I've read Woolner's book and I appreciate his approach.
I'd like to think that better doubles weren't readily available to him and that he resolved the problem with this Winchester autoloader but...who knows. Since my own recent shooting-eye challenges (along with a few others here) I've come to realize that if you want to keep enjoying the grouse woods in autumn, you do what you can. The theme here normally is fine doubleguns, domestic and otherwise, and it has been an immense pleasure to be able to pursue that specific route over the years (in both conversations & afield), but...the bigger pleasure (at least for me) is the walk in the woods on a beautiful fall day, anticipating a flush. I've discovered (& only in the last few years) that the type of gun used is secondary to that reality.
My own experience with autoloaders isn't all that positive, so I have my biases, but I have lived long-enough now to have watched several of my hunting partners age out. I have also watched their ordinance choices change (to extract those few final-but-sweet years afield) so I'm far-more sympathetic to autos now. A fellow I've known and hunted with for many years, a dear friend of my late father-in-law (who has carried a little Italian 28 auto for the last ten years or so, and for all of the usual reasons) just recently informed us of a cancer diagnosis that will likely mean that last year's hunt will probably be his last year afield.
Death informs us of so many things that we've managed to ignore or avoid until it ventures near. When I step out of my old pickup this coming month, and I close my action on a pair of shells, I will smell the sweetness of the fall woods and drink-in the sights and sounds of the world around me before setting off. I will count my blessings and hope for a continued adventure in this beautiful place, but if it all ends tomorrow...it's been a darn good ride.
Last edited by Lloyd3; 08/28/25 01:26 PM.
