I wrote in and asked what this one weighed. "Comes in right at 6lbs,6 oz." they replied.

https://www.proxibid.com//Firearms-...efano-Fausti-O-U/lotInformation/59698168

I already own a 16 gauge Greener that weighs 5 lbs. 9 oz.

http://zincavage.org/Greener6.jpg

And just compare the quality.

I was tempted to buy this 32 gauge, despite the horrible shiny varnish, the low-end wood, and the mass production receiver decoration to use on quail. But there is obviously no point at all. Smaller gauge, heavier gun.

I had one of these. It was horrible.

Fun gun just to own and shoot

Collect the set, buddy has them in
410, 32, 28, 24, 20, 16, 12 and 10 gauge all made by Fausti.

Mike

Lots of companies use the same everything for their sub gauge guns and just bore a 20 gauge tube for the smaller hole.
It kind of Porks them out.

My Citori .410/28" weighed a lot more than my 686 20ga/28". Wish I still had that Citori.

The bigger question is what's the point of a 32 gauge at any weight?

No point, at least not for me.

But if it were a S x S at 4 pounds I might be interested.

It makes as much sense as those nine pound .410-bore over & unders found on NSSA skeet fields.

Researcher
The currentNSSA 410 champ (shot two 400's with a 410 in two years) He is not a big guy but his Kolar weighs in at 11 pounds. Reason for 11 pounds swings smooth and hard to stop. That Kolar was custom built for him. I would need a gun bearer to shoot 100 targets with it. I know another young shooter that shoots on a coledge team who just sold his K80 ( it was to light)and picked up a heavy Kolar for sporting clays?
I will miss more birds in my first 200 bird match than the pair will miss in a season.

bill

It doesn't take a big guy to shoot a heavy gun well. That is proven fact. But, what are the real reasons for wanting to own a 32 gauge, at all?

I think I know, but I will keep my thoughts on that to myself (because ICBW), and prefer to hear other's opinions.

Flinch? Other than that, I got nothing.

Best,
Ted

Clearly it'd be the "cool" factor for me, as there's certainly no advantage to a 32-bore over another gauge. Surely you'd be the only guy on the dove field with a 32 gauge, nobody'd be bumming shells; and just imagine all the great conversations a 32-bore would start before and after the shoot once you've demonstrated your incredible marksmanship. I see a 32 gauge as a great way to meet new shooters and make friends; and can't imagine a more interestng and fun gun gauge at the moment. I actually have a 32 gauge single shot "Captur" gun, but the chamber is a about 3/8" short for a standard length Fioochi shell so it remains unfired by yours truly.
Had my 14 gauge JN Scotts hammerless out the other day; nice tight gun that certainly retains lots of "cool" factor, but clearly ammo challenged. While tinkering I noticed a 16 gauge shell fit the chamber with only slight looseness, so I'm thinking of trying some low pressure 16 gauge loads in the gun; would I be an idiot?

Topgun,

In Greener’s “Fine Guns” catalogue circa 1935 they offer the 24 bore as being the gun that “should displace all 12 bores for Game Shooting in Great Britain and Quail and Snipe in all Tropical Latitudes “ whilst of the 32 bore they sat it is the “last word in gun construction”.

On the 32 bore they go on to say “no appreciable recoil, little noise, wonderful precision and as many as 75 cartridges can be carried in the pocket without inconvenience “

On 16 bore cartridges in a 14 bore see Ross Seyfried in DGJ Winter 2018 using RST low pressure 16 bore loads in a 14 bore with “one wrap of duct tape” to fit chamber to shoot a mallard drake.

Might be less sticky to make up some stiff paper tubes for the purpose.

Have fun with your odd bore sizes (both obsolete calibre and therefore “off ticket” unless used on this side of the pond),

Keep Well

Parabola

My grouse gun of choice is a 6 pound 4 ounce ten gauge J.P. Sauer. Conversely, recently I won a Chinese Skeet round (trap from skeet stations) with a .410 Superposed. Variety is the spice of shotguns. I have a box of 32 gauge brass, just in case the right gun comes along.

Thanks Parabola, I'll check out Ross's article and get myself up to speed on the 14 gauge; but are 14 gauge guns and shells not considered obsolete on your "side of the pond"?
As to the 32-bore, it and the .410 carry the same standard 1/2 ounce pay load but I would think the 32 would pattern better; anyone had any experience testing and comparing the two?

You can buy 14, 24 and 32 bore shotguns in the UK as antiques without holding a Shotgun Certificate unless you intend to use them in which case you need one.

There are obsolete calibres for guns, but no such thing as “antique ammunition” (except cartridges that do not contain their own means of ignition).

So to buy 32 bore etc cartridges you still need a shotgun certificate.

