doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com A New Book Project: Russian Hunting Shotguns.

Thank you very much for your support, gentlemen.

Now, if I am to write this book, I guess I've got to learn how to take some gun porn quality photos. Here's a first attempt. What do you think?

Those gun porn photos definitely stir my manhood, hubba hubba!

I am sure there are better photographers than me on the site, but as I understand it, guns are best photo'd against a dark background and with predominant day light as the light source (ie, not flash if it can be helped).

Have a look here to see some good examples: http://www.losgi.com/index.html

Tim

Rockdoc - you're flattering me *blush*

trw - thanks.

I'm thinking of setting up a sort of a cheap portable gun-filming studio: a tripod, a background, and a couple of lights, to fit in a small bag. In case I have to take pics of a gun I need somewhere where the natural conditions are bad.

Your photos are fine. If you want art quality photography may I suggest Marina Pushkareva, who did the pictures for this year's L.C. Smith Collectors Association calendar. Her work has appeared in SPORTING CLAYS MAGAZINE, as well.

J.K.B. von Falkenhorst

I will certainly purchase a copy. Baikal guns were extensively imported into the U.K. from the early 1970's onwards. First by Millard Brothers; I have one of their early trade catalogues in colour depicting what models were available then. They were quite inexpensive and often bought as entry level clay shooting guns. Other Russian guns were not imported to any real degree. I almost shed tears when a friend of mine sold a Russian O/U without telling me first. I always liked that gun. I think it was a Vostok MU 109 if that is correct. It might be of interest if you cover a bit about Russian shotgun cartridges as Baikal ammunition was also imported to Britain in large quantities during the 1970's and early 80's. Good luck with the project. Lagopus.....

lagopus - that MTs109, if it was that, was indeed something to shed a tear for. One of the Best Russian guns ever, second only to MTs11 (the Beesley self-opener) and MTs9 (the Boss sidelock O/U). I don't think I'll be writing about ammunition, the book is getting out of control in term of size as it is. Intresting info, though. Explains the shock of my youth, when I came across a lot of cartridges marked Baikal, loaded in 67.5 mm case. Didn't quite make it to Britain, I presume, but at that moment I couldn't make head or tail of the strange shell length. I may ask you some questions about that catalogue, if you don't mind.

Humpty, I have a pre-war Tula hammergun in 20 gauge that has been in my safe for twenty years. I break it out for a rabbit hunt every year. There was another Russian member (Geno -RIP) that was always very complimentary about this gun. He always said that there weren't many around in small bore and most were used very hard. That being said... I can't wait for chapter 12!

A small update https://sportingbookworm.wordpress.com/2015/03/07/izh-25/

Thank you, Aleksei. Knowledge of many of the Russian sporting guns is near zero, as you know. Everything is pretty much 'new' from this side, so its a huge void you are filling w/pictures and information.

A very minor point on a 'typo': you have Sovie'd' rather than the intended Sovie't' trade representative in your text.

Really look forward to your finished work, there is NOTHING available here as a ref like you are putting together.

Best, tw