doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Old versus new(er) guns?

I have it's circa 1939 ancestor in 16. The new ones just don't speak to me ( or fit me very well either).

I clicked on the link. It's missing one barrel. And for some reason, the forearm moves back and forth.

If it's likely to get damaged by one type of load, why not just use something else. Sure, some of the steel shot alternatives are more expensive, but the few boxes here and there are a small part of waterfowl hunting. After that, if you want to hunt with a good classic, why not? Who cares if the back up gun is a modern magazine shotgun. I'd rather go duck hunting with the back up gun than sit at home.

While I don't hunt them exclusively, I do hunt waterfowl enough to have a hunting cabin in a marsh. I like to shoot old guns in every conceivable situation, if I can. For waterfowl, I do have an early 1980's Wingmaster when I really need it but prefer to use one of my three M12 Winchesters from the late 1950's or one of my two Remington 1894 B grades or my Remington 1900.

Those SxS have tons of barrel walls left and are 7.5 pounds plus. The stocks have been fixed (all Remington 1894's and 1900's have cracks) and glass-bedded and I shoot Kent Tungsten and Bismuth out of them. No steel out of anything....even my few (one) modern guns.

Unless one is constricted via a tight budget (and I realize that some are...) the solution is to own both. Beside several lovely classic Lefevers, a Remington, a Fox, etc. I bought a new Cabela's Dickinson with choke tubes. Its "better" for skeet and sporting clays when I care about score -- and it also handles steel shot when required. But the older classic SxS's also get used. Also bought a used Fabarms SxS because it had choke tubes.

I shoot several thousand clay birds each year, and don't want to "wear out" one of the older classic guns doing so. Occasionally Yes, but more often I use a so-called modern shotgun for clay bird games...

JERRY

Although it probably goes without saying, the Dickinson is in many ways a "lesser gun" than my old restored classic SxS's. It doesn't have the same level of finishing, real engraving, figured wood, history, etc. as the older guns.

When sitting in front of the fireplace on a snowy night, with a glass of Maker's Mark in hand, one of the older American SxS's feels much better across my knees...

JERRY

Owner serviceability due to the difficulty of sending guns to the original maker or specialist gunsmith. Sending guns cross border in Europe now is a buraucratic nightmare.

Fittability. Stock shims, adjustable stocks or even quick detachable bolted stocks are a boon to fitting.

Guilt free hunting over rough terrain. Sorry, but carrying an heirloom in stone wall country is no fun.

With some customising even indifferent guns can be made to handle and balance like "best" guns, fit really well and be used hard with any ammo. You can get parts for them. You miss the awareness of using a classic, but gain a lot in relaxation.

Or as was well put by a an unidentified poster:

"a good gun makes you smile when you pick it up and not cry when you drop it"

Gee no fretting here. I went and bought an insurance policy for my guns. Personally I find nothing quite as relaxing as folding up a wild rooster with my H&H and watching my Springer bring it to hand. As guilt free as it gets for this shooter.

So its got to be a double? OK.

Why not a Turk gun with a beautiful piece of Turkish walnut on it?

James, why don't you add that damascus 1894 Remington 10 gauge that's listed for sale on the EE. You won't need tungsten or bismuth as the seller states "will handle modern loads".