doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com And for a topic that may be safely waded into ...

I have never found vent ribs to be particularly attractive nor generally desireable on a SxS.

From a practical perspective, a vent rib on any field gun strikes me as being about as useful as having tasels on a pair of muck boots.

There are those that claim they can't shoot a gun well without one. But, I think those folks are fooling themselves.

I had a Ithaca 37 in 16 gauge that had one. I now have an Ithaca 16 without. Can't say it made a difference to me either way, excepting the without gun cost less.

On a double, I've never owned a ventilated rib-swamped, raised, wide, and have seen a ribless design, but no ventilated.

And, I have to agree, I can't see a need for a ventilated rib on a double.
Best,
Ted

I tend to agree. I have shotguns with plain, solid rib, vent rib, and matted barrels. Grew up on plain bbls. When I am hunting I never seem to see the rib or lack of it, just keeping my eye on the bird and concentrating on my swing. And after 58 yrs. of shooting shotguns probably won't change.

I notice I can see more sky with high ribs - double or over & under. This is an advantage I think in shooting clays. I don't like ventilated ribs for hunting as they tend to hang up and collect vegetation and I worry about denting them.

Best,

Mike

I have both and look only down the top when shooting!!! Couldn't tell one from the other while shooting, but they are noticeable in the rack. Vents are a pain to clean in a dusty environment!

Jim

At the Vegas show, I passed on a beautiful 20g VHE upgraded with tasteful engraving and dazzling wood...because it had a butt ugly raised vent rib. It looked like a Florida causeway setting up there. It was a bargain otherwise. I suppose it would have been about 800 bucks or so to have it removed and replaced, rematted (Andy at the time).

I think a VR looks at home on a Win 21. But, I don't own any.

I've seen one other sxs that Cabelas had listed a couple yrs ago that looked alright with a relatively low vent rib. It was a good Spanish maker (maybe Garbi) and was configured for Sporting Clays (long barrels, heavy, SST) or pigeon shooting. I shoulda bought that one, for what reason I dunno since it was a 12g and I don't shoot a 12g much at anything.

Ventilated ribs are great for collecting weed seeds...

I'm not getting into this debate because I own quite a few vent rib guns including doubles and like them just fine. I don't carry them in duck boats or the grouse woods because they will dent but otherwise they are just great. However, the Grand American Handicap was once won with a Model 12 with plain barrel,corncob forend and canoe paddle stock. I think it has also been won with a Model 37 Winchester unribbed single barrel. I own a plain barrel Model 12 that was used by a guy named R.A. Smith to set a World Record in All Bore competition that stood for about four years, a long time for a World Record to stand in American Skeet. In fact, it is about as long as most any record has ever stood in American Skeet. Obviously, a vent rib is not required to kill birds or win money, but most competitors prefer them.

It seems to me there are two aspects to the discussion.

1. ARE HIGH RIBS BENEFICAL TO MOST SHOOTERS?

Many of us would say yes they are, escpecially when shooting clay targets. For me, they help improve my sight picture, and I generally shoot sustained lead. Personally, I don't do as well with the traditional SxS "swamped rib."


2. GIVEN A HIGH RIB, IS SOLID OR VENILATED BETTER?

Clearly a personal choice and appearance issue. However, the venilated rib weighs less than a solid rib, which is a significant factor. I own guns with both types, and have a strong preference. The solid is more attractive in my opinion.

My old 1952 Browning A-5 has a high solid rib that I like, and shoot well. But I don't think Browning offers solid ribs on any/many of their new shotguns.

My new RBL has a low swamped rib, and thus far I shoot it poorly. Guess I need more practice.

JERRY

Can any of you really say that you see the barrel when you shoot game? Honestly if the gun fits you properly and after having thrown it up to your shoulder hundreds of times you should know if the gun fits by now. I can honestly say that during hunting, most of my shots are snap-shots and to me it is all instinctive. Now in skeet, not international, trap, and sometimes in sporting clays the gun is mounted and you are seeing the barrels. I don't think you will find any skeet, trap and sporting clays guns sold as such with out ventilated ribs. They have their place.