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Joined: Nov 2019
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Sidelock
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Sidelock

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I imagine most on here hunt upland with their classic American, English or European doubles, but I was wondering how many of you are avid duck hunters like me. For years I hunted upland and ducks with a 1907 DS grade Lefever. My gunsmith said it was a hell for stout gun so I shot 1 1/4 oz high base bismuth game loads out of it without thinking about it.

Problem was I was an inconsistent shot with it compared to my over-under. It turns out, after having the gun checked by a stock maker and pattering the gun, I shot way left with it. I went to the trouble and expense of having the stock bent, but when it still shot left after its return I sold it and moved on.

This year I decided to get back into old classic dude by sides. Before the season I found a nice field grade 12 ga. L.C. Smith feather weight with 28” barrels that weighs 6.6 pounds. I hit well with it, but it’s a little light for waterfowl, perfect pheasant gun though. So now I’m looking at a nice Fox AE, 30” full and full, reasonable stock dimensions 7#_6oz. I’m thinking that would be a nice waterfowl gun. It would get hunted 20-30 times a year. I plan on using 1-1/8 to 1-1/4 oz RST bismuth out of it. What do you think? Is that pushing it too hard?

My hunting buddy has used a Suhl side by side from the 30s that is probably a stronger gun, but he shoots regukar 2-2/3” steel shot out of it no problem. The seller of the Fox thought the stock would be the weak link in this equation, he thinks the action and barrels are no problem.

And Merry Christmas everybody.

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Sidelock
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If the Fox stock is sound you are likely fine using that gun with those loads. Most American doubles have digested thousands of rounds like those you mention. Sounds like a great waterfowl gun if you shoot it well. Merry Christmas to you as well.


http://www.bertramandco.com/
Booking African hunts, firearms import services

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Seems reasonable to me.


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BrentD, (Professor - just for Stan)

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That Fox, if it is tight and on face, and the wood in the head isn't damaged or oil soaked too badly, should handle those loads fine. Imperative also is to make certain the bores have not been honed beyond a very few thousandths, and that there is no bad pitting in the chambers or near the breech end of the barrels.

I hunt ducks with Foxes and hand loaded bismuth every year, and my load is hotter than the RSTs, but that's my call, determined by the condition of my guns and the pressures of the load. Personally, I like a heavier gun that the one you're looking at, for most waterfowling, but that's another personal thing. All my vintage duck guns weigh from 8/2 to 9/6. The old 30" BSS, while not a vintage gun IMO, is lighter at 7/11. All of these have used 1 1/4 oz. duck loads with no issues, other than having to shim the hook on the BSS from so much use.

Merry CHRISTmas to you, too.

SRH


May God bless America and those who defend her.
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For SITTING in the duck blind, I sometimes use my Ithaca NID 10 gauge or my L.C. Smith quality 2 10 gauge,
The NID is too heavy for me to carry far smile
What fun!

Mike

Last edited by skeettx; 12/23/19 11:01 AM.

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I like to take my BSA 3" Magnum. I had the left barrel bored out to half choke so as I can use 2 3/4" Steel loads as well as 3" Eley Bismuth that is O.K. with the older English 3" nitro proof. Lagopus…..

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Yup, upland and waterfowl with my sixteengauge 1959 Zoli sxs. My waterfowl loads are hand loaded #5 bismuth, 50% of which are spreader loads due to my tightly choked gun.


Life is too short to have a 'hate on' for so many things or people. Isn't it?
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In the FWIW column my handloads are about 31 grs of Blue Dot with 1.25 oz of Bi (this from memory, so check your books). They are my go to load for both pheasants and ducks. And did right well in a pinch with a Canada as well, though I have #2s for that.


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BrentD, (Professor - just for Stan)

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I hunt with doubles all the time.

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When Ivory Beads was in business, Jim Thynne told me that he thought the Fox Sterlingworth was the best of the American classics for waterfowling with steel shot. So a Fox A Grade should be fine with proper condition and chokes, whether steel or bismuth.

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