Let's see some pic's of your SxS's & O/U's
- Thread starter Win/64
- Start date
LOL! Mike, I would love to get out some time this fall.
Ahsan, I have seen Doubleman shoot...he's good.
BE2, I love that picture of Holly, she was a great dog and that was a great day! (its my mod 37 in the pic before I went seeing double)
And, since Win/64 started it...could someone ID the nice boxlock in this picture?
Ahsan, I have seen Doubleman shoot...he's good.
BE2, I love that picture of Holly, she was a great dog and that was a great day! (its my mod 37 in the pic before I went seeing double)
And, since Win/64 started it...could someone ID the nice boxlock in this picture?
Ahsan Ahmed
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I don't doubt that....someone who is able to hit Woodcocks with a .410 is an excellent shot in my books.
I prefer the .410 for woodcock because I can shoot at them in close without destroying the tiny bird. The little CZ also proved deadly on sharptails last fall during our moose hunt. The sharpies were alot of fun because I let the two guys with single shots shoot first and then shot the remaining birds after they flushed. I even managed a few doubles. As you can guess I shoot alot which contributes to my sucess with the .410.
Regards
Ahsan Ahmed
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
doubleman - you've aroused my interest in a .410 ..... I've never really considered that as practical (for my needs). Perhaps it's time to acquire another Bobwhite and get into the habit of using that regularly for clay.
Gun fit question aside, I'm keen to learn what distances, choke/shell combo you generally find as effective for woodcock and what worked for those Sharptails? Thanks,
Gun fit question aside, I'm keen to learn what distances, choke/shell combo you generally find as effective for woodcock and what worked for those Sharptails? Thanks,
410
For woodcock I shoot 2 1/2" 1/2oz #7 1/2 as most shots are less than 20 yards and my .410 is fixed full/mod. For sharpies, phesants,rabbits and hares I use 3" 3/4 oz copper plated #6's and try to keep my shooting around 30 yards. I can kill birds at longer distances but it often takes a hit from the second barrel to drop them so I try to stick with the 30 yard maximum. I stay away from #4 or #5 shot as I find the patterns to sparse for good kills. The limiting factor is how well you shoot the gun so practice on the clay is a must untill you are confident. I am a fairly good shooter so the .410 worked well for me right away but I have seen many people give up on them as a hunting gun due to thier poor clay scores. If you decide to get one be prepared for the low clay scores at first and just remember it takes some practice to adjust to the little gun. On the positive side they are so nice to carry and I like not destroying the close range woodcock but I will they are not for everyone. If you are willing to take the time to practice with it you will find they very effective little guns.
Regards
For woodcock I shoot 2 1/2" 1/2oz #7 1/2 as most shots are less than 20 yards and my .410 is fixed full/mod. For sharpies, phesants,rabbits and hares I use 3" 3/4 oz copper plated #6's and try to keep my shooting around 30 yards. I can kill birds at longer distances but it often takes a hit from the second barrel to drop them so I try to stick with the 30 yard maximum. I stay away from #4 or #5 shot as I find the patterns to sparse for good kills. The limiting factor is how well you shoot the gun so practice on the clay is a must untill you are confident. I am a fairly good shooter so the .410 worked well for me right away but I have seen many people give up on them as a hunting gun due to thier poor clay scores. If you decide to get one be prepared for the low clay scores at first and just remember it takes some practice to adjust to the little gun. On the positive side they are so nice to carry and I like not destroying the close range woodcock but I will they are not for everyone. If you are willing to take the time to practice with it you will find they very effective little guns.
Regards
Doubleman and Ahsan;
It's funny how shooting habits vary with location. Out here the sharptail is a big hardy bird with a large heart, tough to kill cleanly. They are spooky and a 30 yard shot is a gift. I would never consider using a .410 for them in this neck of the woods. I don't even use 28 gauge for sharptail, and consider the 2 1/2 inch 20 gauge with 7/8 oz. of shot as the minimum effective load.
I have been known to use .410 for ruffed grouse, employing an AYA #3 and Gamebore 2 1/2" shells with #7 1/2 shot. It is a guilty pleasure carrying such a lightweight gun and ammunition, and it is certainly rewarding to have a successful hunt with that combination. Overall, though, I prefer the 28 gauge with 3/4 oz. loads for such use as the patterns are much more reliable and the total weight (gun + ammunition) is only slightly higher than the .410.
For clays with the .410 I cheat a little bit and use a big ugly Baikal 43 with a single trigger. It is a 7 lb. gun and feels more like 8. The only shells it seems to like are Remington 3 inch loads. The gun shoots high, which makes it perfect for wobble (continental) trap. I have found than nobody likes to get beat at wobble trap by someone using a .410! Knowing where it shoots allows me to use it for sporting clays as well, but only for fun.
I guess that is the nature of the .410 - it is a very entertaining load. It is enjoyable to use for hunting as long as you respect the limitations of the load and your skills, and it is fun and challenging to shoot clays with. Add to that some utility for pest control and you have the reason why the .410 has survived.
Sharptail
It's funny how shooting habits vary with location. Out here the sharptail is a big hardy bird with a large heart, tough to kill cleanly. They are spooky and a 30 yard shot is a gift. I would never consider using a .410 for them in this neck of the woods. I don't even use 28 gauge for sharptail, and consider the 2 1/2 inch 20 gauge with 7/8 oz. of shot as the minimum effective load.
