Hi, yeah good to talk, even better for me to be talking across the pond, sure wish we had the freedom you guys have.
Just to give you an idea, the regs on rifles are quite tough, 1stlky you have to prove a need or reason for owning. Basically you have to be a range club member and have written verification that you shoot and attend regularly.
Or as in my case you need written permission from a farmer/land owner and then the police firearms dept inspect the land for the suitability of the calibre you are asking for.
To explain every gun, moderator you apply for is granted separately and listed on your "ticket", so is the max amount of ammo you can buy and hold.
Guns have to be in a specified cabinet, bolts secured separately and the same for ammo.
Semi auto's are a no no, with the exception of .22 rimfire. Pistol are just about out, many now keep theirs in france or italy and travel to shoot.
Now, shotguns are dealt with completely separately on a different ticket.
Everyone has a right to own a shotgun unless the police can find evidence that they are not suitable owners, ie, have a criminal record, mental disorder.
Any number of shotguns can be owned provided they are housed as per rifles.
There is no limit to the amount of shotgun shells that can be bought, and suprisingely no control on how or where they are kept.
Sorry for rambling but I think it's worth sharing our situation with you guys.
OK, the SXP, they had 2 as new examples when I went to my local gun store, one in 28" and a 26" gun.
I'm carrying a few injuries so din't want a heavyweight hence a single barrel gun. I am also to lazy to clean out a semi auto properly after every time I shoot.
The 28" was good, but I felt the 26 was distinctly quicker to swing and given it's shorter length more suitable for hide shooting and walking through the rough stuff.
I also wanted a gun that I wasn't afraid of scratching or devaluing, the SXP is cheap as chips by our price standards.
I was out yesterday and have to admit it's great for the 1st shot, but never having shot a pump I still keep trying for the 2nd shot without pumping, but thats just me.
The thing about it being "a pump that thinks it's a semi" escapes me, the slide stays firmly at the front the way I shoot.
Lack of recoil is great.
I did add a rubber stock extension as the length of pull is short and I have long arms, but I couldn't keep it firmly in place, it kept creeping to 1 side or other, but when I fitted a camo neoprene shell holder over the stock and extension, every thing firmed up and it now fits me perfectly.
I also got hold of some extended pointed chokes from your side of the water, effectively gives the option of a 27 3/4" barrel.
The bead removes very easily, I simply
carefully used a pair of locking pliers, (mole grips in our terms), and wound the bead out. I'm pretty sure it has loctite or similar on the threads to stop it vibrating out so I treated the new bead the same way, it really does look like an original fitment.
Anyway, hope that helps and goes to explain why I posted on a USA site in the 1st place, pumps are few and far between over here, possibly one reason being that they are frowned upon at clay pigeon shoots as being difficult to be seen safe.