Just for a historical perspective, the "Top Gun" at the traps 1895-about 1900 was a Smith, when Live Bird and Inanimate Target shooters were using 1 1/4 oz. 3 1/2 Dr. Eq. loads. They didn't hold up, and the top shooters (Fred Gilbert, W.R. Crosby, Rolla Heikes who won with every maker's gun) mostly switched to single barrel repeaters (Winchester 1897) and Parkers, and eventually to SBTs, Remington Pump Shotguns and Model 12s
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D8QkBDo-KIQYk2G8lkE-kHLUybB5NJzBahX_eFKEyuY/preview

Feb. 20, 1897 Sporting Life
Dr. Hinkins of Chicago, has an L. C. Smith gun that was formerly used by Rolla Heikes. This gun was fired 60,000 times while in the possession of Mr. Heikes and has had over 15,000 shots fired from it since that time by Dr. Hinkins. This goes to show what the L. C. Smith gun will stand, as it is still tight and strong us a new gun.

No mention about cracks in the head of the stock frown Interestingly, my very well used 1906 00 12g is still tight and crack free smile

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