Save old sxs or buy new sxs

[canvasback]

Sometimes the experience justifies the expense. While i cant afford to always shoot it it is nice to have the option. Hunting is not a cheap sport. Compared to what i have invested in trucks boats kayaks atv trailers guns decoys and clothing. That extra 100 bucks to use a classic firearm doesnt seem so bad. And thats only if i need 2 shots for each duck.
Canvasback is right. Bismuth is cheaper and its what i mainly use in my 20ga

Id love to find some 2.5" low pressure tm loads as i have 4 old short chambered guns. Not sure what my husqvarna 51 is rated for load wise. But i dont want to push the wood around the locks to badly

I took some of mine (the TM) apart (1 3/8 oz) and reloaded in 2 1/2" shells in 1 ounce loads. Very nice. Perfect over decoys.

 

[brybenn]

I took some of mine (the TM) apart (1 3/8 oz) and reloaded in 2 1/2" shells in 1 ounce loads. Very nice. Perfect over decoys.

Ive thought about that and also about buying itx or nice shot. Id love to use my old model 51 but im not sure what its proofed for. Id assume a 2.5" shell with 7/8oz shot and 15grs of 700x should be fine. Thats what i currently shoot now for skeet. I also shoot alot of black powder loads from it. Id also love to use my linder charles daly for waterfowl. Im going to use it for turkey this spring and likely a pheasant hunt as well

 

[brybenn]

I haven't gone after waterfowls in a while (but other than reddog), how many rounds do you guys through hunting on any given years?
- For me, it's usually a box or two...

If I was to compare the cost of ownership of firearm/hunting VS motorcycles... My hunting ammo-budget is about a weekend's worth of riding of gasoline (and that was before the price got silly). Add the $ for tires/chains/sprocket, I'm probably saving money by going hunting instead.

When i hunt the lake often with buddies i can really go thru go thru alot of ammo but i shoot bluebills whereas some let them fly by. They just like getting out for a chance at a can or northern redhead so they dont mind me shooting.
When i solo hunt using steel i go thru between 6 and 18 shells. More if im trying to finish a cripple on the water at the edge of range. The odd day and we all have them where i cant seem to buy a duck i can go thru more than a box in an outting. If i hunt 5 or 6 days a week it adds up

The last few years ive gotten away from big spreads and do more solo hunts from my kayak using small spreads. I shoot a lot less but my success is much higher as most are shot within 25 yards

I hunt with buddies i swear are sponsored by ammo companies cuz they will pound off 2 or 3 boxes every outing and rarely get their limit. Once i start laughing i cant hit water if i fell out of the boat lol

Theres always sky busters out on the lake who empty their guns at whatever they see even if its a 100 yards up. I dont hunt with ppl like that but those guys go thru alot of ammo

Im in ontario. Im sure some of the westerners shoot more in a week than i do in a season. Here i can shoot 6 ducks a day. And between 2 and 5 geese depending on season and zone. Out west has far greater limits

 

[iron cat]

Recently I came into some inheritance money from my grandmother. She told me a few months before she passed that she really wanted me to use some of this money to get me something I wanted, not just for bills or savings.

So I have been thinking about what I want to do and I am torn on what to do. I love sxs shotguns and I fell in love with them with a 12ga fox sterlingworth that belonged to my grandfather. Since I started shooting that gun I found it had started to come off face and is getting a little loose. It also has a big chip out of the wood up against the back of the action. I stopped shooting it after finding these things out.

I also want to start using a sxs for all of my hunting. Ducks, geese, and all upland birds. Modern guns with the ability to shoot steel without any issues is something that I really enjoy and would like to have available.

So to the crux of my issue, do I spend this money on restoring my grandfather's shotgun or do I spend it on a newer sxs that will handle all my modern needs. I don't have enough money to do both right now, so it's either or unfortunately. Please help me with this decision haha

I am a crazy for vintage guns, so my advice is very biased, but I would restore that Sterlingworth and enjoy it!! You can hand load non tox for it , I do every year for my 1878 Westley Richards
Cat

 

[reddog]

I would like to say that I have no issues with someone using a restored shotgun and am truly grateful that they are being used for there intended purpose.I have a 1913 model 12 20 gauge that I have shot several ducks with and it always made me smile to think whomever helped build that firearm would be happy to see it being used again.I also raised twin sons who hunted ducks and geese with me in their teens (thank god for Remington 870 express's) so perhaps that is why I lean toward new rather than refurbished old icons. But in essence it is your experience and if that includes using Grandpas gun it only makes it that much better and who am I to tell you what you or anybody should do. I have noticed as stated that the limits don't mean that much anymore so the times are changing. Enjoy hunting with whatever you choose to shoot ,just get out there..RD