doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com seasonal gunfit differences

On another forum, we've been told that only shooting an LC Smith bestows that magic.

OK, OK, I see your point. LC Smiths are good too.

My late season pheasant gun evolved through trial and error. The end result is a 13 7/8"LOP and a single trigger housed in a double-trigger trigger guard. Makes gun mounts and triggering reliable even when layered up. In warmer weather or for busting clays I use a nice leather slip-on pad.

My end result is a 13 7/8"LOP and a single trigger housed in a double-trigger trigger guard

RIGHT ON, Dave

Good point about ST's. You'll find them in different positions within the trigger guard. The Ithaca SKB's are well to the rear, allowing plenty of room for even a heavily gloved finger.

Lloyd,
I suspect the fact that you travel so far to your hunting destinations has amplified the fit issues 'twixt summer and winter guns for you. A guy only wants to drag so many guns along on a 777, no?
Also, in a perfect world, we would all have the time for proper dress rehersal with both designs of intended guns for each season. Three months of twice weekly practice on a skeet or sporting clays course, prior to the commencement of the bird season, would go a long way toward eliminating the difference in perceived shooting ability between your double and your pump. As a kid, with but one repeater, a gun you handled at grousemas, the model 17 Remington that has been part of my life for 40 seasons this year, it was noted by several that I could get two shots off faster than they could with their autos.
It was true, at the time, Not so much, now.
Almost by accident, I have accumulated guns with longer and shorter LOP. I imagine you have as well, although longer might be tough for you, as you require a bit more than I do. Grouse, truth be told, seldom allow for a second shot. The problem is less complex than we might imagine.
Practice with both designs will go a long way toward filling the bag. If it is cold in Denver, today would be a great day to dress up and shoot a few rounds of skeet, with the short LOP pumpgun, versus reading a book or doing laundry in the afternoon, although, I understand the need to do both of those tasks.
I truly hate single triggers, except one-the one installed in the Beretta Silver Snipe my Father left to me, a non selective trigger, with plenty of room in the guard for a gloved trigger finger. My Dad had a short LOP requirement, which leaves the gun too short for most warm weather pursuits, but, just fine in winter. I have also discoved that right now 'tis the season to shoot and enjoy a 28 gauge Darne V19, that has a shorter LOP than is ideal for me, and my skeet scores have gone up with the little toy since I have been shooting it the last two months or so. I still shiver a bit, out there, even when dressed for it.
Roll with the changes, I guess, and not against them.

Good luck.

Best,
Ted

Ted:

These are first-world problems. I guess I was just surprised by my surprise. Clearly, I should have known better. I seldom encounter conditions like that because, like most folks, I normally wait until things are a little more accommodating (the birds clearly do as well, as I had exactly zero flushes). In this case it was self-preservation at work (escaping a house full of prepubescent kiddies). The simple solution here (as you mention) is always a bit of effort up-front with the tools of your choosing. Or, of course, you can always "rationalize" another gun purchase......

Also, after re-reading many of these posts, 3/4 of an inch does seem to be the difference between a good weather and bad weather gun. Interesting.

Guess I never sat down and measured LOP differences between my own. Even though my battery has stayed rather consistant over the years, my clothing hasn't, and the gun that fit just right over the Levi's lined denim coat I just tossed in the trash after 18 years or so, doesn't seem near so perfect with the Carhart replacement for same. I am also noticing a bit of stiffness creeping into the hands, elbows, and shoulder joints that were once quite limber.
As Pooh would say, "Oh, bother".

So it goes.

Best,
Ted