FWIW- and I own and shoot L.C. Smiths-- barrel length, balance, over-all weight, stock dims and chokes all play a part in your equation. Back in that era, I daresay most hunters who bought a FW non-ejector double trigger Field grade Smith planned to use it for all sorts of game- whether waiting in a blind for ducks or doves, or walking in behind a dog and flushing a pheasant.
Your Sauer is a tad heavier, the beavertail forearm and Germanic style buttstock might account for that--
If I were walking all day after flushing dogs for pheasant in Nov. in SD-- I'd go for the slightly lighter carrying gun== If I were shooting dove in Deep Dixie from a stand, weight would not be a factor- assuming good balance of the gun in hand.
What type of loads will you use. All 12 gauge Smiths from the "get-go" (with the exception of the 3" Chambered LONGRANGE series, whic came out aprox. 1926 have 2&3/4" long chambers. Just curious, how did you determine the chokes and chamber lengths on your German made Sauer?
Good questions you have raised-- let's see what the other folks who cruise this website have to say-- RWTF
