doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com What's Your Taste In Doubleguns?

Being a grouse/woodcock hunter I'm prone to Fox small gauges. For every shot I get I probably walk a mile. Accordingly, lighter is better. I like Foxes because the two I normally carry are both weigh less then 6 bounds and are balanced well. Both are choked mod/ic from the factory and they were made for what I do most with them. Second favorite is a Merkel 122 16 gauge with false sidelocks and very nice wood and nice engraving. Since its German its made strong. I can shoot any 16 gauge out of it and it works very well out west for wild flushing pheasants. Have a new custom Fox 12 gauge headed my way and it will be worked in the midst because it weighs 6 3/4 lbs, fits me and will be sweet looking to boot. PS. I like Parker's to, but I think they are a rule are heavier then Foxes in equal gauge (except 0 frame 16 gauges) and I don't seem to shoot them as well.

All of my shooting is at game, (no clays within reasonable driving distance). Much of the shooting is done in adverse conditions with a high attrition rate to the gun. I have two different types of gun: Those I can fall on and break, and those I take on flat ground. All are SxS

The disposable guns are inexpensive spanish doubles with straight stock, unimaginative wood, 6-1/2 pound, swivels, tight chokes, extractors, double triggers, 30" barrels, splinter forend.

The keeper guns are mostly vintage Americana. For quick work on small birds, I prefer a 20 gauge in the 5-1/2 pound range with 26-28" barrels, double trigger, mod/IM chokes, splinter, straight stock with some character. For larger game I prefer a 6-1/2 to 7 pound 12 gauge, splinter, straight stock, double trigger, 30" barrel, full chokes. I'll take a POW grip, but the other stuff is mandatory.

I'm of pedestrian means, so I'm more hung up on function and fit than engraving, but as time goes by I see myself trading up. My fantasy gun is a turnbull upgrade of my field grade LC Smith 20 gauge to a deluxe grade look with exhibition wood.

28", semi-pistol, some righty cast never hurts, don't care what width handle up front but shallow is of course better, two triggers. Particuarly like double-trigger ovah-undas. Love my Merkel 200e 12ga.; fond of old "twin-single" Super. With all that said, I spend most of my shooting time with heavy, 30" target guns.

jack

I'm out of heavier guns now; they've got to be light even in the blind. Stout loads are unnecessary over decoys. Sixteens and 20s do just fine for me, backed up by a good dog. I'll hold on to my Parker 0 frame, SKB o/u as go-to and the Francotte and LC Specialty for sentiment's sake.

I know what I like, but, the damndest things happen to me-I picked up my little brother's Savage BSE 12 with impressed checkering, crunchy single trigger, quasi-functional ejectors and a PAINTED receiver (I think) and ran 100 straight with it.

Things like that convince me I don't know what I am doing.

Oh yea, since you asked-light 12s or 16s, put me down for double triggers, no ejectors, English style straight stocks of honey colored wood with dark streaks, no recoil pads, modest scroll or no engraving (I especially dislike game scene of any sort) modern chambers, 26-30" tubes with modern chokes-think less and a little more, not more and most. Gold, of any sort, on guns, sucks for me.

Best,
Ted

Parker VHE 20ga 28" splinter forend w/pistol grip 2 triggers at 6lbs 3oz is my favorite field gun. Also enjoy a 5lb 9oz 2 1/2" 16ga Sempert Kreighoff with 29.5" barrels, extractors, DT, Prince of Wales grip and splinter forend so long as I only shoot 7/8oz loads in it. Don't care for anything heavier than 6 1/2lbs anymore, like quick handling.

What I learn more and more is that it's quality and beauty that I like whatever the package. However, I am partial to round bodies, sidelevers and damascus.

Lefevers! What more can I say?

Ditto on Lefevers. Also getting hooked on light hammer guns. Light 16's and 12's do everything for me, don't have much use for anything smaller. My 6lb 3oz. straight stocked Leige 16ga 30" damascus hammer gun with open chokes is fast becoming a favorite.

Quality and hand craftsmanship regardless of the maker. Seems I do prefer guns with at least 100 years previous breakin period. Damascus is the final touch. To contemplate the hand skills required to orchestrate the symphonies in metal and wood is mind boggling.