doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Are 12 gauges dead now?

How is 1 oz of 5's through a 12 different than through a 16 or 20?

Ken, theoretically the 12 will produce a better pattern than smallbores with the same shot charge due to the shorter shot column. But that's theory and I doubt any bird or clay would ever be so discerning to comment one way or the other.

The 12's forte is its ability to handle anything from 3/4 oz loads to 1 1/2 oz or higher with aplomb. It is the universal gun that can never be equalled by another gauge. And a properly built 12 game gun can be as light and lively as any smallbore. Thought I've drifted from the straight and narrow and indulged in a little "sweet sixteen" I think I've seen the error in my ways and promise not to wander again.......(that's a lie and we all know it but it sounded good).

It's great to hear that twelves are now the bargains!

Speaking of light 12s, "Henshaw Grouse Gun" at Robin Hollow:

http://www.robinhollow.com/gunpages/09170933.htm

Amazing, a twelve that is almost as good a bird gun as a sixteen!

Mike,
That gun is a "grouse gun". The dealer has a good reputation and expertise, and as such has marked it accurately. Not a fit for us quail hunters. Use the right tool for the job.

All US Quail are not borm equal. Even admitting the left bbl's choke is too tight for the purpose I would certainly have no problem carrying that gun after Southern "Birds" (Bob White Quail for you non-rebels).

I will shortly be going on my first ever Georgia quail hunt and plan to take either my Merkel 1620 or my AyA #2 20 ga

They are both deadly on both pheasant and grouse - but given the above comments, what do you guys recommend for chokes?

Pointing dogs? If so, about any choke from cylinder to full will get you kills. If you want to eat them, closer to cylinder would help.

Flushing dogs, you might want to choke up a bit to make up for that extra second or two (depending on your reaction time) of flight the bird has a jump on you. Still a very open choke first shot, maybe mod or tighter second shot is what I use.

JMO, but I've never shot bobwhites in Georgia, just western state wild quail and some released Tennessee reds. I get the impression the west is quite different than Georgia.

I like #7 1/2 shot, some like #8. I've seen #6 used, but not tried it myself.

What Chuck said except I would favor eights or nines for the close shots I expect you to have.

Havent been on a Georgia hunt either.

Best,

Mike

I have never hunted in GA either. All my quail have been shot a little north of there in TN. I have successfully used both #8 & #7� shot. Though I was never one to keep actual records the gun I feel I had probably the highest ratio of birds to shots fired was a pre 1900 British 12ga J P Clabrough sidelock with 28" bbls choked about .010" (� choke) in both barrels & a weight of about 6lb 14oz. It was fired with loads pushing 1oz shot to about 1150 fps @ a pressre of around 8-8.5K psi. It just seemed to fit me like a glove & had a very good feel "To Me". In my mind at least the only thing I could have done to improve this gun would have been to knock the weight down about 6oz to an even 6�lbs & opened the right bbl to about .003"-.005" choke. I still prefer that very mild I/C to a straight cyl bore.
I am not in a major flight zone for woodcock but we do get a few along, same load was very effective on them as well. Also at the time I was using this gun rather heavyily my dad kept Beagles & was into rabbit hunting. I went quite a lot with him & just switced the same mild 1oz load to #6 shot & it was the best rabbit getter I ever hunted with as well.