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mrosspa
PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 4:01 am  Reply with quote
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Joined: 20 Apr 2006
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Location: Southern California

Have any of you heard of Hunt Tests or been to one? If you aren't familiar, they are tests designed to evaluate retrievers at 3 different levels. At these tests, they need gunners to shoot live birds.

Since people are there to test their dogs, being a gunner and shooting live birds it considered a thankless task. It is typical that the retriever clubs are looking for gunners.

I was at my first one this weekend, and the "thankless" task let me shoot 32 chukkar, and 13 mallards, including lunch for free. It was great fun.

If you have any interest, just look up some retriever clubs. They supplied me with a 12 gauge to shoot. It worked out well for me because it was a sxs with double triggers. It was pretty darn easy to shoot those double triggers, and I've never shot a sxs before.

Since I'm in the market for a 16/28 sxs, this was a great introduction.

2 questions-

Do any of you find a single trigger or double trigger any more reliable than the other?

How important are screw in chokes? How many of you have a sxs without screw in chokes that now wish you had them?

Thanks

Michael
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hunshatt
PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 8:22 am  Reply with quote
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Michael,

I haven't had any experance with sxs single triggers, but I would guess they are based on the same design as a o/u and there are tons of them on the market.
In theory, the advantage of double triggers is choke selection, based on your shot need. (if the bird gets up further than what your first barrel is choked for, pull the second tritgger that should be more tightly constricted)
For me, I can't rember ever using that feature.
As far as screw ins.The 20ga, that I may or may not have on order comes with them standard. Tjc is sending his brandy new Merkel 1620 out to have them installed. He's going with the thin wall stuff, if he likes them , I may have a set installed on my 1620. All my other stuff has been opened up for shooting in the North east, shorter shots, compared to western plains stuff
Many will say just get them (chokes) changed to something like improved /mod or something like that. good idea, unless you like to play with chokes, or use the same gun for different game or games(clay stuff)

My latest project is a Clunky old 16ga sterlingworth I just found this weekend.
As I feel the gun really isn't worthy to be taken into the field(and it's WAY to HEAVY), I've decided to make a dedecated clays gun out of it. I'm haveing it restocked and a big beavertail forearm put on, as well as a set of those long external choke tubes, probably briley, but we'll see
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Wolfchief
PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 6:26 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 15 Oct 2004
Posts: 782
Location: Indiana

I know several guys who belong to a hunt test outfit called "The Backwater Retriever Club" and i've been asked to be a gunner at 2 or 3 different events. It's a good deal; they buy the ammunition and I get to shoot the birds (pen raised pheasants mostly). They want the birds dead in the air so they request we use 12 gauges and they launch the birds with a giant "slingshot" type device...it's strange to behold but a lot of fun....

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TJC
PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 6:58 pm  Reply with quote
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hunshatt wrote:
Michael,
My latest project is a Clunky old 16ga sterlingworth I just found this weekend.
As I feel the gun really isn't worthy to be taken into the field(and it's WAY to HEAVY), I've decided to make a dedecated clays gun out of it. I'm haveing it restocked and a big beavertail forearm put on, as well as a set of those long external choke tubes, probably briley, but we'll see


You got a WHAT Question Shocked Shocked I can't believe my internet ears.

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hunshatt
PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 7:16 pm  Reply with quote
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Location: New England, home of fat teddy k.

Salvation army had one, 99.99 It was either a sportingclays gun or a tomato stake for kathi, and as it was a 16 and I rescued it, I figure I should get xtra credit points for next time I stray off site with threads on kitty porn, or the customer service of certain purveyors of 20ga guns that I may or may not still have on order..... Truth is I'm waiting on a update from a board member whom is seeing one in a few weeks, we'll see. Also thinking of taking a ride as they ay or may not be 2 hrs from here
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TJC
PostPosted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 4:24 am  Reply with quote
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Shy the Merkel, that Sterly is likely the finest piece of shootin iron you now have. Wink

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Twice Barrel
PostPosted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 7:16 am  Reply with quote
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Lets get back to Mike's original question. Yes double triggers are more reliable than single triggers. Less moving parts to become worn out or mis-aligned. No screw in chokes are not really a bonus. How many times have you guys changed choke tubes in the field? Bet not many and it gives you one less reason to buy another gun (important when justifying a new purchase to the little woman).

And another thing. Would you guys quit telling all those lies about Fox guns and Sterlingworths in particular. Now everyone thinks they need one. You guys are driving the prices out of sight. Used to be able to pick up a clean Sterlingworth 16 for $500.00 now they are approaching $2K and I still havent found one with 30 inch barrels yet so lay off this missinformation.
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hunshatt
PostPosted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 7:54 am  Reply with quote
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Twice, you need to stop looking for a fox with 30" tubes, heck theres 2 of them in my girlfriends garden holding up the tomato's.

