most likely heavier loads for rough shooting here in America- and the old "One gun man" theory-- as opposed to incoming head shots on driven game and lighter loads. Once, by mistake, a few seasons ago, I had a 12 AA Trap load ( 1&1/8 ounce 7&1/2 1250 fps. in the chamber of a Model 12 I was using for waterfowl-on the river nearby- two sizeable Canada geese game in silently, on a foggy and overcast morning in early Nov. and I shot by instinct (incomers are my favorite shot- bum, belly, beak, bang-) and the lead honker dropped like he was pole-axed- 12 yard shot, by my estimate, and a full choked Model 12-- But that was a fluke, and I have triple checked my waterfowl hunting parkas and coats for "illegal" lead loads ever since.
Foxy, that's all they could afford is one gun. Look no further than the Battle of Blair Mountain in West Virginia, a whole lot of double and single barreled shotguns were recovered from the coal miners.