1/2 ounce in a 32 bore should in theory pattern better than a .410 ( shorter shot column) but it probably varies from gun to gun and cartridge to cartridge.

At your suggestion I did revisit the 2018 DGJ and read Seyfried's account of his 14 gauge duck hunt; his was a Lancaster single shot hammer gun that he found very effective (4 for 4 on Mallards) loaded with RST 16 gauge shells wrapped in a layer of duct tape to keep them tight in the chamber. I've accumulated 6-8 original 14 gauge paper shells, 3-4 NOS paper cases, and 5 Greener 14-bore brass cases modified to fit the chamber (bases on standard cases too thick, won't allow gun to close). Obviously I don't want to shoot the vintage paper shells, and with only a limited number of brass cases it seems using 16 gauge shells is the way to go. The gun I have is a hammerless Damascus double gun labeled JN Scotts; and the best information I can find is that the JN Scott gun was made by WC Scott and the name JN Scotts was assigned to guns for export to the US (and maybe elsewhere?). This is a true sidelock and a quality piece inside and out. There seem to be a fair number of JN Scott labeled hammer guns noted on the web, but I'm only aware of three hammerless examples thus far; a 10, a 12, and my 14 bore. These odd bore guns are one of the factors making shot gunning interesting and fun.

I'm the only gun on the dove fields with a .410, don't need a 32 gauge for that. So, nobody bums shells. And, if you're not going to shoot but 1/2 oz. you may as well stick with the .410.

As far as patterns go comparing the .410 and the 32, my patterns with my .410s and my 3/4 oz. loads defy all armchair logic and are beautiful. And they kill just as good as they look.

No 32s for me. I don't need another reloader in 32 gauge, and a stash of wads.

I've never owned a 32 gauge, but I did own a 24ga Beretta OU . . . briefly. Found out by accident that it would shoot 28ga shells. But they slip past the extractors, so kind of a PITA.

Initially, I thought a 24ga might be neat. Half way between a 20 and a 28. Only problem is--at least as far as I know--they're all 2 1/2 inch guns with a lighter shot charge than the 28's standard 3/4 oz--never mind the 7/8 and 1 oz 28's you can buy.

Now Brother Stan, you know very well the comment above was intended tongue-in-cheek; although I was indeed thinking of you when I mentioned incredible marksmanship, as I believe you could get a limit of doves armed only with rocks. I shot many doves with a couple of 28 gauge O/U guns back in the day, but the only time I tried dove shooting with a .410 I was humbled to the point of humiliation; the only bird I got that day I had to chase down and ring its neck.

I do indeed, Tom. It's hard for me, sometimes, to convey the meaning behind the words. I understand the spirit in which it was posted, and agree completely.

Blessings on you, SRH

There was a lengthy article on the 32-gauge/14 mm by James Vance M.D., F.A.C.S. in the September 1933, issue of The American Rifleman. The author had a svelt straight-gripped Lancaster double with 30-inch barrels.
Unfortunately for the 32-gauge, three issues earlier they had the introduction of the Winchester Model 42 and the 3-inch .410-bore shell!!

supposedly these guys make 14 gauge cases:


https://www.rccbrass.com/product/14-gauge-2/

and somewhere once, i remember someone talking about a removable chamber insert to allow use of 16 ga in the 14 gauge chamber.

Winchester's Model 59 autoloader was designed as a 14ga gun. Why Winchester ever thought there was a need for another gauge between the 12 and the 16 remains a mystery to me. But every now and then, you'll see a 14ga Model 59. Of interest only to Winchester fans looking to fill a hole in their collection. I seem to recall that the shells were aluminum??

"I seem to recall that the shells were aluminum??"

The cases were indeed aluminum and are pricey collector's items nowadays. I understood they were the result of an experiment in shell technology by John Olin; but if so, I've no idea as to why he selected a 14-bore as opposed to another gauge? Supposedly only 4-5 experimental Model 59's were made for testing purposes; and if true, I'm certain there's many Winchester collector's still hoping to fill this niche.

This full box just sold fort $132 at the recently ended Wards Auction --



Another full box stamped experimental and with a typed label also sold for $132.

Pretty cheap compared to the $22,000 U.M.C. CLUB "Christmas Box".

The box states / indicates 2 1/8 inch length of shells. Were they really that short or am I missing something?

I recall a dear departed friend, who grew up poor on the Red River in TX, telling me of using 16 ga. shells in a borrowed 12 ga. gun. He had somehow acquired the 16 ga. shells but knew no one who had a 16 ga. gun he could use, so he wrapped several layers on friction tape on them and shot ducks.

Seems like it would have split the heads, to me.

I shot a friend's 4 lb 410 hammer gun. It's like shooting a broomstick. It is not a gun I would enjoy on a regular basis. I have 410s from about 5 1/2 lbs to 6 lbs. I'm comfortable in that weight range.