I have been known to use .410 for ruffed grouse, employing an AYA #3 and Gamebore 2 1/2" shells with #7 1/2 shot. It is a guilty pleasure carrying such a lightweight gun and ammunition, and it is certainly rewarding to have a successful hunt with that combination. Overall, though, I prefer the 28 gauge with 3/4 oz. loads for such use as the patterns are much more reliable and the total weight (gun + ammunition) is only slightly higher than the .410.
For clays with the .410 I cheat a little bit and use a big ugly Baikal 43 with a single trigger. It is a 7 lb. gun and feels more like 8. The only shells it seems to like are Remington 3 inch loads. The gun shoots high, which makes it perfect for wobble (continental) trap. I have found than nobody likes to get beat at wobble trap by someone using a .410! Knowing where it shoots allows me to use it for sporting clays as well, but only for fun.
I guess that is the nature of the .410 - it is a very entertaining load. It is enjoyable to use for hunting as long as you respect the limitations of the load and your skills, and it is fun and challenging to shoot clays with. Add to that some utility for pest control and you have the reason why the .410 has survived.
Sharptail
sxs
Poorly pictured here is my most favoured side by side gun -- By no means fancy or top of the line. She's a pre-war Simson 16ga -- likely about 60,000 + rounds thru it and in fact it's been shot/carried so much that the checkering is worn off the fore arm. Kirsten cross bolt still locks up as solid as the day it was made. Simson was once considered the premier gun maker of Europe. They made all grades of shotguns and were generally thought of as being superior in quality to Sauer and Merkel. The company was owned by a Jewish family who met their demise when Hitler came to power in Germany. Sauer was assigned to take over the company during the war with a few made in East Germany after the war. Needless to say that this gun likes me and is a candidate for a full restoration. I might try to post better pictures of it if it ever stops raining in NB.
Cheers
Poorly pictured here is my most favoured side by side gun -- By no means fancy or top of the line. She's a pre-war Simson 16ga -- likely about 60,000 + rounds thru it and in fact it's been shot/carried so much that the checkering is worn off the fore arm. Kirsten cross bolt still locks up as solid as the day it was made. Simson was once considered the premier gun maker of Europe. They made all grades of shotguns and were generally thought of as being superior in quality to Sauer and Merkel. The company was owned by a Jewish family who met their demise when Hitler came to power in Germany. Sauer was assigned to take over the company during the war with a few made in East Germany after the war. Needless to say that this gun likes me and is a candidate for a full restoration. I might try to post better pictures of it if it ever stops raining in NB.
Cheers
Sharptail
Our sharpies are fairly big and just as tough but thier weakness is they bunch up along the roads when it gets cold making them easy to locate. When they walk of the road the dog flushes them most times within 20-30 yards. I also regularly shoot phesants with a .410 and agree that a sharptail is much tougher. You are correct about getting spoiled when carrying the little gun. As a ruffed grouse gun here the .410 doesn't work so well as we usually have to shoot through alot of cedars on the way to the bird and some more shot really helps the cause.
Regards.
Regards
Our sharpies are fairly big and just as tough but thier weakness is they bunch up along the roads when it gets cold making them easy to locate. When they walk of the road the dog flushes them most times within 20-30 yards. I also regularly shoot phesants with a .410 and agree that a sharptail is much tougher. You are correct about getting spoiled when carrying the little gun. As a ruffed grouse gun here the .410 doesn't work so well as we usually have to shoot through alot of cedars on the way to the bird and some more shot really helps the cause.
Regards.
Regards
sxs
Yep, that would be the East German guns -- not quit as highly regarded as the pre-war Simsons.
Cheers
Yep, that would be the East German guns -- not quit as highly regarded as the pre-war Simsons.
Cheers
MauserMike
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
W.W. Greener Boxlock, 12ga fluid steel, IC/M chokes. Low grade gun and worn but points nicely.
- Location
- kelowna B.C
Here's the only one that I have so far but more on the way hopefully soon.It's a Yildiz 12 gauge with 28'' barrels and interchangeable choke's.I've had it about two and a half years now and it's been a great little shooter.
The weather is crappy here, & natural light is the only way I have found to achieve good quality pics... But here are a couple shots of my dainty little American 20's
1) Parker Brothers VH 20, 28" barrels, twin Ivory beeds, capped pistol grip & splinter forend choked F & M. c. 1922
2) A.H. Fox (Savage era) Sterlingworth 20, 28" barrels, capped pistol grip & splinter forend, choke IC & IC. c. 1934
Mark
1) Parker Brothers VH 20, 28" barrels, twin Ivory beeds, capped pistol grip & splinter forend choked F & M. c. 1922
2) A.H. Fox (Savage era) Sterlingworth 20, 28" barrels, capped pistol grip & splinter forend, choke IC & IC. c. 1934
Mark
Thanks Nathan,
I am a big fan of Brit sxs's but I always seem to have a few American guns as well.
My current Sporting clays/Crow Crusher/Goose Thumper is a Parker Bros DH 12 gauge with 32" barrels, straight grip, choked IM & IM which I have recently had restocked & reblacked. It was made in 1903 & belonged to two well off Montrealers who burned lots of powder.
There's also a 16 gauge Parker VH in the stable.
Mark
I am a big fan of Brit sxs's but I always seem to have a few American guns as well.
My current Sporting clays/Crow Crusher/Goose Thumper is a Parker Bros DH 12 gauge with 32" barrels, straight grip, choked IM & IM which I have recently had restocked & reblacked. It was made in 1903 & belonged to two well off Montrealers who burned lots of powder.
There's also a 16 gauge Parker VH in the stable.
Mark