I agree with you about screw ins,and a reasong to buy different guns, but, 3 different arguments for screw ins come to mind.
1st if you've not had a ton of shooting xperance, and don't really know the average ranges you shoot at(newbie, kinda thing)
2nd really can't justify multipul guns.
3rd, looking for a cross over gun ie: field and clays, but not wanting to have a clays specific gun. Like the Lc project I'm doing. Fun clays, out west gun. What would you do? skip the chokes?
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fin2feather
PostPosted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 8:34 am  Reply with quote
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Well, I haven't been beaten up enough yet today, so I'll weigh in!

Gotta agree with Twice; I own five sxs shotguns and one auto loader; all have fixed chokes, and I can't tell you for sure and certain what the chokes are on any of 'em; I just never bothered to check. I guess that means I wouldn't be changing choke tubes very often even if I could. Whether I'm shooting birds or targets, I have found that if I do my job, the guns do theirs. If I don't, the guns can't fix it.

I guess I'm old school, but I don't get this obsession with gun weight, choke, and a lot of the other minutia that floats some guys' boats; maybe that makes me just an old bird hunter and not a true "enthusiast". That's OK with me; my dad told me to "get a gun and learn how to shoot it." That's what all the best shots I ever knew did, and still do.

As for triggers, if the gun has two barrels it should have two triggers. 'Nuff said.


Last edited by fin2feather on Thu Apr 27, 2006 7:09 am; edited 1 time in total

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hunshatt
PostPosted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 8:47 am  Reply with quote
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Fin, If everyone would get merkels, they wouldn't have to practice.The gun shoots it's self, and we all know by now , they are pheasent killin laser beams......... LOL
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fin2feather
PostPosted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 9:10 am  Reply with quote
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Hun,

Seems to me that's what a lot of guys are looking for, or trying to create: a gun that shoots itself. Call me old fashioned: I kinda like part of it to be my doing Very Happy !

Fin

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I feel a warm spot in my heart when I meet a man whiling away an afternoon...and stopping to chat with him, hear the sleek lines of his double gun whisper "Sixteen." - Gene Hill, Shotgunner's Notebook
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Wolfchief
PostPosted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 8:16 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 15 Oct 2004
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Location: Indiana

I've got to agree with fin; I enjoy shooting my skeet straights more with a mod. choked Model 42 or Model 12, or my Merkel choked IC/Mod, than I would with a "dedicated" 12 ga. skeet or Clays gun. The pumps and SxS are hunting guns, and I am a hunter....

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Mark Larson
PostPosted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 7:33 am  Reply with quote



Joined: 04 Apr 2006
Posts: 19
Location: Washington

To the original post, double triggers are more trouble free than single triggers, so they are an advantage in that respect. They are also no slower to shoot in my opinion. As long as your gun is not over choked, (i.e., full/full, unless all your shots are at long range), tubes are generally not necessary. If you find most of your shots are close and you're turning birds into hamburger, just have the choke/s opened up.

It's nice to hear comments that we focus too much on gun weight, chokes and other minutea. I agree. But it's also part of the fun of shooting. Imaging what the "holy grail" of guns is and aspiring to that keeps us engaged between hunting seasons. Come September though, it's time to put your money where your mouth is and shoot some birds. Gun tastes are different to each person, which is also fascinating, and it seems to change over time also. Having said that, a classic, light, 16ga. game gun will still be a bird killing machine 100 years from now, regardless of the (then)current tastes. Assuming we still have any birds left to shoot.
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hunshatt
PostPosted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 7:52 am  Reply with quote
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or any place, other than preserves
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tjwalker
PostPosted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 3:48 pm  Reply with quote
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I have an assortment of SxSs. The single selective trigger on my Ithaca/Skbs have been very reliable. I do prefer double triggers. I have in the excitement of a covery flush, fired one round and then moved my finger back to the trigger guard; it sure is difficult to make that single trigger fire from back there. Once I got used to using double triggers, I find they are just as fast. I really like being able to use more selection with the screw in chokes. My Flues model is choked cylinder and full, about the widest selection you could have. I would think I would miss more with the full choke, but I hit about the same, which isn't bad. It probably wouldn't be very good on a skeet field, but it works great on doves. I admit I did the same trick pulling the front trigger twice on my first few times using double triggers. I like wide open chokes. I just got my Spanish sidelock back from Briley's with new choke tubes. I got the five most open chokes they make, and an extra skeet choke.
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