doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com 10 bore quail gun

A dove doesn't care what gauge a load of shot is delivered from. Three #7 1/2 shot out of a .410 at equivalent velocity will do the deed exactly the same as a three out of a 12. To argue that point is to show one's ignorance. Pattern density will deliver those three shot. It is up to the man behind the trigger to choose the appropriate range. The appropriate range for a 11/16 to 3/4 oz. .410 load is just much less than it is for a "normal dove load", such as 1 oz., out of a bigger bore.

This has been pointed out so many times as to make it seem redundant. But, it's true that a man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.

Nash didn't have the luxury of plastic shotcups and the far superior loadings we have today. He was an intelligent man, not someone who never rose above childish name calling, and would have evaluated the loadings we have today on their own merit, not those of some writer from some 75 years before his time.

Nash didn't have the luxury of shooting pen raised quail...

I suspect it's been so long since you shot a wild quail you've forgotten the difference.

You "suspect".

The amount of stuff you don't know about me is truly impressive, Frank,

The amount of stuff you think you know is much more impressive, Stan.

Anything specific I've said that you want to challenge me on?

SRH

Stan;
The vast majority of quail I have killed have been taken with 1 oz of shot, either #8 or # 7�. Some with 7/8 oz of #8. Frankly, I don't really care if they are thrown from a 12, 16 or 20. I would not necessarily buy a 10 gauge specifically as a quail gun, but should I have run across a light-weight 10 gauge field gun such as that approximately 7 lb 1874-76 Barber & Lefever I would certainly have tried it. Actually I would not have loaded it with 1 � oz of shot. However, look at the math of it. 7/8 oz of # 7� shot has 306 pellets a 3 pellet hit is 3/306 or 0.1% of the load. 1� oz of #7� shot has 437 pellets. Assume a similar pattern spread with that same percentage of pellets striking. Guess how many pellets are going to hit that little quail. Well, 1% times 437 = a WHOPPING 4.37 pellets. That's not exactly going to make mincemeat out of that quail.

Chances are pretty good that old L Barber may have been cylinder bored. If so & considering that the .410s are notorious for central thickening of their patern it would likely with any load as light as 1 1/8 oz have actually been gentler on the quail with a well centered hit than the .410 but with a wider more uniform spread for less crippling on the outer edges of the patern.

One needs to match their guns to their personal abilities. I AM NOT a .410 level shooter. Unfortunately in my near 82 years of life, I have seen many shooting them who weren't either, yet they claimed to be a "Better Sportsman" than me because they used a gun that they had not the ability to use. Sort of leaves a bad taste in one's mouth.

Understand I am NOT judging you or your ability as I have never seen you shoot. By the same token I don't appreciate being judged for the fact that I might well shoot a bigger gun than you feel is necessary. Nuff Said.

Years ago I read a book by Paul Curtis and he talked about a 10 bore high grade gun he had made to hunt quail.Going by memory and I think it was probably an L.C. Smith.

Who drags a .410 into a 10 gauge thread.

Only Stan....just saying

I'm not "judging" you, Miller. I'm just disagreeing with your statement that 1 1/8 oz. and 1 1/4 oz. loads are "suitable" quail loads.

In practice the heavy loads will damage meat worse than lighter loads. There is central thickening in every pattern I have ever shot, and I've patterned many in my life. All patterns are denser in the center.

I hope you are not inferring that I think I am a "better sportsman"' than you or anybody else because I know that a .410 can be entirely adequate for quail or doves. This has nothing to do with personalities, but everything to do with experience. There are a whole lot of ways to use a bigger gun than a .410 without going to a 10. But, if you feel a 10 is "suitable" for quail, fine. Enjoy the bloodshot meat from a quail shot with 1 1/4 oz. of shot. And, I know I'm stepping off in to deep water stating this to you, but everything cannot be explained with mathematics. A 1 1/4 oz. load of shot is extreme overkill for a quail, your numbers notwithstanding.

SRH

One last time Frank, anything specific you want to challenge me on?

SRH