Originally Posted By: Stan
mike,

Thanks for the thoughtful post. Glad to reply. I honestly do not know why. I have been a S x S shooter for 52 years, since age 8. I love them. But, having shot registered sporting for probably 12 years, and having shot my way into M class (donor class smirk ), I have learned what works for me and what doesn't. You are most likely very right that if I could get a S x S set up exactly right, that would closely duplicate the handling characteristics of my MX-8s, I could likely shoot it just as well. I have several 32" S x Ss. One A grade Fox, one HE Fox, one LC Smith, and a couple more. I have tried them all at sporting and none suit me. I shoot a BSS with 30" barrels better than any other S x S, and won Veterans concurrent and AA class at the U S Open with it in 2010. It would likely take a full restock, done with great care and expertise to duplicate, as nearly as possible, target gun handling qualities. My shooting style would have to be taken into consideration as well. I shoot what I call "modified ambush" most of the time. It takes so much of the hands out of the game, and puts the onus on the eyes to do the work. Bill McGuire shoots this style exactly. It is a great technique for the man who likes to compete but can't shoot lots of practice targets, like me. How a gun moves, in this style shooting, is so critical, because as the target approaches your muzzle (set-up point), you only make a very short move to establish lead, and shoot. This would require a S x S that was set up to handle EXACTLY like my MX-8s, or it would throw everything off.

I think what you explained is likely one reason the vast majority of comp shooters cannot shoot a S x S as well as an O/U, lack of availability. But, that is reality. How many people, until they get very serious about competition, would invest the money and time necessary to build a serious comp S x S, just so they can say they shoot a S x S as well as a O/U in competition?

Batha may be all wet, and me along with him. But, if you shot serious comp for ten years, mike, you learned that little things get into your head and either bolster or erode your confidence. Though I am not swayed easily by the power of suggestion, or anyone's writing for that matter, I admit I get strong beliefs about what works, and why, in competition. Very few things are more important when you step into the box than confidence in one's self and equipment.

Thanks for the consideration.

SRH
"Batha may be all wet" nice one Jawja Guy. Who is this shotgun guru and what is a SSM? Hopefully NOT a reference to a 32 round 9mm Parabellum magazine for a WW11 era German Schmeisser SMG__ The late Ernest Hemingway won more money in Cuba shooting box pigeons with his M12- 12 gauge 30" full choke solid rib field gun, made in 1928 with the early style perch-bellied stock and small radius pg- and he had good sized paws--for a right handed man, the left hand does the shotgun "steering", the right hand controls the trigger finger- as long as you don't drop the gun when you fire it, WTF difference does it make. My older Smiths run the gamut of pg and semi-pg shapes, depending on year and place (Syracuse or Fulton) and I shoot them all equally well=- I have seven Model 12's (OK 6 field guns, rule out the Pigeon Grade Trap 1948 with the el biggo grip and forearm) and 2 of them are pre-`1934- with the perch belly stock and smaller grip, and I also shoot them just as well as their post 1935 counterparts- grip-Schmip!!!

"The field is the touchstone of the man"..