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New member here…… and a little about me:
I’m 50 years old
I’m and Engineer
My hobbies are hunting, fishing, spearfishing, shooting (USPSA and 3Gun)
I have been reloading since I was about 12 years old. My Dad always reloaded for shotgun since before I was born. I got us started in metallic rifle and pistol around 1991. I have dies and components for probably 50 or more calibers including 12, 20 and 410 shotshell.
Just giving a little bio so you know who you are speaking to and can adjust your responses accordingly.
One subject that I don’t know much about is vintage double guns. So I’m looking for some direction from you guys.
Reason for this post is I want to purchases a vintage American double barrel. Here is a list of what I’m looking for and what the gun will be used for.
1) Good shooter…this gun will be used for squirrel and rabbit hunting here in south Louisiana. Maybe some duck hunting with 2.5” light bismuth loads or similar…. Quail and any other wing shooting that I would do. I go to Kansas on occasion bow hunting and this gun would make that trip to kill a few pheasant.
2) I have decided on a 12 gauge for a few reasons, I only have two other 12 gauges, I have an excessive amount of reloading components for 12 gauge and have worked up some killer 1 oz loads of #5 to shoot thru my suppressed 870 that have a muzzle velocity of about 900 fps and crush squirrels out to 40 yards or a bit more…..so I have faith that I can make light loads for the old 12 gauge that will do whatever I want. And I see they are typically much cheaper than the smaller guns.
3) I do want an American double. My granddad had an L C Smith that was shot to death. My uncle has it now but unfortunately won’t give it up. I have looked at the Fox, L.C. Smith, Ithaca, Parker, Lefever, Iver Johnson, Remington 1900,…. and of all of them I have found, for me the lower grade Fox seem to be more appealing visually speaking. They are all works or art when you get up into the high grades but of the guns I have looked at Fox is leading in the low grade guns.
4) I would prefer a gun that was original and not re-finished or restored but that’s not a deal breaker. As long as it looks original. Most important is mechanical condition. And second is what the gun is choked for and third would be looks. I would like a gun on the lighter side 7.5# or less. As chokes go I believe an IC / Full would be perfect for what I will do with the gun. I have seen a few of those. Second choice would be Mod / Full.
5) At First I was going to stay away from the Damascus guns but after reading a lot about them they are not as scary. I’m looking for advice on this issue.
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