doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Opening Day Dove Gun

Soon, and very soon, 1 Sept and opening day for Doves

What will y'all be using?

I and my Buds start with 410s
Then I use a different gun each outing

A few years back

410 Tristar Brittany, 410 Fausti , 410 Crescent

Mike

I also start with a .410. In this case Winchester 42 Pigeon grade. Next day Winchester 42 High Grade. Third day Crescent .410 which was my late uncles quail gun. After that it will be which ever gun seems to need getting out. A 37/28ga, any of a dozen 20 side by sides or four or five 20 & 12 hammer guns. Shells all loaded for everything.

My uncle killed more quail with it, than I have Doves in my lifetime and I have killed a decent number. By the end, a case of Polio as a child and arthritis made it hard for him to even walk. Never heard him complain about anything. He refused to even get a handicapped sticker for his car. Shamed a lot of family members into not getting one as well. Worked until he died at 80. Happy to be working, as an accountant. Mind was sharp as a tack, trapped in a body that could not....

Either my Dickinson 30" barreled .410 or the FAIR Iside 30" .410. Haven't decided yet. Dang! ...... the Verona 30" O/U .410 just whispered "Pleeeze". Oh well, it will be a last minute decision, likely. But, one thing for certain ......... it will be one of those three.

11.2 days and life begins again.

SRH

My20 gauge Remington Model 17 30" NO BS full!
We have a s*** load of Eurasian Collared dove at the farm--easy to shoot AND they thud when they hit the ground!

We only are allotted so many opening days--make the most of them with buds and family!!

28 gauge or .410 Silver Pigeon, 28 ga RBL, 20 ga Mod 12 or 20 ga Mod 37 that belonged to my wife's grandfather. Haven't shot that last one at doves for many years. Might be time.

If I have the opportunity to go I won't be shooting a small bore but will instead choose one of the old Damascus guns I've yet to shoot; probably an old Three Barrel Gun Co 12x12x32/40. Who knows when it was last fired, so I think it'd be fun to take it afield.

Ky Jon: "My uncle killed more quail with it, than I have Doves in my lifetime and I have killed a decent number. By the end, a case of Polio as a child and arthritis made it hard for him to even walk. Never heard him complain about anything. He refused to even get a handicapped sticker for his car. Shamed a lot of family members into not getting one as well. Worked until he died at 80. Happy to be working, as an accountant. Mind was sharp as a tack, trapped in a body that could not...."

Many thanks for your comment about your deceased uncle as my spirit is also housed in a body dealing with the impact of Polio from the age of 18 months. He was obviously an inspiration as he struggled to overcome his limitations and present himself as a "normal" man to the rest of the world. At 70 plus now it is becoming more and more difficult to get around (walk); a fact that has made enjoying shooting and hunting a challenge. But like your uncle I've never felt cheated; I've been blessed with a good life, a loving wife, two fine sons, career success; and always managed to find a way (sometimes unorthodox) to do the things I enjoyed most. In reading the various posts to this forum it's clear that there are a fair number of us "old timers" who are also experiencing difficulties from the inevitable impacts of aging and disability; so until that time when we are all called to the great beyond may our minds stay young and active, and may we be a positive example and an encourager to all we know and meet.
Thanks again, Tom

Although it is a 12ga, this is what I will use on opening day.
I am still putting this O/U through its paces and attempting to notch kills among various species. I slayed some wild roosters last fall and am now going to turn my attention toward doves. Doves are not consistently plentiful in large numbers in my area but we always see a few on opening day. The XF rear trigger facilitates connection with the long shots typically encountered.

Be careful not to get any dove blood on that beautiful gun. It�s pretty easy to inadvertently have happen. JMHO.....inspect it closely when done with your hunt

Owen,
I love that forend iron!
Karl

Not going out for the opener for a variety of reasons, but maybe out for the last couple days of the season. If it�s not windy, I�ll use my Browning XS Feather Sporting .410, 30� barrels, M/F, 2-1/2� sporting loads, either AA or Estates. Always satisfying to limit on closing day with a .410. Backup gun will be an 1880s Brit 12ga hammer gun, laminated steel barrels, with old Gamebore 20ga black powder shells in ChamberMates.