|
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
|
31
|
|
|
|
Forums10
Topics38,498
Posts545,456
Members14,414
| |
Most Online1,344
Apr 29th, 2024
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,814 Likes: 1
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,814 Likes: 1 |
I thought the gun under discussion was a 16 at a lil over 6? Where did the 8 lb 12 bore come from?...
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,982 Likes: 106
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,982 Likes: 106 |
Ok, LD. Stan mentioned the 9 lb duck gun and I think you know what was meant! Let's try not to be too argumentative with this simple topic of gun weight.
Socialism is almost the worst.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,438
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,438 |
I grew up in Massachusetts and spent considerable time hunting "Partridge" in the thickets of that State as well as Vermont. It was so thick at times that a birds ability to flush and fly around in there was always a source of wonderment to me. Most of my hunting was done with a Sterlingworth 12 ga with 28" barrels. This would certainly NOT be my 1st choice for this type of hunting today. Many of the minor dings in the Sterlingworths barrels yet today were as a result of trying to swing the gun for a shot under these conditions. I eventually switched over to the Churchill recommended approach.
Jim
The 2nd Amendment IS an unalienable right.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 284
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 284 |
My 26" 12 Ga. Skeet Grade never felt heavy to me. I quit using it as my primary bird gun because I didnt want to clean so many birds anymore.
h
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 601 Likes: 39
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 601 Likes: 39 |
I just got back from 2 weeks in northern MI hunting grouse & woodcock. I shot a 29" bbl 6 lb. 16 ga for the bulk of the trip but switched to my 26" bbl 6 1/2 lb 12 ga. "rain gun" for the last 2 days. In the thick popple the my ability to swing was restricted equally with either gun. The 3" difference in bbl length made absolutely no difference & you are going to hit the bbls against popple with either length. The 26" 6 1/2 lb 12 was a little quicker to the shot & easier to carry one handed than the lighter 16 because the balance point is closer to the trigger than on the 16. In my opinion balance makes more difference than a few ounces of weight on how a gun carries until you get to 3/4 lb or so in weight disparity.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 13,160 Likes: 1154
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 13,160 Likes: 1154 |
Sorry, but if you can't carry a 6-1/2 lb gun with one hand you need to spend your time in the gym, not in a bird cover. After years of slogging through beaver swamps carrying a 7 to 9 1/2 lb. duck gun in one hand, a bag of dekes over my back, and sinking in the mud to my ankles every step and trying to keep from falling head fo'most in the water with the other hand, a 6 1/2 lb. gun in bird cover seems pretty light to me. SRH Unless one has grouse hunted in the Northwoods, one has little idea of what it is actually like. From reading Stan's assessment here, I'm pretty sure he has never hunted Ruffed Grouse in the Northwoods, because there is a huge difference in carrying a 7-9 lb gun through a swamp to a duck blind than carrying a 6 lb gun through an Alder swamp or an Aspen thicket ALL day long. I'm trying to be tactful here, but as a dedicated grouse hunter, and unless you are Paul Bunyan, the weight of a shotgun matters a lot for Grouse hunting. A 6 1/2 lb gun is manageable for most people in the Grouse woods. I prefer a gun closer to 6 lbs, even lighter would be better for me. But, I'm a doctor, and not a construction worker or a logger; if I used an axe all day long, I could probably wield an 8 lb 12 ga Model 21 in the Grouse woods, but the way things are for me, I'd rather use the 12 ga Model 21 in a duck blind, rather than an Alder swamp for Grouse and Woodcock. I'll concede that one, buzz. I never have hunted grouse in the alder thickets ya'll describe. But, I'd like to someday. I do, however, hunt woodcock in some of the thickest bottoms imaginable. Almost impossible to get through in many places, due to saplings, myrtle bushes and briar patches. At the end of the day you look like you've been sorting out housecats in a burlap bag. I guess there's just something about the northwoods that makes a gun feel heavier.  SRH
May God bless America and those who defend her.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 200
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 200 |
Sorry, but if you can't carry a 6-1/2 lb gun with one hand you need to spend your time in the gym, not in a bird cover. Spoken like a man who hasn't been diagnosed with polyarticular osteo-arthritis in his hands, elbows and shoulders. Thanks for the sympathy.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 610
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 610 |
SIL is 6' 4" pumps iron everyday and carries an under 6 lb gun for the grouse woooods. Nice 21 16 BTW. Never looked into 21s, but 16 ga is another thing. 
