doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com NOT using this gun at Grousemas anymore!

I often reenlighten myself during the cold winter months here in Michigan by rereading Bob Brister's excellent book on shotgun patterns. Always good as a refresher.
RWTF, I was also disappointed about our failed dove season. It seemed that the trial season introduced was only in the southern part of the state, which unfortunately was comprised mostly of private land, no public access.
Karl

My wise neighbors passed, by referendum, a law that gives exclusive power to the DNR to establish and regulate game seasons.

Then, a couple years later, my idiot neighbors passed another referendum that said "Oh, we didn't mean doves".

We need a referendum that says 'No more referendums'.

We should be able to shoot those along with Euroasian doves and starlings. I mean coyotes, stray cats and crows want to eat too.

I recall that- giving the DNR the right to decide whether or not the doves that are raised here in MI, and possibly fly South- to a legal State for a dove season in the Fall- is wasting a resource-also hurts the economy, as the sales of shotgun ammo and reloading supplies rises in the States that have legal seasons on doves.

We have doves in our backyard year around it seems, although this just past February was mild and snow-free for 2017, very unusual. I just assumed that the doves migrated South during MI Winters, as do the ducks and geese- perhaps that is not always the case.

But the dove has given me the chance to make a "play on words with my two oldest grandchildren-- when the see the mourning doves on the roof or in tree branches in the afternoon, they will ask me if they are now "afternoon doves, Grandpa?"- Mourning-morning, sounds the same to their youthful ears- but Jordan (who will receive the 20 Sterly in 2 years) once also asked our waitress at Applebee's-- "Where do you keep the apples and the bees here?"" Gotta love messin' with those young minds.RWTF

Sorry for the time it took to get these up. My left thumb had a nasty run-in with the blade in a 36" Seypa paper cutter, should have had it stitched up, but, I was too busy at work.

This is better. 28 gauge Darne open choke tube at the same yardage:



Same gun, tighter barrel: These are 3/4 oz loads.



Buzz, we've been over this before, but, you still don't grasp it. I don't walk around in a grouse woods with a gun with a sling over my shoulder, at least not while I'm hunting. The Darne sling, because it is not mounted rigidly at the front, and is free to rotate in the mount at the rear, is very unobtrusive, and won't get hung up in brush. Further, it is easily removed at any point in the trip, and just as easily put back on. I don't shoot birds out of trees, although, the natives in the area don't seem to have a problem with doing that. This is not grouse hunting in the sense that Burton Spiller may have written about. Trails are bush hogged through an enormous WMA, and then seeded with clover. We walk the trails, and the birds typically are on the trail or just off it. The shots are close, fast, and furious. The birds I have gotten (four, in two trips) were taken as they exited through very tight cover stage left. I'm a lefty, and do better on that shot. It is damn tough cover to work a dog in, and my setter is coming along, learning hand signals, and mostly under control, but, it is not really like grouse hunting anywhere else we go.
The sling is a huge bonus when you are convincing a 2 year old setter that this isn't pheasant hunting.
I can't say I get as many birds with this gun as I do with my others. The Darne 12 with the sling has been part of my life for more than 20 seasons, and I've killed a HELL of a lot of all kinds of birds with it. But, hey, I've only had the 20 out twice.
Stan, I took the 20 two years running on this trip because it was my newest, and I simply felt like trying the thing out! It was pretty much a brand, new, 70 year old gun, who wouldn't want to try it out? Unlike a lot of you, I still work a 40-60 hour shift each week, have a ten year old, volunteer for RGS when I can, and have a homebound Mother and a disabled younger Brother. No, I didn't get the chance to pattern the 20 before the trip. So what? I got a few and had a blast.
Larry both 20 gauge patterns would be neatly covered by a 12" ruler. It is too tight for this grouse trip, but, maybe, later in the seaon, a guy could make it work.
jOe, you almost said something intelligent. The patterns for the 20 were photographed upside down in my garage. I corrected that for the 28 gauge photos. They are about 60/40, right side up, and I'm pretty sure a bird caught in either, at that range, would be inedible, but, if you send me an address, I'll pack any birds hit like that off for you.
I'll be better prepped, and informed this fall. Bet I still have a blast, enjoy my friend Lloyds company, have a few great meals, enjoy my dog, and the scenery, get a few, and, more than likely, miss a few, too.
It is the nature of the game the way I play it.

Best,
Ted

Tell the truth Teddy...

I bet you got it caught in that Darne action.

Like I said.

Almost.


Best,
Ted

Hi Ted. Your 28 ga patterns are clearly significantly more open than your 20 bore....likely the 28 would be the better arrow for you. How do the chokes measure in your 28? Cylinder for the right barrel? Good luck to you and I hope you do well in pursuit of the Ruffed Grouse.

Buzz,
I'm not trying to be a smart ass, but, as I already posted, I don't have bore or choke measuring equipment for 20 or 28 gauge. I HAVE stuck a dial caliper in the end, but, you need to know more about the entire bore of the barrel to form up an opinion of how a gun is choked. That, and a bit of shooting it at paper, anyway. Let me stress this is my opinion only, and if someone else's differs, I won't argue it with them.
Having said that, I think I can state that the 28 gauge Darne would be the better option vs. the 20 gauge for this early season trip.
Thanks for the well wishes.

Lloyd,
I have options. 16 gauge Nitro, choked cyl and mod, lots of pumps that never see the light of day, 12 Darne with little and less choke, 28-I have time to process it a bit.
But, the 28 would be a dandy choice, no?


Best,
Ted

Ted:

The paper tells the tale. Heck, I have lots of gun measurement tools at my disposal and I can only measure very open chokes on 28s (no tighter than modified). All the guns you mention would serve nicely, but your 28 sounds like a prime candidate.

We'll be the French and Turkish contingent on the trails this Fall (unless I can't bear to leave my Richards in the truck).

LM