Shooting your older shotguns

[light476]

Today I left the O/U at home and took my 1965 12-gauge Remington 1100 (28-inch mod choke) out for a round of sporting clays & a little 5-stand. It shot 140 rounds and functioned perfectly using 7/8 oz 1300fps shells. Every time I shoot it (about 6 times a year) I'm impressed with how well it points and the softness of it's recoil. Hope others are enjoying their old safe queens as much as I do.

 

[gizmo]

I love shooting old shotguns. I have several Damascus guns I shoot. My son and I shot some sporting clays with our matching Baker’s this last spring. Same make and model, mine is a 16 and his is a 12. We hand load for them and very much enjoy shooting them.
We also shoot several family guns ranging from the 20’s up through the 60’s. We are certainly a shotgunning family and love everything from the old BP guns through modern, in every gauge one can think of.

 

[franzfmdavis]

I have an 1880 W. Richards (not Westley) SxS that I want to take out grouse hunting this year. It’s chambered for 2.5” shells so it should be interesting!

I have to say after reading the post by @Hunter-Habib about the W&S 700’s I want one

 

[Alistair]

I always enjoy the older guns, makes the whole thing that bit more special.

Back in the UK I had an old Joseph Lang 12 bore.

Hammers, 30" damascus barrels, under lever lock up, made sometime between 1852 and 1886 based on the address on the rib. Some casual googling dates it around 1870 and it was likely made as a live pigeon shooting piece. Sadly the only pictures I had of it were on my old laptop, which died shortly after my arrival in the US...

Just like this one:

I bought it off the rack in a local shop specializing primarily in air rifles where it was placed as part of an estate sale. No paperwork, no case, no interest from the owner of the shop who just wanted it gone. Best GBP600 I ever spent.

I used it a couple times a year for walked up pheasant shoots. With light 2.5" BP loads it performed just as well at 150 years old as it did when it was new. I was quite sad to sell it when I moved to the states, but I'm sure it's still faithfully serving the latest in what I'm sure is a long line of owners to this day.

 

[maxtheflyinghorse]

I always enjoy the older guns, makes the whole thing that bit more special.

Back in the UK I had an old Joseph Lang 12 bore.

Hammers, 30" damascus barrels, under lever lock up, made sometime between 1852 and 1886 based on the address on the rib. Some casual googling dates it around 1870 and it was likely made as a live pigeon shooting piece. Sadly the only pictures I had of it were on my old laptop, which died shortly after my arrival in the US...

Just like this one:
View attachment 622910

I bought it off the rack in a local shop specializing primarily in air rifles where it was placed as part of an estate sale. No paperwork, no case, no interest from the owner of the shop who just wanted it gone. Best GBP600 I ever spent.

I used it a couple times a year for walked up pheasant shoots. With light 2.5" BP loads it performed just as well at 150 years old as it did when it was new. I was quite sad to sell it when I moved to the states, but I'm sure it's still faithfully serving the latest in what I'm sure is a long line of owners to this day.

I moved to the states from the UK last year I 10 of my guns with me in my luggage. I wish I bought more guns in the Uk and took it as some guns that are dead cheap in the uk are of highly priced in the US

 

[matt85]

While not a shotgun, I shoot my antique 8-bore often! Antique guns bring another level of joy to the shooting experience.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

My go to every day gun in the field or at the range is a Browning A5 Magnum Twelve. 1961 FN receiver with 1970s trigger group, 1990s Miroku choke tube barrel, and aftermarket plastic stock/fore end. It's a bird killing clay busting machine. My low gun skeet average is 22 (two rounds per week). This is a triple I shot two years ago in 4 degree F weather. That old gun never fails to cycle (I have modified the action).

Here's a triple in this honker limit shot last season (triple is not that unusual for geese).

 

[Hunter-Habib]

My father owns a very beautiful Midland Gun Co. "Super Demon Duck" boxlock ejector in 12 gauge 3" Magnum with 32" fully choked barrels (proofed for 1 1/2 ounces of lead shot i.e the old English paper cased wildfowling cartridges). He purchased it brand new from England in 1960 (right before the firm closed business in 1961) and the shotgun still functions spotlessly (even this season, he racked up a most impressive bag of golden snipe with the grand old gun).

 

[Zinz]

I’m looking forward to taking this 16ga Belgian Guild hammergun afield this Fall

And the W Richards 20ga

Ed Z

 

[Firebird]

Enjoyed seeing the very old shotguns BUT that table in post #9 is to die for!

 

[BB416]

I shoot side by side shotguns exclusively. All mine are hammerless, though I would like to have a hammer gun. I shoot a relatively modern 28 bore Westley Richards (1980s?). But all my other shotguns are older. 1905 Parker V in 12ga, 1937 LC Smith in 16 ga, ? Old Ithaca SxS in 20 ga, 1893 Mortimer 12 bore, 1894 Stephen Grant side lever in 12 bore, 1924 Westley Richards 12 bore droplock. The British 12 bores are all 2.5 inch guns. I reload for the 2.5 inch 12 and the 28.

