doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com AYA 3-1/2" 10 gauge

Also saw one of these yesterday, excellent condition. Weighed in at about 9-10, BTFE, ejectors, disc set strikers, Churchill rib.

Asking was $600 and the stock fit me well. The rib was stamped " Firearms International, Washington, DC". The only reference I can find to an AYA 10ga is the Matador which was only made until 1963, the water table is stamped 10/89 so I am assuming it looks like it was made in 10/89

The case color is kind of gaudy and the metal work around the fences is a bit crude but how do these guns stand up to use?, Did AYA have their metalurgy figured out in 1989?

Bob, I think the 10/89 is refering to the gauge and chamber length, 10 gauge 3 1/2" mag. Spanish guns use a letter number code for the date. Might make a good turkey gun.

Rob, take a look here for the year of proof.

http://personales.jet.es/rafa/b_punzones.html

JC

Yup, that's a good gun. You probably have the Matador "lightweight" model much favored by shooters today. I shoot one, use steel and anything else that's cheap. It is a much nicer Matador than the blued frame heavy model that was made earlier. I have not shot a waterfowl with any other gun for several years since I have a lifetime supply of 3 1/2" ten gauge steel shells that cost me about $5.00 a box on closeout when Bismuth became popular for some odd reason. If the steel damages the choke area of the gun, I plan to chop about three inches off and install Briley chokes. However, I see no sign of damage so far.

Sure, the 10/89 makes sense. Thanks for the info. From the blue book I saw that the Matador was the only 10ga AYA made. There is no stamp MATADOR on the gun though.

So eightbore, you feel they're steel safe? $600 sound like the right price?

Thanks, Rob

'Steel safe'.

In theory the potential exists for scoring the barrels or bulging the chokes with steel shot in a gun from the pre-steel shot era.

As Bill does in his 10ga, I shoot steel in my 12ga Stoeger/Sarasqueta. The price is right for the guns and the shells are as 'cheap' as you are going to find in non-tox.

Again, as Bill mentioned, if damage does occur, there are solutions. The only thing you might want to consider is opening the chokes. This will limit any potential damage to the choke section of the barrels and the gun will probably pattern steel shot better with more open chokes. Those AyA's and other Spanish 10's of the era are known for really tight chokes.

Oops, missed one of your questions.

$600 sounds like a good price. Heck you can't buy one of those fancy schmancy 10mag autoloaders for that price.

Does it have a single trigger?

Embarrassed to say I don't remember about the trigger setup, have to check. 32" barrels though.

I've passed on a few of these for the simple reason that if it doubles, you are in trouble. I've only had one shotgun double on me, an Ithaca SKB Model 100 using 3" magnums back in the days of lead shot for ducks. Believe me it is not fun. I just couldn't stand the thought of a 10 gauge doubling.-Dick

The case hardened frame lightweight AYA ten is a double trigger gun, should give you no trouble with doubling. Yes, Utah makes a good suggestion to open the chokes slightly to relieve a bit of friction at the muzzles. However, don't spend much money on that project. I would save my money for the eventual installation of the Brileys. I don't think my gun will ever show any damage even though I have not opened the chokes. I have a "Baggo" tens and the AYA is my favorite for waterfowl. The only modification I am contemplating is the installation of sling swivels, a useful accessory for a serious waterfowl gun. Yup, $600 is a great price for a high condition AYA lighty.