn't mean they can hit everything with it! Though most actually can! I shoot everything with it ducks, crows, pigeons, I even managed left and right greylag geese last season, chokes, cyl- quarter, go for it mate I hope you like it as much as I do😃
 
2 1/2” 25” ribless barreled Alex MartinIMG_7159.jpegIMG_7170.jpegIMG_7144.jpeg

One of the real benefits of shorter barrels for walked up shooting is that your muzzles are a long way off the ground. I am 6ft and with 30” barrels I very conscious of catching them in heather, mud etc when carrying the gun broken in crook of your arm.
 
Heym SR20 said:
2 1/2” 25” ribless barreled Alex MartinView attachment 326638View attachment 326639View attachment 326640

One of the real benefits of shorter barrels for walked up shooting is that your muzzles are a long way off the ground. I am 6ft and with 30” barrels I very conscious of catching them in heather, mud etc when carrying the gun broken in crook of your arm.
Click to expand...
Wow! I am 🤢 with envy! I saw one in the late 1970s when I went to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and used that to call in at Alex Martin. They had one. The first and pretty much the last I'd actually held and handled. Sadly I didn't (see another thread on SD) I didn't use that chance to smell it. It didn't seem to be the habit then. But nowadays it is de rigeur I hear. So congratulations on owning something rare and desirable and if you are ever passing through Leicestershire can I, please, please, please, be allowed to smell it? To close that otherwise open circle?
 
My first gun was a 26" No 4 AYA, based on reading Churchill's book as a teenager, I now shoot 27" barrels.

As yet I haven’t owned a 25" Churchill 25” - but can I ask that this thread is locked immediately, all this posting lovely guns at low prices is hard to resist :evil:
 
enfieldspares said:
Wow! I am 🤢 with envy! I saw one in the late 1970s when I went to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and used that to call in at Alex Martin. They had one. The first and pretty much the last I'd actually held and handled. Sadly I didn't (see another thread on SD) I didn't use that chance to smell it. It didn't seem to be the habit then. But nowadays it is de rigeur I hear. So congratulations on owning something rare and desirable and if you are ever passing through Leicestershire can I, please, please, please, be allowed to smell it? To close that otherwise open circle?
Click to expand...
Better than smelling it. Get yourself north and will let you shoot it. I have a load of Alex Martin paper cartridges which I shoot occassionally. The smell is superb. Drop me a pm and will send you one.
 
enfieldspares said:
Ah! I had a client in Paris once who early on said to me that she was deaf in the left ear and could I stand to her right when I spoke to her. A nice lady in her sixties or so with an Ulster accent. "Did you do a lot of shooting with sub machine guns I asked?" "No, no, no," she said. And then relented and revealed that she'd been a weapons instructor for the RUC for some twenty years before retirement. It's always almost a "tell" left ear deafness for having been a long term shooter of short barrelled shoulder weapons.
Click to expand...
I have the double issue of having developed permanent tinnitus in both ears (well it’s not really in your ears as the sound is actually in your head but seems like it relates to your ears!) which came about following a nasty gastric virus.

As the chundering and explosive excrement subsided I was left, initially, with the sound of water sloshing from side to side and then after a month it turned into a high pitch ringing which, annoyingly, is a slightly different pitch on either side of my head!!

Most of the time I don’t notice it, but if I am ill (esp with a cold), really tired or have had a few then it’s gets much louder!
The only thing that muffles it is exposure to loud noises, so it’s a great excuse to play Metallica et al at high volume in the car!
 
Heym SR20 said:
Better than smelling it. Get yourself north and will let you shoot it. I have a load of Alex Martin paper cartridges which I shoot occassionally. The smell is superb. Drop me a pm and will send you one.
Click to expand...
That's really kind, thank you, but I'll keep the memory I think. I went to Martin's again back in about 2015 (or at least what had succeeded to Martin's). Just before it was due to close I think? A shadow of what it was and i wished I hadn't gone as the memory was now spoiled.
 
enfieldspares said:
That's really kind, thank you, but I'll keep the memory I think. I went to Martin's again back in about 2015 (or at least what had succeeded to Martin's). Just before it was due to close I think? A shadow of what it was and i wished I hadn't gone as the memory was now spoiled.
Click to expand...
I know exactly what you mean. Dickson’s have now moved everything to their place at Dunkeld and that is a pretty good place to visit.
 
enfieldspares said:
It may even have been Dixon's that I went to in 2015 given that Martin's, Dixon's, all seem to have swallowed each other?

Click to expand...
Yes it was Dickson’s and MacNaughton on Frederick Street that you went to. Principle reason for shutting Edinburgh shop is very high level of rates that Edinburgh Clown Council charge retail businesses in the city centre.

They are doing well with a good order book for new guns. Most of their clients for new guns are from overseas - US in particular but you are looking at an expensive motor car in terms of cost. But they have a steady level of repair business. Full history etc on their website.

There was a lot of consolidation of the Edinburgh and Scottish guntrade as makers retired and hung up their tools. More details at

www.john-dickson.com

John Dickson and Son - Gun Smiths

John Dickson famous for the Round Action, a unique Scottish trigger plate mechanism and The James MacNaughton Bar In Wood arguably one of the most elegant designs ever made. A number of gun makers including Alex Henry, Daniel Fraser, Alex Martin and Mortimer & son are part of the John Dickson brand.
www.john-dickson.com

The Dickson Round Action, was first built by McNaughton based on the German / Austrian trigger plate action as used in Ferlach and Suhl. McNaughton had a German gunmaker working for them.
 
enfieldspares said:
Wow! I am 🤢 with envy! I saw one in the late 1970s when I went to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and used that to call in at Alex Martin. They had one. The first and pretty much the last I'd actually held and handled. Sadly I didn't (see another thread on SD) I didn't use that chance to smell it. It didn't seem to be the habit then. But nowadays it is de rigeur I hear. So congratulations on owning something rare and desirable and if you are ever passing through Leicestershire can I, please, please, please, be allowed to smell it? To close that otherwise open circle?
Click to expand...
Handled and enjoyed the fragrances of an alex Martin sidelock with Celtic strapwork which was a lovely gun in all senses.👍
 
boltgun said:
Nothing like the pungent aromas emitted from an older cartridge on a frosty morning on ejection especially if rough shooting I find, mmm.
Click to expand...
It’s very evocative. For me it brings memories of tramping through the African bush after my Pa shooting guinea fowl. I was aged about 3 1/2!
 
Heym SR20 said:
It’s very evocative. For me it brings memories of tramping through the African bush after my Pa shooting guinea fowl. I was aged about 3 1/2!
Click to expand...
Yes definitely. Mine is walking shallow beck sides for snipe with flow never froze in hard weather and a snipe magnet used .410
Cannot remember how old but not old enough for certain.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Sold: AYA XXV, 12g Shotgun
Replies
16
Views
3K
SuffolkStag
S
  • Locked
For Sale: Mint - AYA xxv, 12g, boxlock ejector,
2
Replies
28
Views
3K
karamoja
K
Buying From Holt’s Auction
2
Replies
33
Views
3K
Freightdog
Freightdog
Bang flop vs Bang ‘wtf’ 😳 & an old dog saves the day!
2
Replies
31
Views
2K
John Gryphon
John Gryphon
Sold: AYA No. 4 Boxlock Ejector 12 Bore Shotgun
2
Replies
32
Views
3K
Krabryn
Krabryn
Shooting Supplies : Ammo - Reloading - Firearms - Optics - Accessories
Back
Top