Whats your favorite shotgun for upland hunting?

[SuperCub]

The usual rotation is between the BSS Sporter 20ga Skeet1/Skeet2 with 28" pipes, that's my number 1 grouse gun.

I saw one of those Browning BSS 20ga like yours in the used gun section in LL Bean in Maine several years ago. It was VERY well used with little bluing left but seemed to be still in good condition mechanically. It was a nice birdgun that looked like it saw a lifetime of hunting and was some old bird hunter's favourite. I would have loved to own if not for sale in the States. The stories that shotgun could tell.

 

[B.Ruddick]

Remington 870 LW Field Special 20ga, 21” dual bead vent rib barrel with interchangeable chokes, straight English style butt stock.
Nice and compact for the overgrown roads, and bushwhacking. Sure beats the old Wingmaster with 30” barrel when it comes to being compact and handy.

 

[Cummins]

Some pics

 

[Cummins]

 

[Ashcroft]

Cummins, it’s great to see those pictures! Yup that engraving pattern sure looks familiar and appears to be relatively unmolested as well.
The top lever looks like it had an extension on the top, may have been custom ordered when new or a later addition.
There appears to be a piece of steel dovetailed crosswise into the front face of the breech, this may be indication of a conversion of some kind. I would sure like to see good detailed photos of all the proof marks, I’m sure they will reveal a lot of information about this fine gun.

 

[Cummins]

Will have to take a pic of the face of breach later. Got a email from the company i paid for there history look up and verification he said they process once a month so i should have it in a couple weeks.

 

[reddog]

Took out the sweet 16G model 12 for a walk on saturday.She still is a nice piece

 

[brownie]

.16 GA model 12 Winchester.

Brownie

 

[Ashcroft]

Ah, the proof marks tell the tale. And what a tale they tell. Great detailed photos.
- The serial number, 12978 is recorded in my books as made in 1878, three years into the Anson and Deeley patent of 1875. This 1878 date can vary by a year or two, WR record search of the record books will give the exact date of completion. For comparison, #12,576 was completed as a pinfire in August 1873, subsequently converted to central fire by unknown. #13,238 was completed in September 1880, it is an Anson and Deeley action best quality gun like yours only 12 gauge.
- The original proofs are for 28 gauge, 1875-1887, no nitro proof in use at this time, so black powder by default.
But this gun has been reproofed for nitro powder, modern ammunition.
- The words NITRO PROOF were initiated in 1896 and were used until 1954.
- NP is the Birmingham nitro proof mark, in use 1904-1954
- The word CHOKE was used 1887-1954
- 2 1/2” was only used 1925-1989
Summary, this gun went through a second proof, for Nitro Powder sometime between 1925 and 1954. This means that at that time this gun was proofed safe to use with modern smokeless 2 1/2” ammo. Unfortunately in the absence of a date code stamp this is as close as I can pin it. If this was initiated by Westley Richards it may show in their records and you’ll get a copy.
This is a very nice, very unusual ( not unusual for WR who made an almost infinite variety of firearms) gun that if well kept since reproof is perfectly usable with modern 28 gauge 2 1/2” ammo - if you can find some. Please update when you get your package from Westley Richards. J.

 

[Ashcroft]

Ah, the proof marks tell the tale. And what a tale they tell. Great detailed photos.
- The serial number, 12978 is recorded in my books as made in 1878, three years into the Anson and Deeley patent of 1875. This 1878 date can vary by a year or two, WR record search of the record books will give the exact date of completion. For comparison, #12,576 was completed as a pinfire in August 1873, subsequently converted to central fire by unknown. #13,238 was completed in September 1880, it is an Anson and Deeley action best quality gun like yours only 12 gauge.
- The original proofs are for 28 gauge, 1875-1887, no nitro proof in use at this time, so black powder by default.
But this gun has been reproofed for nitro powder, modern ammunition.
- The words NITRO PROOF were initiated in 1896 and were used until 1954.
- NP is the Birmingham nitro proof mark, in use 1904-1954
- The word CHOKE was used 1887-1954
- 2 1/2” was only used 1925-1989
Summary, this gun went through a second proof, for Nitro Powder sometime between 1925 and 1954. This means that at that time this gun was proofed safe to use with modern smokeless 2 1/2” ammo. Unfortunately in the absence of a date code stamp this is as close as I can pin it. If this was initiated by Westley Richards it may show in their records and you’ll get a copy.
This is a very nice, very unusual ( not unusual for WR who made an almost infinite variety of firearms) gun that if well kept since reproof is perfectly usable with modern 28 gauge 2 1/2” ammo - if you can find some. Please update when you get your package from Westley Richards. J.

