doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Game Gun v. Pigeon Gun

When you hunt game if you are going to walk all day a 6 pound gun is really an advantage. If you are going to sit on the tailgate and shoot dove the pigeon gun is the better choice.

I also find 6-1/4 to 6-1/2 pound 12 gauges unpleasant to shoot when using 1-1/8 oz loads.

Best,

Mike

Carrying a couple extra pounds is not going to kill anyone...not even Brad Pitt.

There are guns that are called gameguns, but are not.
Not even close!
We pay a large price for handling qualities, and the ones we don't, are rough/keeper guns.
Big difference.
A gamegun is a light 12b sidelock ejector, with 30" barrels and open choked just so.

Ken
Does the pigeon gun have a safety? Most but not all were made without one. If you are going to hunt with it one might be practical. I for one do not like to hunt without one.

And also this is just an observation please do not make it into a discussion about safeties and there use.

Yes, this gun does have a safety. In fact, it has an auto safety.

Ken, my Cashmore "Nitro" which is a purpose built pigeon also has an auto safety.

j0e, some big ol' cumbersome guns are meant for the turkey woods(trailer parks too). Just getting them in and out of the woods is a chore.
Think about getting that gun to your shoulder when you are huffin' n puffin' and the birds are aflyin'.
Not a pretty picture.

It may seem blindingly obvious but pigeon guns were built for trap shooting and game guns for game shooting. A game gun will be more suited to its intended purpose of game shooting. A pigeon gun will be a steadier clay gun.

Both will cross-over when required and then it just comes down to what you like and how you feel about shooting each gun in each situation.

Lowell do you wear one of them pinky rings when you dress-up in your Edwardian garb ?

Carrying 8 or 10 lbs is no chore for a man....want a real workout shoot a few fast rounds of trap with an 8 to 10 pound gun.


SmallbOre....explain the differnces.

A hammerless pigeon gun by Purdey will generally weigh around 7lb 8oz - 8lb in 12-bore. Some have straight-hand stocks and splinter forends but many made for the USA between the 1920s and 1950s have pistol-grips and beaver tail forends.

The pigeon gun will have a bigger, stronger action with deeper fences (often with sideclips)and bigger lumps and bolts. Actions are sometimes bolstered at the radius. some pigeon guns have no ejectors and non-automatic safeties or no safety at all are common options,.

The stocks will be set-up to shoot high, like a trap gun. The barrels will often have 'LC' or 2 3/4" chambers intended to shoot 1 1/4oz of shot. the rib will generally be a raised, matted one with a flat surface. It will have heavier barrels than a game gun.

The game gun will typically weigh 6lb 2oz to 6lb 12 oz, straight-hand stocks, lighter barrels, chambered for 2 1/2" shells and often regulated for 1 oz , 1 1/6 oz (or 1 1/8 oz in earlier guns).

The stock will be straight-hand, splinter forend, balance just forward of the hinge pin and set up to shoot to point of a impact with 60% of pattern above the mark, 40% below.

Pigeon guns absorb recoil well, are steady and suited to shooting repeatedly at a going-away targets from a fixed point with repeatable dependability. Game guns move faster, change direction quicker and are generally more 'lively'.

Typicall y pigeon guns are choked tight and a game gau will be more open - I.C / I.C or I.C / 1/2 Choke are common game chokings and Full/Full is common in pigeon guns.