Best live bird gun?

Discussion in 'Trapshooting Forum - Americantrapshooter.com' started by ChrisCross, Jan 3, 2019.

  1. ChrisCross

    ChrisCross Member

    I have never been to a live bird shoot. Maybe someday. If you were going to buy the best live bird gun out there....what would it be? How close in quality would #2, #3, and #4 choices be?

    How much money?
     
    Just Joe likes this.
  2. bill sparling

    bill sparling Active Member

    Fabbri....ummm 50k to 120K +, they are all very close, you asked "best" so imho thats the "best' I sure would not turn down a Purdy or H&H
     
    Jakearoo and Just Joe like this.
  3. Flyersarebest

    Flyersarebest Moderator Founding Member Forum Leader

    Tough pick. If you are dreaming money I would agree Fabbri. One of the best shooters I ever saw and shot against used a Model 21. If you said to any PA shooter the words, Model 21, his name would be the reply in about 1 second. JMO
     
    bill sparling likes this.
  4. History Seeker

    History Seeker A NoBody Founding Member Official Historian

    I suppose the best gun would be the one that fit you perfect, and not worry about the cost.
     
  5. Krieghoff-80

    Krieghoff-80 Well-Known Member

    When I first shot live birds in the early 70's you didn't have the selection you do today. I used a Model 32 Remington choked Full and Full. During the last shoot I participated in, I used a Perazzi Mirage. No matter what you use it will be fun.
     
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  6. bill sparling

    bill sparling Active Member

    Yeah, my hunting BSS or Citori will kill um just as good as my Perazzi, he really should have defined "best" a lot better. Long as it shoots where I look ;)
     
    History Seeker likes this.
  7. Roger Coveleskie

    Roger Coveleskie State HOF Founding Member Member State Hall of Fame

    I have an Antonio Zoli 12Ga. S X S engraved by master engraver Angelo Galeazzi, with the goddess of the hunt scene. Only five of these in the world. Guns unlimited has one new in box for $69500,00 Mine is 98% the engraving is magnificent.
    I'm thinking of disposing of mine. Roger C.
     
    bill sparling likes this.
  8. mudpack

    mudpack Mega Poster Founding Member

    Probably not one of the top five "best" live pigeon guns available, eh?
     
  9. Roger Coveleskie

    Roger Coveleskie State HOF Founding Member Member State Hall of Fame

    Zoli limits production to 20 units of the S X S a year. Angelo Galeazzi passed away several years ago, with only five made with this scene engraved on them. These are more art than gun, it will most likely be a rare collector item some day. Roger C.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 5, 2019
  10. Par4

    Par4 Well-Known Member

    Some shooters of those flying rats like a high shooting first barrel for the target which comes out of the box on the ground. Those who shoot those which are tossed by the spinning dancer do not prefer as high a POI for the first barrel. So if you are wanting to be competitive in both kinds of flyer action; you might want to special order your gun with two sets of barrels. Wood selection, engraving coverage and gold enlays are up to you. You could get by with about the same money as a new basic Perazzi Trap Combo gun if not looking to make an impression with your equipment selection. Just get a Perrazi instead of the high dollar stuff. You make the impression by killing more pigeons inside the ring than the others. Good luck!
     
  11. Sovrapposti

    Sovrapposti Well-Known Member

    I had best luck with my old Abbiatico Salvinelli pigeon gun, I had the stock made to shoot approx. 12" high @20 yard from the bottom barrel, the top barrel was regulated for approx. 6" lower than the bottom barrel. I can see quite a bit of the tramline rib when I mounted it. I enjoy seeing the feather flying above the barrel after I pull the trigger.

    A & S -a.JPG
     
    Jakearoo likes this.
  12. Gunsmith1012

    Gunsmith1012 New Member

    Krieghoff Model 32 San Remo. Full and Fuller chokes. The original design by Remington that brought us the great k80 was started by the flyer men of yesteryear.
     
  13. BRAD DYSINGER

    BRAD DYSINGER The Philosophist Founding Member Member Trapshooting Hall of Fame Member State Hall of Fame

    I shot 2 guns in my life for pigeons, a super X-1 and a Beretta 682. I liked the pointing of a single barrel gun most and the dependability of the over under. I bent the barrel on the super X to shoot 100% high at 40 yards and had a rib added to the O/U to do the same thing.

    When I was using these guns for pigeons I shot 16's and doubles with them also to practice live birds. In fact in 1985 I shot the Over Under for handicap also. It had 30 inch tubes and wasn't the best 27 yard gun although I did break a 100 from 27 with it. If I was going to shoot ATA I'd still be using it for 16's and doubles. I guess my point is shoot the best gun you point that works ALL the time cause there are no failures' to fire in pigeons, just gun failures. Brad
     
  14. Flyersarebest

    Flyersarebest Moderator Founding Member Forum Leader

    I'm going to have to see some type of proof you really had that SX1 shooting 100% high.

    About 140 pattern sheets should cover it. Let me know when you have them so I can send them to.

    Iamtheonlyonethatknowsanything.com OR Iknoweverythingaboutshooting.net

    I think it is the same one guy, just under different names. That way they can be transferred to a graph and get his stamp of approval.
     
  15. oleolliedawg

    oleolliedawg Mega Poster Founding Member

    My SX-1 shoots 100% high. It took the highest impact barrel I could find and an adjustable comb cranked way up. Sure it's possible.
     
  16. little gambler

    little gambler Active Member

    If you need to ask what’s the best gun for flyers is and what’s the cost then that games going out of your league. A 70k Fabbri is going to seem cheap after about 10 “big shoots with some side gambling”.......

    At least if you bought the Fabbri you would have something to look at after the feathers settled.
     
    Jakearoo likes this.
  17. Doug Kennedy

    Doug Kennedy Well-Known Member Founding Member

    Yep .Ask Mike Jordon,about shooting sx1 at pigeons. Mike won a event at the world championship in Spain with a sx1 .
     
  18. BRAD DYSINGER

    BRAD DYSINGER The Philosophist Founding Member Member Trapshooting Hall of Fame Member State Hall of Fame

    Mike won a lot of money in the usa shooting a super X too.
     
  19. jbailey

    jbailey Active Member

    Never let a day go by.
     
    Jakearoo likes this.
  20. rookieshooter

    rookieshooter Mega Poster Forum Leader

    I used a 682 with double release during my short time live bird shooting.
     
  21. BRAD DYSINGER

    BRAD DYSINGER The Philosophist Founding Member Member Trapshooting Hall of Fame Member State Hall of Fame

    My super X shot 100% high because I had Ed Kline of Millersburg, Ohio bend it up on his lathe with me watching. I killed several 25's and won a few Calcutta's with lesser scores too with it after that. My Proof.
     
  22. oleolliedawg

    oleolliedawg Mega Poster Founding Member

    Most of 'em shot pretty flat from the factory-especially the field barrels.