jOe, I'm surprised at your low opinion of the Elsie hammergun. Didn't you buy one from Randy M. a few months ago. Only reason I remember it is I once bought the same gun from him, and you pm'd me to ask about its condition.
I thought it was alright for what it was and I even killed two gobblers with it even though it wasn't a turkey gun by any means. It made a pretty good dove gun though. I actually sold it back to Randy after I'd had it a couple of years but that was just because he wanted it back, not because I was dissatisfied with it.
I think the L.C. Smith hammerguns are a great deal in the American classic doubles area. The price on the one this topic was about would have been very good if the gun had not had the issues it seems to have had. If I found another in good shape for that price I'd probably buy it.
I've no doubt Don Moody's right about the mechanism being sound for modern shells, but because of the 100 year old wood and the unneccesary recoil, I'd stick to vintager loads.
JMHO...Geo
