doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com The Traditional Side by Side. BOOK REVIEW

Doug Stewart. 2018. The Traditional Side by Side: King of the Upland Bird Guns. 183 pp. Printed by Doug Stewart. USA

Little has been written in depth on upland side-by-side guns for a rather long period of time. After the influential works of Gene Hill, Richard Grozik and Michael McIntosh some decades ago, to my knowledge, nothing systematic have come up in the English speaking realm until very recently. It is not surprising that this new book, again, went in to press in the US, where upland hunting on so many bird species is widely pursued.
Doug Stewart�s work is a concise and well integrated review of all the relevant aspects that matter on a light side-by-side shotgun designed for walking long hours after feathered quarry with the help of a Hunter-Pointer-Retriever (HPR) dog.
�Upland bird hunting� in the US, �Rough shooting� in the UK, �Chase au chien d�arret� in France or �Caza al salto� in Spain, are part of a long tradition of feather hunting that began in the XVII century in Europe. It is practiced today worldwide, from the plains of North America to the steppes of Eurasia; to the temperate grasslands of South America and Oceania to the Veld in Southern Africa. Even so, it is not the most popular usage applied to field shotguns. Wildfowl shooting in North America and dove shooting in South America, just to name two, involves more guns and rounds per season than upland hunting with side-by-sides in any continent. Moreover, side-by-side guns are nowadays clearly in the minority even when we focus just on hunting feathered quarry pointed and retrieved by dogs.
So, we are talking about a practice performed by an hunting �lite, whose instruments --many of them very old-- also belong in good measure to the gun �lite. A sport that Doug Stewart describes and prescribes, focusing on the side-by-side light gun as it is carry out in the US. On a continent that enjoys the most ample variety of bird quarry, indigenous and introduced, perhaps more than in any other one. From pheasants and sage grouse on the one end to woodcock and bob quail on the other, Stewart gives us a detailed analysis on the different calibers, optimal chokes, shot charges and shot sizes applicable for each group of bird species and field conditions.
His experience and good prose lead us to a vivid description of the qualities and specs that a light side-by-side gun has to show and render in well trained hands. From gauges to the different gun parts and dimensions; from its balance to the essential gun fitting process; as well to the much proved instinctive shooting technics, Doug takes us to the necessary steps to appreciate this piece of human ingenuity. Lastly, he lets us to conclude on the importance of physical training, of the match between body size and gun dimensions, on the joy of walking the open wild spaces, of the due respect for the chosen quarry and on the importance in keeping alive this long tradition as temporary keepers of these �lite guns.

EJSXS

It is a good book. I enjoyed it very much

Whilst on books, Diggory Hadoke has a new one coming out soon called Vintage Guns, Collecting, Restoring & Shooting Classic Firearms. Should be worth looking out for judging by his last three books. Should be out in November.

Also, for those interested in Punt Guns I've just finished reading a new one out called Saltwater, Webbed Feet and Blackpowder by John Richards & Julian Novorol ISBN 9781904784876 I can recommend it. Lagopus�..

Thanks for the heads up. I bought a copy. I've heard one punt gun fired in anger, at ducks, over here. A very rare thing as they have been outlawed longer than I've been alive. I do wish I had been alive when they were in use.

Lagopus,

since you have a wide experience on British side-by-side shotguns, in your experience: Do you see a difference or not, between guns devoted to rough shooting and drive shooting in Britain?

Regards, Ejsxs.

In a way yes. A lot of the guns used for rough shooting tend to be lighter as they have to be carried more. In this case the preference seems to be for side by sides. Driven shooters here seem to go more for Over Unders with Berettas being much in evidence. A lot of newer driven game shooters seem to have come into the sport after having shooting lessons which invariably seem to use Beretta O/U's and then they seem to continue with that type of gun Those that specialise in high birds tend to go for heavy O/U's to take the larger shot loads. Side by side shooters for high birds will try to seek out the old live pigeon trap guns for the same reasons of weight and choke. A rough shooting gun will usually have less choke and be quicker to use.

Older shooters, such as myself although I don't feel it, will tend to stick to side by sides for most things although I do have a Beretta 20 bore O/U and a Chapuis O/U 12 bore. I still like to go out with a hammer gun from time to time too. Lagopus.....

Where can I buy the Puntgun book ?

If there was a "King of upland game guns" in the USA the title most likely would go to a Browning A5 Sweet 16...hands down.

EBay uk. Is where I bought my copy.

I see this book on ebay published in 2008. Is it the same book lagopus is suggesting will be out in November ?

Vintage Guns, Collecting, Restoring & Shooting Classic Firearms