Last edited by 2holer; 10/29/12 11:05 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,982 Likes: 106
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,982 Likes: 106 |
Sorry, but if you can't carry a 6-1/2 lb gun with one hand you need to spend your time in the gym, not in a bird cover. After years of slogging through beaver swamps carrying a 7 to 9 1/2 lb. duck gun in one hand, a bag of dekes over my back, and sinking in the mud to my ankles every step and trying to keep from falling head fo'most in the water with the other hand, a 6 1/2 lb. gun in bird cover seems pretty light to me. SRH Unless one has grouse hunted in the Northwoods, one has little idea of what it is actually like. From reading Stan's assessment here, I'm pretty sure he has never hunted Ruffed Grouse in the Northwoods, because there is a huge difference in carrying a 7-9 lb gun through a swamp to a duck blind than carrying a 6 lb gun through an Alder swamp or an Aspen thicket ALL day long. I'm trying to be tactful here, but as a dedicated grouse hunter, and unless you are Paul Bunyan, the weight of a shotgun matters a lot for Grouse hunting. A 6 1/2 lb gun is manageable for most people in the Grouse woods. I prefer a gun closer to 6 lbs, even lighter would be better for me. But, I'm a doctor, and not a construction worker or a logger; if I used an axe all day long, I could probably wield an 8 lb 12 ga Model 21 in the Grouse woods, but the way things are for me, I'd rather use the 12 ga Model 21 in a duck blind, rather than an Alder swamp for Grouse and Woodcock. I'll concede that one, buzz. I never have hunted grouse in the alder thickets ya'll describe. But, I'd like to someday. I do, however, hunt woodcock in some of the thickest bottoms imaginable. Almost impossible to get through in many places, due to saplings, myrtle bushes and briar patches. At the end of the day you look like you've been sorting out housecats in a burlap bag. I guess there's just something about the northwoods that makes a gun feel heavier. SRH Stan: That's ok, I'm not knowledgeable about some specific topics as well. One thing I failed to mention, is that many successful grouse hunters walk the woods in the 'ready' position almost all day. Hence the need for a light gun. A super grouse dog helps (just try to find one of them.....rarer than a less than 6lb 12 b!), but these birds just give the hunter a split second, a glimpse. It is really hard to kill the limit, and I lIken it to the Super Bowl of bird hunting. It takes a great dog and a great wingshot (with stamina) to be highly successful. As much as you like to hunt and shoot, I'm sure you would like it....once you figure the game out. I hope you give it a go sometime! You're sure to have some fun. Buzz
Socialism is almost the worst.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,379 Likes: 105
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,379 Likes: 105 |
Because the opportunities to swing a gun very far are significantly constrained when hunting grouse and woodcock (unless you walk trails all the time), how well a gun swings for you is not all that important. I agree with the above post that barrel length, in and of itself, is not the real issue; also agree that it will very seldom be the last couple inches of the barrel that will contact a tree as you mount and attempt to engage the target in question. But if you're carrying one-handed by the grip, the longer the barrels, the more weight there will be in front of your hand vs behind it. That may make a difference when it comes to one-handed carrying. Of course one solution, which many grouse and woodcock hunters follow, is to go with a gun that's both short and light.
Had something interesting happen the other day, when I was responding to a flushing woodcock. When I moved my left hand to grasp the barrels, I also grabbed a small branch from an adjacent tree. Didn't have to make much of a swing, but I'm blaming the miss on trying to swing the tree in question in addition to the gun.
|
|
|
|
|
