doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Shooting Brakes

I just wondered if anyone here actually uses a "Shooting Brake".

As I get older and stiffer, the reality is that I enjoy a greater level of comfort in my pursuits. I am tired of trucks, and am considering alternatives.
I've been working with some upscale euro auto companies, and several now make an AWD, Sport Wagon. Very comfortable, great ride, and big power.

I understand that traditionally, a shooting brake had 2 doors, but 4 doors on a stiff modern chassis is much more functional.

Mostly, it would be used to attend shoots, haul guns and gear, a passenger or two, and ferry me between sporting destinations.

My 1974 Ford Country Squire, powered by a 460 cubic inch V8, with full complement of wooden (??) panels in the bodywork, is my idea of a perfect shooting brake. It will smoke the tires with four bird dogs and three hunters on board.

i seems to remember Aston Martin recently made one - a one of

if you cannot find a proper DB5 in good shape


but - to serve the purpose you would as you say fall to the European sport/crossover - The Audi AWD sport wagons looks good, most of the makers have one in the stable

That's true OH.
All the big makers produce an AWD Estate wagon with increased ground clearance. I am hoping someone here uses one for attending shoots, and can describe their experience.

I am partial to the Volvo V90, as it harkens back to the P1800 Estate car. I drove the AMG last week, but I cannot see the corners, which bothers me.

That makes me feel a little inadequate with only a Kawasaki 140L & 1 gun.
O.M

ah the p1800 estate - I loved that car's looks - there was one sitting next to a closed business near here for about a year- told my wife i wish I had the energy to restore it

btw- since I still need to fit gear, guns and sometimes decoys in around two large dog boxes, I don't get a brake - at some point - down sizing to one dog may help

This vehicle is more of a "pavement centered" excursion vehicle. Primary tasks would be comfort up to 1000 miles/day. 4 reclineable seats. All season tractability.
Great highway and twisty road performance.

I want comfort from here to wherever I head to shoot. And if I want it to be more exciting, It'll be under the hood.

Here�s my 2003 �Brake�. 190,000 miles, 4X4. 4X4 was invented to insure that vehicles would get stuck farther into the woods than those vehicles without 4X4. To offset this design feature, I had mine wired for front and back winch work with a 2� receiver installed in the front. The winch is an 8000S Warn �portable� with a 100� of Spectra rope which trims 18 lbs. off of what stainless wire would weigh. It saved my bacon last turkey season miles from help. The crate holds my two Brittanys comfortably. There is room for another crate in the second row of seats. I removed one of the third row seats to accommodate the crate. The Sequoia is a comfortable ride for family trips. I will re-power if necessary.

We cut the entire top off of a Cadillac sedan De Ville, put permanent dog boxes where the trunk was...It demised it self after a couple of years...eh?

I owned this one until last fall:



1996 Buick Roadmaster. The last two years of production, 95 and 96 got an iron head version of the Corvette LT1, and made stupid amounts of horsepressure. Heated leather, limited slip, bunches of power candy stuff, towed 7000 lbs comfortably, 25 miles to the gallon going down the road on a good day.

Dog crates, kids, dogs, cute Colombian chick to pick ticks off of us, good hunting buddy, tools, full size spare tire (on the car, not hunting buddy) beer, and a partridge in a pear tree.

I miss it. I don't miss working on a Chevy LT1, however. I owned an almost identicle 1993 that I pulled the throttle body 350 motor out of, and swapped a fresh small block 400 with the injection and heads from the 350, and then put 160,000 more miles on it. Much less trouble to work on, but, less power, too.

I replaced it with a Ford extended cab pickup. Big, ugly, useful, I see 24mpg all the time in the summer. Eco Boost, 4x4, these vehicles are so handy, and so expensive.

Best,
Ted