I started hunting with a shotgun at about age 10 in North Carolina. That was 54 years ago (well, it will be 54 years on the 3rd of February - God willing!!). My first gun was a 20 gauge single loaned to me by my uncle. I occasionally used my dad's 12 gauge single, but the 20 was the main gun. I put many, many paper-clad Federal Monarchs through that little gun. On the actual day of my 13th birthday in 1962 my dad took me to the hardward store and bought for me my first new gun that was genuinely mine. It was a Remington Sportsman 3-shot semi-auto. To shorten a long story, the Remington was taken back when my mom discovered that my dad had paid $100 dollars for it. It was replaced that very afternoon with a Stevens 311 in 12 gauge. I still have that gun and have hunted with it on several occasions. Of course, after I became enlightened after joining the Army in 1970 I put the little Stevens in the back of the gun case to make room for the ever increasing number of pumps and semi-autos that started finding their way in. I hunted with these for years. I went back to doubles (SxS's primarily) in 1993 after moving to Albuquerque and reading in a gun magazine of an individual who had hunted ducks and geese with his "vintage double gun." I said what the heck and pulled out the Stevens and used it on a couple of duck hunts and quail hunts. I then found on line and bought, from Dale Dalrymple who many here know, my first "quality" double: An Ugartachea Model 30 in 12 gauge with an English stock. Well, I was hooked. I have had and still have many (oops, I meant that I did have many guns Mr. Obamma until I lost them all in a boating accident!!)doubles, both properly aligned barrels and those "stacked things." I still have and use the Uggie occasionally, just as I did and do the Stevens when I am feeling nostalgic. The pumps and autos have now been moved wayyyyy back to the back of the safes and are shot occasionally, OR when someone needs a loaner!! At this point I do not see giving up my doubles in my foreseeable future. To me they are works of art. Although my daughter and son are not hunters, they are nonetheless shooters (pistols and rifles) and have a great appreciation for my shotguns. I hope that will continue when I am gone.
Dang guys!!! I didn't realize I had rambled so long. But, at least the "young gunner" who started this thread can see just how these things do get into your blood and that doubles will exist in our sport as long as you want them too!! Good shooting to all.
By the way, I'm off to Oklahoma on Saturday to shoot chukar, quail and maybe a couple of pheasant with my "practically unfired" Browning BSS Sidelock that I picked up this past year. I anticipate good results!!
