Makes me wish I was 35 and not 75. Guns don't bag grouse and woodcock-legs do, including our 4 legged pals afield. If I were in the upland shooting life again (GBE given due applause) I would use the only small bore double I own- a Utica Fox Sterlingworth 20 gauge- 28"barrels open choked, DT, EJ- 2&3/4" chambers- original factory stock dims- I bought it 7 years ago from a "retired" MI grouse gunner, well worn but no rust or dented barrels or heavily scratched up buttstock- I had planned to use it for the ill-fated MI dove season that never got underway. When my oldest grandson turns 14, I am going to give it to him.
I have never formally pattern tested any of my doubles, or my Model 12's on paper. Being a farm boy at heart, i just step off some paces from any available rusted out grain wagons or oil tanks that abound on the family farm back lots where I shoot pigeons and woodchucks in Spring and Summer months, usually with older paper shells-never with expensive steel shot loads- and see what impact and spread results. As long as I can drop grave yard dead waterfowl under 30 yards and closing, to me, the pattern spread, "Machts Nicht"--but I am not an upland gunner nowadays--