I’m still puzzled by some features of this gun. It’s obviously a shotgun but it has many characteristics of a rifle. The butt stock with it’s pistol grip and cheek piece is a rifle design. It has sling swivels which if original, and they are fitted in the case, were only used on rifles unless the gun was a European order. There also appears to be some kind of a plate at the rear of the top rib, why? Then there is the plate dovetailed across the breach face, another mystery, along with the modified top lever and what appears to be a modified safety. It’s possible that this gun was made as a pinfire and later converted to centerfire by others. It may have been restocked which would account for the rifle style stock. It may even have been made as a two barrel rifle/shotgun combination and only the shotgun barrels remain. We may never know all the answers, not uncommon.
More thoughts and guesses….there is a flat plate at the breech end of the top rib and a much smaller one at the muzzle end holding the bead. I’m beginning to think there was originally a rear sight on that rear plate, if so there would likely be a filled dovetail on this plate. If so, this gun was likely made as a ball and shot gun. Then the anomalies fall into place. The number 52 stamped into the bottom of each barrel could indicate the bore diameter at provisional ( first) proof before final boring and finishing, 52/100 of an inch, finish size for 28 gauge is 550”.

 

[SuperCub]

I can't say that the Cooey single shot is my favourite shotgun but I do use one for beating around on the ATV and it is a very good choice for that application.

I used a Cooey 12ga yesterday to shoot a limit of 6 grouse here in NB. Not a big deal to some but that's the 1st time since moving here in 1985 that I've shot a limit. Most days I'm happy with two.

 

[3macs1]

I can't say that the Cooey single shot is my favourite shotgun but I do use one for beating around on the ATV and it is a very good choice for that application.

I used a Cooey 12ga yesterday to shoot a limit of 6 grouse here in NB. Not a big deal to some but that's the 1st time since moving here in 1985 that I've shot a limit. Most days I'm happy with two.

It is the same here. I didnot start getting limits on a regular basis until I got my first Britt alone for get it two would be an excellent day
Take care

 

[SuperCub]

It is the same here. I didnot start getting limits on a regular basis until I got my first Britt alone for get it two would be an excellent day
Take care

Yup ..... Crazy amount of birds this year. Was supposed to be deer hunting this week. Only saw one lonely doe, but we did manage to bag 18birds for the week with that old Cooey. Those things were running everywhere. It was the best week deer hunting I've ever had.

 

[kamlooky]

I managed to stumpill innto nudder Browning Dubble Auto.
Mes amis tawt I wuzz all kew-kew in les tete until he shawtter.
This one is older with the steel receiver and the solid grooved bawrill.

Nawt sure why I let the t'uther one go.

 

[Paul15]

I’m gonna have to throw a vote in for the cooey 84. Unfortunately I’ve never tried any of the higher grade o/u’s yet, maybe one day.

 

[SuperCub]

I’m gonna have to throw a vote in for the cooey 84. Unfortunately I’ve never tried any of the higher grade o/u’s yet, maybe one day.

I like the classic SxS shot guns a lot for upland owning a Fox and SKB but those Cooeys have a place for bird hunting for me as well usually beating around in an ATV.

 

[USPfan]

I use a super black eagle 3 for waterfowl, and recently got a chiappa double badger for upland birds. It’s in 243/410, so I can shoot birds and wolves/caribou/wolverine with the same gun.