John,
I am happy to reply and stay on target. I have had the pleasure of owning 3 Bayard hammer guns. Two 24s and a 32. The 24 suffered a severe Purdey bolt failure at the last Vintage Cup at Orvis Sandanona.
I had the 24 barrels grafted onto the 32 receiver. The 24 bbls sat a tad proud to the 32 receiver but allowed me to keep shooting at 24 and 32 hammer gun events. Sadly, some A-Ho.. stole them during a break in 10 years ago.
I got the second Bayard 24 hammer in much finer condition from a BBS contributor. It has changed hands a couple of times since then. It is Georgia now.
I liked the 24. It tossed the same number of 8 1/2s as a 12 shooting 7 1/2. It marveled everyone, me included.
The 32 is a challenge. I have a new Poli BLE in 32. I have doubled on quail at Backwoods with it. (3 witnesses).
I just haven't figured out a load to make the 32 have the performance I could get out of the 24s.
I know you imported O/U 24s a decade ago. I still have room on a credit card should one surface.
Joe in Charlotte.
PS, and off topic
(Stan, I got up to Expert in NRA small bore in 1973)
All best,
Joe
