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

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

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

I happen to like the 2". Within their limits they clean and efficient killers. Mine is bored IC and MOD and it can really reach out.