This year's annual clambake
of the gun business in Las
Vegas had three underlying themes - any or all of which will
have some affect on bird hunters in the months ahead. These include:
(1) the decline of the dollar against the Euro- which has a substantial
effect upon prices of shotguns and ammunition produced in Germany,
Italy and Spain; (2) the emergence of the 28 gauge in both hunting
and sporting clays venues; and (3) increased velocities of shotgun
ammunition which benefits bird hunters in two ways: increased
velocities extend the effective range by five or ten yards -
and - increased velocities allow the wing shooter (dove hunters,
pay attention) to fudge his leads a bit. |
Aguierre y Aranzabal
Aguierre y Aranzabal - the MSRP of AYA's popular Model 4/53 boxlock
(on which the Bill Hanus Birdgun is based) increased to $2,595
on 12 gauge and $2,690 for small gauge doubles. Commencing in
2005, manufacture of Model 4/53's will be limited to 150 units
annually. The purpose is to allow AYA to focus their attention
on sidelock business. Sidelock prices for 2004 are: Model 2 -
$3,995, Model 53 - $5,395, Model 1 - $8,195. Round body actions
are a $200 option. |
Baschieri & Pellagri
Baschieri & Pellagri - the Italian ammunition company -has
done an incredibly foolish thing. They rescinded the contract
of the guy who put them near top of the ammunition business in
the US. Worse yet, they left him with a warehouse of primo shotshells
for which he paid an average of $1.13 to the Euro - an immediate
10% discount off today's replacement cost. So, while 2,300 cases
remain, check out www.bandpamerica.com or call Mike Dotson at
972/726-9073 while he still has some 16, 20 and 28 gauge loads
at clearance prices. Imagine even being able to find 16 and 20
gauge shells in No. 10 shot or No. 5 Nickel-plated shot, much
less at bargain prices!
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