 

[IvW]

My oldie is a 1905 Greener sxs with 30 inch Roses steel barrels whatever that means.......it does go out on occasion.....

 

[Kdgj]

After carrying 7.5 lb O/Us around for a long time, I ended up shooting lighter Brit 2.5” SxS. It is a great way to end the day.

Ken

 

[Ontario Hunter]

My go to every day gun in the field or at the range is a Browning A5 Magnum Twelve. 1961 FN receiver with 1970s trigger group, 1990s Miroku choke tube barrel, and aftermarket plastic stock/fore end. It's a bird killing clay busting machine. My low gun skeet average is 22 (two rounds per week). This is a triple I shot two years ago in 4 degree F weather. That old gun never fails to cycle (I have modified the action).
View attachment 622912
Here's a triple in this honker limit shot last season (triple is not that unusual for geese).
View attachment 622913

Interesting story re this honker triple. Note that only four honkers are in the pile and daily bag is five. Decoys were set in the cut corn and the dogs and I were hiding just inside standing corn. Deeks are set out about fifty yards and I try to use the wind. I was unable to follow the second bird when it fell as I was already on the third. But I was almost certain it fell in the standing corn to my left. Another flock was already coming in so we held tight. Easily took a double and I was done. Had to run down the first bird but rest were dead. I gathered up the other three and a couple of decoys for a photo op. It's almost useless looking for downed birds in the standing corn. The dogs don't like to be out of sight (and yes it is very easy to get disoriented in that stuff). But gave it a shot anyway. We were in there about twenty minutes when suddenly I was face to face with a HUGE black bear not ten yards away. I screamed at the dogs and they were to me immediately. I bet that bruin's skull was twenty inches across. Fortunately, he did an about face and quick exit. The buggers are always in the corn and very destructive. And they are not in the least bothered by my shooting. I've had them snitch geese from the pile while walking the dogs to a nearby slough. I carry a couple of slugs in the chest pocket of my upland vest for just this reason. But I was done shooting so gun was still back at decoys. That could have been a real mess! Won't make that mistake again. I kept the dogs at heel and got the hell out of that corn ASAP. One honker isn't worth it. Stepped into the cut field and there's the dead goose laying in the stubble face down. They can be hard to see when they land like that.

Sorry for the derailment. My daughter landed in hospital last night after her first seizure. I needed the diversion. Seizure took out her brother fourteen years ago. Seizures probably would also have eventually taken my epileptic wife had not a car accident done her in ten months after we lost Wes. So this is not unexpected. But heartbreaking nonetheless. Good thing I didn't go back to Africa this year. I had a feeling something would come up. Sigh.

 

[Tintin]

My rough old G & S Holloway. From my limited research, it was probably inter-war production.

I had it out the weekend before last - still shoots straight.

And puts food on the table.

Partridge and cranberry sausage roll recipe

 

[Zinz]

BUT that table in post #9 is to die for!

Thanks... it's Redwood Burl slab. I get lots of comments about it when I post gun pictures

 

[steve white]

I was born about 75 years too late. All the old guns with lots of drop fit me and the new straighter guns do not. Too old to change, probably. And I have a penchant for SXS. Fact is, I really don't own any new guns, save one octagonal barrel Browning auto .22 which technically never existed. It was a concept gun offered for sale after making shot show rounds. Keep those pictures coming!

 

[PCC600]

I love my old shotguns . I have a newish Beretta u/o and stopped using it a few years ago and now looking to sell . My preferred guns are older sxs and u/o guns. They just handle better. Ages date from 1901 through to 1958 . I will post photos and stories of all these guns over multiple posts . First up is a pair of Stephen Grant game guns . I got these years ago when living in the UK . I got into shooting over there ( and quite late in life) . This pair were made in 1901. I have used them as a pair on driven birds in the UK . Sadly there is no opportunity to double gun here in Australia . They are both choked full/ full so really suited for high birds . Light as a feather at circa 6.5 lbs each . Came in a lovely Grant motor case . They have replacement barrels by the maker and were also restored by Atkins Grant &Lang .

 

[PCC600]

Moving onto another old gun in this case an I.Hollis “The Reliable” 12g hammer gun . Retailed in London but with Birmingham proof marks - early 1900s. It now belongs to one of my sons but was owned by his great great grandfather . This gentleman was killed in an accident in his gold mine in 1912 . The gun went into storage in the ceiling of the old family home ( my wife’s family) until it was given to me 100 years later. It came in a wooden case which I have had sympathetically restored. The gun was in surprisingly good shape and only needed a good clean up . It has 32 inch Damascus barrels , 2.75 inch chambers and choked full/ full. The first time I shot it I hit 10 clays in a row and stopped gave it to my son and he did the same . I have not hunted with it but it would certainly do the job .

 

[Pondoro]

My 1896 12-65 Purdey game gun..reproofed for nitro by Purdey april 1913..