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Guest

... and my 12 gauge guns don't think much of you guys, either. They don't get around much anymore. Since I bought my first 16 (F.A.I.R. 900 0/U), neither the 20 nor the 12 has shot a round of skeet.

The good news is that the 900 is a good fit and a straight shooter. It's killing those skeets convincingly, and I now await the real bird season like a little kid waiting for Christmas.

Mine is a light gun, so I've got to remember to see the claybird, swing through it and shoot it. Sometimes, I get out front and slow or stop the gun & just shoot to a spot. Not good. I'm re-learning that thinking is not my best game. Hadn't shot for 3 weeks (dull story there) and shot a 23 from the low gun straight out of the gate on Sunday, then proceeded to fall apart for a bit before I turned off my "expert shooter's" brain.

The bad news is that I'm not convinced the 900 is really an outstanding piece of gunmaking for $3,300. So although I certainly can't gripe about its general quality or the job it's doing for me, I will probably spend too much of the next few years lusting after other 16s. Right now the Merkel O/U and the thought of a Caesar Guerini 16 keep running through my noggin like shotgun porn.

What is it about good shotguns? Why does one make you want yet another? Why does the next one have to be "just so"? What is wrong with me, and will it ever go away? Where does it end?

I have determined that you are all very bad men, and I curse the day I began to associate with you. Wink

But I do like our little 16ga society shell bag. Compact, but holds plenty of stuff and organizes it well. In a word, "nifty."

*Last edited by brdhnt on Fri Feb 25, 2011 4:16 pm; edited 1 time in total*

Now that you have had a 'taste' wait until you shoot your first 28 gauge. The 16's are 'big brother' to the 28's and together we will have you "totally hooked".
________
Ipad Games

MGF: That was pretty good Laughing

BUT

'What is it about good shotguns? Why does one make you want yet another? Why does the next one have to be "just so"? What is wrong with me, and will it ever go away? Where does it end?'

Sorry to break this to you brother but no cure for this one short of 'moving on', poverty, or traumatic head injury from wife with divorce papers. But as you observed, ya gotta be alittle brain damaged to shoot good skeet (right Dr. 16g ?) so your shooting might improve Very Happy

PS: 'shotgun porn'??? Not sure 16g. will let you post pics but you might try Wink

Guest

brdhnt,

I'm already in. Have a Ruger Red Label in 28 ga ... 28" barrels, pistol grip. Carries like a pool cue, handles like a conductor's baton. recoils like a .22 and smacks 'em hard within its range. I've shot doves, quail, chukar and pheasant (over setters) with it. Love that little gun.

It's at a brother's house about 3 hours (one-way) down the road. One of these days, I've got to make a day trip and go pick up my lost child. I feel bad ... it doesn't even know it is has a new brother.

Drew,

Here's the Merkel that's making me feel all funny inside:
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/content/community/gun_inventory/inventory/mitchell/european_sg/410890_merkel2016_mit.jsp

Member Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Posts: 1522 Location: NH

MGF,
I'm more of a SxS Merkel guy but that is one nice looking o/u. Did you buy it or are you thinking of giving it a home?

Guest

TJC,

I wish that were the case, but I've spent my gun money for this year (the F.A.I.R. 900, plus a new safe), so if a Merkel is in my future, it will have to wait a while.

Can't disagree with the SxS preference at all; I think a well-made SxS is a lovely thing indeed. But I've been shooting O/Us since I got back into shotgunning 10 or 11 years ago, and I don't know that I could transition very well between SxSs and O/Us.

Mark

Member Joined: 08 Nov 2005 Posts: 3438 Location: Illinois

MGF-Not sure if I ever extended an invatation.If you happen to be in the Paris,Il area email me ahead of time and we will shoot.I run the local skeet/trap club.If your wife is with family we can bust some clays.Other members of this sight also have an open invite--I can open any time but need a little advance so I can get my honey-do's caught up first Embarassed

Guest

You did indeed, HOA, and if I'm ever headin' your way, you'll get fair warning. Smile

Burnin' up some shells with some of the 16ga Society boys is definitely something I want to do one of these days.
I especially want to meet the KY (Kentucky, that is) Brads. Something tells me they're a hoot ... and I want to see this "pheasant killin' laser beam" in action. Razz

I hear you, MGF. It is a sickness, and from what I can tell it may be terminal. BTW, my 20Ga. guns hate this society too. I must have three flats of reloaded 20's in my garage that have been sitting there for two years now, and my twelves only get used for waterfowl -- though not much longer, because I'm now set up to load both Hevi-shot and Bismuth in 16.

Yes, my friends used to laugh at me when I hauled out the old, beat-up 1942 vintage Model 37 at the sporting clays course, at least until I demonstrated I could consistently thump the birds better than they could with their newfangled twelves. And after slogging through some of the densest chapparal God ever devised chasing quail last year and seeing my buddies back in camp with arms so tired they couldn't lift a fork at dinnertime, just about everyone I hunted with now wants a 16. I guess you could say that I'm a Typhoid Mary of sixteeners.

Guest

Actually, I was just talking about pictures of shotguns.
Bad analogy, I guess.

The biggest problem with the 16 is that it is too good at what it does--at least for me. My 16 ga guns are all between 6.7 and 6.10 lbs. they all swing very well, are light enough to be vrey quick to the target, and are handy to carry. Most modern 20., 28. and .410 guns are right in the same weight bracket.

I gave the 20 the heav-ho within one season of hunting with a 16. The 16 is more effective with all shot weights and can handle bigger shot far better. So what about the 28? Well, the 16 also shoots 3/4 ounce loads beautifully too. Why not buy a nice little 5-3/4 lb 28 for those little bird hunting days, like snipe, woodcock, and quail, or even grouse? Too light. Can't hit regularly with it. The 1/4 to 1/2 pound weight difference is not a problem (never really was), because i do not hunt for 12 hours straight anymore anyhow.

I must be getting set in my ways. I still like handling the light weight marvels those tiny little .410 and 28 ga doubles are. I swing them up to shoulder and kill every imaginary snipe or woodcock I envision. But, then my pragmatic brain kicks in and says, "Listen up dummy, you can't really hit with them and you have enough unused guns in your collection. You already own a handful of 16 ga. upland marvels which are perfect for you." So, I sigh, and say, "Yup, that is so. Besides, i need some socks and such." The little gun goes back to the rack, and I wander back out of the shop to buy the foot snuggies. I love/hate my 16 ga. guns. But mostly it is pure love. 16gg

Guest

MGF..........To remove one of your obstacles to buying that Merkel, I regularly switch from SxS to O/U and don't notice any problem. Love my Merkel SxS, but the Citoris need exercise once in awhile too! That Merkel you're looking at is really nice.