doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com The future of our sport....

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!!

Perry,

I hope your going to the Panhandle because there are essentially no huntable wild quail numbers outside of that area. My buddies that hunt there are putting up few birds, quail or pheasant. The drought has taken it's toll and not improving.

Ken

I don�t want to provoke an argument with anybody. I didn�t start this thread. Adam asked the question.

Adam, you are the last generation of shot gunner. All the shooting sports will be history in 25 years. Enjoy it while you still can.

Unfortunately, I tend to agree with RyanF.

I'm not so sure of that. Both my sons in their late 20's are avid gunners. Both have friends who are also clays shooters and bird hunters. Most of my Missouri friends also have sons, daughters or grand kids who are also involved with shotguns in some way.

Each year I try to invite as many young shooters as possible to the famed Flatwater shoot in Syracuse, Nebraska. It's still pretty gray there but there is some interest among the younger guys now too. It's really an adult shoot but I'd encourage guys like Pre-13, Cadet (I know it's a long way) and Adam to come to Nebraska for some fun the last weekend in April each year.

It is preserve hunting Ken. Way south of you near Hugo. I had heard about the situation in OK this year and would not EVEN be driving the distance if I was looking for wild birds. I appreciate the concern and I should have posted more regarding the conditions of my hunt. Actually, I should have called it a "shoot"!! Have a good one.

Adam,

Great topic. My biggest hope is to simply promote shooting sports and responsible hunting - get the youngsters into it. As they grow, they'll figure out what kind of guns they really enjoy. I agree with many of the posts that fine old guns are something most will grow into with age. (I got my first double gun just a few years ago in '07). I got my oldest daughter into skeet shooting at 15 with a 20 gauge auto - it's pretty, relatively light and easy to handle, and low felt recoil. She loves the gun and shooting with it. So, that's a victory.

As a kid, I never shot anything but a pump and single shot due to the price - double guns were for rich people. I DO think pumps are still a favorite in America and will remain so - most Americans I know love pump guns (who doesn't live a Model 12). There's just something "American" about them, even when they're imports.

I live in Japan and am very sad to see the lack of shooters and hunters here. I don't know one younger than 60. Even all of the Japanese military with whom I work are surprised to learn that I shoot over here and have several guns.

I think shooting and hunting in America is safe for a while, but urbanization will continue to reduce it. Our part is to encourage our kids, grandkids and neighbors to get involved with it by taking them out and teaching and encouraging them to enjoy a great past time and part of our heritage. That's what I do here with my kids and will do when I return home to Texas.

If you look at it honestly, the future of our sport is a brick wall.

Unless somebody with brains knows how to stop Obama's agenda.

Judging from how crowded my local range is, there is little need for concern.

I would agree that the shooting sports, in general, are doing quite well. I had to wait in line for an HOUR at the rifle range last weekend. I was there with my 10 year old sister letting her shoot her shiny new bolt-action 22. And to my surprise, she was quite the little sharpshooter.

But I am talking about SXSs. I am the ONLY "regular" at the my gun club that shoots a sxs... not that the guys don't like trying out my new doubles (I show up with a new gun quite regularly)... they just don't want to own any of them.

I for one have always been fascinated with double barrels. My first shotgun was a Mossberg 500 pump. My father, although not a "double-gunner" at that time, always encouraged me to buy the highest quality guns I possibly could. And so I quickly worked toward a Beretta 686 and I never looked back.

Situations like my own (and many of yours) give me hope for continuing this sport. Because I wasn't introduced to doubles by anybody. I was just naturally drawn to them. I guess magazines like Double Gun Journal and Shooting Sportsman help as well.

I just hope that the attraction doesn't end with everyday folks.

Adam