I'm heading to northeast New York in a couple weeks to hang out with an old Coast Guard buddy and give my young cocker some quality time in pretty good grouse country. One of the guns I'll be bringing along is my 1970s 20-gauge Darne R15. It has 65-cm (~25.6") barrels choked .005" and .020" and weighs 5 pounds 9 ounces. I'd prefer a bit less choke in the left barrel, but apart from that the gun seems like an ideal grouse and woodcock gun. It is certainly fast and handy in heavy cover.
I've tended to respect the "96" and "square load" conventions and generally shot nothing heavier than 7/8 ounce from this gun, but I see lots of 1-ounce 20-gauge game loads in 2.75 length. I'm not overly concerned about either felt recoil or chamber pressure in this triple-proofed 20, but I wonder if I'd be risking wood damage firing 1-ounce loads in a 5.75-pound gun. I see quite a few old Darnes for sale with fissures in the wood and assume it reflects overly hot or heavy loads out of these light guns (even with the mythical disques obturateurs). Anyone have thoughts or experience to share?
Bill
Last edited by billwolfe; 09/16/17 10:33 PM.
