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Forums10
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Most Online1,344 Apr 29th, 2024
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,114 Likes: 595
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,114 Likes: 595 |
Presuming a number of items here, but barring any major political or financial (or personal) crises... have you planned for an end game here? That last shotgun (or rifle, or handgun) that you'll hunt with to the end? I have a pretty good idea what I'll be using when my number's up, but what makes the best sense in that arena? A commonly available gauge or something you'll have to load for. I'm suspecting a sub-gauge gun for many of us here (20 or 28), but pehaps I've overlooked something?
Last edited by Lloyd3; 08/16/22 06:07 PM.
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,842 Likes: 197
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,842 Likes: 197 |
A double Hammergun with either an Austrian or German heritage,, probably in 24 bore??? But I cannot rule out a French one(tip of the hat to Argo44).
Serbus,
Raimey rse
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1 member likes this:
12boreman |
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Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 471 Likes: 189
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 471 Likes: 189 |
I can go half way out on this limb. It will be a 16.
But I’ll have to get back to you on which Ithaca 16. 😉
Last edited by FallCreekFan; 08/16/22 06:39 PM.
Speude Bradeos
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Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,418 Likes: 197
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,418 Likes: 197 |
Lloyd, I hear you, and completely understand. As I begin to age out at 75, light weight, good handling and open chokes work for me. My 12 ga. 2 1/2 chambered Churchill with .003 /.11 chokes is probably the last one standing for me. But, here's hoping I'm wrong! Karl
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1 member likes this:
Rubberhead |
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,857 Likes: 384
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,857 Likes: 384 |
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2020
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,739 Likes: 493
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,739 Likes: 493 |
Just as I can not pick out just one offspring to favor, I doubt I will just pick just one gun. On the short list will be my Winchester Pigeon grade model 42, my Christmas gift when I was 12, a Winchester Model 12, 28 ga. Skeet gun, for long range dove a Pape 20 bore hammer gun with 30" barrels I shoot really well and for duck and geese whatever 12 bore double, perhaps a Lang 3" 30" barrels, or G.E. Lewis 3" wild-fowling double. My real problem is I like to shoot too many vastly different things. If I was restricted to just dove, the 42 would get the nod, or a 42 as there are others sitting, waiting their turn. If it were just ducks any 12 bore double from about ten choices could be a easy choice. Too many choices, too many reasons.
The Winchester Model 12 , 28 gauge would be the last gun I sell. That gun has been a faithful friend, for hunting and shooting in general, for over fifty years. It has taken more dove, quail and ducks than any other gun I have owned. I'll never have another hundred duck season and that gun has given me multiple years. The 42's might equal the dove numbers, given another decade or two, but I learned how to shoot wild quail with that 28. Wild quail are for the most part, a thing of the past, such a sad thing. I no longer hunt quail on any of my farms. It just holds so many memories. My first true double on a quail covey flush, shooting next to my uncle, who took a pair with his Crescent .410 and watching Red the Setter bring back all four birds. He was not a great retriever but that time he was flawless. I could have shot a third bird but I was content, perhaps for the first time in my hunting life. No, the 28 is not for sale. I hope it gives one of my sons or grandsons as much joy as it did for me.
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2 members like this:
FallCreekFan, Run With The Fox |
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,964 Likes: 89
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,964 Likes: 89 |
Hard to decide but I suspect it’ll be either my Parker 12 DH damascus on a #1 frame and 6 1/2 lbs and 28” barrels or a Lefever 12 GH with 28” damascus. Both are dear friends and I’ve often thought they don’t need me for anything else than to carry them into the field. Untold numbers of wild bobs have fallen to them. No need for small bores, I just load light. But a close runner up would be a Lefever 16 DS with 26”. It is a bird killing machine!
Last edited by Joe Wood; 08/15/22 10:56 PM.
When an old man dies a library burns to the ground. (Old African proverb)
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 9,768 Likes: 757
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 9,768 Likes: 757 |
Kinda’ depends how far you make it, doesn’t it?
I used to see an old guy on sunny weekdays, in Pine County, MN. He was in his 90s. He walked a logging road, actually a segment of the Munger trail. He might have made it a mile in and back. He used a .410 single shot to pot Grouse. Told me he hadn’t shot a Grouse on the wing in a long, long time. He was good with that. He had owned many different guns.They were all gone. He outlived every family member he ever had. To say he loved petting my dog was an understatement. I let him handle my Remington model 17 once, it was a bit much for him. I was good with him ground swatting them, too. It was a day brightener to run into him.The old guy fought like hell to keep his pickup and his .410 at the old people’s warehouse he lived in. He didn’t seem to need assistance, maybe they called him in the morning, but, he told me he just fried the Grouse breasts and legs, and got dinner and lunch out of one. If he was cooking them, I figured he didn’t need much help.
I’ve got 20 and 28 gauge V19s at the moment, both less than 6lbs. That is the lightest version of a Darne, in very general terms. Tough witches to shoot well in the best of times, and my eye injury has insured these are not my best times.
There are times I want to be that old guy in the woods with his last gun that he can manage. But, I’m guessing his life was lonely and hard toward the end. Every person I ever knew who lived that long (I’m between any friends in their 90s at the moment) was having a struggle, often a difficult, daily struggle.
I haven’t seen him in a long time. Doubt I will.
Best, Ted
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4 members like this:
FallCreekFan, Parabola, Stanton Hillis, LeFusil |
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Joined: May 2016
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,418 Likes: 197 |
Ted, We all get there so to speak, It's important to me how I get there! Karl
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