doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com No market for 12 gauge?

Bobby,

Don't mean to hijack this thread, but I would love to see photos of your W. Richards .410!

thanks

I grew up with 12 and 16ga hammer doubles and in the 1960s gravitated to O/U for both clays and hunting. As I've gotten older bad knees and shoulders and asthma has made lighter shotguns look very appealing. The 20 started looking like a perfect match and a Browning Superposed Lightning 20 found it's way into my hands, pretty nice, seemed like I found the one. I even flirted with a light 20 auto but it just never seemed right.

For retirement I purchased a Darne for a gift to myself. Boy a sub 6 lb. 12 ga was great and double triggers was like going back home, since then I've added another sub 6 lb 12ga in a Bernardelli with a more conventional safety and double triggers it has been the ultimate upland rig for me.

I did purchase a modern sxs 20 for waterfowling but I've even gone back to a hammer gun for waterfowling after finding the 7/8 oz loads in the 20 worked great, makes loading 7/8 oz loads of ITX not that expensive and very effective.

I'm having a lot more fun in the field this year than I've had in the past.

there is a limited market for 12 bore guns...problem is you gotta price erm right. a 12 bore gun that sold for say $1000 in 2007 is goin for around $750 these days...sniff, sniff.

First of all, the topic title is a bit misleading - "No market for 12 gauge?" vs. what you actually discuss - "no market for selling high end 12 gauge double guns for hunting".

There is an ENORMOUS market for 12 ga guns; they are easily the best selling shotgun, and the best selling ammo as well. There is also a big market for 12 ga guns - in the TARGET venue. Krieghoff, Kolar and others don't seem to have a problem making a profit on their definitely high-end 12 ga shotguns.

High end hunting guns are another story. IMHO - "High End" generally equals "well heeled" and "experienced". This market is, again IMHO, leaning towards smaller gauges. They've had enough of the recoil that 12 ga guns and ammo generate, and enough of toting relatively heavy guns.

I do know guys who have hunted for decades and have plenty of scratch, but they still tote a 12 ga because it will kill as many birds (or more) than any sub-gauge. They also generally tote Rem 870s, and I would not consider them "high end" users. They are "basic" (not new) users, who are only interested in putting meat on the table.

Many experienced hunters, though, are no longer strictly interested in "killing" per se, but are seeking the pleasure and experience of the hunt, which they find in lighter guns that are more easily carried and will still complete the task as needed. In fact, if you need to pass up a few long shots, so much the better! That just prolongs the hunt.

I for one rarely if ever hunt with a 12 ga. I do have two in my safe, a Beretta 3901 which I use for occasional target shooting, and a Mossberg 835 that my son prefers for our occasional hunts together. 16, 20 and 28 ga. guns fill my needs very well.

There is virtually NOTHING that a 12 gauge won't do better, more efficiently and at lower cost than the minor gauges. If I'm hunting late season Pheasant or deer hunting in a shotgun only State I'm going to be carrying a 12 gauge period***.
Perhaps some of you would like to take this argument to the police and SWAT teams all of whom use 12 gauges.
Maybe you could convince then that taking down the scumbags they deal with using a 28 gauge or 410 would be more "Sporting"!
Jim
*** And that's NOT an Obama period!!

uh guys...dis is doublegunshop.com. we don wanna hear bout yo auto loader nor yo pump gon.

Speak for yourself, Ed. I'd rather talk autoloaders, here, than see pictures of burnt doubles, there, if you get my drift-I'm guessing you don't, however.

I have to say, this is the first time anyone ever complained (that I noticed) about the RGL being too heavy-I am going to guess I never handled one that was an even 7 lbs. They were all lighter than that, and this was a gun with a 3" chamber. I witnessed one that didn't put either load anywhere near a 30" circle past 30 yards, and have heard about others that did the same with one or more barrels, but, they weren't heavy.

Best,
Ted

I with Damascus.12 you can use for anything always find a shell from 7/8 oz load up cheap compared to others.I can carry 6lb 8 oz all day.

Ted,
Who said the RGL is too heavy? I think one would be about right, even at 7 pounds.

Chief

I reckon Jim's right: if all you care about is killing stuff as cheaply as possible, then the 12 is probably your best choice.

If, however, you enjoy other aspects of the hobby, it does open up some other possibilities.