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GUN TEST | GENERAL

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

■ Name Pedersoli La Bohémienne (CODE L.709)

■ Calibre 12-bore

■ Type side-by-side double

■ Chamber 76mm

■ 5 x multi-chokes included

■ Action non-ejector side hammer

■ Barrels 28”

■ Length 45”

■ Weight 7.71 lbs

■ Price £

■ Contact Henry Krank & Co Ltd, 01325 613 177

http://www.davidepedersoli

A practical reproduction

of a classic shotgun

FOR

Not a lot

AGAINST

Good looking and a good shooter

Multi-chokes and safety as standard

VERDICT

deal of damage to Oil Seed Rape which is
very vulnerable, some of the fl ocks in my
area have to be seen to be believed
-estimating numbers is just not possible it
is easier to estimate size. The biggest
fl ocks are around quarter of a mile wide
over a mile long and heaven only knows
how deep, as you can imagine fl ocks this
size can devastate crops in minutes so
consequently we are constantly on guard
against attack.

HIT & MISS
One way to achieve crop protection is to
split up the fl ocks, shooting is the best
way that we have found to do this. With a
bag full of cartridges and the Pedersoli
under my arm I was one of 24 shooters I
had out trying to keep the pigeons on the
move one windy Saturday in February. To
start with all went well a high crow fl ew
over and fell to my fi rst shot, this was
followed by a fast passing pigeon again to
a single shot.
The birds were picked up and I was
feeling pretty confi dent of my skill, then
the inevitable occurred and I fell well and
truly off the pedestal. The pigeons kept

coming and I kept missing, with my fi rst

barrel things went well, but every time I

went for the second shot with the left barrel

I only managed to miss.

For the life of me I could not work out

what I was doing wrong so really started to

concentrate and shot even more badly.

After a lot more shots I worked out the

problem but unfortunately could not rectify

it, with the hammers cocked they do not get

in the way of my eye line, but when the right

side was fi red this seemed to draw my eye

and disturbed my sight picture. Although I

feel this was mostly subconscious it was

enough to upset my shooting, or rather my

ability to shoot straight. This is a problem

that with plenty of practice and some

coaching I feel could be ironed out, but it

highlights the difference in shooting styles

when one is used to shooting hammerless

guns and normally over & under or semi

auto so effectively only one barrel in the

sight picture.

Having said that there is something very

nostalgic and strangely pleasing in shooting

this Pedersoli and I thoroughly enjoyed using

it, for me the challenge of being able to

overcome the lack of accuracy is very

appealing. For anyone who wants to go a bit

old school with what they use for their

shooting whilst still having the advantages of

using a modern shotgun then they could do a

lot worse than the La Bohémienne.

The plain butt shows good

chequering and Prince of

Wales type pistol grip at the

rear is a plain steel plate

Detail of safety

and top lever,

hammers are of

the rebound type

A practical touch are the set

of five, flush-fit multi-chokes

that will make the gun highly

versatile as to usage

The beavertail-type forend is

wide and comfortable, note

the ‘brown iron’ style finish

that keeps the gun in period

The gun offers 3” chambers and is also proofed

for steel shot (Improved Cyl & Cyl chokes only)

extraction is manual as befits the type