Eight Bore is correct about the pre-50's American guns. I never have, nor will, hunt driven high pheasants until I win Powerball but had a close approximation in the late '50's and early '60's. Born and raised in S.D. in the heydays of pheasants, I'd occasionally whine enough to "block ends", teenagers seldom got the privilege. I was shooting a Meriden,circa 1910, with 1 1/4 oz. of 6's. Some of those roosters, especially sped up by a couple misses, would rocket over 40-50 yards overhead. Piece of cake! My uncle, crippled up with heart disease, usually got the choice blocking spots. Shooting a Fox 16 ga. he seldom missed those shots.

"Every one must believe in something, I believe I'll go hunting today."