doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com the bad rap on english guns

I mean no disprect to any one... I really hope Bobski gets that sweet WR! I still think this has become a conversation as useful as "I don't buy Michelin tires because I know two people who got a flat tire with brand new Michelins"
Stanton - I think my point was: "I expect what I buy to last, but I do not deny something may break- in or out of my control" I bet the list of things you have broken is quite a bit longer? And I would have to think that F-250 is on borrowed time as it is no Land Cruiser!

Clearly some English guns will stand up to sustained competition use.

Percy Stanbury’s gun csn be viewed in Oxford Gun Company’s YouTube video and is reviewed by Michael Yardley in the Field (to whom this picture is credited).

Michael Yardley writes;-

“The Stanbury tanbury side-by-side has a special aura accentuated by the silver ovals on the butt which record his championship wins. The serial number is 95188, which suggests it was made in 1921. It weighs 7lb 71⁄2oz but feels lighter. It has very tightly choked (full and super-full), 30in barrels. These are unusual not just in constriction but because they have a wide, flat and tapered, file-cut rib (and are equipped with a tiny mid bead 10in from the breech). The rib is 7⁄16in wide to the rear, 1⁄4in at the muzzles.

Most unusually, the gun is equipped with a single selective trigger (the special work of Roland Bloomer), and bears Birmingham proofmarks for 11⁄4oz loads. It now shows London 70mm marks for 2006 (and has bores, somewhat enlarged from their original dimension, with proof diameters of 18.6mm and 18.7mm). With an imperial micrometer they measure .732 and .735. The semi-pistol stock is elegantly proportioned (and not the original). The measurements are 145⁄8in for length, with drop of 11⁄2in and 21⁄8in, with about 1⁄4in of cast at heel.“

Percy’s gun has been written about a few times here in the states. I feel that it is much like George Washington’s axe, the head has been replaced twice, and the handle half a dozen times, but, hey, it is George Washington’s axe.

Best,
Ted

i find it odd that english makers only proof guns to 1 1/8oz. why so low?

For the upland birds they had available and in the conditions they typically hunted it was all they really needed. Another 1/8th oz of shot isn’t really necessary for red grouse, woodcock (not even European woodcock, that run much larger) driven pheasants, wood pigeons or anything else. They shot black grouse with the same loads, but, hunting for them was ‘sort of a comical stalk until in range, so I’m told.

Best,
Ted

Elmer Keith spelled it out, they are built ''Flimsay'', to light for American'' shells.
Most of them have very short chambers. Who would want a 12ga. with 2in. chambers
and shooting 3/4 oz. of shot. You might as well shoot the 410ga., the worst of our gauges.

Dirty Harry

Says a guy who never shot a two inch twelve gauge.

I find plenty 2.75 inch english chambers. Elmer was was an idiot about shotguns.

American shotguns are great for clubbing seals. Shooting birds not so much.😁😁

I can confirm from seven years of recent experience that one ounce of English number 6 size shot is all you need to bring down driven pheasant here in England. I usually use the Hull Cartridge company's Imperial Game loads in a 2.5" cartridge.

After Christmas I go up to the number 5 size pellets and to a 1 & 1/16th ounce load, also in the 2.5" case.

Remember that these birds are being driven towards you so usually the head is hit. Any heavier loads are unpleasant in my 6lbs 12 ozs. Webley boxlock.

HB

"number 5 size pellets and to a 1 & 1/16th ounce load, also in the 2.5" case."

Perfect load for wild roosters with dogs as well, my preference in my gun.

Hunting wild pheasants, on public land, in winter, here in the northern midwest, is truly a different game. I would imagine rough shooting pheasants in the UK is similar, with the exception of the downgrade in performance of using ammunition that is often below freezing in temperature when it is fired. Using 1 1/4oz loads is not as unpleasant as watching them fly away, leaving a few feathers to float down to the ground, when an ounce wasn’t quite enough.

I’ve read and experienced a little bit of driven pheasant shooting, but, I’d love to see a bit more on the experience of rough shooting pheasants in the UK.

Best,
Ted