doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Uncle Dan and Thomas go to the skeet range.

I made a trip to the range yesterday for some handgun shooting and a couple of rounds of skeet. I just picked up a Thomas Bland 12 gauge 2 1/2" and wanted to try it out. I also hadn't had Uncle Dan out for quite a while so thought he might like a trip to the club.

The Bland shoots about 60/40 and half a pattern to the right on the splatter board. Dan centers it right where I'm looking. The Bland is choked cylinder and improved modified and the Lefever, a 12 gauge, is tight and extra tight. I will say when you're on with the Lefever on a low house 8 the target just seems to blink out of existence.

Despite the Bland shooting a bit to the right I shot it fairly well. I shot the Lefever better so will shoot it this weekend in a SxS sporting clays event. After decades of skeet with O/U's it sure is fun to get out with the SxS's for an informal round now and then.

I shot a 19 with the Lefever and a 16 with the Bland.

Marty, like the Bland, love the Lefever!!!

What O/U's do you shoot and how do your scores compare to the SxS?

I just bought a Lefever that was redone by Bachelder. Chokes were LM/LM with 3" DAH - just what I like. Finally bought a gun that I didn't have to do anything to. Beautiful Damascus barrels and color case hardening. Two birds on the left lock, a hunting dog on the right lock and trigger guard. I usually buy Remingtons or Parkers, but this gun really caught my eye and I had to have it. Shoot SC's yesterday, and it shoots as good as it looks. I also like the cocking indicators on the lock plates.

I have been through a few O/U's. I started out with a Browning Citori and moved onto a Remington 3200 before settling on a Beretta 686. I shot two, one in 12 and one in 28 gauge for years and sold both a while back. I shoot a 686 Beretta Whitewing Sporting now and normally shoot 22-23 on skeet with occasional, okay rare, moments of brilliance when I run them.

I wasn't too disappointed with either score. The Lefever is choked plenty tight for the good old days of waterfowling and the Bland is new to me and needs a slight bending to get it shooting where I'm looking.

The Lefever came to me a couple of years ago from a AA auction. It set there with no bids so I bid on it the last day. No other bids came in and I ended up with it. I've come to really like the older Lefevers a lot.

The Bland belonged to a friend of mine who is down sizing his collection. I've been wanting a 2 1/2" English 12 gauge and he was only to happy to help me out. I was recently promoted and he has promised, or threatened, to get every nickel of my promotion. He keeps tempting me with classic guns.

Paul, you should post some pics of that Lefever. It sounds like a beauty.