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Which would be a better 16 gauge selective-single-trigger side-by-side ?

Merkel or AYA ?

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Single selective trigger? Perish the thought!

I like the AYA, but do make sure it fits you before spending the money. I'm tall...apparently Spaniards are short...

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Currently have several side-by-sides both with single selective trigger and also with double triggers.

Do not recall ever deciding to shoot the tighter choke first in the field, so the speed in selecting the barrel is not of concern to me.

Enjoy shooting side-by-sides on the trap range where the tighter choke is what I want for singles whereas the more open choke is what I want first on doubles.

My scores are higher with the single trigger.

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Merkel - if it fits - AYA is maybe a little prettier someways but depending on vintage I'd be leery of the selective trigger

in any event for use it's a matter of fit not brand but I'd always pick the Merkel for rugged and reliable - but a nice AYA looks as good as it gets in any company.

I've had both but they were double trigger models. Most of the differences are in style, not function. Pick the one that you like the best and enjoy!

Merkal

Unlike Hammer1, I have shot hundreds of real birds by using the left trigger to choose the tighter choke.

I hate single triggers for bird hunting, and find that any sort of clay target game isn't the same as field shooting.

Since there has to be one in every crowd... I'd suggest passing on both and finding yourself a vintage LC Smith.

REALLY..... I threw up in my mouth a little when I read that...


A proper shotgun has two triggers..that is all you need to know....

Maybe... but you really do need to stop yanking them both at once.

I have both, and there are so many grades. The AYA is clubbier than the Merkel as a rule. There are always exceptions.

My experience is limited to having owned 3 Merkels and two AYAs, so it is limited. I think the good Spanish guns are better values, but I prefer the German guns. I have had some problems with the AYAs...triggers on both and safety on one. I've never had any of my German guns fail me...ever.

I like my AYA 28 gauge with two, count 'em two, triggers quite a bit although the bluing and case coloring are wearing off a little sooner than I'd like. I guess I don't care all that much since it's from 5 years of good honest use hunting mountain grouse.

Hammer1, haven't used the back trigger (tighter choke) first in the field? Man I do it all the time. If my springer gets birdy at 25 yards and I can tell a flush is eminent, I think to myself "if he's out there, get on the back trigger". When the bird comes up the first and likely only shot's gunna be 35 yards. More of an improved cylinder to modified than a cylinder shot. And, it usually happens way faster than I could ever use a barrel/trigger selector switching mechanism. Brings to mind the old phrase "keep it simple stupid".

I like SXS's a lot. Good to see that you appreciate them as well.

I would go with the German gun for the prestige factor alone.

No single triggers for me on side by sides. To each his own.

Consider the 20 ga. With a 3" chamber they are effective yet handle and look so well.

The Bernadelli and Ugartechea's that I have are good guns. Consider one of those brands.

Always disapppointed that Bernadelli insisted on those short barrels. Had a nice Uberto 2 28 gauge but those short barrels (25" IIRC) sucked so it went down the road. I need 28" barrels minimum on my sxs's. Oh, and two triggers are preferred too.

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No doubt most folks, maybe all, here have far more experience in the field with shotguns than I do.

I have spent most of my life with rifles and handguns. While I have owned shotguns for 40+ years and shot them some over the same time period, the serious study of shotguns is relatively new to me.

From what I've read from the gun writers on this forum, most of my guns are choked tighter than y'all care for.

For example, my 32-inched barreled Winchester Model 21 is choked full and extra-full.

My L C Smith is full and extra-full.

Think my Lefever is improved-modified and full.

These are not just the markings but are from measuring the bore and the choke constriction and shooting on patterning boards.

Think the only open chokes I have on side-by-sides are on modern models with screw-in chokes like the Beretta 471 Silverhawk. But I still carry tight chokes in both barrels in it since I am used to tight chokes.

I grew up in country that would lend itself to cylinder and improved-cylinder chokes.

Where I live now the pheasants typically fly a long distance in the open before heading into cover so tighter chokes seem appropriate.


My relative inexperience with shotguns is why I ask so many questions on the topic. I continue to read as much as I can about shotguns and shotgun ballistics in books, magazines, and other sources. Also I shoot shotguns every day that I can. My wife wishes I would go back to the rifled barrel as they are much cheaper than the smooth bore.


Someone has hinted that every member of my family is giving me a different book on shotguns and shotgunning for Christmas so I will not be a pest for a few days.


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They are both excellent makers. Be sure the Brenardelli is a Vincenzo Bernardelli. There is another one, and their guns are vastly inferior to the V. Bernardellis.

Which two AYA models have you owned?

Unless one is talking about lower end guns like AYA Matadors, etc which were spec'd for the American market and are a bit heavy and ungainly- the normal English styled AYA models of ANY grade- no4 boxlocks through no. 1 Sidelocks etc handle very well.

AYA traditional builds there guns scale to each gauge. They are as light or lighter for each guage than any Merkel.
The Merkels are great guns, but in terms of mass and balance, I do not see them as being superior at all to an AYA.

Maybe you're just not buying the right rifles???

+1

I had a similar reaction but was trying to be genteel about an otherwise tawdry suggestion...

Thanks a lot luv2safari.

First on here and I find out that a 82 yo guy can out run me, then I am told that barrels under 28" are undesirable and now my Bernadelli is suspect. I never heard that before about them. Oh well.

Mine is stamped V.BERNADELLI on its barrels and GARDONE V.T-MADE IN ITALY. On the underside of its short 27.5" barrels and boxlock frame its marked VICENZO BERNADELLI.

As to barrel length on SxS's I prefer the handling of shorter barrels. My favorite shotgun, that I have used for a very long time is my Sauer drilling with 24" barrels. Also the Ugartechia has 24" barrels. That's what I would rather have however this Bernadelli is light and handles well also.

I'm betting you've retired to fixed power scopes too..

Chui is spot on..........That's twice in two days! Biorhythms must be good this week. The Poobah exhibits knowledge above his station.

She has two triggers . . . .

Took me 10 seconds to realize she was a blonde..

If you insist on a single selective trigger, get the Merkel. The Spanish SxS single triggers can be troublesome.

jim

One was a 12ga sidelock and quite heavy. The other was in fact a matador. The workmanship was good on both.

I have shot German guns so much of my life, I guess I'm used to them...seem natural to me.

I would never kick an AYA out of bed.

There are two inferior Bernardellis. One is marked "Pietro Bernardelli" or "P. Bernardelli". The other is "Santini Bernardell".

I ordered a P. Bernardelli double about 19 years ago. It was really poorly constructed; I looked at it for about 10 seconds before sending it back for a refund.

--Bob

1. I like a single trigger better.

2. I started to buy a Merkel 1620 with a pistol grip earlier this year but could not get my thumb around the grip because the comb was so close to the opening lever.

3. I would never buy a spanish sxs with a single trigger because Jack @ Chuck's says they are not reliable.

Indeed, I love Basque guns, but alas their achilles heel would be single triggers. Having said that, I think you should buy one and get double triggers. IMO, no gun in their price range bests them for handling. Would you buy a sports car with an automatic transmission? By the way NO-ONE make a single trigger as dependable as a double trigger. Do it. Join the cognoscenti.

Good info. The P. Bernardellis are the most common of the non-VBs.

The V. Bernardelli guns are vastly superior and are world class guns, IMO.