Originally Posted By: Stan
Originally Posted By: nialmac
PJ, have you ever hunted ruffed grouse in dense tangles of briars? Have you ever hunted bobwhite quail? I'd love to watch you lug your magnum around all day in hilly, rock strewn brambles.
Nial


A two inch chambered twelve gauge is not the only, the easiest or the most sensible option for a gun to use, in lieu of a heavy duck gun, for bobwhite quail. It makes little sense to me either, unless someone just wants to have something different from most everyone else. A 20 or 28 is a much more economical and reasonable way to have a lightweight game gun, which will be used with 3/4 or 7/8 oz. loads, than a two inch chambered twelve.

I've seen a lot of different guns and loads used for quail in my lifetime of chasing them, but never saw a two inch twelve. The overwhelming majority of quail hunters would think it is an answer to a problem that never existed. Me included.


A little historical perspective of the 2" 12 bore may help.
Developed by Frank Skimin in the early 20th century, it was touted as 'The 20th Century Gun' and developed as many things are, to spur sales and try something different such as the the Churchill rib. It was frequently purchased by women and children which is substantiated by the many 2" 12 bores that have short LOP or stock addition added. The A&F gun has a full length American LOP and does not suffer from a short LOP. Skimin was an entrepreneur and Frank Wiesman's father frequently was employed by Skimin, helping through the hard times. The Skimin & Wood factory was destroyed during the Blitz, records along with tooling as I believe that Skimin made many of the 2" actions and jobbed them out. Frank Wiesman eventually purchased the rights to the Skimin & Wood name. So a 2" 12 bore boxlock is not in the works regardless of what is found from other resources. The 2" 12 bore was not developed for quail but English shooting of the times. Judging the 2" 12 bore in that context does not make any sense. I don't shoot quail but would have no qualms about using the 2" and ammunition is not a problem and the cost of the ammunition is a small component of the total cost.
I don't recall any 20 or 28 bore doubles that are in the 2" 12 bore weight range so if an extremely light gun is wanted, there is only one. Certainly one can purchase a 20 or 28 gun in the 6# range, spend less on ammunition but so what? The sheer artistry of these guns is enough for many individuals.-Dick