doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com My minty Field Grade

The recent post on Field grades led me to post this. My trusty Field Grade L.C. Smith 12g is a tool I use to hunt with AND place on the rack for admiration as well. Sure it doesn't have the fancy wood and engraving as, say my Crown Grade, but it harvests game just as good!

At any rate, Fall turkey Season opens here in Missouri on Oct. 1st and I will be out and about trying to harvest a nice Missouri Long beard. I am from the St. Louis area, but will be hunting on ground in north east Missouri on family ground up there.

So, I wanted to pattern my gun on some new loads and this is the results. My Field Grade has 30" barrels and is choked Imp/Full. It is not the best set up for Turkey hunting but one shot is all that is needed (usually) and the Full choke barrel will be of course the chosen side to fire. This is gun is an all purpose hunting piece for me and thus the chokes serve me fine. Here are the patterns on 25"x25" squares of cardboard:

First two pictures are of Federal Gold Medal loads with 7/8oz. of #7.5 shot @5000psi. These are my target and clay loads and I use them on Dove and Quail as well.





Next two images are my heavier loads that I will use on turkeys. These are the Federal Game-Shoks at 1 1/8oz of #4's. I honestly do not know the pressure but was told by others who are more educated on these old L.C. Smiths that for hunting purposes, these would be fine. Again, shots were taken at 30 yards.




As you can see the improved barrel isn't tight enough for my liking with this load to kill a turkey, but I knew that before shooting it. The Full choke barrel is MORE than adequate and it holds a really nice pattern that will flat lay a turkey on it's back! I might try to pattern some #5 shot to see if the patterns fill in anymore.

I should note, this Field Grade L.C. Smith has had the works done to it stock wise. I sent it to Dr. Bill Hambidge for inspection, glassing of the stock, etc... With that done, it should be good to go for more than my lifetime, especially if I take mind to keep the loads on the light side. We have to remember that modern day loads are overkill, our forefathers killed alot of game with their loads, which in todays terms are our "light" loads now.

Good luck on the turkey hunt. I don't hunt turkeys, or waterfowl, but will pass along anecdotaly that I never had decent patterns with number 4 shot with my 12s, back when I patterned them. I have used 5s for wild pheasants in my 12s for many years.

That full choke loading looks like a turkey killer, for sure.
Best,
Ted

That 30 incher Elsie is throwing some interesting patterns, looks like a good all around hunting gun for sure!!! The left or full barrel looks almost like it was choked for trap shooting. The right barrel looks like a good choke for a quick handy shot at a grouse busting loose unexpectedly in heavy brush!!! How does that Elsie come up to the shoulder while wearing hunting clothes and moving through the brush?? That's the key question!!
All the best

This "Elsie" comes up fine to me. In fact, I was amazed when I first got her home just how it felt when I shouldered the gun. This is one of those guns that I can close my eyes, raise and mount the gun and then open my eyes and it's right where it should be, I am looking right down the rib and it's just a natural fit.

This fall hunting season will be the true test as this gun will be my main hunting piece...for everything I pursue.

Pictures of holes in cardboard are fine ,I think , but a picture of the LC would have been more fulfilling...

I agree, I would have liked to see the gun. Having said that, #4's aren't exactly what I would call on the light side. #6's or #5's are more than adequate for turkeys at normal ranges. You're trying for head trauma, not body shots.

Sorry guys, didn't think many would care to see my plain ole Field Grade. But since you asked, ye shall receive. Gun is all original except for the fact of me having sent it off for a full inspection, and had the stock glass bedded. No worries about the stock now

The title of my original post said "minty" this is not minty, I was just playing on the words per a previous post about such guns.

Minty is, as minty does! Use it in good health. Try some 5s, by the way.
Best,
Ted

Might not be LNIB but a cared for LC with some honest field ware..........I can just picture the original owner asking the clerk...hey buddy..can I have a look at that 12ga LC Smith???

That gun is a fine looking gun that needs to be used and not stored in some gun safe or closet for future generations. If guns were ladies how many here would be buying them to keep them as virgins for the future generations to admire? Field grade guns were made to be used and should be enjoyed by hunting and shooting them.