doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com British 12 ga waterfowl guns

As part of Dr Jim's "Long Range Wild Fowl" article in the Spring 2013 Double Gun Journal Volume 24, Issue 1, p. 137, Bro. David patterned his LRWF, both barrels .042" constriction, with a handload using a 3 inch Winchester (plastic) hull with 38.35 grains of Blue Dot, Winchester 209 primer, Winchester AASL wad, and 1 3/8 ounces of #5 nickel plated shot. The average number of pellets was 246 and measured weight 1.353 ounce.
Using a rangefinder confirmed distance of 82 yards, 3 shots were taken holding at the top of the 30 inch circle:
Target 1. Right barrel - 13 pellets in 30" circle; 5 in duck, 2 in wing. Percentage .052.
Target 2. Right barrel - 20 pellets; 6 in duck. Percentage .081.
Target 3. Left barrel - 21 pellets; 6 in duck and possible breaking both wings. Percentage .085.

If we only had a 'Woolwich'!

I have a Boswell BLNE that was sold in 1922 for �25 and is described in their records as a "pigeon gun." It has 32" barrels (M & F), sideclips, a PoW stock and a cross bolt third bite. The rib is file-cut and sports two ivory beads. It has 3" - 1 1/2 ounce proof. Weight is 7lbs 12 oz. The gun was re-imported from New Zealand.

These are the marks on the Gallyon waterfowler I picked up several years ago. For some reason, they struck the 1 1/2 oz mark and marked it 3" and 4 tons.

I think this is from the 1950s. Birmingham made, Webley 700 style action. 7lb,5oz. Choked IM.

I wouldn't shoot heavy loads well in a straight gripped 7# 5 oz. double. Too hard to recover from the first shot's recoil. Sometimes I wonder why they built them like that.

SRH

Because of the double triggers (situated where movement to the back trigger is easier, in theory anyway) and straight stocks are more pleasing to the eye for many people, I'm guessing. Where a straight grip bugs me is for rough hunting and I'm at the ready most of the day.......seems to bother my wrist more than a pistol grip. I see what you mean about hanging on with recoil though.

Buzz, I didn't mean straight grips alone, I meant the combination of straight grip, relatively light weight and proofed for heavy loads.

I have a Fox A grade with 32" barrels and 3" chambers, straight gripped. Also have a 32" Super Fox with pistol grip and 3" chambers. Night and day difference in how fast you can recover for the second shot. That A grade is the only S x S I have ever owned that will make my second finger of my trigger hand sore when shooting a 100 bird round of clays. I just do not handle recoil well with a straight grip. I ain't no "Mr. Nash", with hands like a bear. Pistol grips just handle recoil much better, IMO.

SRH

Doverham, your Gallyon has been through re-proof but it looks as if they missed the 'R' with crown over mark.

English 3" guns used to be proofed for the old 3" case with 1 1/2 ounce of shot then Eley upset the apple cart by bringing out another 3" cartridge loaded with 1 5/8th. ounce which required guns proofed for 4 tons per square inch. Caused a lot of confusion back in the 60's. One thing to watch with the older English 3" chambered guns. They are o.k. with 2 3/4 inch magnums but not more modern 3 " stuff. Lagopus.....

To Lagopus' point:

Chamber Length 1954 Stamping(in Tons) Service Pressure (in PSI)

2 1/2, 1 1/8 oz, 3 Tons, 8,943 psi

2 3/4, 1 1/4 oz, 3 1/4 Tons, 9,686

3, 1 1/2 oz, 3 1/2 Tons, 10,427

3 Magnum , 4 Tons, 11,913

This is a late post. Recently found a GE Lewis 12 b with 3 inch chambers that was imported by Hill & Rod. price was under 4K. Proofed for 1 1/2 oz shot made in the mid 1920's, excellent condition.

Have several 10 b SXS. I like the British water fowling guns.
Jim