The allure of the British gun

[Mike Webb]

Many old shotguns still kill extremely well with sensible loads without pounding the shooter or damaging the gun unnecessarily.

 

[Mike Webb]

With the recent passing of pre turkey patterning season I tested several unlikely guns for my annual turkey hunt. This year I tested a new beretta 688 sporting with extended turkey and xf chokes using grand slam buffered shot and flite control wads to various british 2.5" chambered guns. One being a Damascus barreled C. Smith and the other a webley and scott 700 or 702. I used a rolled crimp reload with an Oz of nickel plated 5s for the vintage guns. Surprisingly even woth ic/mod chokes the webley put more holes in the turkey picture than my new beretta with tight chokes and advanced ammo. The smith had just a few pellets shy of the beretta with the more open barrel and tied for its tighter barrel. I cant recall the choke of the smith or if it was even marked but the bire was .719
So as for the op stating chokes dont matter its all on the paper I truly believe thst to be correct.
Now at 40 yards every gun I tested this season would have killed a turkey effectively but the old fixed chokes and short chambers proved to be not a disadvantage even when throwing less shot.
Funny how we as shooters and hunters get caught up on the latest gear but in reality it is all just marketing

Gun manufacturers have been manipulating us for generations. Continually trying to reinvent the wheel and convincing us to buy the latest offerings because they are superior products. From a performance standpoint in shotguns personally I don't feel there have been great strides made in the last 100 years. Others may disagree. And quality despite a blizzard of bull#### in advertising has declined markedly (in guns built for those of us with limited means) imo mainly due to the scarcity and expense of skilled hands.

 

[Stephen Nash]

Gun manufacturers have been manipulating us for generations. Continually trying to reinvent the wheel and convincing us to buy the latest offerings because they are superior products. From a performance standpoint in shotguns personally I don't feel there have been great strides made in the last 100 years. Others may disagree. And quality despite a blizzard of bull#### in advertising has declined markedly (in guns built for those of us with limited means) imo mainly due to the scarcity and expense of skilled hands.

So very true. Two World Wars decimated Britain's artisan workforce, and factory automation further reduced the need for skilled hands. As to factory production, especially of repeaters, it seems the 1950s were a high point, when machining was focused on making a better product rather than being a production step where costs could be saved.

The one technological advance that Victorian/Edwardian shooters would gasp in envy at is the modern shotshell.

 

[Mike Webb]

I think in North America the golden age was probably 1880's to 1930's from a quality standpoint. Somewhat earlier in Great Britain perhaps.
Pick up a high condition Winchester from the 1890's and you will find inletting and wood to steel fit that shames many present offerings. And these were mass produced guns.