doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Hardware store small gauge pioneers

I learned to shoot and hunt in the mid 50's with my Dad. All boys started with a .410 first shooting staionary targets, then thrown cans and finally birds. We could not wait until we graduated to a 16 gauge. When I was in high school I earned enough money to buy a Remmington 870 12 gauge...now I felt I could compete with the men. I traded the 870 for a Browning A5 12 in the Army and then....I began moving to small bore doubles and haven't looked back!

I do believe it was a cultural thing and I am proud to have participated. My boys and daughter have progressed similarly. Rights of passage are part of our heritage and should be. Take a youngster shooting, you won't regret it!

Jim

I understand that some of the large "St.Louis hardware stores," were the last to unload the remaining supply SAC and RAC sxs guns.

20's were common when I grew up, though 12's were still most common. It was understood that you had to own a 12, and you did, but when it came time to shoot you took the 20.

There was the perception that the guys who used the 12 had an advantage....and that meant the rest of the guys could snicker at them when they missed a shot. On the other hand, there was nothing better than making solid hit with a 12, a display of firepower that seemed to put the 20 ga. guys in their place.

It was all part of the fun....

I think the different guages were first developed to fit the game...bigger game bigger guage. As the adds show after that it became all marketing.

Here's an interesting gun, not a hardware gun. I've actually held it.

http://www.sitemason.com/page/jvbMWY

jOe
A few years ago I was fortunate to find a 36 guage sxs muzzle loader that appears to be youth gun with it's relatively high comb and 13.5" LOP. Also a few other things make me believe it was built for some lucky 19th century kid.
Steve

On the west Kansas prairie it was all about pheasants, and it was pretty much all about 12's. My dad's Savage was a 16 because he bought it right after the war, and had to take what he could get. Made we a 16ga shooter for life, though. Can't tell you the number of times somebody asked, "What is that, a 20?" or said, "Nice gun for a girl." All semi's and pumps out there in the 50's; maybe the odd single shot. Nobody I knew in those days shot a double; not sure I ever even saw one.

I agree, America is the land of pump shotguns, no other action type is so ingrained in our heritage, yet the fearsome Model 12, veteran of two world wars, regarded by the Germans in World War One as 'Barbaric' because of its role in trench warfare, the mostly manly of shotguns, okay Ted S., I know you favor above all early Remington models, came out in 20 gauge!!!!
How on earth can anyone explain that insult to the reign of the 12 gauge.
All the best

Was it the Mod. 12 or the mod. 97 that was the plague of the trenches? Not certain but owned a military version of the 97 at one time.
Best,
John

PS---Don't mean to hijack this interesting thread. Sorry.
John

I think this brochure says it all. Small game, small gun.

'....28ga (vs .410) does not mulitale the shot nearly so badly........,but, it's another dread crippler, a toy and not a tool,....a scatter gun that does not pack enough powder to blow your nose.'
Gee Joe, nice kiddle toy for $14.5k+ you can't even use to blow your cigar out with!