The only gun I owned for many years was my dad's Savage 775A auto in 16ga. I rediscovered hunting about the same time I discovered Gene Hill, and the romance of a double gun just struck a chord. My first one was a Stevens 5100 (16ga of course); I still have it, and I sometimes think I shoot it better than any of the others. Now I own nine sxs's; fewer than some, but certainly way more than I need.

My hunting partners are my brothers-in-law and nephews, to a man 12ga autoloader shooters. I'll be the only one in the party toting a 16ga sxs, but they let me tag along anyway.

The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits. - Albert Einstein