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Forums10
Topics40,166
Posts571,545
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Most Online32,084
Jun 14th, 2026
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,464 Likes: 12
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,464 Likes: 12 |
my first doublegon was a 16 gauge Stevens 311a...my dad bought it for me for my 11th birthday, from floyd, a local boy who worked for him...
that was in January 1954, north of jessup, ga, on the banks of the altamaha river...
reckon floyds gon rubbed off on me.. Well, well never thought you're native southerner like John Mann. One of my original guns capable of > 1 shot before reloading was old Ithaca 87. I have since tried 20ga and 16ga 37 versions but had to let them go because I can't manipulate a pump worth a darn. I did buy 16ga 97 because for some reason I always wanted one. It's HD/ Halloween prop.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 10,458 Likes: 168
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 10,458 Likes: 168 |
pray tell, during the sixties an seventies, ah wuz jest above new york city, where things were ah changin...
ah bought this dainty little 1950's vintage 20 gauge Ithaca 37 pump gon at ah yard sale...
that was the beginning of a roughly 20 year diversion into the ego boasting world of being able to hit most anything I aimed at...
including lots of clay birds on the skeet range...
my ultimate digressions were replacing the 37 with a Remington model 17...
and obtaining a 16 gauge 37 with two barrels, one for birds and one fur deer...
but then, I used to hunt with a friend who had a 20 gauge SXS made by antonio zoli...
that caused me to buy a 16 gauge Fox sterlingworth...been addicted to double gons eva since...
that was in 86...
Last edited by ed good; 06/20/26 11:32 AM.
keep it simple and keep it safe...
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Joined: Jun 2026
Posts: 7 Likes: 15
Boxlock
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Boxlock
Joined: Jun 2026
Posts: 7 Likes: 15 |
My first gun at a very young age was a Stevens 311. It was old 60 years ago. I shot it for a few years and ignored it for many more. Oddly the last few years I’ve realized how many good features it has. Decent triggers, very good dimensions with a full comb and lovely patterns. It has a full, hand filling splinter forend that I favor above a beavertail or tiny splinter forend. Excellent balance and reasonable weight. It’s 28” 12 gauge and the chokes are probably M/F and measure .023 and .032 iirc. but not marked that I’ve seen. The metal is probably on the soft side as the firing pins have extruded the striker holes slightly. Still a lot of gun for what they sold for then. It’s also well regulated which is not as common as it should be in SXS. I like to take it on a grouse hunt but have not done so yet.
The gun weighs 7# 11 oz. It appears to be a 1948 first year gun.
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2 members like this:
Stanton Hillis, Ted Schefelbein |
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,279 Likes: 1750
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,279 Likes: 1750 |
A few pictures of Richards first gun. He was blessed in that it was an actual double gun, and not the single shot many of us got: ![[Linked Image from i.ibb.co]](https://i.ibb.co/nNPXZV64/IMG-1217.jpg) ![[Linked Image from i.ibb.co]](https://i.ibb.co/Z16CM1J4/IMG-1216.jpg) Best, Ted
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1 member likes this:
Richard Hale |
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Joined: Jun 2026
Posts: 7 Likes: 15
Boxlock
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Boxlock
Joined: Jun 2026
Posts: 7 Likes: 15 |
Ted,
Thanks for posting the old beater. It has not changed much in my 60 years of ownership. According to the barrel code it is a very early (48/49) era gun.
It shoots lovely, uniform patterns that are equaled by few of my more highly regarded guns.
When I started shooting it I could only reach the back trigger. So, full choke or nothing.
Thanks again.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,279 Likes: 1750
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,279 Likes: 1750 |
Richard,
The back trigger only thing is hilarious.
I hope you get it out, here and there.
Best,
Ted
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1 member likes this:
Richard Hale |
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,464 Likes: 12
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,464 Likes: 12 |
The only problem for Savage 311 is 12ga costs about $350 to $400, more for 16ga or 20ga and .410 prices are 🤪. One can get much better used s×s for few hundred more or pay same for Ugartechea, HVA, AyA, Zabala,.... BLNE.
Nothing wrong if one owns it, if i owned one I would keep it and use it, but I would not buy one today because what is currently out there. One only need to visit Simpson Ltd for stuff from all over Europe.
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