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Apr 29th, 2024
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 75 Likes: 1
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 75 Likes: 1 |
I love my sub bore guns but my favorite all around guns are 12's, particularly 2 inch and 2.5 inch guns. My 2 inch, 12's, weigh in at around 5 pounds, 5 once's and are a delight to carry and to shoot. Ammo is readily available with a little forethought.
My 2.5 inch guns each weigh less than 6.5 pounds but do have the fell of 12 bores but are still delightful to carry and shoot. I might add that these 12's weigh less than many 20's on the market today, including one very nice Italian 20 bore that I own.
IMO, a 20 bore should weigh no more than 5 pounds, 10 onces, or so, and be on a true 20 bore frame. Ditto for 28's, which I don't shoot as well as a 12 or 20, but that is just me.
Almost all my guns are true game guns, mostly from the UK, have DT's, straight grips and so on. Perfect guns in my opinion.
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 8,158 Likes: 114
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 8,158 Likes: 114 |
All very well said, gentleman- but I am 'old school" so to me, Captain Paul A. Curtis, Ray P. Holland the "Shootin'est Gentleman from Deep Dixie all said it best- 12 gauge, and in Nash's own great phraseology, "Never send a boy to do a man's job"!! Now, I only shoot pheasants, waterfowl and turkeys, and live in the 'Nawth-- where we can't shoot doves or quail, those "midget birdies" maybe yes, a nice 20 bore would suffice.
"The field is the touchstone of the man"..
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 839
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 839 |
this isn't a discussion of small bores... it's a BIG bore.
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 13,880 Likes: 16
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 13,880 Likes: 16 |
AmarilloMike nailed it. Buzz, no offense, but it seems to me 'if you have to ask, you don't get it' applies. Hunters who don't "get" bowhunting may never get it. To some degree small gauges offer similar reward. It sure ain't light weight that is the attraction for me...my latest .410 is 6 1/2 lbs. And I don't think America has as big a lovefest with small gauges as readers of this bbs might think. I think it's more confined to us old Willy-waggers that shoot obsolete design guns. Now I have to get back to my lovefest 
Last edited by Chuck H; 11/21/12 09:58 AM.
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,081 Likes: 473
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,081 Likes: 473 |
I love my sub bore guns but my favorite all around guns are 12's, particularly 2 inch and 2.5 inch guns. My 2 inch, 12's, weigh in at around 5 pounds, 5 once's and are a delight to carry and to shoot. Ammo is readily available with a little forethought.
Almost all my guns are true game guns, mostly from the UK, have DT's, straight grips and so on. Perfect guns in my opinion.
Halifax, welcome aboard on your first post. Don't be bashful to "show and tell" your guns, especially the 2" 12 that weighs 5 lbs, 5 oz. Gil
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 288
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 288 |
I like a 28 ga Remington 1100s for ruffed grouse. I have 2, purchased mainly for training women and children in skeet and sporting clays, so why not take these guns into the ruffed grouse woods on my farm? I agree that a 28ga 1100 (20ga too, for that matter) is about perfect for introducing woman and kids to clay targets. The only issue I have with the 28ga 1100's is they throw empties into the next zip code. When hunting especially, it is a PITA retrieving those precious little hulls.
Last edited by ShootingStar; 11/21/12 10:30 AM.
Mark
A sailor's creed - "If you can't tie good knots, tie lots of 'em."
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 7,464 Likes: 212
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 7,464 Likes: 212 |
....I think the small bore fad on the vintage gun collector scene is motivated by a number of things. For some it is willy waving in reverse - "mine is smaller than yours, which makes me better". Never mind that so many try putting 12-bore loads down 20-bores, they think they are more skilled and sporting because they use a small bore gun.
Another reason is rarity. Collectors like to have something their friends don't have. As there are fewer small bores of quality, having one is a sign of success and wealth etc in the mind of some owners.... I would suspect it's right around here, more a want not a need. Never ever made sense to me to have a long list of advantages in the field for a safe queen.
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,224 Likes: 3
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,224 Likes: 3 |
I have but one word to add to the conversation. Chukar.
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,381 Likes: 1
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,381 Likes: 1 |
What is it with America's lovefest with the small gauge shotgun? I don't think anyone would argue with the superiority of the 12 bore in terms of harvesting game and the 12 is almost certainly more efficacious in terms of clay pigeons as compared to smallbores; hence the reason for the 12 ga for trap shooting. Now, why, if the gun is clearly advantageous for most shooting venues is there a rage in America for the sub gauges?? The subgauges are very much more expensive in terms of the cost of the gun and even the shells cost a lot more. Why then is there such demand and premium for 16, 20, 28 and .410 bore shotguns when a 12 will work just fine, if not better?? Even weight of the gun is not that much of a factor as there are light weight 12's out there. I just don't see much advantage for smaller gauge guns given the premium in cost of shells and guns. And in Europe, eg, England, the 12b is well established. Why not here? What's your opinion? Back in Ole' England Old Farts and Women like 20br O/U shotguns too.
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 13,880 Likes: 16
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 13,880 Likes: 16 |
In a logical world small bores would be cheaper. It follows the adage: "Less is more" which equates to there are less sxs's in small bores so you get to pay more for them.  This is especially true of the .410 sxs's. Some of the sxs guns of middle quality in .410 cost easily twice what a 12 ga of the same model/make cost on the used market.
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