|
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 members (GETTEMANS),
391
guests, and
6
robots. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Forums10
Topics38,443
Posts544,800
Members14,405
| |
Most Online1,258
Mar 29th, 2024
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 890
Sidelock
|
OP
Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 890 |
The first bird season, doves, is almost here and while I will shoot everything from a .410 to a 12 by the time seasons end in February, my favorite is the 16, and this Hinton & Sons non-ejector boxlock is my favorite 16 gauge double. Anyone else care to share a pic of their favorite bird gun? 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,701 Likes: 99
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,701 Likes: 99 |
Favorite? Gosh, I don't know. I'll start the dove season with a Beretta 20ga 686 Black Onyx I've been practicing with this summer. I had Cole's in Maine convert the single trigger to double and love it.
I'll shoot early season teal in September with the same gun probably. Second season doves brings out the 16ga guns in 1899 Remington, pre-13 grade two L. C. Smith, the Greeners, and 'star grade' Ithaca NID.
"Real ducks" and late season doves will graduate to the 12's in W&C Scott and Son hammer, L. C. Smith Specialty grade, Fox pin guns, and the Spanish Laurona and J.J. Sarasqueta (widow and sons).
The small game season out to the end of February will be an assortment of 20ga and 16ga Parkers (VH and Trojan), 20ga Ithaca Flues, and ithaca NIDs.
Spring Turkey will be the single shot 3" and 3.5" 12s and maybe the W&C Scott big 10 hammer-gun (if I have strength enough to tote it into the woods).
Maybe you can see why I am conflicted about my favorite gauge!...Geo
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,954 Likes: 12
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,954 Likes: 12 |
Favorite guns --- yes. Favorite gauge --- no. For reduced complexity, I shoot 12 gauge in loads of 3/4 oz to one step short of crew served as the occasion warrants. This is one way to do it, but no judgment on my part as to good, better, or best. Occasionally, I shoot a bit of .410 clays.
Favored gun is a Woodward top lever bar action hammer gun. Favored .410 is a Browning Superposed.
DDA
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,936 Likes: 16
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,936 Likes: 16 |
16 gauge and smaller.Bobby
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,091 Likes: 588
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,091 Likes: 588 |
After much trial and error, I've arrived at an English BLE 16 as well. If I had to only use one gun for upland work, this one could do it all. Thankfully, I do have a few other options. 
Last edited by Lloyd3; 08/12/15 11:42 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,018 Likes: 50
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,018 Likes: 50 |
16ga SLE 90% of time
16ga BLE 5%
20ga SLE 5%
Michael Dittamo
Topeka, KS
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,701 Likes: 99
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,701 Likes: 99 |
You may have noticed I did not mention the .410 in my 1st reply above. I don't shoot live game with a .410 although I enjoy trying to hit clay birds with one. Just not enough shot to ensure clean kills IMHO.
When I graduated from a Daisy BB gun to a single shot .410 at 10 years of age, I thought the .410 was the most deadly thing I'd ever seen. But I wounded a lot of rabbits and doves with it and came to the opinion that live animals deserved adequate power for clean kills. I still feel that way...Geo
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 582
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 582 |
My 16 Manufrance Ideal, soon with a second set of barrels. The 12 comes out for turkey and high pass shooting of cranes. 
Tolerance: the abolition of absolutes
Consistency is the currency of credibility
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,701 Likes: 99
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,701 Likes: 99 |
Wingshooter, what is that brown THING behind you gun and stool?...Geo
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,962 Likes: 89
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,962 Likes: 89 |
Upland to me usually means wild bobwhite or blue quail. Though I am increasingly fond of the 16 my "go to" guns seem to end up being my little Parker 12 on a one frame or a little Lefever G 12. Both with Damascus barrels. I've just used them so long they just seem to belong. While my clay loads are almost always 7/8 ounce #8, when it comes to feathers I up it to an ounce of #7's. My Parker 12  Sometimes a real oldie gets to play. Charles Daly, circa 1875.  Or, when I go over to the dark side-- covey rise with a single shot 16. 
When an old man dies a library burns to the ground. (Old African proverb)
|
|
|
|
|
