Most of my life it has been only just the one gun, mainly for economic reasons. I started back in the 1980's. A single-shot H&R Topper in 12g, broke 90 out of 100 straight with it once, *and* put some waterfowl on the table a few months later. I still regret selling it, but I'm waiting for delivery on a LC Smith at the moment. And the Smith will be just the one gun that I own, and does everything.
Last edited by Peter VanTassell; 07/13/2312:44 PM.
Peter A Van Tassell Experienced metal worker and craftsman North of Buffalo NY, USA
And just remember guys, the question was "one gun to do it all". So if you chose an old english hammer gun or some broken down damascus, just remember , we're going to want to see you to shoot a round of sporting clays and probably a round of singles and handicap trap and probably a round of skeet. and we're going to ask you to break 20-25 targets. Or at least 15-20. Not just 3 or 4 broken birds in each event. That just doesn't qualify "One gun to do it all". We're going to want to see you shoot decently in all the events. Some of us made our choices with that criteria in mind. Ha-ha!!
I suppose it's how you define "just one gun". I didn't restrict myself to the shooting sports. My criteria was different, I picked a gun that could be used to hunt deer & another animals with and even protect myself from people wishing me harm. Not just a gun for the shooting sports.
That's why I almost chose my Remington 870. It has a 34" trap barrel and an 18" slug barrel. I thought about deer and a gun for protection. But an 870 isn't a double gun. So, I went with the best I could. It would be hard to shoot handicap trap with the gun I chose. But I think i'd do better with that than an 1800s hammer gun. Just expressing my choice and why I made the decision I did.
I totally agree with eightbore’s choice on page one. Mine would be the Parker 12 VH with 30” barrels. Great shooting gun and not a thing on it that can’t be easily fixed. Mine is from 1917 and still running strong.
When an old man dies a library burns to the ground. (Old African proverb)
I'd read this a few years before but looking again, this time with a renewed interest in an older American (possibly Damascus?) SXS target gun. 1894 Remingtons and Fox pin guns certainly look promising, perhaps even the bigger Parker no. 2 frame guns? My brother has a long, heavy, 1930s Field Grade Elsie that I can secure quite reasonably that would likely work, but after reading Dewey's screed on them...
I read that a few years ago, just reread it (thanks BTW) and still think the same as I did then. We are fascinated by these American doubles and their collective historical provenance regardless of their mechanical limitations and idiosyncrasies. Maybe we should just confess that Fleetwood Mac’s little tune is our American double gun theme song, “Tell me lies, tell me lies, tell me sweet little lies.” Too many factors other than design and workmanship are in play for us. We’re hopeless mutual enablers. And happy about it.
Now regarding your brother’s Elsie (Dewey’s assessment aside, “Almost anything is a better double than a Smith.”) You’ve done your due diligence. You’ve engaged the cadre here and over at 16ga. The gun is good and the price is right. You want it. You can afford it. You’re going to get plenty of satisfaction and enjoyment from it. Have I said enough? (Just remember to post pics when you get it.)
(And I confess I thought twice about aiding the OT direction of this thread but then I remembered, it is your thread.)
For me there's only one answer: My Valmet 412 o/u.
It sleeps quietly in a three-barrel case with a 12 gauge skeet/skeet barrel, another in f/m, and a 20 gauge tubed set that is my regular choice. But in the safe is a 12 over .308 with a 3-5x Tasco World Class scope in the clamp-on mount. Double rifle barrel sets in several calibers are still available if you know where to shop. In the case is also a set of Browning .410 inserts if needed, plus a clever little German-made stecklauf for .22 rf.
The Finnish-made Valmet may not be the most elegant gun, but it is stoutly built and comes up comfortably for me every time. I have no idea of how many thousands of target loads I've put through it, as well as plenty of field- and waterfowl loads when I did such things. I have spare springs and pins if ever needed.
It will outlast me, and I can only hope that its next caretaker will be appreciative of its good design and workmanship.
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