doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com New 28 gauge

I recently recieved my Arrieta 557 28ga SXS from Quality arms in Houston. It was custom made to my stock dimensions. I have wanted something like this for about 30 years since I read Bob Bristers book Shotgunning, the Art and Science. In his book he had a WC Scott 28 ga that he carried a lot. It is not my first 28 ga and not even my first 28 ga SXS. However I am a little larger than average and really appreciate longer stocks and heavier guns. This is the only 28 ga SXS that I have ever seen with a 30" bbl. It is my fifth gun that I have purchased from John at Quality arms and if you will pardon the plug, he was excellent to deal with. He even gave me a price break AFTER I had ordered the gun due to the falling Euro. Three of these were custom guns. I doubt that I will get another........but I have said that before.


I purchased this gun choked 0&.010 to use on farm pheasants and first day doves and the occasional round of skeet. Over the past month I have shot several rounds of skeet. Old Style(low gun & not calling for the bird) my best is 23 so far but I have shot numerous 22s. I am anxoius for the first day of dove season.

The gun weighs 6.2 lbs as opposed to my 20 ga(its near twin) which weighs 6.3. When I got the 20 ga I shot a straight with it the first time out of the box( a fluke). I was shooting a lot more then but it is chocked much tighter and has more recoil.

I reallize that many of you might think that this gun is too heavy for a 28 ga. I have went the lighter weight and could not shoot it as well. Maybe this is coming from a very heavy Krieghoff.

I am an A class skeet shooter and still very happy to shoot a 23 on old style skeet.

I believe that shooting skeet like this(low gun, not calling for the bird) is the best hunting practice. I believe that it is better than regular sporting clays also. I am NOT shooting the Olympic target sequence

Pardon my extensive rambling.....my question is this. Do any of you practice your shooting skills like this? If so what do you consider a good score.

When I practice (not very often), that's the way I do it. Generally do it with M/F chokes, so happy with anything around 20. For bird practice, it is better than most sporting clays courses I have seen.

Quote
"I believe that shooting skeet like this(low gun, not calling for the bird) is the best hunting practice. I believe that it is better than regular sporting clays also. I am NOT shooting the Olympic target sequence"

I don't do a lot of skeet or trap shooting anymore due to a rotator cuff problem but I agree with you above assessment.
For whatever it's worth balance has been more important to me then weight when evaluating a shotgun. I've handled light guns the swung like 2x4s and vise versa.
Jim

I think shooting low gun and without calling for birds is an excellend way to practice for hunting situations - the only better way might to have bushes and trees as visual obstacles and distractions. The scores you are shooting are very impressive for that kind of shooting.

For the money I doubt there is a gun built that patterns as good as those Arrietas!!

I've always considered it an abomination to shoot high gun under any circumstance.

In my opinion, shooting at any type of clay birds doesn't even come close to the real thing. All it is, is better handling practice. It is good for a novice, but as proven, the best clay shooters miss the real thing as much as we do.

We regularly shoot skeet as you do--low gun--surprise me with the pull--etc. To spice it up, we shoot between stations and also increase the distance, as far as the cord will allow. We like to shoot chunks sometimes. Break the incoming bird with the 1st barrel and then break a piece with the 2nd barrel. It really helps you keep your head down and stay in the gun. All will make you a better field shot. We frequently shoot reverse doubles and a lot of us use tight chokes.

I must disagree and ask how it is proven.

My opinion may be tainted by the fact that at one time in my life I was able to shoot lots of live birds but now the only time I get to shoot live birds is when hunting and that, barring a good quail year is probably around 200. Not enough to develop any skill.

Besides, we all need the handling practice.

We sometimes shoot "skeets" off the trap positions if its an overlayed field.
This means always two doubles,start on 1,etc;
[high house must be taken first is our rule],per trap station-then change.
It comes out to 20 shells I know,and it seems easy,but you will miss a couple because its weird overheads.