doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com American Shotgun in Europe

I am considering taking a job assignment in Demark, which would last for 3 years. Many of my colleagues in Denmark are enthusiastic hunters, so I expect to have quite a few opportunities to hunt and shoot while I'm there. I would really like to take a fine example of American gunmaking with me, but I'm not sure what it should be. You are only allowed two shots there, so it should be a double of some sort, but lead shot is illegal, period, so I have to use non-toxic for everything. Due to the expense, steel is the only viable option for all around shooting.

So, given a budget of, say, $5k, what should I get?

Ruger Red label or an RBL that's pretty much it for steel and under $5,000.
All the best

Or, Gold Label. Remington Peerless?

Ruger No. 1 chambered for 9,3x74. You will find excellent big game driven shoots in: Poland, Romania, parts of former Yugoslavia,.... There will be plenty of feathery vermin to hunt here when you get back.
PS. I would take couple of scopes in mounts. One low power Leupold with Nr 1 reticle for driven game, and second ....x56 Euro scope with illuminated reticle (make sure to get a good one with adjustable illumination) to shoot from high seat after dusk.

Gentlemen, Please read the original question properly before replying with your advice.
Cheapskate, you will be travelling light, because America as never made a fine example of gunmaking.Unless you include a Barrett 0.5" ( just my warped sense of humour guys)
You have to go a long way to beat the beautiful sound of a Winchester Grand European closing, but were they not made in Japan?

Yes, leave those American shotguns and English optics at home!

America is the last stronghold of hunting. In "old Europe," its a pipedream for most.
Why do you think we've so many of their guns/rifles hmmm?
99.9% of London has never seen a shotgun, altho', I hear the Manzier is getting to be a popular item there.
Look for a NIB RBL on the net, and show 'em your stuff!

Take a good old American hardware gun and shoot non-toxic. You're an American, for Pete's sake. Shells costs no more than dinner in a decent restaurant.

If it were me, I'd be lucky to keep Danish hands off my 16ga Parker hammer 0 frame, or a couple other wonderful 12s. Be the man you want to be.

Shooting for boar und stag is quite good. Look, even Englishmen are getting into spirit of things.
Check under guns. They have 'Boar Shooting Rifles'. Don't be too hard on them they are still new at this game!
PS. That Izhevsky Mekhanichesky Zavod in 9,3x74 would make a nice big woods elk rifle. It's "Benchmade VolksExpress". in a good king of way. We are talking much hand work here.

$5000 doesn't exactly match the tag line you posted. Sadly, if you are restricted to steel shot, you have few options, BUT, I would say the few options are better than just about any option out of Merry England, sorry, Salopian-do you feed steel to your Purdeys? Doubtful.
The RBL would work, but, it is a 20, and 12 gauge ammunition is easier to come by in most of the world, not to mention 20 gauge steel shot loads leave plenty to be desired on wild fur and feathers. The Gold Label solves both problems. Good luck finding one. The Red Label is a trooper (usually), and I read years ago that none other than Holland and Holland used these guns at their shooting school. I'd pass on the hardware store gun idea, most of them are getting pretty old, while a good 'smith isn't that tough to come up with here, it might be a problem over there. I can imagine some poor Danish 'smith opening up a broken Parker and saying to himself, " what the hell is all this stuff in here for?"
However, one other option remains-the Winchester 21. You could relieve the chokes to a bit less than modified, and rest assured that newer steel loads wouldn't harm the gun. It is as "All American" as they come, and a clean example in 12 could be found under budget. Have a 'smith service it, and 3 years should be a walk in the park for a 21. I'd prefer the double trigger/extractor version to the later and more complex single trigger/ejector, but, either in 12 gauge should make the grade. Bring a Winchester lever action in 45-70 with open sights, and I bet you are covered for anything you might find, and will impress the natives
Have fun. Sounds like a great experince if the work you do doesn't suck.
Best,
Ted