doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Budget vintage SxS for shooting trap?

The daly aint Vintage, aint budget....Buy the Nitro at 259.00 fix it and shoot it........

There were actually two American vintage budget double trap guns offered in the late 1920s and early 1930s. The Ithaca built Lefever Model 4 --



and the Iver Johnson SUPERTRAP --

If I didn't have one already, I'd be buyin' it.

Your question brings several thoughts to mind.
1. First, you do not need a "trap model" to be successful shooting trap. Some of the best trapshooters in the world, Dan Bonillas for one, prefer flat shooting guns.
2. As others have replied, a vintage gun, in a "trap model" will cost extra bucks over the same gun, in a field model.
3. A very old trap model will have the same safety concerns as a very old field model of the same gun.
4. The Daly mentioned is very likely an O/U, seller didn't specify.
5. A BSS would be an excellent choice. Strong, modern ammo compatible and reasonable. 12 ga BSSs usually are in the $1000 range, or less. The Bernardelli Hammer Gun listed in the for sale section would be another good choice. If you want to be modern ammo safe, you'll need to stay fairly new, say 50-60 years or so.

Taken literally, this statement declares it is unsafe to shoot new ammo in a gun made prior to 1950. I disagree.

Some people may be of the opinion it is ill-advised....take that for what it's worth. But if there's an argument why it is "unsafe" for me to continue my habit of shooting 2,000 rounds of Remington Nitro 27's annually in my 80 year old Fox, I'd like to hear it substantiated.

You're entitled to your opinion, whatever it is. Please show me the same courtesy. Bushmaster's question was which vintage guns are known to be safe with modern ammo? I shoot old guns all the time, too, using low pressure handloads. Which vintage guns are you willing to state are safe to shoot with modern ammo?

I didn't realize Homo Joe had kids.

Safe? well, Lessee, Nitro Special, Western Field Ithacas, Most Stevens, most Foxes, Win 21's, Large frame Parkers, Most Sauers...Gee, i cant think of anymore (unless I try) Speaking of Target loads of course...I shoot AA Lights all the time in my Lefevers...

I don't believe I denied it. I always offer that courtesy when it's stated as opinion. If it's stated as fact, I sometimes question (civily) its veracity. I try to attack the argument, or even the position, but not the individual.

"Which vintage guns are you willing to state are safe to shoot with modern ammo?"


I'll also give you my courteous opinion based on some facts...


In my opinion, all of my 1920-1930 A.H. Foxes are safe to shoot with modern ammo due the fact that each gun has digested from 1500-4,000 modern factory loads with virtually undetectable wear. Additionally, the 16ga digested upwards of 15,000 handloads suggested to be at 9,700 psi. In the 18 months since I completed my project 12ga SW, it has fired 2,000 Nitro27's, 2,000 AA's and 18,000 handloads at 9,100 psi, again with no detectable wear. Altogether, I put more than 50,000 rounds through 5 Foxes without generating any detectable wear, much less an "unsafe" condition.

Based on my personal experience (and others that I'm aware of), I'm willing to state that any A.H. Fox, deemed safe to shoot with any ammo, is safe to shoot with modern ammo.

He also said he wanted a U.S. made gun.

You are absolutely right, Mike. Say hi to your dad.